New Delhi: As NCP demanded arrest of a Shiv
Sena MP, NCP chief Sharad Pawar on Friday night condemned the attack
by suspected Sainiks on Marathi news channel IBN-Lokmat and
expressed hope that the Maharashtra government will take
action against the perpetrators.
"What has happened is absolutely improper and
condemnable," Pawar said hoping the state government would
take "stern action" against the perpetrators.
"MP Sanjay Raut's claim of accepting responsibility for
the attacks smacks of Taliban mentality. He should be
arrested," he said.
Pawar said the NCP Working Committee, which met here this
evening, condemned the attack in the strongest terms and
demanded action against those behind it.
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Chhagan Bhujbal said
anyone taking law in his own hands would be dealt with
sternly.
"Whatever he (Raut) has said comes within the purview of
the law, and action would be taken accordingly," Bhujbal said.
Raut had said if the attackers had claimed to be Shiv
Sainiks, he would not deny that they were not Sena activists.
"I have been observing the kind of language used by the
news channel while referring to Balasaheb Thackeray ... If you
use such language against such a senior leader, people are
bound to get agitated.
"If you say this is an attack on the media, I don't think
it is. The media also has to stay within limits," Raut said.
PTI
First Published: Friday, November 20, 2009, 23:16