Vilasrao will have to go 8212; Thackeray

This has not perturbed Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh who observed that his government was stable and there was no danger to it. 8220;The proposal to grant permission for the prosecution of Thackeray was placed before me and I have given by approval. It was my duty,8221; Deshmukh said.

Meanwhile, the Sena-BJP-led opposition boycotted the customary tea-party, hosted by the Chief Minister on the eve of the monsoon session of the State Legislature commencing from tomorrow. 8220;Instead of boycotting it, they should have attended the meeting for better interaction. Whatever issues have been raised by the opposition members in their memorandum, could have been discussed in the meeting,8221; Deshmukh said.

On the agenda for the monsoon session, Deshmukh said besides the bill for right to information, which has already been circulated, his government would introduce the bills for amendments to the Cooperative Societies8217; Act, and the Bombay Police Act, ensure legal protection for hutments built prior to January 1, 1995 and replace octroi with by a cess in a section of the municipal corporations.

Leader of opposition in the State Assembly Narayan Rane and BJP leader Gopinath Munde today alleged that the DF government had raked up an eight-year-old case against Thackeray on the eve of the monsoon session only to cover up its failures and the Sena-BJP alliance would not play into its hands by stalling the proceedings of the Legislature.

On the contrary, both the opposition leaders warned that the alliance would give a befitting reply by coming out on the streets if the government dared to arrest Thackeray.

8220;The DF government8217;s decision is politically-motivated as it does not want the opposition to focus on its failures and misdeeds,8221; Rane alleged. 8220;The government thinks that the opposition will not allow the functioning of the Legislature if it arrests Thackeray. But we will not play into their hands by doing so and instead grill the government on the issues such as rampant corruption, stalling of developmental works by the ruling Front and its failure to give an effective administration to the people,8221; he said.

Rane also alleged that Bhujbal had sent the files on Thackeray8217;s prosecution to Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh for his signature, but kept the file on city Samajwadi Party SP president Abu Azmi with him. 8220;We will seek an explanation from the Government on this in the Legislature,8221; he said.

When asked why had the former alliance government failed to withdraw the case against Thackeray under IPC section 153 A, the former chief minister said the files had remained in the office of the Additional Chief Secretary Home and never reached his office. 8220;Somehow, the case could not be withdrawn,8221; he added.

Munde, who was in-charge of the home department then, said that there was no question of reopening the files now. However, the DF government was deliberately raking up the eight-year-old case.

The statements of the Chief Minister, Deputy Chief Minister and city police commissioner were contradictory on the prosecution and arrest of the Sena chief, he pointed out.

On the first day of session on Monday, the opposition would demand an adjournment of the question-hour and discussion on malnutrition in tribal areas of the state, incident of attempt to rape and murder at Ahmednagar, death of over seventy in the landslide at Ghatkopar and politicisation of the administration by the ruling Front, he said.