Bhujbal holds Raj, Azmi responsible for people's sufferings

Nashik, Feb 15 (UNI) Maharashtra State PWD Minister and Guardian Minister of Nashik District Chhagan Bhujbal today held Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) president Raj Thackeray and Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Abu Azmi responsible for the sufferings of common people during the three-day violence that marred the city and state recently.

''Both Raj and Azmi want their parties to grow. For this, they made statements which resulted in their arrest and agitations later.

Due to this, poor common people suffered,'' said Mr Bhujbal, who is also the Guardian Minister of Nashik District, while replying to a question about the delay in arresting both Raj and Azmi.

The Minister, who is on tour of the district, was interacting with journalists here today.

He said since the arrest had to be done for their speeches, the government needed time to decide and also to make security arrangements to maintain law and order.

Asked how he would have handled the situation, had he been the Home Minister, Mr Bhujbal replied ''I do not answer hypothetical questions.'' However, he said he did not think the state government had failed in handling the situation.

Earlier, Mr Bhujbal visited the home of Ambadas Dharrao, the HAL employee who was killed in the stone-pelting incident resorted to by the MNS activists on February 13, at Niphad here. He was accompanied by Niphad MLA Dilip Bankar, Superintendent of Police Nikhil Gupta, District Collector S Chokkalingam.

The Minister said the situation was under control and appealed the people not to fear and return to join work.

He also assured that the culprits would be punished and justice will be given to the sufferers.

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