Pratibha for inclusive Mumbai

The two most politically significant women in the country, President Pratibha Patil and Congress president Sonia Gandhi, today came out on the side of a more inclusive Mumbai even as violence raged in the metropolis.

Patil, for whom even the Shiv Sena voted across party lines for the sake of Marathi pride during the presidential elections, said the violence in Mumbai must end, that the casualties so far were unfortunate and that Mumbai city was for everyone. She was speaking to reporters accompanying a delegation from Maharashtra.

Gandhi, whose party is in power along with the NCP in Maharashtra, too decided to act today. Sources confirm that she has "ticked off" the Vilasrao Deshmukh-led state government over its inability to handle the violence.

Sources say that at a meeting held in 10 Janpath, Gandhi made her displeasure over the situation known and has asked senior party leaders to take a hand in making sure that the violence comes to an end soon.