Union home minister Indrajit Gupta was at his pugnacious best yesterday while describing his recent two-day visit to Mumbai.
Wit and sarcasm flowed in ample measure as the comrade heaped ridicule on the Shiv Sena-BJP government while recounting his impressions of the visit. The occasion was a press briefing on the Inter-State Council which met yesterday.
Gupta recounted at length the attack by Shiv Sena workers on Chhagan Bhujbal, leader of the opposition in the state council.
He earned the wrath of the Shiv Sena. They were out for his blood, but they did not catch him. He had informed the police the previous day of the possibility of the attack, and a strong police was posted also. But when the attack came, they (the police) did nothing. They were `haath-joding, baba dont do like this, Gupta remarked.
Gupta recalled that the Shiv Sena group that attacked Bhujbal numbered about 200, and included known leaders, corporators etc.
One MP (Mohan Rawle) was also involved, but he has not been arrested. The CM told me he (Rawle) was merely standing outside, and was not actually involved in the attack. Some policemen said he will be arrested, there is a warrant against him. As soon as we get him, he will be nabbed, they said. Right now they said he had gone to Delhi to vote for the President. But the police has not applied the provisions of attempt to murder against those arrested. Maybe no action will be taken, he said with a smirk.
Was he satisfied with the explanation given by Chief Minister Manohar Joshi during the visit?
There is nothing to be satisfied about the explanations. Was there any instigation (for the attack on Bhujbal)? The CM said he said something which angered Shiv Sena people. I told him was he justifying the attack? Then, he came to meet me...Bal...(turning to Union home secretary K Padmanabhaiah), whats his name? Yes, Thackeray. He came with a young man (again seeking official help) his son, Raj or Uddhav?
He (Thackeray) said we dont behave like this, we are a government, a democratic government, why should we do this. And he said, but such things happen; that the media is playing havoc, creating public excitement, he showed me headlines. He said we are not against Dalits, there are so many Dalits in my party.
Yes, the Congress has demanded Presidents rule. The Congress is divided into 20 parts, but they are united on this. And when it comes to who becomes the Chief Minister, they will again fight each other.
