VHP awaiting compensation from NCP for damaging office

Nashik, Oct 27 (IANS) The Vishwa Hindu Parishad is awaiting payment of compensation for the damage to its office in an attack by Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) activists last Saturday, a VHP office-bearer said here Monday.

"The money has been promised to us through the Nashik district collector as per the new ordinance to recover costs of the damage from the perpetrators of the crime," VHP regional secretary V. Abdev told IANS.

The amount was to be handed over to the VHP here by the collectorate after recovering it from the two dozen-strong mob, which attacked its office near Circle Cinema two days ago.

Last week, following the widespread violence and damage or destruction of public and private properties across the state by rampaging activists of Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), the Maharashtra government decided to introduce legislation to recover all costs of damages from the concerned political party or group.

Some of the activists who attacked the VHP Nashik office were nabbed by the police and remanded to custody till Monday by a court here.

State NCP president Arun Gujarathi said the law is "supreme and equal for all" and expressed his party's intention to adhere to it.

"However, we are examining the detailed provisions of the ordinance. Who will pay the costs - party or the individual activists? Whether it will be paid before or after the alleged crime is proved in a court of law? Until we are clear about these and related issues, I cannot comment on the matter," Gujarathi told IANS.

Abdev said the costing given by the party pertains only to the damage to furniture and fittings in the office, not the medical costs of its two activists who were injured in the attack by members of the NCP youth wing.

"We feel that even the medical costs of the injured victims must be taken into account when recovering the compensation," he said.

Adopting a transparent approach, Gujarathi added despite the fact the matter pertains to the home department, headed by NCP's R.R. Patil, who is also deputy chief minister, "the party shall not interfere with the police action or try to shield the accused activists."