Mumbai CP Param Bir Singh's transfer in Waze case? Ask CM, say Congress and NCP

Mumbai Police Commissioner Param Bir Singh. File pic/Ashish Raje

NCP Chief Sharad Pawar, while speaking to the media in Delhi on Tuesday, was asked about the possibility of a transfer of Mumbai Police Commissioner Param Bir Singh, under whose leadership API Sachin Waze was reinstated last year. Pawar told them to ask Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray about it. Both NCP and Congress leaders have said only the CM has powers to take such a decision.

Sharad Pawar

Pawar said he met Thackeray on Monday to discuss developmental issues, not appointment and transfers of the officers. There was a marked similarity in the statements made by the NCP and the Congress leaders over the possibility of a reshuffle in the police department. They all said the CM alone was empowered to take such major decisions. Assistant Police Inspector Waze is prime suspect in the Ambani bomb scare case.

MVA coalition intact
Speaking to the reporters in Delhi, Pawar also denied that the controversy surrounding Waze's involvement in the case has created a rift in the ruling coalition and that it could impact the state government adversely. "There is absolutely no problem in the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government. Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray is leading successfully. However, the government faces some difficulties that are resolved. Such single cases [like Waze's] won't affect the government," Pawar said.

State will cooperate with NIA
The Nationalist Congress Party boss added that it was good that the National Investigation Agency (NIA) was working to show the wrongdoers their place. The MVA government will give all cooperation to the agency in the case, he said.

Responding to a question about seeking Home Minister Anil Deshmukh's resignation, Pawar said, "This is news to me." Defending Deshmukh, Pawar said that the NCP leader had taken a tough stance against the erring people in the case and handled the matter well. Pawar was addressing a media conference in New Delhi after welcoming former Congress leader from Kerala P C Chacko to the NCP on Tuesday.

Activity galore
Thackeray held a meeting with Deputy CM Ajit Pawar and other constituents of the MVA on Tuesday. Later, the NCP boss convened a meeting of his MPs and some Maharashtra ministers in Delhi. Some Congress leaders also met the CM separately to discuss various issues.