State not targeting real culprits behind violence: Prakash Ambedkar

Mumbai: Bharip Bahujan Mahasangh leader Prakash Ambedkar has accused the state government of targeting those who participated in the Elgar Parishad instead of taking action against the real perpetrators of last year’s violence at Bhima-Koregaon.

Mr Ambedkar offered his tribute at the Jay Stambh (war memorial) at Bhima-Koregaon on Tuesday morning. After laying a wreath at the memorial, he reached Pune and alleged that the state government was showing double standards in dealing with the Bhima-Koregaon violence.

“The state government has sent notices to those who tried hard to prevent riots and ensured co-ordination between the Maratha and OBC communities. The students in the Elgar Parishad tried to bridge the gap between the Marathas and OBCs. They took the real history of Bhima-Koregaon to the masses, but the government labeled them Naxals,” said Mr Ambedkar. “On the other hand, the main accused Sambhaji Bhide had not been issued notice. This was the government’s double standards. What happened last year was created by outsiders, he added.

The police is probing the alleged Maoist links in the January 1 violence, which, they suspect, was triggered by provocative speeches made at the Elgar Parishad conclave on December 31, 2017. In the wake of the clashes, the police had booked Hindutva leaders Milind Ekbote and Bhide for inciting violence.