The attack on Union Agriculture Minister and Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar in Delhi on Thursday sparked protests in Maharashtra, especially in the western region.
In spite of Mr. Pawar appealing to the people to maintain peace, NCP Pune city unit president Vandana Chavan declared that a bandh would be observed in the city on Friday to condemn the attack. “This is a spontaneous reaction by party workers,” Ms. Chavan said, when asked why Mr Pawar's orders were not being followed.
Rasta roko were held in various parts, including Mr. Pawar's hometown Baramati in Pune district. NCP workers burnt tyres and staged protests in Pune, Aurangabad, Nashik and Solapur districts, disrupting traffic in several pockets.
Baramati witnessed a bandh, with NCP workers taking to the streets, urging shop-keepers to down the shutters.
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and NCP leader Ajit Pawar on Thursday reiterated Mr. Pawar's appeal to avoid violence in the State. He told journalists in Nagpur, “I strongly condemn the attack. However, I request people to maintain peace. There is no need to stage protests.”
Hazare reaction
Anti-corruption crusader Anna Hazare condemned the attack, but only as a clarification of his earlier statement in which he said, “He [Sharad Pawar] got slapped! Only one slap?” before walking into his room in his hometown Ralegan Siddhi.
Speaking to journalists later in the day, Mr. Hazare said, “I understand the youth's anger. Corruption and price rise has made life difficult. But there is no place for violence in democracy. Our Constitution does not tell us to be violent with anyone.”
Asked about his earlier comment, Mr. Hazare said, “I was asking them if he [Mr. Pawar] was only slapped or anything else had happened to him.” He said that he was speaking to the people gathered to meet him, and not to the media.
Speaking to a news channel later in the evening, he said the attack was against principles of democracy. “It was not a slap on Mr. Pawar's face but a slap on democracy.”
CM's appeal
Mumbai Staff Reporter writes:
Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan has appealed to the citizens to maintain calm. He called for strengthening the security for political leaders and stressed on using democratic means to resolve issues.
“I deplore the cowardly attack on Mr. Pawar, a senior Minister at the Centre and a State-level leader. It is entirely regrettable, particularly when the same person had led a similar attack on a political leader [the former Telecom Minister, Sukhram]. The fact that he was not apprehended and allowed to come near political leaders is a serious breach of security. Strict action should be taken against the assailant,” Mr. Chavan said on Thursday.
Deputy Chief Minister and Mr. Pawar's nephew, Ajit Pawar, called upon the people to denounce the attack in a peaceful manner.
