Sharad Pawar not to appear before Koregaon-Bhima probe panel on Feb 23-24

NCP chief Sharad Pawar has conveyed to the KoregaonBhima Inquiry Commission that he will not be able to appear before it on February 2324Maharashtra minister and NCP spokesperson Nawab Malik said this in a video statement on Tuesday and added that Pawar will definitely appear before the probe panel in futureThe KoregaonBhima Inquiry Commission had earlier this month asked Pawar to appear before it on February 23 and 24 to record evidence in connection with the January 2018 violence at a war memorial in Pune district of MaharashtraThe panel had earlier summoned Pawar in 2020 but he couldnt appear before it due to the coronavirusinduced lockdownMalik said ldquoThe commission had called Pawar saheb to appear before it He has submitted to the commission in writing that he wont be able to appear before it this time ldquoHe has told the panel that he will put forth his version before the commission later Pawar saheb will definitely be present there in the futurerdquo he addedAccording to the Pune police violence had broken out on January 1 2018 between caste groups near the war memorial during the bicentennial anniversary of the 1818 battle of Koregaon Bhima One person had died and several others including 10 police personnel were injured in the incidentThe Pune Police had alleged that provocative speeches at the Elgar Parishad conclave held on December 31 2017 in Pune triggered the violence around Koregaon Bhima According to the police the Elgar Parishad conclave organisers had links with MaoistsThe NCP chief had filed an affidavit before the commission on October 8 2018In February 2020 social group Vivek Vichar Manch member Sagar Shinde filed an application before the commission seeking the summoning of Sharad Pawar in view of certain statements made by him in media about the 2018 caste violenceMeanwhile Malik also said that with the number of COVID19 cases in Maharashtra seeing a decline the state health and relief and rehabilitation departments will work out a proposal on relaxations to be given in view of the current situationldquoThe chief minister will discuss the same with the task force and take a call The decision taken will be conveyed to people accordinglyrdquo he addedOn Monday Maharashtra reported 806 COVID19 cases The state capital Mumbai reported 96 new COVID19 cases the lowest singleday rise after April 17 2020 as per official dataThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever