Oppn walkout in Mah council over Bhiwandi police station

Nagpur, Nov 23 (UNI) Opposition members of the Maharashtra Legislature Council staged a walkout today protesting the government's alleged failure to establish a new police station in the communally-sensitive Bhiwandi city near Mumbai.

The members walked out after supplementaries on a question from Madhukar Chavan (BJP), who said the government had Stopped construction of the police station due to pressure from certain quarters.

Deputy Chief Minister R R Patil, who also holds the Home portfolio, replied that there was no pressure from any quarter.

Construction of the police station had been stayed by the Wakf Board of Aurangabad. The Bombay High Court, in an interim order, had vacated the stay and directed the state government to establish the police station outside the Wakf Board property, he said.

The state's Department of Law and Judiciary had suggested consultations to be held with local citizens to maintain peace in the area and accordingly, all communities were being consulted, Mr Patil said.

The opposition members said the government should take permission from citizens for starting a police station. They asked Mr Patil the deadline within which the police station would be commissioned. The Minister did not give a deadline but said it would be commissioned as soon as possible. Angered by these remarks, the opposition members staged a walkout.

UNI