Decision to send back Naidu to AP in a day: Maha Home Minister

Maharashtra Home Minister R R Patil today said that a decision on sending arrested TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu back to Andhra Pradesh would be taken in a day.

"A decision on sending him (Naidu) back to Andhra Pradesh will be taken in a day's time, since it is a legal matter," Patil told the Legislative Assembly here.

Patil said despite Naidu and his colleagues being "looked after well", there were still reports in Andhra Pradesh on how he was being "ill-treated".

The former Andhra Pradesh chief minister was shifted to a prison in Aurangabad this morning from Dharmabad ITI, where he was lodged after he refused bail since his arrest on July 16.

The Home Minister said that Naidu, who demanded that he be allowed to inspect the Babhli barrage construction site, was arrested for violating section 144 of the CrPC.

Naidu's judicial remand was extended till July 26 yesterday after he insisted on visiting the site and refused to accept bail.

Patil's statement came when Leader of opposition Eknath Khadse demanded that the government spell out its stand on the Babhli controversy.

He said Naidu has caused problems for the State and should be sent back immediately.

Shiv Sena legislator said the controversy surroundingNaidu over the Babhli row had caused tremendous tension in the State and alleged that the government's initial response was confusing.

"Naidu should have been stopped at the border itself and not allowed to enter the state," he said. 

Patil responded saying that Naidu was allowed inside to prevent any untoward incident since there were mobs on both sides of the border.

"Maharashtra and Andhra enjoy excellent relationship but Naidu's political stunt is spoiling that relationship," he said.

Patil said the next hearing on the Babhli issue in the Supreme Court is on August 10 and added, "We are committed to protecting Maharashtra's interests."

PWP leader Ganpatrao Deshmukh alleged that Naidu had come to Maharashtra to gain instant publicity.

"Cases against him should be withdrawn and he should be sent back to his home state," he demanded.

MNS group leader Bala Nandgaonkar said Naidu was not just a former chief minister but also a national leader.

"His act of entering Maharashtra is like encroaching into other's territory which is against culture and protocol," he alleged.