Had no role in Bhima-Koregaon violence: Sambhaji Bhide

MUMBAI: Eighty-five-year-old Sambhaji Bhide, the man at the centre of a controversy that led to Dalit protests in Mumbai and Maharashtra, and is being blamed by many for triggering the riots Pune, stoutly defended himself on Friday, saying he wasn’t responsible for the recent disturbances.

But by doing so, he stirred another controversy by claiming that a “section of the people” are misusing the (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.

Bhide said he was ready to face any judicial inquiry, and instead blamed Gujarat MLA Jignesh Mevani and Dalit leader Prakash Ambedkar for a pre-planned conspiracy to create riots in the state that caused considerable damage and destruction.


“I have not gone to the spot where the violence took place, and I don’t even have a cell phone. There are cameras everywhere, let them show any evidence that I was there, then I am willing to take the blame,” said Bhide.

He insisted that the cops should investigate the role of Ambedkar and Mevani in the recent violence because they went to Bhima Koregaon to make speeches.

“There should be a probe as to who was invovled in this violence, who called them (Mevani and Umar Khalid from JNU) there. This riot and other charges against me seem to be a pre-planned conspiracy,” claimed Bhide.

While Bhide claimed innocence, his comments on the “abuse of Atrocities Act” by the Dalit community could further worsen the ties between the Marathas and Dalits.