Violence by Sainiks not linked to Bhiwandi incident: CM

Mumbai, July 9 (UNI) Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh has said the desecration of the bust of late Meenatai Thackeray, the wife of Sena supremo Bal Thackeray, by some miscreants was not linked to the Wednesday's violence in Bhiwandi or yesterday's morcha outside Samajwadi Party leader Abu Asim Azmi's residence.

Addressing a news conference at his official residence 'Varsha' here today, Mr Deshmukh, accompanied by his deputy R R Patil, said total 510 persons have been arrested from different parts of the state, out of which 46 were from Mumbai. One private bus was torched in Mumbai while 38 public transport buses were damaged in stone-pelting incidents in the state.

He said the government would probe the desecration incident and punish the guilty. The Sainiks response to the desecration was natural, as they hold late Mrs Thackeray in high esteem.

He appealed for calm and assured stern action against the guilty in the desecration incident.

The Chief Minister said nobody should take law into their hands and pointed out that restoration of law and order was his government's priority after which the investigations would begin.

Replying to a query, Mr Deshmukh said there are about 12,000 statues in Mumbai and it was the responsibility of the institutions who have constructed those statues to protect them as well.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr Patil said he had spoken to Shiv Sena Executive President Uddhav Thackeray in the morning and asked him to call upon the party cadre to maintain calm.

Mr Deshmukh said he would speak to Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Gopinath Munde in this regard.

Meanwhile, Sena-BJP leaders have asked the government to bring the culprits to book at the earliest. The issue is likely to figure in the legislature, when both the Houses resume proceedings tomorrow.

Sena leaders Uddhav Thackeray and Manohar Joshi said that the party has not issued any directive to the Sainiks to either call for a bandh or resort to any kind of violent protest.

UNI MR SSS PA DB2338