Leading criminal lawyer and Rajya Sabha MP Ram Jethmalani's decision to defend the suspended lecturer, S.A.R. Geelani, one of the accused in the December 13 terrorist attack on Parliament, has raised Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray's hackles. Despite vociferous protests with Sainiks defacing Jethmalani's office premises in Mumbai and a signed editorial by the Sena chief asking him to quit the Rajya Sabha before "shedding tears for traitors", Jethmalani has stood his ground. Excerpts of an interview with Murali Krishnan: