Fate of Samajwadi Party meeting still unclear

Mumbai, Nov 20 (UNI) The fate of the proposed public meeting by the Samajwadi Party at Shivaji Park tomorrow afternoon still hangs in balance with the police yet to grant permission for the same.

Samajwadi Party leader Amar Singh had yesterday criticised Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh claiming permission for his party's proposed meeting was being denied on the directions of UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi.

Mr Singh, while stating that the meet will be held at all costs, had even dared the Chief Minister and city police commissioner A N Roy to stop thousands of Samajwadi Party workers from congregating at Shivaji Park. ''I myself will court arrest along with other party workers,'' he had said.

Samajwadi Party MP Abu Asim Azmi had stated that in the meeting, his party will highlight the issue of the demolition drive of hutments existing till 2000 despite an assurance of regularising them.

The meeting will also demand a CBI probe in the Malegaon and Mumbai bomb blasts. ''The government accepted the demand for a CBI probe in the Khairlanji dalit murder case. It should do so in respect of the bomb blasts probe as well,'' he had added.

UNI JM MAZ VD ND2218