‘Deshmukh performing well, no question of his resignation’

                                                             The ruling Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) on Monday scotched the intense speculation that it had asked Maharashtra Home Minister Amit Deshmukh to put in his papers over the allegations of “inept” handling of the explosive laden SUV recovery incident and subsequent murder, saying that that Deshmukh was performing well and the question of his resignation did not arise. Talking to media persons here, Maharashtra NCP president Jayant Patil said: “Anil Deshmukh is performing well as the State Home Minister. The question of his resignation does not arise. Hence there is no need for speculation over his resignation”.

Patil made the statement soon after NCP chief Sharad Pawar held an hour-long meeting with chief minister Uddhav Thackeray apparently over the situation arising out of the recovery of explosive-laden SUV near industrialist Mukesh Ambani’s residence on February 25 and the events like the murder of businessman Mansukh Hiren and the arrest of Mumbai’s crime branch officer Sachin Vaze.

After his meeting with Uddhav, Pawar headed straight to the YB Chavan in south Mumbai where he was scheduled to have a meeting senior party leaders and review the performance of some of the party ministers in the Shiv Sena-led MVA government in the starte.

However, Patil – who was present at the meeting –said that no discussion took place on either the resignation of Deshmukh or the reshuffle in the State Cabinet took place at the meeting.

Reiterating the party’s stand on police officer Vaze’s arrest,  Deshmukh said: “Two separate investigations are going on in connection  with the  recovery of explosive-laden SUV near industrialist Mukesh Ambani’s residence on February 25 and subsequent murder of Hiren. While the NIA is investigating the car recovery case, the ATS is looking into the subsequent murder of the businessman. All the three constituents in the ruling MVA – Shiv Sena, NCP and Congress – are on the same page. There is no truth in the allegation that the Shiv Sena is trying to protect the culprits behind the twin incidents. Whoever found guilty will be punished sternly”.

Alluding to the claim that former chief minister and leader of the opposition Devendra Fadnavis possessed an incriminating CD purportedly carrying the telephonic conversations between Vaze and late Hiren.

On former chief minister and senior BJP leader Narayan Rane’s demand for President’s rule in the state over the recent law and order developments in the state, Patil said: “The demand for President’s rule is ridiculous. There are some constitutional parameters and guidelines for the imposition of the President's rule.  If some crime takes place, the Government is committed to punish the culprits behind it.  The state government does not interfere in the investigations into any crime. If somebody dreams of ushering in the President’s rule in the state, I look at it as the political objective of the leader concerned more than anything else”.