Patil, Patnaik must resign, says MNS chief

Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray on Tuesday announced a march from Girgaum Chowpatty to Azad Maidan demanding the resignations of home minister RR Patil and Mumbai police commissioner Arup Patnaik claiming that they did not handle the August 11 violence in a proper manner.

Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray on Tuesday announced a march from Girgaum Chowpatty to Azad Maidan demanding the resignations of home minister RR Patil and Mumbai police commissioner Arup Patnaik claiming that they did not handle the August 11 violence in a proper manner.

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"If the policemen are going to be battered, what would be the fate of the common man?" asked Thackeray.

Addressing a press meet, Thackeray suggested deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar's name for the post of home minister. Thackeray also dismissed the theory of intelligence failure. "The police had prior information that anti-social elements were going to reach the venue with weapons but still nothing was done. The police commissioner was more interested in insulting his senior officials and freeing culprits rather than acting against the anti-social elements," he alleged.

The incident, which left two dead and many injured including several policemen, drew widespread condemnation from the Opposition. The government defended its actions.