Situation under control in Maharashtra: Gov

Mandya, Karnataka, Dec 1: Maharashtra Governor S M Krishna today described the large scale violence over the desecration of an Ambedkar statue in Kanpur as ''unfortunate'' and said the situation was completely under control now.

In a chat with newspersons here, he said he had sought a detailed report from the Government on the incidents and asked the officials concerned to take necessary steps to control the situation. He also spoke to top officals this morning and understood that normalcy had returned.

He would cut short his tour and return to Mumbai to know the facts and figures. Even Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh, who was away in Singapore, returned to the State immediately, he added.

Four people were left dead and many others injured in the violent protests over the desecration of an Ambedkar statue in Kanpur. Five coaches of the Deccan Queen train were set afire and a number of buses burnt.

Refusing to comment on the Union Government's affidavit on the Mahajan Commission report over the vexed border dispute between Karnataka and Maharashtra, the former Karnataka Chief Minister said the matter was before the court.

On Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy's allegations that the Election Commission was favouring the Congress in the Chamundeswari bypoll, he said the EC was an independent and constitution framed body and it was not good to comment on it.

Mr Krishna, who was in his home town on a private visit, left for Mumbai immediately.

UNI