HomeCityFadnavis warns of strict action amid Nagpur clashes, oppn breathes fire: Who said what over Aurangzeb tomb row
CM Fadnavis has warned of strict actions against those who try to ignite tension in the state.
Moneycontrol City Desk
March 18, 2025 / 11:07 IST
Nagpur violence
Amid the clashes that erupted on Monday between two groups in Nagpur over the demand for removal of Aurangzeb's tomb, the opposition targeted the Devendra Fadnavis-led government and claimed Maharashtra is being strategically led towards making the state unattractive for investment, to help the neighbouring state to take advantage (in apparent reference to Gujarat).
Violence erupted in central Nagpur on Monday with stones hurled at police amid rumours that the holy book of a community was burnt during an agitation by a right-wing body for the removal of Aurangzeb's tomb (located in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district), leaving six persons and three policemen injured, officials said.
State government’s response
CM Devendra Fadnavis addressed the Assembly on Tuesday and said, "Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal held protests. Rumours were spread that things containing religious content were burnt....It looks like a well-planned attack. No one has permission to take law and order into their hands."
Fadnavis on Monday night had called for peace and asked people not to believe rumours. "The police are managing the situation following stone pelting and tense situations in the Mahal area," he said in a statement.
The CM also warned of strict actions against those who try to ignite tension in the state. “If anyone is creating tension in the society, throwing stones at the police or trying to disturb the peace, strict action will be taken against them,” he said.
Union minister Nitin Gadkari also appealed for peace and harmony. "Nagpur always has a history of peace. I appeal to all my brothers to maintain peace. Do not believe rumours and do not come on roads," the minister said in a video message.
BJP MLA Praveen Satke informed, “There was a protest in the morning, but the police intervened. At night, stones were pelted in the Mahal area and other areas. Vehicles were set on fire. Fire brigade personnel were beaten up. People from outside were responsible for putting houses of ordinary people on fire and a large scale stone pelting.”
“Now the situation is under control. People from both sides had come on the road. They committed violence. The Chief Minister should take immediate action against these people. I will go to Nagpur myself and inspect the situation,” said Datke who was elected from Nagpur Central Assembly seat.
How Opposition leaders reacted
Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi, remarked, “Instigating violence, creating instability in the state, keeping the citizens busy over the past history while getting away with tough questions on the state’s financial doom, increased debt burden, growing joblessness and farmer suicides. Maharashtra is being strategically led towards making the state unattractive for investment, it is to help the neighbouring state to take advantage," she claimed.
"Riot broke out in the Mahal area of Nagpur, the hometown of Maharashtra Chief Minister. Nagpur is a 300-year-old city. In those 300 years of history, no riot has occurred in Nagpur. We should all ask why such a situation formed. BJP is in power in both the Centre and State. If VHP and Bajrang Dal organised a protest demanding the removal of the tomb of Aurangzeb, did the Government make no arrangements to maintain law and order?” Congress leader Pawan Khera said.
Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati on Tuesday asserted that it is not right to damage anyone's grave as this has been spoiling the peace and harmony in the state.
"It is not right to damage or break anyone's grave or mausoleum in Maharashtra because this is spoiling the mutual brotherhood, peace and harmony there." The government should take strict action against such unruly elements, especially in Nagpur, otherwise the "situation can worsen", which is not right,” the former chief minister of Uttar Pradesh said in a post on X.
Shiv Sena(Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) leader Aditya Thackeray called this incident the collapse of state machinery in Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis's hometown. He posted on social media platform X, "The law and order of the state has collapsed like never before. Nagpur, the home city of the CM and Home Minister, is facing this."
NCP-SCP leader Prashant Sudamrao Jagtap said, "Devendra Fadnavis is a three-time CM and Home Minister, and he comes from Nagpur. Looking at what happened there, he should resign from the CM post."
Moneycontrol City Desk
first published: Mar 18, 2025 10:01 am
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