Serious conflict averted in Mumbai

By Mahesh Vijapurkar

MUMBAI, FEB. 5. With the Republican Party of India faction led by Mr. Ramdas Athavale, MP, withdrawing its agitation against a review of the Constitution, a potentially serious conflict between the Shiv Sena and the Dalit group has been blunted. However, the Shiv Sena, which had said it would not be a mere bystander if Shivaji's statue was desecrated, is yet to decide on the future course of action.

Mr. Athavale, whose agitation against the move to set up a panel to review the Constitution, ran along with the one against the alleged desecration of an Ambedkar statue by unidentified persons some days ago, was under extreme pressure from his party's allies in the Democratic Front Government here to withdraw the agitation and ensure that law and order was not breached.

But the Shiv Sena, always positioned against the Dalits who are neo-Buddhists while seeking to woo them along with Harijans who are Hindu-Dalits, said that if the Government did not arrest the miscreants who attacked the party shakhas (branches) on Thursday, the party would do so. This may be a mere bluff but knowing the Shiv Sena's way, the Government would need to be alert.

The party mouthpiece, Saamana edited by Mr. Bal Thackeray, party supremo, was the only newspaper which published a photograph on Friday of a Shivaji bust lying on the floor when RPI mobs attacked one of the Shiv Sena branches. But the Government was reluctant to admit such an incident because it did not want another dimension added to the problem. Shivaji and Babasaheb Ambedkar are icons here.

Mr. Athavale was ticked off quite severely by the Deputy Chief Minister, Mr. Chagan Bhujbal, who said that by continuing the agitation for the third day, he was playing into the hands of destablisers such as the Pakistani ISI which wanted nothing but civil strife in India. ``Everyone must know the potential for the problem to escalate,'' Mr. Bhujbal had said on Thursday.

The Government, concerned at the turn of events and realising that it had the potential of turning into a major conflict, publicly pressured Mr. Athavale to call off the strike. The Government's embarrassment on the issue was stressed by the BJP too which said ``a constituent of a power structure cannot behave like this''. Neither would the BJP tolerate attacks on its offices and those of the Shiv Sena.

Probe into violence PTI reports:

The Maharashtra Government has ordered a CID inquiry into the incidents of violence in north-east Mumbai over the past three days following the desecration of a statue of Babasaheb Ambedkar on Tuesday last.

The Government's decision was announced by the Chief Minister, Mr. Vilasrao Deshmukh, at an all-party meeting here last night, Mr. Athavale said.

About the RPI agitation against the desecration, he said, ``we are temporarily suspending it to maintain peace and harmony''.

Meanwhile, police said the situation was fully under control in the affected areas.

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Section  : Regional
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