 "Uddhav Thackeray meets CM Devendra Fadnavis over issue of policemen's safety")
Days after demanding a full-time Home Minister for Maharashtra, Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray on Wednesday met Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis over the concerns harboured by families of policemen in the wake of the recent attacks on police personnel in Mumbai.
The Chief Minister later said the government will consider all demands of the families of police personnel.
Uddhav, who met Fadnavis at the latter's official residence 'Varsha 'in posh Malabar Hill area of South Mumbai, was accompanied by a few Sena ministers and the families of policemen.
The police families residing in Worli's BDD chawl had expressed their anger over the attack on traffic cop Vilas Shinde, who was allegedly beaten up by two youths following which he succumbed to his injuries on August 31.
After the meeting, he told reporters that Fadnavis, who holds the Home portfolio, is "capable and competent, but has been overburdened by work lately".
"I think the Home Department needs a separate minister to check attacks on police," he said.
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"I demanded three things from the CM — safety of cops in state, proper implementation of law, and strict punishment to attackers," the Sena president said.
Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray had also recently spoken against the incident and met the families of policemen.
Uddhav had recently said that the state needed a full-time Home Minister in the backdrop of the "deteriorating" law and order situation.
Sena ministers Subhash Desai, Diwakar Raote and Deepak Kesarkar were also present at today's meeting at 'Varsha'.
Kesarkar is the Minister of State for Home.
Later, Fadnavis said the government will consider all demands of the families of police personnel.
He informed them of various initiatives taken by the state government for police welfare, including full day salary for working on holiday, inclusion of police in PM Awas Yojna and provision of Rs 2,000 crore for police housing this year.
He also assured them of setting up of a committee to address their issues and inclusion of their family members in the panel.
The chief minister also informed that the government is working on some unique initiatives for police health, and to increase interaction between police and public.
A skill training programme for wives of policemen is also being planned.