CHIRNER: Political heavyweights including Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh and deputy CM R R Patil stayed away from the 75th anniversary celebrations of the historic Chirner jungle satyagraha that inspired the masses during the freedom struggle. Former chief minister Manohar Joshi also failed to turn up to inaugurate a stone memorial to mark the occasion.
Interestingly, Patil was in Navi Mumbai throughout the day, but he avoided Chirner. The rumour doing the rounds was that the leaders might have stayed away because of a strong superstition that ministers who visit Chirner soon lose their posts. Some sources even said both Joshi and Deshmukh had lost their chief ministerial seats soon after visiting Chirner!
Those who made it to the function included Panvel MLA Vivek Patil, senior leader D B Patil, Sena leader Baban Patil, BJP Raigad district president Balasaheb Patil, Zilla Parishad president Balaram Patil and Manohar Bhoir.
Eight freedom-fighters had laid down their lives in an encounter with the British during the famous jungle satyagraha at this small village in Uran.
