Bharipa Bahujan Mahasangh president Prakash Ambedkar on Thursday held a meeting with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis demanding powers to the judicial commission to initiate criminal proceedings against the people accused of inciting violence at Bhima-Koregaon.
“My discussion with Mr. Fadnavis was positive and he agreed to our demands. A discussion was also held between the CM and the acting Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court, V.K. Tahilramani. She will be recommending a panel of judges and one of the judges will head the judicial inquiry committee,” said Mr. Ambedkar.
Mr. Ambedkar reiterated his demand to arrest Manohar alias Sambhaji Bhide of Shiv Pratishthan and Milind Ekbote of Hindu Ekta Aghadi - two right-wing leaders accused of instigating riots against Dalits at Bhima-Koregaon on January 1. “I do not know whether the State is going to arrest Mr. Bhide or not.”
When asked about the arrest of protesters, Mr. Ambedkar said, “Protesters are not linked with a Naxal movement or terror groups. The CM has assured me of not carrying out any searches.”
On cancellation of Chhatrabharati’s programme, where MLA and Dalit leader from Gujarat Jignesh Mevani and JNU student union leader Umar Khalid were supposed to speak, he said, “It was discussed with Mr. Fadnavis. He told us that it was not the right time to hold such an event. I think the event could be organised some time later.”
Meanwhile, claiming that the allegations against him are baseless, Shiv Pratishthan founder Manohar alias Sambhaji Bhide demanded an inquiry into the violence.
Issuing a statement in Sangli, Mr. Bhide said, “Dalit leader Prakash Ambedkar has levelled baseless charges against me over my involvement in the violence. I request the government to probe the incident, which in reality is fake. Those who are guilty should be punished.”
