BIG FAILURE OF POLICE: EX-CM
Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari on Saturday said the attack by the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) employees at NCP president Sharad Pawar's house was not a good thing and the state government will ensure that such incidents do not occur in the future. "Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray is looking into the matter. He (CM) is a mature leader, while Pawar himself is a towering leader," he noted. On the other hand, the Leader of Opposition in the state assembly Devendra Fadnavis, who has strongly condemned Friday’s incident, has questioned the role of Mumbai Police. "It was a 'big failure' of the police department and intelligence agencies, which he said should be investigated," he said.
"The protestors in large numbers had gone there with proper planning. The police were caught unaware. It was a total failure of the Mumbai Police. The inquiry of the city police and intelligence department should be conducted,’’ he demanded.
"One important issue arises after the protest that the entire media knew about the movement of the protesters. Some of my friends working in the media told me yesterday that they had received messages about the protest at 2: 30 pm. So, the important issue is what were the police doing," Fadnavis said.
"People were moving towards the residence of such a big leader with planning, but the police did not have any idea! How can there be such a big failure of police and intelligence when cameras (media persons) reach there in time, but police reach late," he said.
According to Fadnavis, the entire visuals of the protest were horrific and the incident should be investigated. Meanwhile, the Maharashtra Legislative Council deputy chairperson Neelam Gorhe demanded that the mastermind behind the the attack should be booked under the IPC section 307 for an attempt to murder. "I am of the view that the attack seems to be a conspiracy. Had the police not been there it would have harmed Pawar and his family members. There is an urgent need to curb such dangerous elements," she noted.