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Samajwadi Party takes guard against Shiv Sena

Samajwadi Party Bombay unit president Abu Asim Azmi on Monday termed Maharashtra Minister of Sports Parataprao Jadhav's opinion that Indian players should boycott the series against Pakistan as most "disturbing".

Jadhav's statement came in an interview to the United News of India at Karad. He had said that if the Indian players themselves refused to play, the controversy over the series would end.

Azmi said the comment meant that the Maharashtra government is not working under the Constitution of India. This kind of 'intimidating' message by a responsible minister implied the approval of the chief minister and the entire cabinet, of which the BJP is a partner.

Azmi called upon Maharashtra Chief Minister Manohar Joshi and Deputy Chief Minister Gopinath Munde to immediately disown this message.

He also assured full protection to the Indian cricketers. This 'violent and rowdy' behaviour of the state government would be firmly resisted and prevented by the Samajwadi Party and the entire nation, Azmi affirmed.

UNI

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