Expressing shock at the murderous attack on prominent Communist Party of India leader Govind Pansare and his wife in Western Maharashtra’s Kolhapur district, Nationalist Congress Party president Sharad Pawar on Monday hinted at extreme rightwing forces as being behind the attack and said that it constituted a worrisome trend in Maharashtra.
“It is being observed that intellectuals and activists who have been consistently combating the extreme forces of nationalism and communalism are being targeted. This must be taken seriously and I urge the State government to use their full strength to nab the assailants,” said Mr. Pawar, speaking to reporters.
“He never had any personal enmity with anyone. It only goes to prove that those extreme forces which could not reply to Mr. Pansare in an intellectual and cerebral manner have decided to take the law into their hands,” said the NCP chief, who shared the dais with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other BP leaders in Baramati last week.
Remarking that his association with Mr. Pansare dated back 45 years, Mr. Pawar said the octogenarian trade unionist and pamphleteer was a man who had always courageously fought for his principles and never compromised on them.
As condemnations continued to flow from activists across the State, anti-corruption crusader Anna Hazare said that the attack proved that an atmosphere of fear had been unleashed in the State against individualist voices.
Meanwhile, medical sources at the Aster Aadhar hospital said that Mr. Pansare’s pulse rate had returned to normal while his wife, Uma was said to be out of danger.
Parties condemn attack
Shiv Sena leader and Union Minister Anant Geete condemned the attack on Mr. Pansare and said it was a “challenge” for the State government.
“We condemn senior CPI leader Govind Rao Pansare shot at in Kohlapur-Maharashtra, where he was leading a campaign against toll tax!” Congress leader Ajay Maken tweeted.
(With PTI inputs)
