Nationalist Congress Party seeks review of Koregaon-Bhima cases

Mumbai: The Nationalist Congress Party on Wednesday urged Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray to drop charges against human rights activists and civil rights defenders arrested last year in connection with the Koregaon-Bhima cases. Two senior leaders and legislators - Dhananjay Munde and Jitendra Awhad - have issued separate appeals to the CM, who leads the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government.

“I have always maintained that the previous (BJP) government was attempting to finish off the Dalit movement by branding their leaders as Maoists. Charging them under sedition was improper,” said Awhad.

Munde said in a letter to Thackeray that the earlier government of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had slapped false charges against the activists.

“The then government has harassed intellectuals, activists, social workers, and even ordinary citizens, and labeled several of them as ‘urban Naxals’ in the case,” Munde said.

Reacting to the demands, the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party targeted the ruling Shiv Sena questioning its brand of nationalism.

“Is this the Shiv Sena of the legendary Balasaheb Thackeray? Weak and compromised a Would he have ever negotiated on issues of national security?” said BJP IT Cell Chief Amit Malviya in a tweet.

Last year, the Pune Police had arrested at least nine persons in connection with the December 31, 2017, public meeting by the Elgar Parishad and the subsequent caste riots on January 1, 2018, in Koregaon-Bhima village of Pune. (IANS)

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