Likening the police action on the Jamia Millia Islamia campus to the Jallianwala Bagh massacre, Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray on Tuesday charged that a deliberate attempt was being made to disturb peace and create an atmosphere in the country.
Condemning the violence unleashed against Jamia Millia Islamia students on their campus, Uddhav said, “I am saying this full responsibility. A deliberate attempt is being made to disturb peace and create an atmosphere in the country.
The manner in which the police stormed the university campus and opened fire on students brought back the memories of Jallianwala Bagh massacre. The students and people are apprehending as if the similar atmosphere of fear and unrest prevalent in the country after the Jallianwala Bagh massacre is being created across the country”.
Talking to media persons outside the Vidhan Bhavan in Nagpur where the Winter Session of the Maharashtra Legislature is currently on, Uddhav said, “I feel no country can remain stable where youth are disturbed. I would like to ask the Union government not to destabilise the youth of this country.
The youngsters are the country's future and they have a lot of potential. The youth are like a bomb. My request to the Centre is not to disturb them and ignite the fire in them”. During his interaction with the media, Uddhav also hit out at the Opposition BJP for creating a ruckus in the State Assembly over the issue of extending relief to the unseasonal rains-hit farmers in the State.
Singling out former Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis for a vicious attack, Uddhav said, “The previous BJP-led Government had written to the Centre seeking Rs 15,500 crore to compensate the farmers affected unseasonal rains and floods.
But, we have not received even a single paisa. I would like to those who are trying to create an issue over assistance to farmers should realise that their government is in power. Instead of raising voice in the State Assembly, they should focus towards the Centre and hit out at their leaders (for the delay in extending farm relief to Maharashtra”.
Earlier in the day, the Maharashtra Assembly witnessed an ugly scene after Opposition BJP MLAs rushed to the well of the House and raised slogans in front of Speaker Nana Patole, when leader of the Opposition Devendra Fadnavis raised the farmers’ issue and demanded Rs 25,000 per acre compensation to rains-hit farmers. At one stage, the Speaker objected to BJP MLA Abhimanyu Pawar waving a banner demanding compensation to the farmers. Without heeding to the objection raised by the chair, Pawar rushed near the Chief Minister and waved in his face. Agitated by Pawar’s conduct, Shiv Sena MLA Sanjay Gaikwad rushed towards the BJP MLA.
Both the BJP MLA Pawar and Shiv Sena legislator Gaikwad pushed each other and indulged in a minor scuffle, prompting the Speaker to adjourn the House for half an hour initially.
With no order in the House even after the House reassembled after a noisy adjournment, the Speaker adjourned the House for the day.