NIA to investigate Bhima-Koregaon violence, NCP minister Anil Deshmukh protests

Mumbai Ta January 25, 2020, Saturday

The Central Government has announced that the National Investigative Agency (NIA) will now investigate the violence in Bhima Koregaon.

However, the announcement of the Center poured oil into the stomach of the present mixed government of Maharashtra. In particular, NCP member and Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh said, "I oppose this move by the Center." This is like a raft on the authority of the state government.

Pune police are investigating the violence systematically. There is no need for the NIA. Deshmukh also said that the central government is working against the constitution.

However, it is interesting to note here that NCP President Sharad Pawar himself wrote a letter to Uddhav Thackeray, the then Chief Minister of Maharashtra, requesting that a special investigation team be formed to investigate Bhima-Koregaon violence. But before Thackeray takes any step, the central government transferred the case to the NIA.

Thousands of Dalits gather in Bhima Koregaon every year and hold a convention. In January 2018, there was a lot of violence. Pune police claimed that there were rioting speeches in Dalit society and hence the violence had spread. However, some leftist leaders and activists, including Telugu poets Varwar Rao and Sudha Bhardwaj, were arrested later. The violence was demanded by the present ruling party's constituents in Maharashtra.

The central government had handed over the case to the NIA before the Maharashtra government formed a team.