Manifesto didn’t mention dance bar ban: Cong

Deshmukh told reporters that the Government had sought legal opinion over the ban. However, it was AICC general secretary Margaret Alva, who made a loaded remark. She said: ‘‘I don’t think our manifesto made a mention of dance bars.’’ The implication is clear — the Congress may seek to corner NCP on the ground that their joint election manifesto did not talk of the dance bars. Therefore, there is no ground for a ban now.

Deshmukh told reporters that Sonia had asked him to attend to the bar girls’ issue. A delegation of the bar girls had recently met Sonia and sought her intervention arguing that the ban would jeopardise their livelihood. The total number of bar girls is estimated at 75,000.

When asked about the rehabilitation of bar girls, Deshmukh responded with a counter-question: ‘‘where is the question of rehabilitation when there is no order for a ban as of now.’’ He said both types of opinions were forthcoming now. While some favoured the ban, some were opposed to the idea. The bars are operating, he pointing out. He said 20,000 bar girls are working in as many licensed bars. ‘‘I don’t know how many of them are working in unlicensed bars,’’ he added.

Deshmukh also obtained Sonia’s green signal for the expansion of his ministry to fill three vacancies in the Congress quota. When asked about two vacancies in the NCP quota, he said he had no information on their choice. Sources indicated that all the three new ministers would be MLAs, implying that former PCC president Govindrao Adik, enjoying the patronage of PCC president Prabha Rau may not find favour. Adik is an MLC.

Another outcome of the meeting was that the election manifesto implementation committee would meet once in three months. The co-ordination committee would meet once a month.