MUMBAI, 15 August 2007 — Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh said yesterday that fast tracks courts would be set up only after the proposal is cleared by the Cabinet next week. Deshmukh revealed this when contacted by Arab News. “The proposal for setting up the special courts related to the recommendations of the Srikrishna Commission panel would be placed before the Cabinet for sanction, this procedure is mandatory which will be taken,” he said.
After the approval from the Cabinet, the government would notify it immediately to the Bombay High Court for further action, he said. Congress President Sonia Gandhi said yesterday afternoon in New Delhi that definite action will be taken on the findings of the Srikrishna report that went into the 1993 Mumbai riots.
Earlier on Monday, the chief minister told a delegation of Muslims and nongovernment organizations (NGOs) led by filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt and journalist Teesta Setalvad and others that the Srikrishna panel report would be expedited. He also assured of looking into the demands of the delegation.
“The recommendations of the panel would be implemented and various methods and ways of implementing the recommendations would also be studied,” Deshmukh told the delegation.
Bhatt later told the media that following the discussions with the chief minister, the scheduled rally of various Muslim and social organizations on Aug. 20 has been postponed to Oct. 25.
Meanwhile, the working president of Shiv Sena Uddhav Thackeray has once again warned the government that there would be retaliation if the Sena was framed, while speaking at a function on Monday evening.
“The findings of the Srikrishna Commission are an attack on Hindus, who will fight till the last drop of their blood. The move to implement the panel report is just to appease the traitors, and the Sena will fight it with full force and give a befitting reply,” Uddhav said.
“The government cannot twist the law according to its whims, but whatever has to happen will happen according to the judicial process. The Sena opposes the creation of fast track courts for Srikrishna report,” he added.
Sena Activists Attack Outlook Magazine Office in Mumbai
Upset over the publication of an article in the latest issue of the popular English magazine Outlook which mentioned the role of Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray in the communal riots of 1992-93, Sena activists yesterday went berserk and attacking the office of the magazine situated on the 10th floor of Rajendra Chambers at Nariman Point in south Mumbai.
More than 300 activists of the Sena led by south Mumbai Sena chief Arun Dudhwadkar ransacked the office of the magazine damaging glass panes, furniture, computers and telephones. Dudhwadkar alleged that the magazine had published a derogatory article about Thackeray painting him as the main perpetrator of the communal riots and of instigating the Hindus to attack Muslims.
“We will not permit any disrespect or insult to our supreme leader Thackeray. The magazine has crossed all limits in tainting Thackeray as a villain,” Dudhwadkar said.
Besides Thackeray, the article has also included in the list of “villains” Mahatma Gandhi’s assassin Nathuram Godse, Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi and cricketer Mohammed Azharuddin. The article also featured a caricature of the Sena chief with a toothbrush moustache and Hitler-like uniform. The Colaba police who reached the trouble spot, and brought the situation under control, have registered a case of rioting against the local Sena unit activists. The police did not make any arrest and are investigating the matter.
Meanwhile, security has been beefed up throughout Maharashtra, particularly in Mumbai, ahead of the Independence Day celebrations. A state of high alert has been sounded as intelligence reports indicated that terrorists may creep into Mumbai through the sea and attack vital installations and important government offices.
The police have started combing hotels, railway and bus stations and airports. Sharp vigil is also being kept in crowded public places, defense installations, information technology hubs, all public buildings. Patrolling has been intensified in sensitive places, near temples, mosques and other religious places.
Sniffer dogs along with officials of the Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad and Anti-Terrorist Squad cops were on the lookout for suspicious objects at railway and bus stations, and people were being searched and questioned.
Senior police officials said that they were fully prepared and geared to meet any eventuality and assured that the government had taken all necessary steps and precautions for the safety and security of the people of the state, and that there was no reasons whatsoever for any alarm.
