Maha: Devendra Fadnavis targetted by Shiv Sena over "dismal" law and order situation in state

Mumbai, Mar 19: Shiv Sena, a ruling partner in the BJP-led Maharashtra government, today targetted chief minister Devendra Fadnavis over "deteriorating" law and order situation in the state, saying despite a ban dance bars are still functional in connivance with police.

Attacking Fadnavis, who also holds Home portfolio, without taking his name, Sena MLC Anil Parab wondered how dance bars are still active in the city.

"If a police van is parked outside (the bars) then it indicates that dance bar is on. Dance bars are functional in cooperation with police," he said.

Dance bars were banned by the then Home Minister (late) R R Patil when Congress-NCP coalition government was at the helm. Parab alleged the Home department lacked any control over law and order and recalled how BJP leader (late) Gopinath Munde used to pay surprise visits to police stations during night when he was deputy chief minister in the NDA government in 1995.

Parab said police could not even solve simple cases of chain snatching. Leader of Opposition in Legislative Council, Dhananjay Munde raised the issue of protection given by Home department to a cricket bookie, Anil Singhania and demanded it should be withdrawn.

"When our government was in power, Home minister R R Patil had withdrawn Singhania's security. However, your government has given him protection once again," he said.

Munde said the government continued to provide security to Singhania despite an MLA of the ruling party having written to it.

"One ruling party MLA has written four letters to government to not provide security to the bookie but was ignored. Why has the government given him security?" Munde questioned.

The Fadnavis government also came under fire from many members of the Upper House over the law and order situation, who raised various issues during the discussion.

PTI