Minister also arranged bail for attackers of Christians

MUMBAI, MAY 23: Dairy Development Minister Arjun Tulsiram Pawar did not just join the welcome party outside Nashik jail that received the ...

MUMBAI, MAY 23: Dairy Development Minister Arjun Tulsiram Pawar did not just join the welcome party outside Nashik jail that received the 33 youth who were arrested for attacking Christians in Abhona village on May 9. He was also actively involved in organising legal help for the accused to secure them bail.

This piece of information comes from none other than Pawar himself. In a report submitted to Deputy Chief Minister Chhagan Bhujbal, Pawar’s office confirmed that the Minister had taken a lead in organising lawyers for the accused. Pawar had taken the trouble, the letter explained, to ensure “peace and harmony in the area”.

But though there is no sign of remorse or even a hint of an apology from the Minister, the Nationalist Congress Party (to which Pawar belongs) and the Congress (which makes a song and dance about protecting minority rights) have not as much as reprimanded the Minister for brazenly associating with activists of the BJP, RSS and VHP in welcoming the accused persons.

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“On one hand Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh has taken a lead to draft schemes and programmes for the members of minority communities, on the other Cabinet members like Pawar are directly sympathising with anti-minority elements. This is against the spirit of the two parties, Congress and NCP,” a senior Congress Minister said.

The Minister said since prima facie Pawar was at fault, it was for the NCP to take action against him. “Since he belongs to NCP, it will be better if NCP takes action against him,” the Minister said.

According to a NCP Minister, since both NCP president Sharad Pawar — who had condemned the Abhona attack — and Bhujbal were not in city, a decision on what action to take would be decided later.

Both NCP as well as Congress cabinet members admitted that pressure is building on the Chief Minister to immediately sack A T Pawar for siding with communal organisations.