Charging that the law and order situation in Maharashtra was proving to be worse than what it used to be in Bihar in the past, Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray on Wednesday asked Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to give up the State Home Ministry that was currently with him, so as to facilitate an independent Minister to handle the crucial portfolio effectively.
launching a vicious attack on the BJP-led saffron alliance Government in the State, Uddhav slammed the Devendra Fadnavis dispensation for “going soft” on a BJP MlA who led a mob in ransacking a police station to seek the release of his legislator son-in-law arrested for the murder of two Shiv Sena activists in Ahmednagar early this month.
local Sena leader Sanjay Kotkar and his supporter Vasant Thube were shot dead April 7 by motor-bike assailants after the results of the declaration of a by-poll result of the Ahmednagar Municipal Corporation (AMC). NCP MlA Sangram Jagtap and three others, including a sharp shooter, were arrested immediately after the incident.
BJP MlA Shivaji Kardile had – along with former MlA Dadabhai Kalamkar and former Mayor Abhishek Kalamkar – had led a group of 250 to 300 political activists to the office of Ahmednagar district police superintendent’s office and ransacked the place, in a bid to seek the release of Jagtap. Incidentally, Kardile is the father-in-law of NCP MlA Jagtap.
Alleging that the BJP-led government had proved to be “useless” in handling law and order situation in the state, Uddhav said: “If a party that goes out of the way to patronise such elected representatives who indulge in goonda-gardi in broad day-light and formS a government, how can you expect achhe din in the state or the countryIJ”.
Talking to media persons at Ahmednagar after meeting the family members of two slain Shiv Sena activists, Uddhav said: “We have long been rooting independent Home ministry. I am telling the chief minister once again now that since he is pre-occupied with many development works, he has no time for the Home department. He should forthwith appoint an independent home minister so that law and order could be handled effectively”.
Seeking an “impartial” investigation into the brutal gunning down of local Sena leader Sanjay Kotkar and his supporter Vasant Thube on April 7, Uddhav said: “Whatever the probe that is going on into the double murder of Sena activists should be impartial in nature. This is because even the investigation machinery is under immense pressure from some quarters”
“After my party activists protested against the killings of the Shiv Sena activists, the police registered cases against hundreds of Sena activists. But, what shocks me was the soft manner in which the police handed a BJP MlA who led a mob that attacked the police station and secured the release of the accused in the double murder of Shiv Sainiks. Though BJP MlA Kardile was arrested, he was released on bail yesterday despite being involved in such a serious crime,” the Sena chief said.
“In the past we used to apprehend if Maharashtra was going the Bihar way in terms of law and order. The fact remains that these days Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar has improved the law and order situation in his state. But, the situation in Maharashtra is prove to be worse than what it used in Bihar in the past. Or how else, one can explain the manner in which Fadnavis government is shielding the BJP MlA concernedIJ,” Uddhav asked.
Coming down heavily on the Maharashtra government for the unabated murders of Shiv Sainks across the state, Uddhav demanded that a capable police officer to investigate the double murder of Shiv Sainks in Ahmednagar district. “If we are go to the roots of the crime, we need to have a capable officer to investigate the case. I am requesting the chief minister to appoint one such officer to bring to book all the persons responsible for the heinous crime. I have also spoken to Special Public Prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam to take up the case and ensure that the culprits behind the crime are sent to gallows”.
After meeting the family members of Slain Shiv Sainiks, Uddhav said: “The two Shiv Sainiks killed in the incident are part of our family. We will not let them down. We will take care all their needs”.
On its part, the Shiv Sena has already handed over Rs 15 lakh each as compensation to the Shiv Sainiks who were murdered earlier this month.