The Congress took pot-shots at the ruling BJP over the instance of the police being attacked by a mob at Pangaon in Latur district, saying that the party’s ploy was to incite riots across the state.
The Congress took pot-shots at the ruling BJP over the instance of the police being attacked by a mob at Pangaon in Latur district, saying that the party’s ploy was to incite riots across the state.
Opposition leader Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil visited the two injured police constables at Latur Civil Hospital and later interacted with media persons. Mr Vikhe-Patil said that the BJP government had failed to tackle drought in Marathwada and other parts of the state. “Hence, BJP is trying to create riots to divert people’s attention from the government’s failure,” he said.
A mob attacked Pangaon police station, injuring two policemen including police sub inspector Yunus Ahmed and police constable R.L. Awaskar.
Mr Vikhe-Patil demanded that the incident be probed by CID, and MCOCA be applied against the accused responsible.
He criticised Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis who holds the Home portfolio and said that it is “shameful” for Maharashtra, a progressive state, that the police was attacked and the CM did not take any action. Mr Vikhe-Patil said the state needed a separate minister for Home as the CM could not do justice to it being in charge of so many portfolios.
Mr Vikhe-Patil also criticised giving permission to dance bars in the state. “When farmers are committing suicide, farmers and common people are fed up with price hike and fighting against drought, the state is interested in starting dance bars rather than giving relief to the people,” he said. After the recent Supreme Court judgment, the state has allowed starting dance bars and several applications have been approved by the Home department.
Mr Vikhe-Patil said that he would meet the CM to sort out the drinking water problem of Latur city. Latur, which has population of six lakh, is facing severe drinking water shortage. “We will push up supply of drinking water from Ujani Dam,” he said. He added that he, along with local Congress legislator, Amit Deshmukh, had raised the issue of Latur’s water crisis in the state assembly but that the state ignored it each time.
Congress legislators Naseem Khan, Varsha Gaikwad and Satej Patil accompanied Mr Vikhe-Patil during his visit to the hospital.
