Opposition leader in Maharashtra assembly Narayan Rane on Friday charged the Democratic Front (DF) government with "going out of way to appease Muslims", saying the doling out Rs two lakh compensation to victims of Malegaon riots was "uncalled for".
"It was a pure case of appeasement. Chief minister vilasrao Deshmukh rushed to Malegaon at the directive of AICC president Sonia Gandhi and distributed the compensation amount to families of rioters, killed in police firing", Rane told reporters in Mumbai.
He said the state government's decision amounted to "giving undue state protection and encouragement to those who unleahsed terror against innocent Hindus and glorified Saudi rebel Osama bin Laden".
"Deshmukh's decision was in complete contrast to reality, as the very people whom he has sought to sympathise with had heaped atrocities against Hindu residents, inflicted violence against police and set ablaze shops," he claimed.

Bureau Report