Speaker resolves week-long impasse between State, Oppn

Of course, the assurance given by Deshmukh at the marathon meeting is being viewed as a major victory for the Shiv Sena, since the Congress-led Democratic Front Government agreed to review the security cover provided to Sena supremo Bal Thackeray and conceded all demands raised by the Opposition.

Deshmukh assured agitated Opposition members the high-level review committee under the Chief Secretary will be asked to take a fresh view of the security cover provided to Thackeray and submit its report within 15 days. Ever since the commencement of the Budget session on March 13, the Opposition members led by Narayan Rane and Gopinath Munde in the Lower House and Nitin Gadkari in the Upper House, had stalled the proceedings to press for four demands: remuneration to cotton as well as onion growers should be paid forthwith, immediately Samajwadi Party leader Abu Asim Azmi and restore the security cover for Thackeray.

On demands raised by the Opposition, Deshmukh said necessary instructions have been given to all district cooperative banks to release the payment of cotton growers and that cotton procurement will be continued upto March 31, similarly onion procurement will continue upto March 27 and payment will be made within a week.

On Abu Asim Azmi, Deshmukh informed that he has already been arrested and subsequently released on bail for his alleged anti-national remarks and that fresh inquiry will be conducted against him on the basis of additional evidence given by Rane and security cover for Thackeray will be reviewed.

Last month, the State Government had pruned the security cover for Thackeray. Though his Z-plus category was not altered, the number of officials and vehicles deployed were drastically cut for obvious political reasons. The security cover was brought down from 266 persons and 11 vehicles to 206 persons and seven vehicles. The Government had also cut security cover for Thackeray’s son Uddhav and nephew Raj.

When Rane as well as Munde raised the issue of Thackeray’s security cover in the Assembly, Bhujbal maintained that while there was no change in the category, some officials who were in surplus were removed. His contention was that against the provision of 43 persons under the Z-plus category, there were a record number of 266 persons. Bhujbal went a step ahead by declaring the list of the members of the Thackeray family, who were given security cover along with the total cost required for the purpose which he stated was Rs 2.88 crore.

Irked by the approach of the State Government, Rane and Munde called on Governor P C Alexander to press for its dismissal and later met Union Home Minister L K Advani to explain to him the need for more security cover for Thackeray.

Even on the row over Abu Asim Azmi, Rane proved correct, since the Government, particularly the CM, who had specifically stated that there was nothing objectionable in Azmi’s remarks, booked him under the IPC as demanded by Rane.

As there was no settlement between the Opposition and ruling party, Gujarathi had convened a special meeting to resolve the dispute. At the meeting, in view of the statement made by Deshmukh, Rane and Munde agreed to co-operate for the smooth conduct of the session.