There is lack of political will to fast track Pansare murder case and justice has been delayed says activists.
Even though a year has passed ever since Senior CPI leader Govind Pansare was shot but police are yet to make any headway into the murder case. Social activists expressed their displeasure over the slow paced investigation process of Pansare murder case. According to them there is lack of political will to fast track Pansare’s case and justice has been delayed. They urged the government to speed up the investigation process to nab the accused responsible for Pansare’s murder. Pansare was shot at Kolhapur on February 16 last year while going for a morning walk accompanied by his wife. He passed away on February 20 in a Mumbai hospital. The Shramik Mukti Dal, an organisation fighting for the rights of displaced people held a silent march in Kolhapur on the occasion of the first death anniversary of Govind Pansare. Opposition parties too has criticised Fadnavis government for its failure to track down the killers of Pansare.
Shahid Govind Pansare Samata Sangharsh Samiti president N D Patil, who addressed the gathering, said the government wasn’t serious about completing investigation in the Pansare murder case.
“Even the courts have come to the conclusion that the investigation isn’t on a proper track. The probe agency isn’t serious about finding the issue,” Patil said.
“The rulers don’t feel the same sentiments as the common man does. The cowardice of ruling politicians is also in part responsible for the slow pace of investigation,” Patil said.
The silent march began from Pansare’s home and ended at Dasara Chowk. Participants protested at the chowk demanding that the true faces responsible for Pansare’s murder be exposed.
Smitha Pansare, daughter of CPI leader Govind Pansare said the ideologies of her late father will never be defeated.
“The death of Govind Pansare has created 5,000 Pansares in Maharashtra. In Maharashtra, every town and every taluka has seen it. It is not only in that state but it is everywhere. The slogan right now is ‘We are Pansare’,” Smitha said.
Activist J R Dabhole said, “Pansare, Narendra Dabholkar and M M Kalburgi were the victims of anti-rational people. We have demanded the state government to take action against the Sanatan Sanstha for provoking the sentiments of the people. However nothing has happened.”
The pattern of attack on Pansare recalled the murder of Dabholkar, who was shot on August 20, 2013. These outstanding social activists were rationalists and worked on the ground against superstitions. In both cases, the attackers were gunmen who arrived on motorbikes when the targets were on their morning walks.
