Bal Thackeray and Pawar rally behind Amitabh.

Shiv Sena leader Bal Thackeray on Wednesday said making parochial allegations against actor Amitabh Bachchan was plain foolishness.

In a statement, Mr. Bal Thackeray said: “In the end Amitabh Bachchan is Amitabh Bachchan.” Mr. Bachchan should ignore all these silly allegations and those who speak against him.

“Bachchan is not only my friend; we have family relations. Whenever he has the time he comes over and visits us. Our friendship has lasted for 40 years and there has been no strain in our relationship,” Mr. Bal Thackeray pointed out.

Nationalist Congress Party president and Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar said Mr. Thackeray’s observations were “irresponsible” and did not deserve much importance

Mr. Pawar said even the statements by Samajwadi Party member Abu Azim were irresponsible. “Looks like both sides have some political agenda. They don’t have much support.”