CM claims riots premeditated, faces ally NCP heat

Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis has termed the riots that broke out in Nagpur on Monday as premeditated and promised that rioters will be held accountable. This, even as the government faced flak from its ally NCP and the Opposition.

Fadnavis while speaking in the assembly said, "At 11.30 am on March 17, Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal protesters raised slogans against Aurangzeb and burnt a symbolic grave of Aurangzeb made of grass. While they were booked for the protest, in the evening there was a rumour that the cloth which VHP burnt had some religious writings on it." He said a mob approached the Ganeshpeth police to file a complaint against VHP and it was taken. Protests broke out in different places in Nagpur.

"After the morning incident (VHP protest), there was calm till evening... We have found that (the riot) was deliberately planned. We found a trolley full of stones... Some people had kept stones. We have also found weapons. There was a plan to target some houses and establishments... Clearly, some people involved in this have been involved in a pre-planned pattern," he said, adding that all those who attacked the policemen will not be spared.


Deputy CM Eknath Shinde seconded it in the legislative council and said that a few people were aware that a riot would take place and hence did not park their vehicles at the usual spot where the arson took place.

Claiming the "true story" of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj, shown in the movie 'Chhaava', inflamed tempers, he asked people to maintain cool. "Maharashtra is a progressive state, investments are coming in a big way. If we maintain social stability, then it would be more helpful for the state."

The CM' statement came even as ally NCP slammed the government. "Which are these organisations (read VHP and Bajrang Dal)? What was the need for them to protest when Ramzan is on? They have incited the riots and have been deliberately spoiling the atmosphere," said NCP MLC Amol Mitkari, who sought a ban on groups that incited the riots.