Congress leaders in Pune to approach courts, seek probe on ‘anarchy in Maharashtra’

“We, the senior members of Pune Congress, have decided to approach the Bombay High Court and the Supreme Court in this regard. We are sending an appeal to the courts to take cognisance of the anarchy in Maharashtra and initiate a probe,” Tiwari added.

The Congress said serious charges have been made against none other than the chief minister. “There is a need for a court probe. If a probe is conducted by the state government, it will go in favour of the chief minister. Only a court-appointed probe will reveal the facts and the correct picture of Maharashtra and what is actually going on in the corridors of power,” Tiwari said.

The Congress leaders also accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah of not being happy with Maharashtra’s progress and with the peace and communal harmony in the state. “The BJP government at the Centre brought down the MVA [Maha Vikas Aghadi] government through its parrot agencies like the ED [Enforcement Directorate]. And now it seems the BJP government is bent on increasing the crime rate in Maharashtra and spreading the drug mafia raj. The government is trying to defame Maharashtra,” he added. “Modi-Shah-Fadnavis are responsible for this…The BJP and Shiv Sena dispute seems to be born out of supremacy over property, money and wealth,” he said.

Tiwari said Maharashtra had always been a number one state on all fronts during the Congress regime. But during the BJP regime, he said, it has sunk to new lows. If the courts do not take the necessary steps, the Congress will launch an agitation, Tiwari said.

Tiwari also criticised the statement made by BJP state president Chandrashekhar Bawankule and BJP leader Nitesh Rane. “BJP leaders are making shocking, disparaging and provocative statements,” Tiwari said, referring to a Nitesh Rane remark where he allegedly asked BJP workers to take steps disregarding the police, saying they could do so as their “big boss” Devendra Fadnavis was the home minister. “It is a sign of the growing goonda raj (reign of goons) in the state of Maharashtra,” Tiwari said.

Apart from Tiwari, Congress leaders Madhubhau Sanas, Ramchandra Shedge, Subhash Thorve, Sambhajirao Paigude, Aba Pawar, Nandu Papal, Aba Jagtap, Prasanna Patil, Suresh Nangare, Nitin Paigude, Dhanjay Bhilare, Anna Gosavi, Shankar Shirke, Sanjay Abhang, Swapnil Jagptap, Ganesh Shinde and others were also present at the event.