The Opposition on Tuesday lambasted the state government for not tabling the Ram Pradhan committee report looking into the Mumbai terror attack.
Alleging that the government was trying to “shield” three ministers named in the report for lapses during the attacks, the Opposition demanded the chief minister’s resignation.
The issue rocked the state legislature on the last day of the monsoon session. While the Assembly was adjourned six times amid protests by Opposition members, the Upper House was adjourned four times and three legislators suspended for indiscipline.
“We have information that three ministers have been blamed for lapses during the attack. Why are they being shielded?” asked Leader of the Opposition Ramdas Kadam.
“We asked the CM to at least show us the report in confidence. He refused that too. This means there is something that the government is hiding.”
Earlier, Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil, chief minister Vilasrao Deshmukh and his deputy R.R. Patil had to resign immediately after the 26/11 strike.
Kadam asked why no action had been initiated against “errant police officers”.
Chief Minister Ashok Chavan said the government had accepted the Pradhan committee report partially and promised that they would not spare anyone or make anyone a scapegoat.
{{/usCountry}}Chief Minister Ashok Chavan said the government had accepted the Pradhan committee report partially and promised that they would not spare anyone or make anyone a scapegoat.
{{/usCountry}}“No ministers have been named in the report,” the CM said, challenging the Opposition to reveal the names.
He said the government had only accepted whatever they found was “based on facts”.
“The entire report has not been tabled as it could affect the ongoing Kasab trial, following the opinion of the home ministry. We have tabled the action to be taken report, along with excerpts,” he said.
Asked how the government appointed former state intelligence chief D. Sivanandhan as Mumbai police commissioner when the report has blamed the intelligence department for lapses, Chavan said, “There are no personal remarks against Sivanandhan in the report.”