Pune: Members of right-wing outfit Shiv Pratishthan Hindustan on Sunday demanded withdrawal of criminal cases against Sambhaji Bhide and Milind Ekbote in connection with the Bhima-Koregaon violence on January 1, in which one person was killed.
On January 2, an FIR was registered at Pimpri police station against Mr. Bhide and Mr. Ekbote, executive president of Samasta Hindu Aghadi, for allegedly orchestrating the clashes with their inflammatory speeches.
The protesters marched to the police station and submitted a memorandum to Deputy Commissioner of Police Ganesh Shinde, demanding that the cases be withdrawn on grounds that the allegations are false and baseless.
“Neither Mr. Bhide nor Mr. Ekbote was present at the time of the clashes. Mr. Bhide was in Sangli district on that day. Yet, an FIR has been lodged against him without any logic or reason, and his speaking arrangements cancelled,” said Sanjay Vitthal Jadhar of the Shiv Pratishthan.
Mr. Jadhar said the outfit has been peacefully carrying out its work for the last three decades, and that there have never been any untoward incident during Mr. Bhide’s speeches.
The complaint against Mr. Bhide, Mr. Ekbote, and their supporters was lodged by Anita Ravindra Salve, a member of the Bahujan Republican Socialist Party. Another criminal case was lodged against the duo in Auranagabad. Both cases have been transferred to the Shikrapur police in Pune district.
The 85-year-old Hindutva leader has accused Bharipa Bahujan Mahasangh chief Prakash Ambedkar for blaming him for the Bhima-Koregaon conspiracy.
Mr. Bhide has a good following in the sugar-belt districts of Sangli, Satara and Kolhapur. His followers include Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, both of whom regard him as an exemplar of simple living, and an inspirational teacher.
