In a veiled attack on BJP, Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh said people who were pressing for demand to book the accused involved in terrorist activities under Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA), have surprisingly retracted from their statements.

Deshmukh, who was in Latur to inaugurate crushing season of Manjra and Rena co-operative sugar factories.

To a question he said, "We tried a lot to make all parties participate in the discussion to stop defamation of Maharashtra across the country. The leaders of northern states came together, but here in our state BJP had some problems but Left parties participated."

Replying to a question about the involvement of right-wing Hindu organisations in Malegaon blast, Deshmukh said that terrorism should not be related to religion and government is taking action against such people on the basis of evidence and their involvement.

Replying to a question regarding Raj Thackeray and the state earning a bad name due to MNS' campaign against non Marathis, he said,"Obviously it is due to Raj Thackeray that Mahrashtra has been defamed in the country and it is being made an issue."

When asked whether he was feeling relieved after Margaret Alva, critical of functioning of Deshmukh's government, was stripped off key posts in Congress, he said, "I am a medium pace bowler."

HC scheduled to hear Raj Thackera's petition

MNS President Raj Thackeray's plea to transfer a complaint case from a Jamshedpur court to Mumbai is scheduled to come up before Jharkhand High Court on Friday.

The High Court had on October 25 adjourned the hearing.

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