It began and looked like a serious breach of protocol when Pune police commissioner Satyapal Singh called a press conference to make a public display of minister of state for home Ramesh Bagwe’s “criminal past”. Today, it is a full-blown case of a Congress-NCP showdown.
Bagwe belongs to the Congress and Singh reports to the home ministry which is held by the Nationalist Congress Party, the junior ally in the state government. Now, chief minister Ashok Chavan, of the Congress, has stepped in to show NCP that he is the boss and will take none of the insubordination demonstrated by Singh.
Bagwe is a Dalit and hence the Congress feels the need to handle the case delicately because it could be construed as a “conspiracy” by the upper caste, and the party can ill afford to convey an impression of not defending him.
While taking the political correct stand that if criminal charges against Bagwe are found to be true the minister of state will have to face action, Chavan has sent a clear message to the NCP bosses, including home minister RR Patil, not to encourage Satyapal Singh to settle scores with Bagwe. Chavan held a meeting with Bagwe late Sunday night to ascertain the facts.
On Monday, Bagwe stayed out of Mantralaya. He had called for all the files, which required his signature, from his office to his official residence.
Singh may find himself having bitten more than he can chew. Highly-placed sources in home ministry confirmed to DNA, “Chavan is under pressure from a large section of Congress to get Singh transferred to another department. Some have also suggested he be moved to the state intelligence department so that he learns to keep his mouth shut.”
Congressmen pointed out to Chavan about the failure of Singh to tackle growing crime, especially against working women, in Pune, and making headway in the German Bakery blast case.
Congress spokesperson Hussain Dalwai said, “It is a dangerous trend if police officers start publicly defaming ministers to hide their own failures. Today, he has targeted Bagwe. Tomorrow, they may target RR Patil.” He demanded “stern action” against Singh.
