Chavan faces toughest moments of career

MUMBAI: When the city of Mumbai goes through another ordeal perpetrated by terrorists, Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan, who took over the reins of the state from Ashok Chavan, is facing the toughest moments in his political career. This is the first major happening after he took over the government. The 26/11 terror strike had cost the job of the then Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh.

In the recent months, he weathered many crisis, including the protest over the proposed launching of Jaitapur nuclear plant. But things turned sour for him with Wednesday’s triple blasts claiming 23 innocent lives. The Opposition and many on the streets have already begun campaign that such a tragedy occurred due to state government’s non-preparedness to meet any eventuality.

Even the performance of the Maharashtra Anti-Terror Squad under present Home Minister R R Patil is much to be desired.

Patil is already on the firing line by the Opposition parties for his inept handling of the Home Department.

Even the murder case of crime journalist J Dey was cracked by the Mumbai police only after Chavan intervened directly on the case after the Mumbai High Court rapped the state government for the delay in nabbing the accused. Patil was drawn flak then for handling of the case. On Wednesday, Chavan went into damage control mode soon after the incident by himself leading the strategic planning by camping in Mantralaya. He only officially relased the death toll.

Later from time to time, he briefed media about the rise in death toll.

Chavan said the terror strikes had been caused by “quite powerful explosives”.

“Teams of doctors are ready in hospitals,” he said.

The Chief Minister said 20 ambulances had been rushed to the locations of the blasts. He appealed to the people to maintain peace. Chavan said it was too early to talk of suspects and added that at least one of the blasts was quite powerful.