MUMBAI: The state government has ordered an SIT (special investigation team) probe into the threats received by ministers and legislators after the death threat received by Maharashtra Environment Minister Aaditya Thackeray was discussed in the state assembly on Thursday.
State home minister Dilip Walse Patil informed the state assembly that a man living in Bangalore named Jaisingh Rajput had been arrested in connection with the death threat to Thackeray and had been brought to Mumbai. He is in police custody for three days. “In view of the sentiments expressed in the assembly, we will set up an SIT to inquire into the death threats received by leaders and to formulate a policy regarding this,” said Patil.
Earlier, Shiv Sena MLA Sunil Prabhu informed the assembly that Thackeray had received a death threat on WhatsApp from a man in Karnataka. “Since personalities like Dabholkar, Gauri Lankesh and Kalburgi were killed by people from Karnataka, which has a BJP government, we need to see if there is a conspiracy,” he said.
Others, including Nawab Malik from the NCP and Sudhir Mungantiwar from the BJP, also said that they had received threats.
Both Malik and the NCP’s Chhagan Bhujbal demanded action against the Hindutva outfit Sanatan Sanstha. “After the Sushant Singh Rajput case, there have been attempts to defame the MVA government. I have also received threats and there is a Twitter handle that it doing propaganda against the government and receiving funds of up to Rs 30 lakh,” alleged Malik.
He alleged that the Sanatan Sanstha was behind the killing of Dabholkar, Gauri Lankesh and Kalburgi. “Several ministers have received threats.
An SIT probe by an IPS officer is needed,” said Malik. Bhujbal demanded a ban on the Sanatan Sanstha. “This is a very serious issue and strong action should be taken. In the past, the Congress-NCP government had asked for a ban on the Sanatan Sanstha. The organisation is found in several states. If other states make the same demand, then the Centre should intervene,” he said.
BJP leader Sudhir Mungantiwar added that if legislators were being threatened, it reflected poorly on the state home department. “I have received threats and so has Sena leader Milind Narvekar,” he said.
Leader of Opposition Devendra Fadnavis said that although the threat to Aaditya Thackeray was a serious matter, the state government was trying to politicise the issue. “We condemn such threats. Serious action should be taken against organisations behind such activities. Investigate the organisations, be it the one behind the Twitter propaganda, or the Raza Academy. I am happy to seek the cooperation of the Karnataka government in this case,” he said.
However, he pointed out that if the MVA felt the Sanatan Sanstha was a dangerous organisation, they had done little to act against it in their two years in power. “It is not enough to ask the Centre for a ban. The government has to provide conclusive proof against it, which it failed to do,” he said.
