NCP-Cong raked up statue controversy in Pune, claims Shiv Sena and BJP

Shiv Sena spokesperson, Neelam Gorhe, on Tuesday alleged that the controversy over the statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji’s guru, Dadoji Konddev, was raked up by the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) to cover up the conflict within the party between the Maratha community and Other Backward Castes (OBC) by using its reserve force, the Sambhaji Brigade.

She was speaking at a press conference on Tuesday, where she claimed Tuesday’s bandh called by the Shiv Sena-Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) alliance was successful. “It is the beginning of the agitation and we will not stop until Dadoji’s statue is restored in Lal Mahal,” she said.

BJP city unit president, Girish Bapat said NCP leader and district guardian minister, Ajit Pawar, was responsible for the entire controversy.

Gorhe said it was a political move by the Congress-NCP to divert attention from serious issues. “In every election, they try to win on emotive issues without doing any substantive work,” she charged and said Tuesday’s bandh was the beginning of a campaign by the Sena-BJP.

A signature campaign would be launched in every civic ward from Wednesday and will culminate on January 15.

Bapat said had the saffron alliance not raised its voice against removal of Dadoji’s statue, then their voters and Puneites would have asked them why the alliance had succumbed to pressure.

He said the violent reaction of the BJP-Shiv Sena corporators in the PMC was a spontaneous expression of anger against the autocratic action of the ruling Congress-NCP alliance.

The ruling alliance would not have woken up without it. But he would not justify it. “It should not have happened,” he said.

Gorhe said the issue has become a statewide one and may destabilise the  state government. Asked whether there would be a communal divide due to the Dadoji statue issue, she said people are wise and the attempt to get votes by raking up the issue would not be successful.

Bapat said removing the statue was an illegal act and it has led to communal tension. Congress- NCP leaders had supported the decision to appease some organisations, he said.