28 August,2023 05:17 PM IST | Nagpur | mid-day online correspondent
Union Minister Ramdas Athawale/ File photo
Union Minister Ramdas Athawale demanded strict action against the six accused who strung four Scheduled Caste youths from a tree upside down and battered them in Ahmednagar district. Speaking to the media, on Monday, Athawale said that it is a very serious issue and a rather unfortunate incident, reported PTI.
The Republican Party of India (Athawale) chief said that their demand is strict action against the accused. "The RPI (A) condemns this incident. We demand strict action against those responsible," he said.
Four youths, including two minors, were allegedly stripped, hung upside down from a tree and thrashed with sticks by six men on suspicion of theft of a goat and pigeons at Haregaon in Shrirampur taluka of Ahmednagar. Four of the six accused have been arrested thus far by the cops.
Ramdas Athawale on RPI(A)'s ambitions for Lok Sabha
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Ramdas Athawale, during the press conference, stated that the RPI (A), a part of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) is keen to get at least 10-12 Lok Sabha seats for contesting in various states, especially in Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh, for the 2024 elections.
"RPI (A) is expanding in Uttar Pradesh. We want the BJP to take us along. We will discuss with BJP president JP Nadda and seek at least 10 to 12 LS seats to contest in some states, where RPI (A) is strong, especially in Maharashtra and UP," he said.
The minister said that RPI (A) is expanding in UP and rallies will be held on October 1 and December 17 in Meerut and Lucknow, respectively, the PTI report stated.
"I have discussed with JP Nadda and UP CM Yogi Adityanath to take RPI (A) along. Our partnership will ensure BJP gets votes from Dalits as well as Muslims. We will try for this alliance in UP," the Rajya Sabha member said.
He also dismissed Congress spokesperson Alok Sharma's claim that four to five parties of the 38 that attended BJP-led NDA's meeting were in touch with INDIA alliance and some of them will be joining the opposition bloc in coming days. "I believe none of the 38 allies of NDA will switch over to the INDIA bloc," he added.
