The protests in Maharashtra continued with 286 Bombay Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) buses being vandalized in just two days. The protests were against the violence during the bicentennial celebration of the Bhima Koregaon Battle. B. R. Ambedkar’s grandson Prakash Ambedkar has been extremely vocal about the protests and the violence allegedly caused by a right wing group.
The Spokesperson of BEST informed the vandalism cost them a damage of Rs. 20,51,760. A youth lost his life in the clashes that broke out between the Dalits and an alleged right wing group. The violence was triggered in Pune after the right wing group raised a voice against the Dalits for celebrating the British victory in the Bhima Koregaon Battle.
Reports of vandalism came in from all parts of Maharashtra including Nagpur, Pune and Aurangabad. There were also road and railway blockage and arson that took place on the 3rd of January. The Bharipa Bahujan Mahasangh (BBM) Leader Prakash Ambedkar called for a Statewide bandh on the 3rd in view of the violence in Pune. The Mumbai Police registered 16 FIRs against protesters during the Statewide bandh.
Prakash Ambedkar was quoted saying, “People are incensed over the violence that took place. We were able to contain some of this anger in Wednesday’s bandh, but this can’t continue for long.”
The police have booked Bhide the Leader of Shiv Pratisthan and Ekbote the leader of Samast Hindu Aghadi for agitating violence during the Bhima Koregaon celebrations in Pune.
Ambedkar further added, “We have clearly pointed out (the accused) and police complaints have been registered against Bhide and Ekbote. We demand speedy action against them for perpetuating the violence. While the CM (on Thursday) assured us they will be arrested, he must walk the talk.The most important thing to see is whether Bhide will be arrested.”
Ambedkar also attacked the police for arresting protesters, “Ever since the bandh was called off Wednesday evening, the police have launched a Statewide search operation to arrest the Dalit youths who participated in the protests. We demand an immediate stop to the ‘combing’ operation. These youths are not terrorists or Naxals to be treated in this manner. The CM has assured us this will stop.”
Bhide is known well among the BJP politicians. PM Modi had appreciated Bhide’s work during a rally in Sangli. CM Fadnavis is also close to Bhide as images of Fadnavis taking Bhide’s blessing surfaced.
With the Maharashtra Police also slapping cases against Mewani and Jawaharlal Nehru University’s student leader Umar Khalid over the controversy, Ambedkar, a lawyer by profession, said he was willing to represent them in court.
