Chavan upset over Pawar-Bal meeting
Age Correspondent
New Delhi, Feb. 8: Maharashtra chief minister Ashok Chavan on Monday disapproved of Union minister and NCP chief Sharad Pawar’s meeting with Shiv Sena supremo Bal Thackeray, making it clear that “there cannot be an extra- constitutional authority” and his government is “competent enough” to give adequate security to IPL matches. The AICC too did not appreciate Mr Pawar’s meeting with Mr Thackeray that took place following Mr Rahul Gandhi’s open attack on the Shiv Sena-MNS’s stand over Mumbai.
It also justified criticism on Mr Pawar’s handling the price rising issue, saying “the Congress is well within its rights to express concerns.”
Mr Pawar’s meeting with Mr Thackeray in Mumbai on Sunday is being viewed as his “non confidence” over the Maharashtra home minister belongs to the NCP. This is the interpretation of a section of the AICC.
Mr Chavan, who has been camping in New Delhi for the last three days, said “I do not think there is a need to take permission from any other authority in the state. There cannot be an extra- constitutional authority,” adding that “... Government is competent, it is the authority and there can not be two authorities in state.”
He was speaking to reporters. Declaring that his government was “competent enough” to handle any law and order problem in the state, Mr Ashok Chavan, however, refused to comment on why Mr Pawar met Mr Bal Thackeray on the issue. He, however, insisted that there cannot be “any other power centre” and that democratically elected government will do its work.
Reports said Mr Pawar, who is also the president of Mumbai Cricket Association, requested Mr Thackeray to withdraw his threat against Australian cricketers’ participation in the IPL cricket tourney.
“Don’t ask me. It will be better you ask Mr Pawar, who is a senior leader, about his motive behind meeting Mr Thackeray,” he said, adding that “democratically elected” government will perform its duty “as expected”. In a strong message to the Shiv Sena, the CM said security will be provided and “any body who will try to take law in their own hands, try to perpetrate any violent incident, the state government will take stern view and initiate legal action.” To a question on VHP threatening to hold the release of Shah Rukh Khan’s latest movie My Name is Khan, Mr Chavan said “nobody can take law in their hands. We will take action if somebody is issuing such threats. Law will take its course, let them say whatever they want.”
“I will also go to see the movie along with my family members,” he added. About his meeting with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Mr Chavan said he discussed the “problems of Mumbai” with him. “I met the Prime Minister and discussed the problems of Mumbai. To expedite the desalination process, Central grant should be given to our state as it is being given to other states. I requested the Prime Minister to help my state,” he said.
During the briefing, AICC steered clear on the issue of Pawar-Thackeray meeting.
