Zeenews Bureau
Mumbai: Maharashtra Home Minister RR Patil has ruled out quitting in connection with the recent August 11 violence.
Speaking to Vijay Shekhar, Zee News’ Mumbai bureau chief, Patil said no importance should be given to the demand by the opposition Shiv Sena, asking him to resign.
“It is politically motivated,” he said.
On August 11, two demonstrators were killed and 52 others, including 44 policemen and media persons, were injured when a protest against alleged persecution of Muslims in Assam had turned violent.
Patil further told Zee News that the Mumbai Police had prior intelligence on the gathering of people at Azad Maidan and that is why policemen in large numbers had been deployed there.
But police did not have intelligence on arsonists infiltrating the protest and causing violence, the state Home Minister said.
“The police are probing the violence; they will expose and catch the perpetrators,” the minister assured.
“Those who are demanding my resignation, did they resign after previous incidents,” he asked.
“After the attack on Parliament and Kargil war, did Shiv Sena demand resignation of LK Advani? After the Akshardham attack, did Narendra Modi resign?,” Patil sought to know.
Patil asserted that he has the support of his party colleagues and president Sharad Pawar.
The chorus for Patil’s resignation grew after Mumbai Police Commissioner Arup Patnaik was transferred in the wake of August 11 violence.
In response to a question on why no action was taken against Raj Thackeray and his MNS party for defying Mumbai Police orders to carry out a march to Azad Maidan before a rally on August 21, Patil said a complaint has been lodged and suitable action will be taken.
First Published: Saturday, September 01, 2012, 13:19