NCP’s Mr Bhonsale praises duo blamed for Pune violence

Mumbai: Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar has alleged that right-wing forces are behind the violence that took place at Bhima-Koregaon on January 1, but Udayanraje Bhosale, an NCP MP from Satara, has backed the two pro-Hindutva leaders accused of inciting the violence.

Mr Bhonsale, the descendant of Maratha emperor Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, also praised Milind Ekbote of the Samast Hindu Aghadi and Sambhaji Bhide, founder of the Shiv Pratishthan Hindustan — whom he has known for some time — for their “excellent work in making people aware about the Maratha Empire”.

Mr Ekbote and Mr Bhide are in the spotlight for allegedly orchestrating the violence at the 200th anniversary celebrations of the Battle of Bhima-Koregaon, where a Mahar regiment of the East India Company defeated troops led by Peshwa Baji Rao II.

Mr Bhonsale said that while talking on the phone with Mr Bhide, the latter had cried on hearing about the accusations against him of instigating violence.

Talking to media in New Delhi on the Bhima-Koregaon violence, Mr Bhosale said, “Bhide guruji is a respected figure. He has mobilised the youth and students, and has been making them aware about the life of Shivaji and Sambhaji Maharaj. Those who are bringing up his name in relation to the violence have no status in society.”

When about his opinion on another NCP MLA, Jitendra Awhad, who has taken a strong stand against Mr Bhide and Mr Ekbote, Mr Bhosale said, “He (Mr Awhad) is our leader. He is handsome. But he should not have said what he said about Bhide guruji.”

Mr Bhosale said, “When Shivaji Maharaj founded the Maratha Empire, he did not discriminate against people on the basis of caste. Who is a Maratha? Who is a Dalit? The state and nation will be broken up if this divisiveness continues. I prefer dying to seeing the nation breaking apart into many pieces.”

Appealing to every citizen to maintain law and order, Mr Bhosale said, “Whatever has happened has happened. The people should think about the damage that has been done to the state. Almost Rs 1,500 crore has been lost in this. Everyone should rise above his caste and regard the state and nation.”

Meanwhile, the Mumbai police on Friday clarified that it had not given its permission to a programme that was to be held in Lalbaug, Lower Parel on Sunday where Mr Bhide was to be the chief guest.