NEWSLINKS
US EDITION
COLUMNISTS
DIARY
SPECIALS
INTERVIEWS
CAPITAL BUZZ
REDIFF POLL
DEAR REDIFF
THE STATES
ELECTIONS
ARCHIVES

Search Rediff

Rediff Shopping

Shop & gift from thousands of products!   Books     Music       Apparel   Jewellery   Flowers   More..      Safe Shopping

Ram Naik sees amicable resolution of crisis

Tara Shankar Sahay in New Delhi

Senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader and Union Petroleum Minister Ram Naik today said the crisis arising out of the possible arrest of Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray in Maharashtra would be resolved "amicably."

Naik today met former defence minister Sharad Pawar, whose Nationalist Congress Party is a partner in the ruling coalition in Maharashtra.

"We visualise a peaceful solution of this issue. The state government may stage a mock arrest followed immediately by his (Thackeray's) release on bail. Both parties would be satisfied this way," Naik told rediff.com.

Maharashtra government's decision to sanction Thackeray's prosecution in a case related to some editorials that appeared in Sena mouthpiece Saaman during the 1992-93 riots, has thrown the national politics in a deep turmoil.

Three Sena ministers have already tendered their resignation from the Union Cabinet and Rapid Action Force has been rushed to Bombay to meet any eventuality.

Naik, later in the day, held a joint press conference with the Sena Parliamentary Party leader Anant Gite, where the former warned that his party would boycott the monsoon session of Parliament if no attempts were made by the Centre to prevent Thackeray's arrest.

Meanwhile, Maharashtra minister of state for home Kripa Shankar Singh arrived in Delhi today to put his government's views across to the Union Home Minister Lal Kishenchand Advani.

Singh requested Advani for an additional 3000 central para-military personnel to control the law and order situation in the state. Advani, however, rejected the request.

Union Law Minister Ram Jethmalani, who yesterday claimed there was "no case" against Bal Thackerey as the charges against him were "time barred", is scheduled to reach Bombay on Friday to meet the Sena chief.

Jethmalani has asserted that the Centre is empowered to direct the Maharashtra government to not arrest Thackeray. He emphasised that the central direction would be binding on the state government.

ALSO SEE
Police may decide on arrest after SC PIL
Maharashtra government firm on prosecuting Thackeray

Back to top

Tell us what you think of this report