Nagpur violence: Govt should take strict action against such unruly elements, says Mayawati

Amid violence in Nagpur over demands to by Sangh Parivar organisations for the removal of Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb's tomb, BSP chief Mayawati said such calls were not right, adding that it damaged the "mutual brotherhood, peace and harmony". She urged the Maharashtra government to take action against "unruly elements".

On Tuesday, Mayawati feared that the situation would worsen and urged the Maharashtra government to take strict action against "unruly elements".

"It is not right to damage or break anyone's grave or mausoleum in Maharashtra because this is spoiling the mutual brotherhood, peace and harmony there. The government should take strict action against such unruly elements, especially in Nagpur. Otherwise, the situation can worsen, which is not right," the BSP chief posted on X.



On Monday, violence erupted in Nagpur's Hansapuri area as unidentified individuals vandalised shops, torched vehicles, and pelted stones. This came after an earlier clash between two groups in the Mahal area that had already heightened tensions in the city, according to reports.

A curfew has been imposed in multiple areas of Nagpur city under Section 163 of the Bhartiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) following tensions.

According to the official order issued by Nagpur Police Commissioner Ravinder Kumar Singal, the restrictions will remain in place until further notice.

The curfew applies to police station limits in Kotwali, Ganeshpeth, Tehsil, Lakadganj, Pachpaoli, Shantinagar, Sakkardara, Nandanvan, Imamwada, Yashodharanagar, and Kapilnagar.

As stated in the order, on March 17, around 200 to 250 members of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal gathered near the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj statue in Mahal, Nagpur, to support removing Aurangzeb's grave. The protesters raised slogans demanding the grave's removal and displayed a symbolic green cloth filled with cow dung cakes.

Later, at 7:30 pm, around 80 to 100 people reportedly gathered in Bhaldarpura, creating tension and disrupting law and order. The order notes that the gathering caused distress to the public and affected the movement of people on the roads.