Maharashtra Minority Affairs Minister Eknath Khadse, on Monday, said certain political forces could be behind the Navi Mumbai church attack.
“We are investigating the incident. The people behind this incident could be from outside or anti-social elements. We cannot deny the participation of certain political forces in this act. We will present a detailed report on it before the assembly sessions ends,” said Mr. Khadse, while reading out the government’s statement on the incident in State Assembly.
Stones were thrown at St. George Church in New Panvel in the early hours of Saturday, damaging the glass encasing of a statue.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, on Sunday, had assured that the police teams had begun a search for the attackers with the help of CCTV footage.
On Monday, the opposition Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) cornered the State Government over the attack, with adjournment motion. Assembly speaker, however, denied the permission, instead asked the State Government to present its statement on the issue. Protesting against the ruling, the opposition MLAs staged walkout from the Assembly.
“Attack on the church is just another example of deteriorating law and order situation in the state. Minorities are specifically targeted and the government has failed to protect them,” said NCP MLA Jitendra Awhad.
