Amitabh Bachchan to be given adequate security: R R Patil

Mumbai, Feb 4 (UNI) Deputy Chief Minister and Home Minister R R Patil tonight said the government will provide adequate security to Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan, who was targetted by Maharashtra Nanvnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray during a function here recently.

''I assure you that Amitabhji will be given full security and if need arises, we will provide him more security,'' he told a news channel here today.

Refuting the allegation that his government had been a mute spectator when MNS activists yesterday allegedly beat up migrants from North India in the metropolis and other places, Mr Patil said strict action was being taken against the perpetrators indulging in the crime.

Mr Patil also denied accusations levelled by senior Samajwadi Party leader Amar Singh that the government did not provide elaborate security to former Uttar Pradesh chief minister Mulayam Singh Yadav and other political leaders, who were in the city to attend the United National Progressive Alliance (UNPA) rally yesterday.

''In fact, we provided much more security to Mulayam Singh and around the Shivaji Park, the venue of the rally, than the security we provide at some religious occasions,'' he said.

The MNS chief, who broke away from his uncle Bal Thackeray's Shiv Sena in November 2005, and subsequently floated his own political outfit, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena, had during a function on last Thursday stated that Mr Bachchan's loyalties were more towards his native state Uttar Pradesh than Maharashtra.

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