Meenatai statue ''insult'' rocks Mah Assembly;oppn stall proceeding

Mumbai, July 10 (UNI) The desecration of the late Meenatai Thackeray's statue at Shivaji Park found its echo in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly today with the Shiv Sena-BJP stalling the proceedings of the House demanding action against the guilty even as the Deputy Chief Minister tried to turn the heat on the opposition charging them with politicising the issue to gain mileage.

The adjournment notice seeking discussion on the issue by setting aside the day's business was moved by Leader of the Opposition Ramdas Kadam which was rejected by Deputy Speaker Pramod Shende after a 30-minute adjournment.

Earlier, a heated exchange of words between Mr Patil and the opposition resulted in adjournment for 30 minutes by Speaker Babasaheb Kupekar.

When Mr Patil rose to make a statement on the allegations levelled by the Sena-BJP and began speaking on the police action against the culprits of the Bhiwandi violence, Sena members stood up and shouted,''what about Abu Asim Azmi'', referring to the Samajwadi party leader whom they have been accusing of formenting trouble in Bhiwandi last week and responsible for desecration of the late Meenatai Thackeray's statue in Shivaji Park.

An angry Mr Patil said, ''I heard your speeches for 30 minutes without interruption. If you create hurdles like this, we too have people on treasury benches when you make speeches''.

To which the opposition members charged the Deputy CM of ''threatening'' the opposition which they said will not be tolerated. A visibly agitated Speaker Mr Kupekar rejected the opposition charge saying that Mr Patil had just said the action of the opposition in disrupting his speech was not right.

Mr Patil also criticised the opposition for making a hero out of SP leader Azmi by repeatedly targeting him. He said he will not allow the saffron combine's designs of formenting communal trouble in Maharashtra tosucceed.

He said during the Shiv Sena-BJP rule, former Deputy Chief Minister Gopinath Munde had taken a decision that the responsibility of protecting statues in Mumbai would be on the institutions who erect them.

''The statue at Shivaji park is on BMC (Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation) land. Why couldn't Shiv Sena, which is in power in Mumbai's civic body, ensure protection of Meenatai's statue, who is revered among party cadre. The party leaders invoke her name to get votes and isn't it their responsibility to ensure the statue is protected. At the Mayor's bungalow nearby, many Shiv Sena guards are deployed every day, why can't one guard be kept near the statue,'' Mr Patil asked.

He said the police would investigate the case thoroughly including the angle as to who would have benefited from the desecration and its aftermath. He said police have already begun investigations and the leads which they have got would make everybody regret.

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