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

In another sign of differences within the Maha Vikas Aghadi government, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar on Sunday dismissed the alleged attack on BJP leaders by the Shiv Sena cadre. BJP has claimed that Shiv Sena cadre had attacked BJP leader Kirit Somaiya. Criticizing the conduct of MP-MLA couple Navneet and Ravi Rana and Somaiya for allegedly instigating Shiv Sena workers, Pawar also condemned the attack on BJP leaders.

No one should take law into their own hands and should not even try to provoke people. Why attack anyone, everyone is free to go anywhere in the state, why attack you for this? This should not have happened. There is no two opinion on this in the government,” he told reporters.

Pawar was referring to the alleged attack on Somaiya at Khar police station by Shiv Sena workers on Saturday. Somaiya Rana had gone to Khar police station to meet the couple, who were arrested for allegedly inciting the public with his plan to chant ‘Hanuman Chalisa’ outside Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray’s residence. The couple was produced in the court on Tuesday, which sent them to 14-day judicial custody. Pawar also criticized the Rana couple and said that Somaiya should not have gone to Khar police station to meet them due to resentment. However, he reiterated that there should not have been violence against BJP leaders. “Whether one has the central security or the state’s security, no one should be attacked, no one has the right to take the law into his own hands and everyone should keep his peace… Everyone attacks his leadership. However, if there is some criticism then they should tolerate it. Issues keep arising while running the state and we need to maintain law and order.”

Originally published at Pen 18