North Indians fleeing Pune can take heart from the latest developments. In a bid to ensure the safety of migrants across Pune, District Guardian Minister Ajit Pawar on Friday said he would request Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh to deploy two State Reserve Police Force (SRPF) companies in Pune district and Pimpri-Chinchwad areas, till rumours surrounding the Chhath Puja celebrations subside.Speaking at a joint meeting, Pawar said ensuring national integration rather than gaining political mileage should be the priority.However, the visit of Congress MP Suresh Kalmadi to the Pune Railway station earlier in the day to express Congress’s support to the North Indian migrants gave enough indications that the issue may snowball into a political rallying point for the ruling party. In an aggressive demonstration, Kalmadi requested a congregation of North Indians not to leave the state. “Please approach the assistance cells set up in Congress Bhavan with all your complaints, rather than leaving the place. Those forcibly evicted from their houses will get all the help they need,” Kalmadi said.Both Kalmadi and Pawar exhorted the police to beef up security across the district. Pawar said: “Any person found creating trouble should be immediately apprehended and the strictest of proceedings, including MCOCA if needed, should be initiated against them. Do not hesitate to arrest any such person, irrespective of his status or political lineage.”
