Arrest Right-Wing Leaders Behind Pune Clashes: Dalits to Maha CM

Devendra Fadnavis is reportedly reaching out to various Dalit groups after the Bhima Koregaon flare-up.

Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis. 

(Photo: The Quint)

A delegation of Dalits, led by Prakash Ambedkar, met Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Thursday, 4 January, to revisit their demands after the Maharashtra bandh that was called to protest the violence at an event to commemorate the Battle of Koregaon.

Prakash, BR Ambedkar’s grandson, said that the Chief Minister had assured him that the state would take strict action in the violence, PTI reported. Fadnavis also met Prakash’s cousin, Anandraj Ambedkar, who heads the Republican Sena.

In turn, the Dalit delegation had promised to work with and help the police in tracking down the miscreants associated with the violent clashes, and also demanded speedy action against right-wing leaders (Milind Ekbote and Sambhaji Bhide) who they held responsible for the same, reported Hindustan Times.

We have clearly pointed out (the accused) and police complaints have been registered against Milind Ekbote and Sambhaji Bhide. We want speedy action against them for perpetuating violence, and the CM has promised us that they will be arrested.

Prakash Ambedkar, in a press conference

The delegation, reported Hindustan Times, also demanded that the inquiry commission be appointed in order to look into the Bhima Koregaon incident, be vested with the power of both the criminal and civil courts, “so that it can even sentence those who are found guilty,” said Ambedkar, adding that Fadnavis had agreed to this demand.

According to a PTI report, the BJP has pressed its ally, the Republican Party of India (Athawale), and other party leaders to reach out to the Dalit community in the state.

However, following a meeting with Fadnavis, Avinash Mahatekar, the national general secretary of the RPI, told the daily that Prakash Ambedkar was “trying to build political capital by leveraging unrest within the community”.

One fears that the state’s social fabric is being destroyed. There is a feeling that this was being done to target the Chief Minister and put Union Minister Ramdas Athawale in trouble.

Avinash Mahatekar told <i>The Indian Express</i>

“In the backdrop of the violence in Bhima Koregaon, some parts in Maharashtra witnessed spontaneous protests. By calling for a Maharashtra bandh the following day, Prakash Ambedkar was only seeking political mileage,” Chandrakant Handore, former Maharashtra Minister, told the daily.

According to The Indian Express, all the leaders, however, have echoed Prakash’s demand to arrest of prime accused Sambhaji Bhide and Milind Ekbote.

(With inputs from PTI, Hindustan Times and The Indian Express)