Ramdas Kadam demands R R Patil's resignation

Pune, Jun 13 (UNI) Leader of Opposition in Maharashtra Assembly and Shiv Sena leader Ramdas Kadam today demanded resignation of state Home Minister and Deputy Chief Minister, R R Patil, for the deteriorating law and order situation in the state.

Condemning the attack by Renvenue Minister Narayan Rane's supporters on the Sena mouthpiece Saamna's office in the city last evening, he said the attack reflected the deteriorating law and order condition in the state. Such attacks had become frequent, he said.

Citing instances of Mr Rane's supporters attack on Saamna offices in Mumbai and Pune yesterday and NCP activists attack on the residence of editor of Marathi daily 'Loksatta' Kumar Ketkar in Thane last week, Mr Kadam alleged that Mr Rane had unleashed terror in the state and there were several cases filed against him in different parts of the state, including Sangli, Ramtek and Kankavli, during elections. The eyewitnesses of these attacks were also not spared and were beaten up by his supporters, while one of the Sena workers has gone missing, he alleged.

''There are a total of 45 FIR's registered against his supporters,'' Mr Kadam informed.

He said he would write and publish a book about all the attacks by Mr Rane's supporters, the destruction and his political journey from the time he joined the Congress.

''I am going to publish a book on him and send a copy to UPA Chairperson and Congress President Sonia Gandhi and urge her to take Mr Rane's resignation,'' he said.

The Leader of Opposition said the 'Saamna' only carried Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh's comment where he had stated about Mr Rane's discomfort in the Congress was akin to the discomfort of a new bride in her new surroundings.

Police yesterday detained around five people for pelting stones at the 'Saamna' office in Dhayari area of the city. A group of 10-15 people pelted stones at Saamna office and fled soon after. This was in retaliation to the article published in Saamna yesterday. A similar attack was also reported at Saamna's Mumbai Office.

UNI DWN SSS PD AS2004