Police recruitment deaths: Is R R Patil fit to govern? asks Uddhav Thackeray

MUMBAI: Claiming the government is making a "mockery" of fitness by making candidates run five kilometres during the ongoing police recruitment drive, Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray today asked if Home Minister R R Patil was himself fit to govern. The Sena leader's remarks came after the gruelling physical test claimed four lives, with candidates made to run five kilometres under the scorching sun.

"Is the home minister himself fit to govern? Half the ministry is pot-bellied and their flab is hanging loose," Uddhav said in a statement published in Sena mouthpiece Saamana. "Even if the criminals are caught after a five km chase, they are going to be free for lack of concrete evidence," the Sena leader said, adding "This farce should stop."

MNS chief Raj Thackeray had also targeted the home minister on the issue yesterday. "Will Patil run even a 100 metres, forget about five km," Raj had said after releasing a book on speeches made in the Legislative Assembly by MNS leader Pravin Darekar.