Assault by minister puts CM in spot

MUMBAI/AURANGABAD: A day after minister of state for food and civil supplies Abdul Sattar abused and bashed up a senior Congress activist in Aurangabad, chief minister Ashok Chavan did a complete volte-face, saying it was a serious matter and had to be probed at the party level.Chavan had initially dismissed the incident as a minorone, saying it wasn’t a national issue, changing his stance in the eveningonly after the Congress high command intervened. “It’s not anational issue, it’s being blown out of proportion,’’ Chavantold the media in the morning. But later when party spokesman Abhishek ManuSanghvi stepped in, Chavan not only summoned Sattar, but also sought anexplanation from him in writing. “I am upset with the incident. Sattar hasexpressed his regrets,’’ Chavan said in the evening, after Sattardefended himself in the House.BJP group leader Eknath Khadse raised themanhandling issue and demanded an apology. Following the growing clamour fromthe Opposition, Sattar was forced to make a statement. However, hetold the House that some “anti-social elements’’ had enteredhis press meet in Aurangabad on Sunday and abused him and his supporters.“What I did (bashing up one of those present at the press meet) was todefend myself,’’ he claimed.“There is no questionof any apology as I did not commit any offence. The group which barged into mypress meet had come with three bags of eggs and tomatoes. They spoke in abusivelanguage and insulted Aurangabad guardian minister Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil. Doyou expect me to remain a mute spectator?’’ He claimed he had notassaulted the “intruder’’ badly, as alleged. However, clips onmost TV channels show him brutally attacking the man.The incidentoccurred on Sunday in Aurangabad when Congress activists were objecting toseat-sharing arrangements due to which many traditional party seats were to begiven to allies. When the activists continued to protest even after the pressmeet, Sattar lost his cool and assaulted the activist, identified as ShaikhMushtaq alias Mushtu. The victim had to be rushed to the government medicalcollege.Justifying his actions, Sattar told the media that theactivist had tried to assault him and he retaliated. “Even you would havereacted in a similar way in my place,’’ hesaid.