The Hindu : National : Patil denies being soft on Raj Thackeray

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Patil denies being soft on Raj Thackeray

Special Correspondent

MUMBAI: Amid mounting criticism, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister R.R. Patil on Wednesday said if the government had a soft corner for Raj Thackeray, why would it have arrested him in February.

It was the quickest arrest in the country in a case relating to Section 153 (A) of the Indian Penal Code, for promoting enmity between groups, Mr. Patil said.

Speaking to The Hindu, Mr. Patil, who is also Home Minister, said he would not react to reports flashed on television channels on Wednesday that he had given Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) president Raj Thackeray a clean chit. He had said nothing of the sort.

He said he would ask the Joint Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) to hold a press conference and clarify all the issues.

At Monday’s Cabinet meeting, Mr. Patil was reportedly assailed by his colleagues for lack of action against Mr. Thackeray. He was so flustered that he offered to resign, according to news reports.

However, Mr. Patil denied this and said the entire issue was exaggerated. The Cabinet was discussing security-related issues when the subject came up and there was a discussion.

It was a small thing which has been magnified by the media, he said. He denied saying that there was no prima facie case against Mr. Thackeray.

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