Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde gives Rs 5 lakh each to kin of three Palghar mob lynching victims from party funds

Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde. File Pic

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde handed over cheques of Rs 5 lakh each to kin of Palghar mob lynching victims, reported news agency PTI.

The three persons, including two sadhus, were lynched by a mob in Palghar district in 2020, reported PTI.

He handed over the cheques to kin of Palghar mob lynching victims while attending a function in Virar on Saturday.

Sadhus Kalpavriksha Giri Maharaj (70), Sushil Giri Maharaj (35) and their driver Nilesh Telgade (30) were killed by a mob while their vehicle was passing through Gadchinchale village late night on April 16 that year in the midst of the COVID-19 lockdown, reported PTI.

The case had made national headlines at the time and several persons who were allegedly part of the 500-strong mob were arrested and are facing trial, reported PTI.

Speaking on the occasion, Shinde said then chief minister Uddhav Thackeray has never bothered to meet the kin of these three persons, reported PTI.

Shinde said his Shiv Sena has now given them assistance from its own funds, reported PTI.

Meanwhile, Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Saturday said opposition leaders kept talking about his government's imminent collapse, but it only grew stronger, reported PTI.

Shinde's remarks came days after state assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar in his ruling on disqualification petitions filed by the rival factions of the Shiv Sena held that Shinde's faction was the real Sena and not the one headed by Uddhav Thackeray, reported PTI.

Speaking at a rally as part of 'Shiv Sankalp Abhiyan', his party's initiative ahead of the Lok Sabha polls, Shinde also said the Congress keeps speaking against the Ram temple in Ayodhya, and Uddhav Thackeray "sits next to it" (continues to be its ally), reported PTI.

"The opposition kept saying the government will collapse, but our government became stronger," Shinde said, reported PTI.

Earlier in the day, Thackeray visited Kalyan, the Lok Sabha constituency of Shinde's son Shrikant Shinde, reported PTI.

In apparent reference to Thackeray's Kalyan tour, Shinde said the former Maharashtra CM is running around now, but he would not have found himself in this situation had he done the running around earlier, reported PTI.

"What is your (Uddhav Thackeray's) contribution to the Shiv Sena? It is the common Shiv Sena workers who sacrificed their families to build the party. How many cases have been registered against you, how many times have you faced (police's) baton-charge?" Shinde asked, reported PTI.

His revolt against Thackeray and toppling of his government was a daring act, the chief minister said, reported PTI.

(With inputs from PTI)