Bhima Koregaon: Pawar slams Centre for transfer of cases to NIA, alleges ‘malafide intent’

Addressing a press briefing on Saturday, NCP chief Sharad Pawar lashed out at Centre for transferring Bhima Koregaon-Elgar Parishad cases to NIA. He recalled that even former Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had t branded arrested activists as Maoists in his initial statement. Maintaining that law and order was a state subject, he questioned Centre for transferring cases to NIA just 5 hours after Deputy CM Ajit Pawar and Home Minister Anil Deshmukh held a review meeting in this regard. Furrmore, NCP chief alleged that rationale of this move was to avoid  malafide actions of officers in previous regime from being exposed.  

Read: Maha Minister Jitendra Awhad Dubs Bhima Koregaon- Elgar Parishad Cases As BJP's Conspiracy

Sharad Pawar said, “re are two cases- Bhima Koregaon and Elgar Parishad. Devendra Fadnavis made a statement on floor of Assembly three months after this incident. In that statement, where did he say that y are Maoists. Chief Minister was himself Home Minister. I felt that re should be a thorough probe into this matter.” 

Read: 'Bhima Koregaon Case Was A Conspiracy Against PM Modi', Claims BJP's Shahnawaz Husain

He added, “Within 5 hours of Deputy CM and Home Minister conducting a review meeting of Bhima Koregaon-Elgar Parishad case, Centre took away entire case and handed it over to NIA. According to Constitution, law and order is a state subject. I admit that after pass of NIA Act, Centre has more powers. What was need to take away case in such a hurry? I think that this has been done to avoid  malafide actions of officers back n from being exposed.” 

Read: Bhima Koregaon: Rahul Gandhi Slams Case Transfer, Says 'NIA Can't Erase Resistance'

violence at Bhima Koregoan and subsequent arrests

Violence had erupted at Koregaon-Bhima vill in Pune district on January 1, 2018, where supporters had gared to commemorate 200th anniversary of Battle of Bhima Koregaon. This resulted in death of one person and leaving several injured. Subsequently,  Pune police arrested activists such as Sudha Bharadwaj, Arun Ferreira, and Vern Gonsalves, Surendra Gadling, Sudhir Dhawale and P Varavara Rao for allegedly inciting Bhima Koregoan violence through ir speech at Elgar Parishad meeting on December 31, 2017.   

Read: Bhima Koregaon: Fadnavis Hails Case Transfer To NIA, Claims 'Maha Govt Demoralised Police'