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Journalism of Courage
TALE OF WOES: Home Minister Indrajit Gupta looks intently at a document presented by leader of Opposition in the Council Chhagan Bhujbal in Mumbai on Tuesday.
MUMBAI, July 15: The Sena-BJP Government today came under the lens after Union Home Minister Indrajit Gupta flew here to assess the law and order situation in the wake of the desecration riots and attack on senior Congress leaders8217; residences.
All the major players got into the act, including Sena supremo Bal Thackeray when he met the Governor P C Alexander to explain his side of the case. It became quite apparent, that the alliance government was under severe pressure as both Chief Minister Manohar Joshi and his deputy Gopinath Munde initiated several damage-control measures.
Joshi also submitted a comprehensive note to Gupta indicating the steps taken by his government in the wake of violence all over the State and the decision of his government to appoint a sitting judge of the high court to probe the riots.
On his part, Munde submitted a list of persons arrested in connection with the attack on the houses of Bhujbal and Pichad.
Munde further informed Gupta that offences had been registered against more than 40 accused including a Member of Parliament and a legislator in connection with the attack on Bhujbal and Pichad8217;s residences. He also informed Gupta that so far his government had suspended more than three officials for dereliction of duty.
Subsequently, Gupta met more than a dozen delegations. However, he cancelled his media briefing, saying it will be improper to comment on the law and order situation in the State unless he hears out all the delegations.
Gupta told media persons that he had come with a high-level team of officials of the Home Department to know for himself the cause of violence.
He told the Congress-led opposition delegation that he had seen the contents of the letter written by Joshi to Governor P C Alexander. 8220;In that letter, Joshi has unconditionally and unequivocally condemned the attack on the house of Congress leaders,8221; Gupta added.Apparently, Gupta was stunned when leader of Opposition in the Council Chhagan Bhujbal narrated how Shiv Sena workers led by a MP ransacked his house in presence of more than 50 police officials.
Bhujbal said though he specifically informed the police about the possibility of an attack on his house, no steps were taken by the alliance government.
Bhujbal8217;s version was strongly supported by Vyankappa Patki, Nihal Ahmad Janata Dal and D B Patil PWP. The opposition parties demanded that President8217;s rule should be imposed in the State to save it from further disaster.
The Bharatiya Janata Party delegation however urged Gupta to reject the demand for dismissal on the ground that the alliance government had already condemned the attack on Bhujbal and taken necessary measures including providing adequate security. 8220;In the above circumstances, we submit that any effort to use Article 356 either by dissolving the assembly or by suspending the same will amount to injustice to the people of Maharashtra,8221; BJP state president S Wahadane told Gupta.
A delegation of the Akhil Bharatiya Sena sponsored by Arun Gawli also met Gupta and submitted a memorandum demanding dismissal of the government.Gupta also asked a delegation of the Republican Party of India led by Ramdas Athavale and R S Gavai, to at least identify the forces indulging in such activities.
