SMC councillors rap BJP govt, cops

SURAT, Sept 29: Even as the councillors of the Surat Municipal Corporation, on Wednesday, paid tributes to the seven youths, who were kil...

SURAT, Sept 29: Even as the councillors of the Surat Municipal Corporation, on Wednesday, paid tributes to the seven youths, who were killed in the police firing at Limbayat, the Bharatia Janata Party came in for some sharp criticism.

Targetting the BJP 8220;for their inept handling of the situation8221; and 8220;shielding the police commissioner8221;, councillors Bhupendra Solanki Congress, Prakash Desai independent and Devraj Nimje suspended from the BJP blasted the State government for 8220;overall deterioration of law and order situation8221; in their speeches.

Equating the Limbayat incident with Jallianwala Baugh episode, Solanki said, 8220;It is shameful for the ruling BJP that Home Minister Haren Pandya has not bothered to visit Limbayat.8221;

Demanding Rs 10 lakhs as compensation to the kin of each of the dead, Solanki demanded an CBI enquiry into the incident, which he described as a 8220;conspiracy to instigate communal violence in the city to malign the minority commmunity8221;.

Blaming BJP leader C R Patil, and other councillors of the area, for the episode, Nimje alleged,8220; It is not the police, but some BJP leaders who are responsible for the incident.8221;

Describing the firing incident as a 8220;blot on the BJP8221;, Desai held the BJP responsible for the episode and advised the party leaders to visit Limbayat immediately, saying that though Limbayat residents were extremely unhappy with the BJP and the police, they could forgive them if the union textile minister, four city MLAs and all councillors visited the area.

8220;But if they do not do so, the BJP will be wiped out from the city in the coming civic polls,8221; Desai cautioned.

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BJP Councillor Murlidhar Patil, who represents Limbayat area, while narrating the incident as an 8220;eyewitness8221;, blamed the police for adopting a rigid attitude. 8220;Had the police allowed to pass the two processions, the clashes could have been avoided. The police officers present on the spot could not take quick decision which angered people,8221; he added.

Another councillor from Limbayat, Dr Ravidra Patil whose car was torched by the rampaging mob, read out a resolution condemning the police firing.

But former mayor and newly elected Rajya Sabha member Savita Sharda criticised the Congress councillor for politicising the sensitive issue8217;. 8220;It is not the occasion to blame political parties. We are here to pay tribute to those killed,8221; she reasoned.