Lashing out at the government forits handling of the Azad Maidan violence, Shiv Sena chief BalThackeray Monday said Mumbai police have been demoralised dueto commissioner Arup Patnaik.
"When police were being attacked, when women policepersonnel were being molested, Mumbai's police commissionerArup Patnaik was growling at those who were trying to controlthe radicals indulging in violence. The morale of Mumbaipolice has been dented because of such a police commissioner,"Thackeray said, in an editorial in party mouthpiece 'Saamana'here.
"We never said all Muslims are radicals or Pakistanlovers and nor will be say such things. However, a handful ofradical and anti-national Muslims have raised a question markover their entire community," the Sena chief said.
The government and police desisted from taking actionagainst those involved in defacing the Amar Jawan memorial asthey felt religious sentiments would be hurt during Eid, hesaid.
"Is it Muslims only who have feelings? What aboutHindus? When Kanchi seer Jayendra Saraswathi and Sadhvi PragyaSingh Thakur were arrested, did anyone think of feelings ofHindus?" Thackeray questioned.
The country is going to pay the price for stifflingthe fighting spirit of the police force, he said.
Thackeray lauded the work done by the then Mumbaipolice commissioner Shrikant Bapat, who, during 1992 riots,took stringent action against the rioters. How can one compareBapat and Patnaik, who holds a pistol in the hand in which hehas worn bangles? he quipped.
The government, chief minister and Home minister whoare backing such a police commissioner are "enemies of thesociety and the country", Thackeray said.