Thaindian News

Mumbai, Nov 24 (IANS) Maharashtra’s politicians Thursday unanimously condemned the attack on union Agriculture Minister and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) president Sharad Pawar, terming it a serious security lapse.

“The same youth has carried out similar attacks on other politicians. How can such a person be allowed so close to senior leaders? It is a serious lapse of security mechanism,” Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan said here.

“Pawar’s security must be increased,” he added.

Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, the NCP chief’s nephew, said: “According to initial reports, the attacker seemed to be mentally imbalanced and necessary action should be taken against him.”

“I would, however, urge my fellow party workers to stay calm and not take law in their hands,” he told reporters.

Leader of Opposition in Maharashtra assembly Eknath Khadse said democracy had no place for violent methods.

“In a democracy, such attacks are condemnable. One can protest using non-violent means but such an attack cannot be justified,” he said.

Public Works Minister and NCP leader Chhagan Bhujbal requested the central government to provide Pawar “full security”.

Other politicians, including Shiv Sena leader Manohar Joshi, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray and former Maharashtra chief minister Ashok Chavan also reiterated the need to provide adequate security to Sharad Pawar.

The agriculture minister was Thursday slapped in the face by a man in Delhi who had only four days ago kicked former minister Sukh Ram after he was sentenced in a corruption case.