MUMBAI, April 11: For a change, controversial Deputy Chief Minister Chhagan Bhujbal has received compliments from an unexpected quarter. His arch political rival and leader of Opposition Narayan Rane has thanked Bhujbal for his unequivocal assurance on foolproof security cover to Sena supremo Bal Thackeray as well as his family members.Immediately after Bhujbal's statement on the present status of Thackeray's security and the Government's willingness to enhance the same at any moment, Rane welcomed the gesture, saying, he was thankful to the Government for the specific assurance. ``Our demand for more security cover for Thackeray has been accepted,'' Rane said.Ever since the commencement of the budget session of the State Legislature on March 13, the Sena-BJP had targeted the Democratic Front Government, particularly Chhagan Bhujbal on contentious issues of security cover to Thackeray and arrest of Samajwadi Party leader Abu Asim Azmi. As the response of the Government was lukewarm, the Opposition members stalled the proceedings in both the Houses, prompting the presiding officials to convene a special meeting to resolve the dispute.The contention of Rane and BJP leader Gopinath Munde was that the Home Department has deliberately cut the security of Thackeray to settle political scores and was shielding Azmi despite his anti-national remarks for obvious political reasons.Subsequently, following intervention of Assembly Speaker Arun Gujarathi and his council counterpart N S Pharande, Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh had on March 20 assured that the high-level review committee would be asked to examine the security cover provided to Thackeray.In response to the directive of the presiding officials of both the Houses, Bhujbal made identical statements in the lower as well as upper house, saying, security cover will be provided to Thackeray and members of his family as per the recommendations of the review committee. ``Besides the recommendations of the review committee, my Government will not hesitate to provide additional security officials to ensure safety of Thackeray as well as members of his family,'' Bhujbal said.Bhujbal said from 1988, Thackeray has been provided z security cover. Subsequently in May 1995, it was enhanced to z-plus. In April 1996, the number of police officials deployed for his security were increased from 79 to 155 and vehicles from three to five. In 1997, it was further enhanced to 206 officials and 11 vehicles. Simultaneously, five wireless sets and close circuit television sets were installed at the residence of Thackeray.The Deputy Chief Minister said a review committee headed by the Mumbai Commissioner of Police felt that the manpower should be reduced to 158 and number of vehicles to seven. Accordingly, the security cover for Thackeray was reduced from March 6, 2000.When the issue was raised in both the Houses, the Government had asked the Police Commissioner to take a fresh look at the security cover for Thackeray. The committee maintained that the security cover of 158 persons and seven vehicles was sufficient for the Sena leader. Later, the state-level review committee headed by the Chief Secretary also endorsed the recommendations of the local level review committee.Though Rane said it was the victory of the Sena-BJP alliance since their demand for additional security cover has been accepted, he said it was unfortunate that the details of the security cover were declared before the media. ``I feel that the details of security cover should have been kept secret in larger interest,'' Rane pointed out.Bhujbal said he too knew that details of security cover should not have been made public, but the same were declared owing to the misinformation campaign. ``An atmosphere was created that we had withdrawn the security of Thackeray as well as his family members. Under such circumstances, we had no alternative but to make public the details of security cover,'' Bhujbal added.
