Deshmukh refurbishes attack on Adik

Deshmukh refurbishes attack on Adik
PRAFULLA MARPAKWAR

MUMBAI, MARCH 3: Armed with the judicial order to initiate criminal proceedings against him for his utterances against the members of the Dalit communities, the Vilasrao Deshmukh camp today stepped its drive for the dismissal of Pradesh Congress Committee President Govindrao Adik.

Following a complaint lodged by a social worker, the Jalna judicial magistrate first class R V Khapre on Friday asked the District Superintendent of Police to initiate criminal proceedings against Adik for his controversial remarks.

Apparently, the court asked the police to file case against Adik under section 153-A, 295-A and 298 of the Indian Penal Code. Under section 153-A, promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence or language is an offence, with a punishment upto five years or fine or with both.

Under section 295-A, deliberate or malicious act intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting in the name of religion or religious beliefs is an offence, with a punishment of three years, while under section 298, uttering words with deliberate intent to wound religious feelings is an offence.

Deputy Chief Minister Chhagan Bhujbal said since the court has given specific instructions, his government will have take action. However, in the absence of the certified copy of the judicial order, Bhujbal declined to comment further, saying, law will take its own course. ``It will not be proper to comment without reading the certified copy of the order,'' Bhujbal said.

According to a senior official, while permission of the government will be required before initiating proceedings against Adik under section 153-A, while for the remaining two sections, the District Superintendent of Police is compentent to book Adik. ``Since the order has been given to the Superintendent of Police, it was for him to take a decision. Government will not interfere in his official work,'' the official added.

Adik described the complaint filed against him as politically motivated. No doubt, since the court has passed the order, he will have to face the consequences, but personally he felt that the complaint was filed against him to settle political scores. ``It was an attempt to harass me and also damage my impage in view of the massive response to his state wide tour,'' Adik said.

During the tour of the backward Marathwada region, Adik had alleged uttered derogatory remarks against a section of Dalit communities, particularly the Scheduled Caste. Then it was felt that AICC President Sonia Gandhi will dismiss him to protect the impage of the party. A section of the Congress leaders, including Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh and Minister of State for Home Kripa Shankar Singh had launched a campaign for his removal, but subsequently, it was dropped since Sonia Gandhi had declined to oblige them.

However, now in view of the specific court directive, the Deshmukh camp has geared up its drive against Adik afresh. ``Now since the court has asked the police to register case against Adik, we feel that he should resign on his own instead of waiting for the directive of the high command,'' a senior Congress Minister said.