Sena slams state, BJP demands CBI probe

Shiv Sena executive president Uddhav Thackeray on Friday criticised the government for the killing of additional collector Yashwant Sonawane.

Shiv Sena executive president Uddhav Thackeray on Friday criticised the government for the killing of additional collector Yashwant Sonawane.

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“The entire ministry has become so insensitive that it needs to be thrown out. If a person can dare to set an official on fire then it only means that he is confident of having a huge backing,” Uddhav said.

In an editorial in the party mouthpiece, Saamna, Sena chief Bal Thackeray said that with the killing of Nashik additional district collector Yashwant Sonawane by the petrol mafia, the state government's reputation has gone for a toss. Alleging that the state is under mafia rule, Thackeray said the mafia’s disciples are in chief minister Prithviraj Chavan’s cabinet.

The Sena’s ally, the Bharatiya Janata Party, has demanded a Central Bureau of Investigation probe into Sonawane’s murder and suggested that the subsidy on kerosene should be reviewed to check corruption and nexus between politicians and oil mafia. "It is surprising why new Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan is shying away from a CBI inquiry. A state police inquiry won't be able to reveal as to who was protecting the accused Popat Shinde and others," BJP spokesperson Prakash Javadekar said.

He said that the murder of Sonawane, who was allegedly burnt alive on Tuesday, was a result of the “well established nexus between oil mafia and the ruling politicians”. The opposition party suggested kerosene coupons for the poor and steps to prevent any scope for adulteration.