After a prominent opposition leader was booked by police in connection with the death of a police officer injured in a farmers’ agitation in 2012, the NDA leaders warned government of dire consequences.
“The Congress-NCP government has taken this (action) against Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatana leader Raju Shetty only because he has joined the opposition alliance,” the leaders said.
“If the government indulges in politics of vengeance, the “mahayuti” (grand opposition alliance) will take to streets,” Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray, BJP leader Gopinath Munde and RPI leader Ramdas Athawale said.
Their statement came after Shetty, a Lok Sabha MP from western Maharashtra, was booked by Kolhapur police in connection with the death of assistant sub-inspector of police Mohan Dinkar Pawar yesterday.
Pawar was injured in the farmers’ agitation in 2012 and died after being in a coma for the last six months.
Kolhapur police have applied murder charges against Shetty and other farmers under the supplementary charge of section 302 (murder) of IPC.
Pawar sustained injuries when the farmers’ stir called by the SSS for higher sugarcane purchase price turned violent. Pawar, who was posted at the Shiroli toll plaza in the city, had suffered head injuries during the agitation on November 11, 2012.
“The policeman who was injured in the stir had later resumed duty after getting well. Farmers had even collected and handed over Rs 20,000 to help him,” the opposition leaders said.
“Congress-NCP is disturbed as Shetty’s outfit has joined the opposition alliance and that is why the government is hatching a conspiracy to arrest him,” they said.
