With the killers of rationalist Dr. Narendra Dabholkar still at large, the murderous attack on CPI leader Govind Pansare and his wife sparked a wave of condemnation among activists across Maharashtra.
“I appeal to the State government to arrest the culprits at the earliest and take stern action against them for this cowardly deed,” said a grief-stricken Meghna, Mr. Pansare’s daughter.
Activists and members of left-wing organisations staged protests in several parts of the State, including Nashik, Pune, Mumbai, Aurangabad and Solapur. They waved black flags, blocked roads and shouted slogans against the RSS and its affiliates.
Veteran activist Medha Patkar squarely pinned the blame on the forces of the right.
“The attack clearly smacks of a rightwing conspiracy,” said activist Mukta Dabholkar, daughter of slain activist Narendra Dabholkar. “The State government should accord the highest priority to apprehending the assailants. The shooting is part of a pattern… silencing secular voices in Maharashtra.”
The Communist Party of India described the attack as yet another effort to stifle dissent. It said Mr. Pansare was under threat from “communally divisive forces” that objected to his effort to organise a discussion on the book Who Killed Hemant Karkare?
Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader Ajit Abhyankar said such incidents were on the rise ever since the BJP government came to power at the Centre and the State. It cited the vandalism of the CPI (M)’s Pune party office by rightwing elements last year.
“Why are progressive activists not safe?” CPI (ML) Polit Bureau member Kavita Krishnan asked on Twitter.
Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut said the attack had sullied Maharashtra’s progressive image and would not go unpunished.
