Borgaon incident: Athawale seeks immediate actionSangli: Republican Party MP Ramdas Athawale on Wednesday demanded immediate arrest of culprits involved in burning the houses of 48 dalit families in Borgaon village of Sangli district recently.The incident was not confined to a love affair, Athawale told news persons. Abduction of the girl, who happened to belong to an upper caste, was undoubtedly condemnable, Athawale said. Yet a mob attacking, ransacking and burning down dalit's houses warranted more concern, he said.The financial aid given to the victims was inadequate, he opined and pressed for Rs. 50,000 aid to each of the affected families from the chief minister's relief fund. The former minister lauded the role of district collector Dr. Nitin Kareer and superintendent of police Tukaram Chavan in handling the situation.Athawale lambasted the saffron combine government in Maharashtra. The state of affairs under Shiv Sena-BJP rule was worse than that in Bihar, the MP said. He, however, justified President K.R. Narayan's turning down of the Union cabinet's request on applying Article 356 in Bihar. The BJP mooting to force the use of Article 356 in a State ruled by a lady was unfortunate, he remarked.
