Blast will hurt tourist flow to city: Rane

When asked about barricades being removed about a month back from Chabad house and Ohel David synogogue,the minister said they were removed after complaints from the locals. “Since citizens were asked to show licences and other documents,they complained of inconvenience. It forced the authorities to remove the barricades,” he said.

Pressing for stronger security cover,he said the state government was deliberating on increasing the police force as well as having more police chowkies in the city. Rane,who also met the injured at the four hospitals in the city,said he will ensure that the compensation announced by the state government for the blast victims was disbursed on time.

He also appealed to all political parties not to politicise the issue. When asked about the BJP and Sena demanding the Chief Minister’s resignation,he said they have no such right. “They should cooperate in times of crisis. During the saffron regime,attack on Parliament and the Kandahar hijack incident had taken place,” he said.

On the controversy about the release of the film My Name is Khan and the Sena’s allegations of diverting all police force,Rane said,“The Shiv Sena Sena believes in vandalism which forced the state government to provide adequate security arrangements for the release of the movie in the state.”

About Sena’s opposition to Australian players in the IPL,he said,“The Sena had said the same thing about Rahul Gandhi’s visit. He came to Mumbai and travelled in a local train. They are not sure of what they want.”