New Delhi/Mumbai: Maharashtra is not Rome and Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh is not Nero. But while his state burnt and workers of the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) trawled the streets as Raj Thackeray's arrest became imminent, the chief minister was in Latur busy preparing for his son's wedding, according to Congress party sources.
As the situation threatened to get out of control with buses being pelted, taxis being attacked and migrants from north India - mainly from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar - getting increasingly insecure, worried Congress leaders fumed at the chief minister's virtual absence.
"The chief minister is too busy distributing invitation cards for his son's wedding to look into state affairs," said a senior party leader from Maharashtra.
The chief minister's failure in controlling the situation in tension-hit Maharashtra has irked Congress president Sonia Gandhi as well.
According to knowledgeable party sources, Gandhi asked Deshmukh to do something to rein in the violence-prone MNS workers when he visited her in New Delhi to invite her for his elder son Amit's wedding later this month.
Deshmukh has reportedly told Gandhi that the state government would have to prepare to face the backlash if MNS chief Raj Thackeray, renegade nephew of Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray, was arrested.
Sources added that Sonia gave Deshmukh another warning Tuesday evening. It was conveyed to him by her political secretary Ahamed Patel.
Rumours were rife that the Congress leadership may change the Maharashtra chief minister as the state unit was also unhappy with his performance.
The state leadership of the Congress, however, is blaming the police for the rapidly deteriorating law and order situation.
"We are concerned about the events that have been unfurling in Maharashtra, where innocents are being punished for no fault of theirs. Police has been remaining mute spectators," Congress city unit chief Gurudas Kamat said.
"My advise to police chief is that he need not look at anybody for directions on how to do his job. Time has come for him to prove the worth of his uniform," Kamat said on phone from Mumbai.
The union home ministry has reportedly sent more forces to assist the state police in controlling the situation.
On Monday, Mumbai Police registered complaints invoking non-bailable sections of the law against Thackeray, nephew of Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray, and Samajwadi Party leader Abu Asim Azmi.
The MNS tirade against outsiders, specifically north Indians settled in the city, has vitiated the political atmosphere in Maharashtra. MNS and Samajwadi Party activists have clashed in several parts of the state. Sporadic acts of violence targeting north Indians have continued unabated for 10 days.
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