Opposition slams BJP Over Nagpur violence; Aaditya Thackeray warns of ‘Manipur-like situation’
Nagpur: Opposition parties have strongly criticised the BJP-led Maharashtra government over the violent clashes that erupted in central Nagpur late Monday night. Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA Aaditya Thackeray alleged that the BJP is attempting to turn Maharashtra into "the next Manipur," while Congress MP Praniti Shinde accused the ruling party of trying to implement the "Gujarat model" in the state.
Thackeray questioned the government’s silence on the incident. "Why was there no response from the Chief Minister’s Office when violence was spreading in Nagpur?" he asked, adding that the BJP is deliberately creating unrest to divide people along religious and caste lines. "Manipur has been burning since 2023, and they want to push Maharashtra into the same chaos," he said.
Shinde, daughter of former Union Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde, accused the BJP of stoking communal tensions. "Since they came to power, they have repeatedly tried to divide society in the name of religion, just as they did in Gujarat," she told PTI. She also criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi, alleging that his speeches further provoke such incidents.
The clashes broke out late Monday night amid rumours of the desecration of a holy book during a protest by a right-wing group demanding the removal of Aurangzeb’s tomb. The violence left 40 police personnel and five civilians injured.
Nagpur Police Commissioner Ravinder Singal confirmed on Tuesday that over 50 people have been taken into custody and five FIRs have been registered in connection with the incident.
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Situation under control in Nagpur, curfew continues in sensitive parts of city: Police
Nagpur(PTI): The law and order situation in Nagpur, which was rocked by violence on Monday night, is under control but a curfew continues in many sensitive areas of the city, a senior official said on Wednesday.
Police Commissioner Ravinder Kumar Singal said the situation will be reviewed in the afternoon.
Another official said that more than 2,000 armed police personnel have been deployed in the sensitive areas. Similarly, the QRT (quick response team) and RCP (riot control police) are conducting patrolling led by a DCP-rank officer, he said.
Violence erupted in central Nagpur’s Chitnis Park in the Mahal area on Monday, with stones hurled at police amid rumours that the holy book of a community was burnt during an agitation by a right-wing body demanding the removal of Aurangzeb’s tomb in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district. As many as 34 police personnel were injured in the violence.
A curfew, restricting the movement of people and vehicles, was subsequently imposed in sensitive areas in the city.
According to a press release of the city police, the curfew is now in force in areas under the jurisdiction of the Kotwali, Ganeshpeth, Tehsil, Lakadganj, Pachpaoli, Shant Nagar, Sakkardara, Nandanvan, Imambada, Yashodhara Nagar and Kapil Nagar police station.
During the curfew, the deputy commissioner of police (DCP) of the respective areas would take calls about vehicular movements on the streets, the release said.
A senior official said 12 policemen, including 3 DCPs, were injured in the violence on Monday night. About 50 persons have been arrested in connection with the stone pelting and arson so far.
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