Why RSS think tank slammed Devendra Fadnavis for Bhima-Koregaon violence

At a time when chief minister Devendra Fadnavis is on the mission to make Maharashtra a one trillion dollar economy by 2025, the home department, under his leadership, has come under criticism for the deteriorating law and order situation in the state. This time the criticism has come from within.

A reputed think tank, Forum for Integrated National Security (FINS), whose office bearers are associated with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), has pointed fingers towards the apathy of the police department that led to riots in Bhima-Koregaon on January 1.

FINS researcher Smita Gaikwad met residents and government officials in about 50 villages in the vicinity of Bhima-Koregaon and conducted a comprehensive fact finding study and analysis of the incidents that took place at Bhima-Koregaon and nearby villages Vadhu and Sanaswadi.

The report blames the police for overlooking various indications that ultra left organisations were running a systematic campaign which eventually led to the riots.

According to the report, the root cause of the riots is systematic and consistent distortion and falsification of Indian history. There have been three attempts of provocation.

The Prerana March, organised by left organisations from December 23, 2017, mobilised the Dalits towards Bhima-Koregaon.

Their appeal of ending “New Peshwai”, a word used to represent the current government of the BJP as "casteist" and "Brahmanical", created a rift.

Provocative speeches at Shaniwarwada on December 31, making statements against Peshwai and urging to take up caste struggle on the road, were one of the other attempts.

Another attempt was at Vadhu on December 28 when a board of distorted history was put up. It was about Chhatrapati Sambhaji’s last rites being performed by people from Pune and some Dalit families from Vadhu. Atrocity cases were filed against villagers on December 29, some of whom were reportedly not even present at the venue when the incident happened.

When the board was put up, a police official immediately informed Shikrapur Police station over the phone.

Had the police acted immediately, further clashes and atrocity cases on December 29 could have been avoided.

(Courtesy of Mail Today)

Also read: What the coming together of SP-BSP in Uttar Pradesh signifies