CM rejects demand for judicial probe in Sunday's violence

Mumbai, Feb 4 (UNI) Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh today rejected Samajwadi Party's demand for judicial inquiry into yesterday's violence, unleashed by Maharashtra Navnirman Sena activists in the city and other parts of the state.

Speaking to reporters after a delegation of Samajwadi Party met him, Mr Deshmukh said the demand was to divert the attention from the core issue. He accused the party's leader Abu Asim Azmi of trying to gain political mileage from the issue.

He said that proper legal procedure is being followed and investigations are on in the matter. Mr Deshmukh said North Indians and people residing in Maharashtra, hailing from other parts of the country, should feel safe. He lamented that the worst part of the violence as witnessed on Sunday was that the common man was troubled.

The Chief Minister said that citizens, who had suffered losses in the violence, would be compensated.

UNI MR SR VD HS1940