Opposition calls BJP govt ‘insensitive’ towards dalits

MUMBAI: The January 1 violence in Pune’s Bhima-Koregaon region was raised in the Assembly on Monday when Opposition members demanded the arrest of right-wing leader Sambhaji Bhide over his alleged involvement in the case. Without encouraging any discussion on the issue, the government only said that it had taken note of the protest initiated by Bharipa Bahujan Mahasangh leader Prakash Ambedkar at Azad Maidan on Monday, which sought Bhide’s arrest.   

Leader of Opposition Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil questioned the government as to why permission was denied for the protest.

“The government has denied permission to the protest. Bhide is absconding. The government is protecting the accused. The government is very insensitive towards the issue,” Mr Vikhe-Patil alleged.

Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) MLA Jitendra Awhad said that he would carry out a protest to ensure the arrest of Bhide. “On the one hand Bhide is absconding and on the other he is holding press conferences outside. Why is the police not arresting him? I will protest against this,” Mr Awhad said.

In his reply, minister of state for home Ranjit Patil said that the government had taken note of the protest by Mr Ambedkar and that security has been beefed up.

Shiv Sena MLA Sanjay Kadam from Dapoli then said that a statue of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar in the Konkan’s Khed region was desecrated. To this, Mr Patil said that appropriate measures would be taken.