New Delhi: Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Friday directed the state police to take stringent action against those involved in the ‘attack’ on the residence of NCP chief Sharad Pawar in Mumbai.
"I have asked the home minister to take strict action against the instigators and perpetrators of the attack. No one should take law into their hands after this incident," a statement issued by the Chief Minister's Office quoted Thackeray as saying.
Earlier, in the day, a group of striking employees of the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) staged a violent protest outside the NCP chief’s house when he was at home.
Thackeray condemned the incident, saying Maharashtra never had a precedent where political leaders and their families were targeted personally.
The chief minister also said that the government has never ignored the genuine demands of the striking workers, adding that the Bombay High Court has asked them to resume work.
Meanwhile, Pawar blamed 'unwise leadership' for the sudden protest by the striking MSRTC employees.
READ | Striking MSRTC Employees Protest Outside Sharad Pawar's House In Mumbai, FIR Against 107
“They are being misled. ST employees & we've a very old relationship, in last 40-50 yrs I've not missed any session with them. This time protest was shown wrong path & result of that is an incident of today,” news agency ANI quoted Pawar as saying.
In a video shared by his party, Pawar said that the NCP is with the agitating employees but not with their leadership.
“One need not be surprised by what happened here. If the leader is not wise, it has its effect on the workers. We saw its illustration here,” Pawar said, adding, “We are with them (the workers). But not with the wrong leadership. It is our responsibility to oppose if someone is showing them the wrong path.”
He further said that Maharashtra politics has witnessed differences of opinion but the state has never seen a tradition of taking such extreme positions.
Despite trying to solve their problems over the past few days, “this time, a wrong path was shown and its repercussions was visible here,” Pawar added.
He also said that what was conveyed to the staffers through protests over the past few days does not suit Maharashtra.
“MSRTC employees have stopped working for no reason leading to their families suffering financial problems,” the NCP chief said, adding, “unfortunately, some people had to take the extreme step such as suicide. The leadership which creates an atmosphere conducive to such extreme steps is responsible for the suicides."