Various Dalit organisations and left parties have called for Maharashtra bandh on Wednesday in protest against the violence during the 200th anniversary celebrations of the Bhima-Koregaon battle in Pune district.
Bharipa Bahujan Mahasangh (BBM) leader Prakash Ambedkar on Tuesday called for Maharashtra bandh tomorrow to protest the state government's "failure" to stop the violence during the 200th anniversary celebrations of the Bhima-Koregaon battle in Pune district yesterday. His call was supported by various Dalit organisations and Left parties.
Prakash Ambedkar, grandson of Dalit icon Dr Bhim Rao Ambedkar, alleged that Hindu Ekta Aghadi was responsible for the violence.
Over 250 social organisations and Left Democratic Front which includes CPI and CPIM, have announced their support to the bandh, he said.
He has appealed for peace during the bandh period.
Referring to the caste clashes in Bhima Koregaon, Ambedkar ruled out any conflict between Marathas and Dalits.
"If there was any tension, the 200th anniversary commemoration of the Bhima Koregaon battle would not have taken place. Yesterday's programme was organised by Sambhaji Brigade (a Maratha organisation)," he said while addressing a press conference here.
He alleged the trouble occurred because of Hindu Ekta Aghadi and Shivraj Pratishthan, headed by Milind Ekbote and Sambhaji Bhide, respectively.
"Akhil Bharatiya Hindu Sabha (ABHS), Peshwa heirs, had opposed the event. We held talks with ABHS after which they decided against opposing," he said.
Ambedkar alleged that villagers were provoked by the Shivraj Pratisthan while the Hindu Ekta Agadhi hurled stones at people going towards the Koregaon war memorial.
He demanded that various types of grants and subsidies being given by the government to villages along Koregaon, Shiroor and Chakan, be stopped.
Ambedkar said a judicial probe ordered by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis into the violence should be headed by chief justice of high court and not by a sitting judge.
Yesterday's violence sparked off protests in various parts of Maharashtra today, including in Mumbai where protesters staged a rail roko in suburban Chembur.
Meanwhile, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis today said a judicial inquiry has been ordered into the violence on Monday in which one person was killed.
Angered over the death, several groups of people had come out in protest this morning in the eastern suburbs of Chembur, Vikhroli, Mankhurd and Govandi, and forced shops and establishments to shut down, an official said.
The protesters blocked roads in several areas of Mumbai, forced shops to shut down and also attacked a journalist of a television news channel.
The event to mark 200th anniversary of the Bhima-Koregaon battle, in which forces of the East India Company defeated Peshwa's army, was yesterday marred by incidents of violence, in which one person was killed.
Dalit leaders commemorate the British victory, as it is believed that soldiers from the Mahar community -- then considered untouchable -- were part of the East India Company's forces.
However, some right-wing groups in Pune had expressed opposition to celebration of the British victory.
(With PTI inputs)
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 "Dalit groups protest against violence during 200th anniversary celebrations of the Bhima-Koregaon battle")
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