MUMBAI: Unrest in Nagpur in wake of demonstrations for removal of Aurangzeb’s tomb resonated in both the Houses of Maharashtra legislature with CM Devendra Fadnavis terming the violence pre-planned while his deputy Eknath Shinde accused Sena UBT of abandoning the ideals of Balasaheb Thackeray and giving up Hindutva ideology by joining hands with Congress.
Fadnavis, who holds home portfolio and hails from Nagpur, told the assembly: “There were protests in the morning and then there was peace. But in the evening, there was a pre-planned attack in which select homes and establishments were targeted. A trolley of stones was found. Weapons were also recovered.”
The CM said 33 cops including three deputy commissioners of police, one of whom was assaulted with an axe, were injured in the violence. “We will take strong action against those involved. Attacks on police will not be tolerated.”
Fadnavis said around 11.30am Monday, VHP and Bajrang Dal held a protest in Mahal area demanding removal of Aurangzeb’s tomb. They burnt a grass replica of the tomb. However, a rumour spread in the evening that the replica which was burnt had a cloth cover with a religious text on it. This led to a mob of around 200-250 people gathering after namaz at Attar Road. They raised slogans and police had to use force to control them.
While another 200-300 people, with their faces covered and carrying sticks, gathered in Hansapuri area and started throwing stones, the third incident occurred at Baldapura at 7.30pm, the CM said. A group of 80-100 people gathered and attacked cops. He spoke about the film ‘Chhaava’, which portrays the conflict between Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj & Aurangzeb. “I’m not blaming any film, but it has fanned sentiments among people and their anger against Aurangzeb is coming out. I appeal to all to maintain calm and respect religious spaces.”
While making a statement in the council on the violence, Shinde trained his guns on Sena UBT, saying: “There was a plan (during MVA regime) to arrest BJP’s Girish Mahajan, Ashish Shelar, Pravin Darekar and Fadnavis. I overturned the gameplan and brought Mahayuti to power. You became helpless in your lust for power. You decorated the grave of Yakub Memon (convicted in the Mumbai bomb blasts case) and during Lok Sabha elections showed the Pakistani flag.”
Taunting Sena UBT for losing assembly elections and even failing to secure leader of opposition’s post in the assembly, Shinde said: “They gave up Hindutva, and now they are ‘na ghar ka, na ghat ka’. Five times I told him (Uddhav), ‘Let’s form an alliance with BJP.’ Why did you go with Congress?”
Shinde criticised Maharashtra PCC chief Harshwardhan Sakpal for likening Fadnavis to Aurangzeb and demanded an apology.
