Denying allegations by senior Dalit leader Prakash Ambedkar about his involvement in the violence and arson that took place at Bhima-Koregaon and also in an alleged atrocities case, Shivpratisthan founder Sambhaji Bhide on Friday said that was prepared to face any inquiry.
On a day when the police permission to a lecture that he was to deliver in Mumbai on coming Sunday, Bhide Guruji – as he is popularly known – said:”I have been framed in the Bhima-Koregaon incident. I have absolutely no link with the incident. I am prepared to face any kind of inquiry. I do not mind even if the inquiry is headed by lord Yama Raj”.
Similarly, denying the allegation made by a Dalit woman that he had indulged in an atrocity against her, 86-year-old Bhide Guruji said: “I do not know if there is something like atrocity or not. But, all I know is that the law has been wrongly invoked against me”.
Alluding to the atrocity cases registered against him by the Pimpri and Aurangabad police, the Hindu leader said: “For the last two and a half to three years. I have not visited these areas. In spite of the fact that Sambhaji Maharaj’s memorial is sacred place of faith for me. I have not gone to the areas surrounding Pimpri. Still the complaint lodged with the Pimpri police alleges that was seen hurling stones at the memorial set up at Bhima-Koregaon to pay homage to the Dalits killed in the run-up to the January 1,1818, victory of British troops over Peshwa Bajirao II’s Army”.
“The allegation against me is rather unfortunate. If there are CCTV cameras at the site of violence, I request the police to look at the footage of the disturbances at Bhima Koregaon on Monday last,” Bhide Guruji said.
“I would like the police to investigate all the allegations made against me and Hindu Ekta Aghadi leader Milind Ekbote for our alleged role in instigating or indulging violence at Bhima-Koregaon. The allegation that riots took place at Bhima-Koregaon after my public speech is totally false. I have a strong to believe that a conspiracy has been hatched to malign me,” the Hindu leader.
Meanwhile, NCP MP and Maratha warrior Chhatrapati Shivaji’s descendent Udayanraje Bhosale threw his weight behind Bhide Guruji, saying: “Bhide Guruji is father-like figure to me. I have huge respect for him. It does not behove well of any to speak against Bhide Guriji.
In a related development, the Mumbai Police cancelled permission to a lecture program organised by Shivprathisthan at lalbaug in south-central Mumbai on January 7.