Radical Hindus suspend campaign to disrupt Pakistan tour

The announcement came just hours before the Pakistan tourists landed in New Delhi for what will be their first Test series on Indian soil in 12 years.

Bal Thackeray, firebrand leader of the Hindu right-wing Shiv Sena party, made the decision following an emergency meeting in Bombay with Indian Home Minister L.K. Advani.

But in a joint statement released after the meeting, Thackeray made it clear the campaign had not been called off indefinitely.

``In response to the request made by the prime minister, Thackeray has decided to suspend his protest move against the series of matches this year only,'' the statement said.

Indian cricket officials greeted the announcement with delight.

``I am delighted and relieved that this has happened. The game of cricket has won,'' said Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) president Raj Singh Dungarpur.

``I informed my counterpart in Pakistan who has conveyed his happiness and thanks to all the authorities here who made this happen,'' Dungarpur told AFP.

``It's the best news I've heard for a month,'' BCCI secretary Jayant Lele said. ``Let everyone enjoy the cricket now.''

As late as Wednesday evening Thackeray had been insisting his Shiv Sena members were mobilising across the country and that Pakistan ``won't be allowed to play.''

The Shiv Sena, which is allied to the India's ruling Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP, Indian People's Party), is opposed to the tour because of Pakistan's support for Moslem separatists in the disputed Himalayan territory of Kashmir.

As part of their protest, Shiv Sena activists dug up the pitch at one of the Test venues two weeks ago and ransacked the BCCI national headquarters in Bombay on Monday.

Despite Thackeray's announcement, Home Secretary B.P. Singh stressed there would be no relaxation of the heavy security arrangements put in place for the Test series.

Singh held a meeting Thursday of police and security chiefs of the five states where the Pakistan team is scheduled to play.

``All the stadia will be handed over to police 48 hours before the start of the matches, and central security teams will escort the teams wherever they travel,'' Singh said.

The Pakistan team landed in New Delhi late Thursday afternoon and were quickly enveloped in a well-organised security operation.

The team was put on to a bus on the tarmac and whisked off under heavy escort and away from the prying eyes of around 100 reporters gathered outside the terminal.

The Indian team also flew back Thursday from their tour of New Zealand, landing in Calcutta, where they were met with similar security precautions.

Home Minister Advani's special mission to Bombay came as Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee was under increasing pressure from his coalition partners to bring Thackeray and his party to heel.

The Shiv Sena relies on the support of Vajpayee's BJP to remain in power in the western state of Maharastra, of which Bombay is the capital.

However, BJP spokesman J.P. Mathur denied Advani had twisted Thackeray's arm by threatening to withdraw the party's backing.

``It is a welcome step that (Thackeray) has withdrawn and accepted the BJP's and our leader's advice. Now that there is no threat the matches will go on smoothly,'' Mathur said.

According to the joint statement released in Bombay, one of the reasons Thackeray gave Advani for calling off the campaign was that he did not want the main opposition Congress party ``to take advantage of any difference of perception'' between the Shiv Sena and the BJP.

Nevertheless, Congress party spokesman Ajit Jogi was quick to heap scorn on Advani for dashing to Bombay and ``prostrating'' himself before Thackeray.