Sena statement stalls hearing

December 8: Moments before Congress leader Chhagan Bhujbal could step in the witness box at the Justice S D Gundewar commission this aftern...

December 8: Moments before Congress leader Chhagan Bhujbal could step in the witness box at the Justice S D Gundewar commission this afternoon, Shiv Sena leader Subhash Desai filed a statement of case in connection with the desecration of Dr Ambedkar8217;s statue at Ghatkopar early this year.

This sparked off a hot debate between advocates appearing before the commission, causing delay in the commission8217;s work. The case has been put off for tomorrow. As a result, Bhujbal could not give his testimony and sat idle in the courtroom throughout the day. Justice Gundewar will decide tomorrow whether to accept the Shiv Sena statement.

Sena8217;s statement attacks the Congress and Bhujbal for defaming the state government as quot;anti-Dalit.quot; Desai, the Shiv Sena General Secretary, claimed that incidents of desecration of statues of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and Dr Ambedkar had occurred in the past and only the Sena was blamed for it. During the budget session of the State Legislative Assembly this year, a statue of Dr Ambedkar was desecrated on March 16 in Shrirampur. The blame was again put on Sena, it was stated. It was alleged that the incident at Ghatkopar was also closely connected with the assembly session. quot;History repeated itself conveniently for raising yet another demand for dismissal of the government,quot; said Desai.

Adik Shirodkar, Rajya Sabha MP and Shiv Sena counsel, said his party had filed its statement of case late because during the cross-examination of witnesses, the Congress tried to project the ruling party as anti-Dalit. B A Desai, Congress counsel, strongly opposed the Sena8217;s statement saying it did not confine itself to the terms of reference of the commission. quot;It is nothing but a politically motivated statement and is full of malice towards Congress,quot; Desai argued.

Advocate Prabhakar Hegde strongly opposed Sena8217;s move to submit the statement at this stage of hearing before the Commission. quot;The time limit for filing a statement was over long back. The Sena now wants to interrupt the proceedings when Bhujbal is about to depose before the commission. This is not a political battle,quot; he argued. Advocate Sanghraj Rupwate argued if the commission felt the evidence being recorded before the commission was going against the Sena, Sena leaders can be summoned to defend themselves.