Oppn blasts govt over deteriorating law and order in Maharashtra

Mumbai, Mar 15 (UNI) The opposition in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly today charged the police machinery of protecting activists of NCP, a partner in the democratic front government in the state.

Initiating a debate on the issue of law and order in the State, BJP group leader Eknath Khadse wondered if the police were obeying the 'unwritten' orders of Deputy Chief Minister R R Patil , who was suporting the ''misdeeds'' of his party. The people had lost faith in the efficiency of the police force.

''NCP activists are involved in physically targeting rival party workers as if to prove that those opposing NCP will be physically eliminated,'' he alleged.

Describing the Tasgaon incident, where an FIR was filed against Deputy Chief Minister R R Patil for allegedly threatening rival party candidates, as a pattern being implemented in many parts of the State, Mr Khadse said Mr Patil should have resigned on moral grounds the same day when the FIR was filed against him.

Mr Khadse also charged former Mumbai Police Commissioner A N Roy with not registering an FIR against erring persons for attacking the son of a newspaper editor in Mumbai despite the intervention of Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh.

Criticising the functioning of Mr Roy, Mr Khadse said the former police chief had changed the logo of Mumbai police without consulting the Directorate General of Police (DGP). There was no co-ordination betwen them, he said. Mr Khadse also demanded the reason why the announcement of hike in police wages had not been implemented so far.

BJP member Raj Purohit highlighted the attack on two diamond traders in suburban Mumbai last evening and said traders and businsess men were not feeling safe in the metropolis.

UNI