Angered by criticism from Congress MLAs who questioned the performance of the state government and its inability to stop the increasing attacks on Dalits, Maharashtra CM Sushilkumar Shinde today offered to step down.Shinde’s outburst came at a meeting of Democratic Front MLAs today while the performance of Congress-NCP government was being reviewed. It coincided with the kidnapping and death of a minor Dalit girl in Aurangabad this evening. Mangal Dabhade, 11, was found dead at Vaijapur. The incident was the third of its kind in a month. At the Congress meet, tempers rose when MLAs expressed concern over the government’s financial situation. Since Shinde took over in January this year, the state’s debt has risen further forcing cuts in funding for various plans.The discussion then veered towards the attacks on Dalits. The issue has already come up in the assembly where Dy CM Chhagan Bhujbal today announced a probe into the killing of a Dalit youth in Jalna.Keen to prevent the problem from snowballing in the run-up to the Assembly polls, Congress legislators warned Shinde against neglecting Dalits who form a crucial segment of Congress’s votebank. Shinde, taking umbrage to the criticism, said he was ready to quit if he was being blamed for the state of affairs in the state. ‘‘If Dalits are attacked just because one of them is the state’s CM, I am no longer interested in occupying the chair. I was better in New Delhi,’’ he burst out.Shinde, who has been at the receiving end from both his own partymen and allies, said he would not tolerate indiscipline. Later, as rumours spread about his resignation, Shinde said, ‘‘There is no question of my resigning. I am firmly in the saddle.’’ A Minister said Shinde’s outburst was intended as a warning to the Vilasrao Deshmukh camp, which has been running a whisper campaign against Shinde. Shinde may now decide to invoke provisions of POTA or Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act in cases involving attacks on Dalits. He had indicated as much yesterday in the Assembly. The State Assembly will discuss the issue on Wednesday.
