Opposition blasts Maharashtra government over Mumbai security

The Opposition in Maharashtra Legislative Assembly Tuesday took the government to task over its "apathetic" and "negligent" attitude towards the security concerns of the metropolis and said it had lost the moral right to continue in office.

Shiv Sena, BJP and MNS members who participated in the debate stopped short of demanding Home Minister RR Patil's resignation saying he himself should give up the Home portfolio.

"We have no problem with Patil handling any other Ministry  than Home," they said.

Initiating the marathon debate in the Lower House on the 13/7 triple bomb blasts, Leader of Opposition Eknath Khadse said Mumbai, witnessing repeated terror attacks since March 1993, was the most unsafe city in the country.

"This government has no will power to tackle terrorism and has lost all confidence of the people," Khadse said.

The Opposition leader said Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan himself showed his lack of faith in the Home Minister RR Patil when he declared that giving the crucial Home department to the NCP in 1999 when the Cong-NCP government was first formed, was a "mistake".

"You have admitted your mistake. When will you correct it," Khadse asked Chavan present in the House.     

Criticising the government for the failure of intelligence, Khadse cited a Government Resolution (GR) and said the government had asked department to spy on political parties rather than focus on intelligence gathering to tackle terrorism.

"14 days have passed since the bomb blasts at Zaveri Bazaar, Opera House and Dadar, that killed 24 people and injured over 130. No headway has been done in the investigations so far," he lamented.

Khadse said security at Railways, Mumbai's lifeline, was extremely lax and no steps are being taken to monitor movements on the railway tracks and platforms.

"Don't compromise with security for political compulsions," he said.

Nawab Malik (NCP) was equally critical of the intelligence agencies saying the blasts took place due to intelligence failure.

"It was known in 1992 that some SIMI activists  have been taken to Pakistan for arms training. The intelligence agencies sat over the information for 12 years before the organisation was banned in 2003," he said.

The former minister said mistrust towards the minority community could spoil the unity and brotherhood in the country.

"This should not be allowed to happen. Innocent people should not be harassed just because they belong to a particular community. Misguided youth who are not yet got involved in acts of terror and crime should be given a chance to come back to the mainstream," he said.

Malik also called to ban source based news reports till the investigations are completed, as it can create suspicion about a particular community.

"In the 9/11 terror attacks in the US, media there did not show a single dead body. Media here should learn from this," he said.

Malik charged that RSS leader Indresh Kumar who allegedly received Rs21 crore from ISI to carry out disruptive activities in the country, came to Pune to provoke Muslim youth.

"What are the security agencies doing. Why are they not taking action against him," he asked.

This was objected to by Devendra Phadanvis (BJP) who said there was no charge of this kind against Indresh Kumar.

Subhash Desai (Shiv Sena) said 13/7 blasts took place because of the "negligence" of the government.

He said the Ram Pradhan committee had mentioned about Pune being under the terror radar because it is also frequented by foreigners.

"The government ignored this advice and the German bakery blast took place after 26/11," he said.

Desai criticised the government for lack of infrastructure for upgrading Mumbai's security.

"What is the use of CCTVs when you don’t have the infrastructure to monitor the images, ensuring proper conviction and later immediate punishment," he asked.

MNS leader Bala Nandgaonkar demanded a permit system for entry into Mumbai.

He displayed a PAN card of Minister of State for Home Satej Patil which was a fake card done in Belapur, Navi Mumbai.

"If such fake cards can be made for Rs 400, Mumbai's security can be compromised to inflict maximum damage and the government is helpless," he said and demanded resignation of Mumbai Commissioner of Police and State Director General of Police.

Devendra Phadanvis (BJP) said terrorists do not use emails and cell phones and the government does not have electronic intelligence system in place to track such anti-national activities.

He said co-ordination does not exist among all security agencies and felt the need to have IP cameras instead of CCTVs.

"US cities are monitored through IP cameras and have been developed by people of Indian origin. We have learnt nothing from 26/11 and continue to remain caught in red tapism. This government is to blamed for its lethargy in tackling corruption in defence purchases. The need of the hour is to dismiss the state government," he demanded.

Jeetendra Avhad (NCP) demanded a separate budgetary allocation by the centre for Mumbai’s security system.

"Mumbai is targeted repeatedly because enemies of the country feel they can weaken our country by targeting the most important city," he said.

He also appealed not to put the minority community in the dock after such terror attacks. "The community has proved its loyalty to India in 1947 when it refused Jinnah's two nation theory of separate land for Muslims," he said.

Abu Asim Azmi (SP) also lamented that the Muslims are looked upon with suspicion after terror attacks. He demanded a judicial inquiry into the death of Faiz Usmani, picked by police for questioning in the blasts.

He also demanded a compensation of Rs 10lakh for the family.