Centre offers help to Maharashtra

New Delhi, July 9 (UNI) The Centre today offered all assistance to the Maharashtra government, including sending para military forces, after Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil reviewed the situation in Mumbai following violent protests triggered by the descreation of a statue of Shiv Sena leader Bal Thackeray's late wife.

Mr Patil reviewed the developments in a meeting with Home Secretary V K Duggal and Special Secretary (Internal Security) Raja Gopal, Home Ministry sources said.

While offering ''all possible help'' to check the violence, the Home Ministry asked the state government to handle the situation ''carefully and sensitively'', the sources said.

The Special Secretary (Internal Security) spoke to Maharashtra Chief Secretary Dr D K Shankaran and the Director General of Police, the sources added.

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