CM says Centre will not dismiss Govt

Joshi also turned down the demand for the dismissal of Deputy Chief Minister Gopinath Munde, who holds the Home portfolio, saying it will be wrong to blame him for the death of dalits in police firing.

Referring to the Congress-led Opposition’s demand for the dismissal of his government following the “collapse of constitutional machinery in the state”, Joshi said there was no substance in their demand since the law and order situation was well under control.

“No doubt 10 dalits were killed in police firing on Friday, but it will be improper to allege a breakdown of law and order owing to one incident.

The reaction of the angered dalits was spontaneous following the desecration of the statue,” remarked a defensive Joshi. Joshi said his government was determined to book the forces indulging in such activities. “What has surprised us is that such incidents occur particularly when the legislature session is in progress. Even on the two earlier occasion, when the statues of Ambedkar in Ahmadnagar district and Nashik were desecrated, the session was in progress,” he pointed out.

“I have already written a letter to Chief Justice M B Shah urging him to spare a sitting judge to conduct a judicial probe into the tragedy,” he said. Joshi said he did not inform Prime Minister I K Gujral about the incident on Saturday but personally called on Governor P C Alexander to brief him about the tragedy.

“Whenever there is a query from Raj Bhavan, we promptly submit him the necessary information,” he said, adding, his government has submitted a comprehensive report to Union Railway Minister Ram Vilas Paswan who was in Mumbai on Saturday.

Expressing concern over the attack on the official residences of leaders of the Opposition in the Council and the Assembly — Chhagan Bhujbal and Madhukar Pichad — Joshi said it was improper. Admitting that some of them were Shiv Sainiks, Joshi said: “This is not the way to express anger against any politician.”

“Immediately after I received a call from Pichad, I gave clear instructions to the police to disperse the mob and ensure safety of the two leaders,” he said.

On the allegation of Bhujbal that his security was scaled down from Z-plus to Y category, Joshi said he was not aware of any such change. “Now I have directed the Police commissioner to give adequate police protection to both of them,” he added.

Replying to another question, Joshi said the death of dalits as well as the attack on the residences of Bhujbal and Pichad will have repercussions in the ongoing monsoon session of the State Legislature. “We are prepared to participate in any debate, including a no-confidence motion, but on this pretext the session should not be curtailed,” he remarked.