Maharashtra Govt Pushed to Clamp Down on Hardline Hindu Groups

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The arrests of individuals associated with hardline Hindu organisations of Maharashtra have been conducted due to high pressure. The most recent arrest has been that of former councillor Shrikant Pangarkar, who is associated with the Shiv Sena.

After the arrests of Parashuram Waghmare and KT Navin Kumar in the murder case of Karnataka journalist Gauri Lankesh, allegations were being raised against the Maharashtra government that it had adopted a soft approach against Sanatan Sanstha and other similar Hindu organisations. After this, Vaibhav Raut and his associates were arrested and a large number of weapons were seized.

According to reports, some of these people may have been associated with a number of mainstream Hindu organisations, and it is to avoid censure and disrepute that the Maharashtra government has taken a stand against them.

Increase in Number of Arrests Due to Pressure on Government

Recently, when the Maharashtra ATS arrested Waghmare and Kumar in the Gauri Lankesh murder case, while interrogating the accused, a connection was discovered between Maharashtra and the killings of Narendra Dabholkar and Govind Pansare.

If this connection would’ve come up during the court hearings against the accused, it would’ve tarnished the state government’s image. This is the reason why action is now being taken against those associated with hardline Hindu organisations.

The Leader of Opposition in the Maharashtra Assembly, Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil, recently said the government has been trying to save these people since the last four years, and it is only now that due to pressure it has started taking any action against them.

Patil has demanded that the government ban Sanatan Sanstha with immediate effect and arrest its president Jayant Athawale.

Shiv Sena on the Back Foot

Shrikant Pangarkar was arrested on 19 August due to allegations that it was he who arranged the money required for a large number of explosives found with Vaibhav Raut.

After Shiv Sena’s connection with Pangarkar came to light, the party has been on the back foot, and none of its leaders are ready to speak on the matter.

(This article was originally published on Quint Hindi.)