Government owns responsibility for MNS attack: Vilasrao

MUMBAI: Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh today said his government is responsibile for failure in preventing attacks by MNS on north Indian candidates at Railways examination centres here and ordered a probe into the incident, which will also inquire into why the job advertisements where not given in Marathi newspapers.

"What has happened is not good. Such incidents take place because of loopholes in the law. One can't hold only the Home Ministry responsible for it, it is (entire) Government's responsibility," Deshmukh told reporters here at Sahyadri, the Government guest house.

"Such incidents are affecting the image of the state and I have instructed the DGP to take stern action," Deshmukh said.

Ordering a probe into the issue, the Chief Minister also assured that such incidents of vandalism would not take place in future.

On Raj Thackeray's accusation that job advertisements were not published in local newspapers to keep out Maharashtrian candidates, the chief minister said, "An inquiry would also be conducted about why advertisements about the examination were not given in Marathi newspapers and the number of Marathi candidates invited for the exam."

When asked if MNS chief Raj Thackeray would be arrested for attacks, Deshmukh said "the Government would take action against him as per the law, however big leader (Raj Thackeray) may be..."

Deshmukh also said the government will not tolerate such type of 'gundagiri' and no one will be favoured in the matter.