AMRAVATI: The violence on November 12 and 13 was a conspiracy to create unrest in the state and the police are taking one-sided action against BJP, VHP and Bajrang Dal activists, said leader of opposition in the state legislative assembly Devendra Fadnavis here on Sunday.
Fadnavis took a dig at Amravati guardian minister Yashomati Thakur saying, “Why doesn’t she (Thakur) speak on November 12 violence?” He also dared the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) leaders to ban Raza Academy, whose morcha on November 12 against purported atrocities in Tripura led to the violence in Amravati.
Reacting to the charge, Thakur, who is in Mumbai, said that legal action is being initiated against the organisation. Terming Fadnavis’s charge of “one-sided action” baseless, she said the MVA government has taken a neutral stand. “Cases have been registered against all those who organised protests. All those who tried to instigate communal tension will not be spared,” Thakur said.
Violent incidents were reported from Amravati, Nanded, Malegaon, Washim and Yavatmal districts. Following this, a four-day curfew was imposed in Amravati and internet services were shut on November 13.
In view of BJP and Vanchit Bahujan Aaghadi (VBA) announcing a statewide agitation on Monday, the police chief has barred assembly of five or more persons in Amravati from 9am to 6pm. While BJP is staging a dharna and submitting memoranda to collectors across the state, the VBA is protesting to demand 5% reservation for Muslims.
Addressing the media, Fadnavis demanded that “one-sided” police action against BJP, VHP and Bajrang Dal activists ignoring the November 12 incidents should be stopped.
“If police continue to target only Hindu outfits and activists, BJP would resort to jail bharo. If they want to arrest and re-arrest only our activists, we too are ready to court arrest.”
“Fake social media posts about Tripura violence were created, following which the police in that state had issued clarification. Yet on November 8, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi tweeted. Aap chronology samajhiye. Don’t always blame the central government for everything,” said the former CM.
“Raza Academy is not a BJP offshoot. If MVA leaders are saying so, I dare them to ban the organisation,” Fadnavis added.
“Why is the state government silent on the November 12 incidents? What is its role behind this silence? Does it want to polarize votes?” he asked. “We are ready to cooperate with the state machinery in establishing peace. It should also cooperate with us.”
Stating that the November 12 violence was unfortunate, Fadnavis said the morchas were based on misinformation and it was a pre- and well-planned and deliberate attempt to create unrest.
“The planners should be identified, their motive should be established. It was a conspiracy hatched to destabilize the state,” he said. Fadnavis wanted to know whether permission was given for the Raza Academy rally. “...That morcha targeted shops of a particular community. The November 13 incidents were a reaction to it. BJP has every right to oppose lawlessness.”
Thakur refuted Fadnavis’s claim and reiterated that no permission was given to the Raza Academy rally in Amravati and there was definitely intelligence failure.
“I will raise the issue in the cabinet meeting and will seek an inquiry into the lapses and appropriate action will be taken,” she said.
The process of taking action against the culprits is on. The cyber cell is also investigating those who tried to instigate citizens, she said.
“Fadnavis is a responsible leader and he shouldn’t indulge in vote bank politics to vitiate the atmosphere. People of Amravati supported the government’s efforts to ensure normalcy is restored at the earliest. This shows that people want peace.”
