Maharashtra: Deputy CM Ajit Pawar disapproves alleged attack on Rana couple, Somaiya

In yet another sign of differences within the Maha Vikas Aghadi government, Maharashtra deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar on Sunday disapproved an alleged attack on BJP leaders by Shiv Sena cadre. The BJP has claimed that Shiv Sena cadre had attacked BJP leader Kirit Somaiya. While slamming the conduct of MP-MLA couple Navneet and Ravi Rana and Somaiya for allegedly inciting Sena workers, Pawar also decried the attack on the BJP leaders.

"Nobody should take law into their hands, and they should also not try to incite people. Why should one be attacked, everyone is free to go anywhere in the state, why should you be attacked for this? This should not have happened; there are no two opinions on this in the government," he told journalists.

Pawar was referring to the alleged attack on Somaiya at the Khar police station by Shiv Sena workers on Saturday. Somaiya had gone to the Khar police station to meet the Rana couple, who were arrested for allegedly inciting the public with their plan to chant 'Hanuman Chalisa' outside chief minister Uddhav Thackeray's residence. On Tuesday, the couple were produced before a court, which sent them to 14 days' judicial custody. Pawar also criticised the Rana couple and said Somaiya should not have gone to the Khar police station to meet them due to inflamed tempers. He, however, again reiterated that there should not have been violence against BJP leaders. "Whether anyone has central security or state security, no one should be attacked, no one has the right to take law into their hands and everyone should keep their peace ... Everyone is angry and passionate about attacks on their leadership, however if there is some criticism then they should tolerate it. When running the state, issues keep cropping up and we need to maintain law and order," he said.