DF Govt. should go: Opposition

By Mahesh Vijapurkar

MUMBAI, JULY 26. Opposition parties in Maharashtra, mainly the Shiv Sena and BJP, were vociferous in their demand for the resignation of the Democratic Front Government because of the ``setback'' it received on Tuesday when the case against the Shiv Sena chief, Mr. Bal Thackeray, - for inflammatory writings in 1992-93 stoking communal riots - was thrown out by a city court.

The Opposition's contention was that it was not the Sena or Mr. Thackeray, but the Government which gunned for him with vengeance, that held Mumbai and the State to ransom and resulted in fear and tension among the people. And since the Chief Minister, Mr. Vilasrao Deshmukh, and his deputy, Mr. Chhagan Bhujbal, had admitted that the decision to prosecute and arrest Mr. Thackeray was ``collective'', the Government should resign.

They drew a parallel between the manner in which Mr. A.R. Antulay had resigned on being named by the High Court and suggested that Mr. Deshmukh and Mr. Bhujbal should draw inspiration from the former Congress Chief Minister.

`Why spare Azmi?'

They also asked why Mr. Abu Asim Azmi, Samajwadi Party's Mumbai chief, whose prosecution too was ordered along with that of Mr. Thackeray, was still free.

In the Legislative Council - which was frequently disrupted, twice adjourned and later hurriedly completed the business in less than a minute - the Leader of the Opposition, Mr. Nitin Gadkari (BJP), asked, ``Why is that the `traitor' is still not arrested?'' He and his associates argued that the CBI, had certified that the voice on the tape of a public meeting in which Mr. Azmi's speech attracted Section 153(a) of the IPC, was that of Mr. Azmi. This led to the Government's decision to apply the section against him.

In a moderate replay of Tuesday's unruly scenes in the Assembly on the same issue - the damage to the Assembly was such that no sitting could be held there - MLCs today invaded the well of the house, rushed to the Presiding Officer's table, snatched his microphone and shouted slogans.

PTI reports:

Mumbai city was back to a normal, busy day today after 10 days of political drama and tension. The Joint Commissioner of Police, (Law and Order), Mr. Y.C. Pawar, said the additional paramilitary forces deployed at various sensitive zones in the city would continue for the moment.

Ministers resume duty

In New Delhi, the three Shiv Sena Ministers in the Union Cabinet - Messrs. Manohar Joshi, Suresh Prabhu and Balasahib Vikhe-Patil - resumed official duty today.

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