Home minister justifies phone-tapping

The Shiv Sena-BJP had called for a bandh on December 28 in protest against the PMC removing the statue of Dadoji Konddeo from Lal Mahal around 2 am on December 27.

“I am yet to receive the complete details of the steps taken by the city police to maintain law and order during the bandh called by Shiv Sena-BJP. The police have the powers under central law to tap phone calls for checking violent protests during the bandh and the city police has acted accordingly,” Patil told reporters after participating in a tree plantation programme at Shiv Srishti.

The Home Minister said he was not against freedom of speech for any individual but the tapping was done to avoid human or property loss. He said the city police acted according to the situation and ensured there was no untoward incident.

On PMC’s move to remove statue of Dadoji Konddeo from Lal Mahal,Patil said the decision was taken by local civic body using powers entrusted with it. “The PMC had passed a resolution for removal after a majority in the civic general body meeting,” he said.

He praised the work by Shiv Chhatrapati Pratishthan to set up memorial for Shivaji and promised to hold discussion with Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan for providing financial assistance for the project.

The Vasundhara Utsav Pratishthan had organised a function to encourage tree plantation. Patil said there was a desperate need to increase green cover to avoid adverse impact of climate change. “The home department has a lot of vacant plots across the state and we have ensured that are not grabbed illegally. We want tree plantation drive to be taken up at all open plots,” he added.