BJP blasts R R Patil over HC decision on dance bars

Mumbai, Apr 13 (UNI) Maharashtra BJP president Nitin Gadkari today alleged that the Democratic Front (DF) government had deliberately left loopholes in its decision to ban dance bars across the state.

In a statement here, Mr Gadkari said the High Court's decision on dance bars ban amounted to the failure of the state government and deputy chief minister R R Patil in particular. Mr Patil had hurriedly announced the decision to gain publicity, he said. ''Due to him, the government had to face embarrasment in the court'', he said.

He recalled that during his speech in the Legislative Council last year, he had criticised the government for discriminating between dance bars, pubs, discotheques and starred hotels.

Even the state Congress president had remarked that the party was not taken into confidence while taking the decision. ''It shows there was no consensus in the ruling coalition over the issue'', he added.

Mr Gadkari said the entire opposition had supported the decision but pointed out loopholes. ''But, still the government did not take the issue seriously'', he added.

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