Republican groups to join rally on 26th

Mumbai: Joining the “Save the Constitution” chorus, smaller Republican forces in Maharashtra are uniting under the "Samvidhan Parivar" banner and will be participating in a proposed rally on Republic Day. Regional leaders including Jogendra Kawade, Manoj Sansare and Arjun Dangale have floated the front, which could be the forerunner of a grand republican alliance in the state ahead of the assembly and parliamentary elections. 

The violence that erupted at Bhima-Koregaon, Pune, on January 1 has led to a churn among republican groups with the clamour for a united force in Maharashtra growing. MLC, leader of the People's Republican Party and former colleague of Ramdas Athavale, Mr Kawade; senior republican activist, Mr Dangale; leader of a Thane-based republican group, Nanasaheb Indise; former MP and Congress leader Bhalchandra Munagekar and others met in Mumbai recently to initiate unification of smaller groups under one umbrella.

Mr Kawade said, “We are now convinced that this government wants to change the Constitution. The Union minister is himself calling dalits dogs but hasn’t been sacked by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. We will have to come together and fight for the rights that the Constitution has given us.” He said that “Samvidhan Parivar” will unify like-minded, secular and progressive fronts to save the Constitution. 

Mr Dangale said, "Divide and rule was the policy of the British. After them, this BJP government is walking down the same path.