MUMBAI, July 6: Protesting against the ``deteriorating law and order situation in the state'', Congress-led Opposition parties today boycotted the customary tea party hosted by Chief Minister Manohar Joshi on the eve of the three-week monsoon session of the State Legislature which begins here tomorrow.

After a marathon meeting, Opposition leaders Chhagan Bhujbal, Madhukar Pichad, R R Patil, Rohidas Patil, (Congress), Vyankappa Patki, Nihal Ahmad (Janata Dal), Narsaiyya Adam (CPM), Meenakshi Patil (Peasants and Workers Party), Bashir Patel (Samajwadi Party) Anil Gondane (Republican Party of India) and Waman Chatap (Shetkari Sanghatana) informed Joshi that they would boycott the meeting to protest against the ``biased attitude of law-enforcing agencies''. They alleged that the police was hand-in-glove with a section of the Sena-BJP leadership.

Joshi described their decision as unfortunate saying the customary tea party was just the forum to discuss such problems.

``They could have discussed the issues with me. I am prepared to face them and convince them about the improvement in the law and order situation in the state. I will reply to their charges on the floor of the House,'' Joshi said.

Opposition leaders came down heavily on the alliance government for `murderous attacks' on leading journalists, elected representatives and prominent social workers.

Janata Dal leader Vyankappa Patki said under the Sena-BJP rule, the police department had lost its credibility as it was protecting the interests of gangsters encouraged by the alliance government.

``The unholy nexus between the police and the nominees of the alliance government has adversely affected the law and order situation not only in the metropolis, but in the entire state,'' Patki said.

The Opposition leaders alleged that the alliance government had ignored major issues of public interest as it was engaged in `dirty politics' which involved settling of scores.

Citing a series of incidents, Patki said Congress legislators Anees Ahmad and Ashok Mohol were beaten up mercilessly by the Nagpur and Pune police respectively, while an anti-social element, who was on record in police custody, was released to attack Sajeeda Ahmad, wife of state Janata Dal president Nihal Ahmad.

Talking to mediapersons after meeting his cabinet colleagues and a section of the independent legislators supporting the alliance government, Joshi said the police had lathi-charged striking Youth Congress workers led by YC president Anees Ahmad as they broke the barricades in Nagpur on June 20.

Replying to a question, Joshi said there was no threat to the life of Sena supremo Bal Thackeray. ``One of the officials suggested that Balasaheb shift to Malabar Hill as his life was in danger in Bandra,'' Joshi said, adding, however, that his government had extended all protection to his political mentor. ``There is no question of his shifting to Malabar Hill. My government will protect him at any cost,'' the Chief Minister stressed.

In another development, the Opposition parties today decided to set up a joint coordination committee with Patki as its state convenor to organise concerted programmes and raise issues against the Sena-BJP government after the monsoon session of the Legislature.

It was felt that coordination between Opposition parties should not be confined only to Legislature sessions and that there was a need to jointly take up issues on a day-to-day basis at various levels.

Patki was authorised to convene meetings at the district level to chalk out programmes of agitation against the State Government.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.