Sharad Pawar's comment won't sway Bhima-Koregaon probe: CM Uddhav not kowtowing to allies

In an interview with Shiv Sena-run Marathi newspaper, Saamana, Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Wednesday reacted to transferring of Bhima Koregaon-Elgar Parishad cases to NIA. Thackeray said that Central government should have taken state government into confidence on Bhima Koregoan case transfer. 

Thackeray said, " State government was investigating matter and body denied Central government'  right to investigate case, but before stepping in on case y should have taken state government into confidence or at least must have let us kw where we are going wrong with investigation."

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" Centre also has a duty to let State kw where y are going wrong and pointing out or mistakes. If our investigation was going in wrong direction Centre should have told us about it. This is t a one-way issue, does centre t trust or believe in investigation carried out by state? This is an important part and that is why relationship between State and centre can go in wrong direction," he added.

Uddhav disagrees with Sharad Pawar on Bhima Koregaon

Furr talking about Sharad Pawar's accusation on Centre over case, Thackeray said, "I am looking at this issue with biases. Everybody has ir right to present ir point of view over issue. I might be having a different opinion whereas Sharad Pawar may be having his own different view. Even Congress and BJP may be having ir own opinion. But having an opinion and investigating case according is two different things. Even though Sharad Pawar has made a comment it doesn't mean police investigation will follow same angle. I have spoken to Pawar over this and we have decided to investigate matter in an unbiased manner." 

READ | Bhima Koregaon Case: Sena Lambasts Centre's Interference, Alleges Plan To Stifle Truth

Sharad Pawar lashes out at centre

Addressing a press briefing on January 25, 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.  

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. 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.” 

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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: Pawar Slams Centre For Transfer Of Cases To NIA, Alleges ‘malafide Intent’