Author: Prakash Joshi
Publication: The Times of India
Date: October 14, 2001
Deputy Chief Minister and Nationalist
Congress Party (NCP) warhorse Chhagan Bhujbal has weathered many a storm
with several attacks on him by various parties. But now he is under attack
from home quarters. A powerful lobby within the NCP has begun targeting
him for his style of functioning.
Several NCP members have distanced
themselves from the stand he took on the decision to call for a ban on
Students of the Islamic Movement of India (SIMI). NCP general secretary
in charge of Maharashtra Tariq Anwar has openly questioned the need to
ban SIMI.
Mr Bhujbal was the first politician
in Maharashtra to demand a ban on SIMI. During a legislature debate on
the functioning of the home department, he had even criticised the NDA
government at the Centre for not heeding his demand for an early ban on
SIMI. At that time, the NCP had remained quiet.
But when SIMI was banned by the
Centre and Mr Bhujbal's stand was vindicated, the NCP criticised him "for
not taking the party into confidence" before writing a letter to the Union
home department calling for a ban.
Ironically, it is Congressman and
chief minister Vilasrao Deshmukh who has come to Mr Bhujbal's rescue, pointing
out that the state cabinet had endorsed Mr Bhujabal's call for a ban after
carefully considering the evidence gathered by the home department against
SIMI.
It is not just Mr. Anwar who has
attacked Mr Bhujbal for his stand, but also vice president Babanrao Pachpute
who has raised his voice.
Sources dose to Mr Bhujbal point
out that the decision to ban SIMI came after the organisation had failed
to spell out its stand on the Kashmir issue. It was felt that SIMI leaders
were supportive of the azadi struggle in the Valley.
