At a pre-cabinet meeting, industries minister Narayan Rane, cooperation minister Harshawardhan Patil and public works minister Chhagan Bhujbal urged chief minister Prithviraj Chavan, in the presence of deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar and Patil, that the state government must tackle the MNS's anti-toll agitation with an iron hand.
"Chavan said he will not tolerate violence. Pawar endorsed the CM's views, while Patil warned of stern action against MNS workers. Unfortunately, while MNS workers went on a rampage across the state, the police remained mute spectators and absolutely no action was taken against the activists," a senior Congress minister said. "After Thackeray's speech on January 26, law enforcing agencies should have swung into action."
The government appears to be weak and for obvious political reasons the agitating MNS activists were not booked, the minister said. "Patil must fix responsibility on police officers for their failure to stop violence."
A senior NCP minister said that it appears law enforcing agencies are hand in glove with the activists. "Instead of waiting for instructions from the government, the police should have taken action immediately after Thackeray's provocative speech."
He said it is not possible to abolish toll tax, but complaints of irregularities should be probed. "When we constructed roads on public-private partnership, we agreed that toll would go to the private developers. So, it will be illegal to abolish toll tax."
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