Ashok Chavan defends Civil Supplies Minister Sattar involved in brawl

Mumbai, Mar 22 (ANI): Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan on Monday defended Minister of State for Food and Civil Supplies Abdul Sattar terming the brawl by him on a Congress party worker as a matter of no national importance.

"This is not a national issue. It's not important," said Chavan.

Chavan, however, said he would seek a report on the incident when the opposition raised the issue in the state assembly.

Maharashtra leader of Opposition Eknath Khadse criticized the act and demanded an apology from Sattar.

Abdul Sattar had on Sunday bashed up Mohammed Mushtaq, a Congress party activist during a meeting of the Congress, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and Pragati Aghadi for the Aurangabad municipal polls.

Mushtaq was not just assaulted by Sattar, but by his personal assistant as well when he confronted the minister on being denied a party ticket.

Sattar, however, did not tender an apology for his act.

"He threatened and abused me. Even if I am a minister, there is a limit to tolerating such behaviour. I am human after all. I do not know him at all. He suddenly attacked me demanding a ticket. haven't even decided yet," said Sattar. (ANI)