Don’t play with riots report, Rane warns CM

“It is a politically motivated decision and there is no merit in it, I feel the government is settling political scores, ” he added.

In an interview to The Indian Express, Rane said Chief Minister Deshmukh as well as Deputy Chief Minister Chhagan Bhujbal were working overtime to ensure implementation of the report and were deliberately avoiding other major problems.

Rane said, no doubt bowing political pressure, Deshmukh has declared that the recommendations will be implemented, but if he is a wise Chief Minister, he will not take such a step that will spoil the political atmosphere in the State.

On the cases filed by the Mumbai police against a section of politicians for their dereliction of duty during the 1992-93 communal riots, Rane said that it would have an adverse effect on the entire police force. “I feel such a step will completely demoralise the police force. In future, no policeman will take steps to curb violence during communal riots,” he pointed out.

He also criticised the CM for not convening a single meeting to tackle the severe drought and acute power shortage facing the State. “As a responsible Chief Minister, we felt that Deshmukh would convene an all-party meeting to chalkout an action plan. But it appears, they are so much engrossed in politics that they have no time for the problems faced by the masses,” Rane alleged.

Even on the financial situation as well as the controversy over the multicrore Enron power project, Rane came down heavily on the Chief Minister, saying, he was not serious on both the issues. “Deshmukh had on several occasions declared that he would initiate austerity measures to tackle the recource crunch, but even after more than a year, no concrete steps have been taken,” he said.

Similar was the case with the Enron power project. While Deshmukh has declared that his government will review the project, Energy Minister Padamsinh Patil has stated that there was no such proposal. “It is clear that even in the government, there is lack of unanimity on the Enron power project,” Rane remarked.

Rane feels that for both, on the financial situation and controversy over Enron, the Chief Minister should convene an all-party meeting so that there were more deliberations. “These are the problems of the entire state and as such, we feel that Deshmukh should take into confidence the heads of all political parties before taking any policy decision,” he said.

Rane said owing to unprecedented financial crisis, developmental works all over the State have come to a grinding halt. “As per my information, the deficit at the end of the current financial year will reach an all-time high at Rs 4,500 crore. While major payments have been stopped, treasury offices at the district-level are closed atleast for 15 days in a month. I treat this as a complete failure of the Deshmukh Government to tackle economic crisis,” he said.

Rane said he will embark on a month-long tour of the drought-affected areas from January 7 to meet the aggrieved people. “After my tour, I will submit a comprehensive report to Governor P C Alexander on my observations and measures to be taken for drought-affected families,” he added.