'Hand over Dabholkar murder case to CBI'

Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) chief Manikrao Thakare has said that the state home department should, on its own, hand over Narendra Dabholkar murder case to CBI.

Speaking to mediapersons on Sunday at Balewadi Sports Complex after a meeting with Congress leaders in Pune, Thakare said if the police department was not in a position to get any clue even after one month of the murder, the home department should hand over the investigations to CBI. He said that there should not be any problem in handing it over to any other agency. Thakare said the perpetrators of this crime must be arrested soon since Dabholkar’s murder was a big loss for the progressive movements in the state. This is the sentiment of the people across the state, he added.

He said that even while the police were carrying out investigations in the case, provocative speeches and statements were being made for political mileage. This must stop, he said, adding that if there were positive developments in the case, the police department should be vested with the responsibility to investigate or hand it over to another agency.

Thakare said that Congress would press for 29 Lok Sabha seats as per the 29-18 formula while discussing seat-sharing with NCP. He said that Congress has improved its position in Western Maharashtra by winning Sangli Corporation, Bhor Municipal Council and Satara Municipal Council elections.

On Rahul’s leadership

AICC vice-president Rahul Gandhi is our choice for leadership without any second opinion in the party, said Thakare while replying to a question. He said that there is never any difference of opinion in our party when it comes to the issue of leadership. While replying to a question on Pune Lok Sabha MP Suresh Kalmadi, Thakare replied that Kalmadi remains suspended from the party. He made it clear that it was out of personal relations with Kalmadi that he praised Kalmadi while attending the Pune Festival last week.

Rahul Gandhi in Pune on Wednesday

All India Congress Committee vice-president Rahul Gandhi would visit Pune on Wednesday to review the functioning of the state unit, Manikrao Thakare informed reporters. Rahul will meet party’s block and district-level office-bearers at Balewadi Sports Complex. Before coming to Pune, Rahul will visit Nagpur on Tuesday. Rahul would also meet district and block-level units in Vidarbha, parts of Marathwada and Western Maharashtra regions in Nagpur on Tuesday. He has already reviewed units in Mumbai and Konkan region during his last visit to Mumbai.

MANS trusts Maha police, says CBI probe not required

Maharashtra Andhashraddha Nirmoolan Samiti (MANS) working president Avinash Patil has said that the Samiti trusts Maharashtra Police for the murder probe and it is unfortunate that the politicians are demanding that the murder be handed over to CBI or  other agencies.

He was speaking at a meeting of leaders and activists from various progressive movements organised by MANS on Sunday. Veteran communist leader from Kolhapur Govind Pansare released a cartoon booklet, explaining anti-magic ordinance issued by the state government. Founder of Hamal Panchayat Dr Baba Adhav, Dabholkar’s son Hamid, CPI (M) leader Ajit Abhyankar, Nitin Pawar, and MANS secretary Milind Deshmukh were also present.

Patil said that the booklet was aimed to create awareness about anti-magic law ordinance. “We have faith in the police department and it is unfortunate that state leaders including the chief minister are making statements about CBI investigation in this regard,” he said.

Dr Adhav said, “CBI does not have extra men to investigate the case and if it is handed over to CBI then it will take years for them to investigate.”

Pansare mentioned that Sanatan Prabhat has penned various articles against Dabholkar, before he was murdered. He said that MANS branches all over the state should file cases against Sanatan Prabhat. He said that activists in the progressive movements need to become more aggressive in campaigning for their cause.