Sena, BJP leaders say 'unfortunate' incident not a planned affair, removal of statue and Cong-NCP behaviour inflamed passions

'Violence in PMC an emotional response'

Sena, BJP leaders say 'unfortunate' incident not a planned affair, removal of statue and Cong-NCP behaviour inflamed passions

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The Shiv Sena and the BJP yesterday justified Monday's violence in the PMC house over the removal of the Dadoji Konddeo statue. They blamed NCP and Congress leaders for having created a situation that merited a violent response.

The Shivajinagar police had registered a case against BJP, Shiv Sena and MNS party members for damaging property worth Rs 5 lakh in the PMC house. Twenty-three members were booked for rioting and damaging public property.

While BJP city president and MLA Girish Bapat called the violence by members of his party unfortunate, he still defended their actions. Referring to the violence as an emotional outburst over the removal of the statue from the Lal Mahal, he reiterated that the violence was not planned and that the issue was not raked up keeping an eye on votes.

"We have not brought up this issue keeping in mind the upcoming PMC election," Bapat said. "Citizens would have questioned us if we would not have raised this issue in the house. We will never accept these changes by the NCP-Congress ruling combine."

Mukta Tilak, leader of the opposition in the PMC house, accused the police of registering false cases against many BJP members. She said cases were registered against even those who had not participated in the violence.

"Even our party office in the PMC was ransacked by the NCP-Congress members after the violence in the municipal house," she said. Madhuri Misal, BJP MLA and also a PMC corporator, said, "Ours is a peaceful party.

The media did not give proper coverage to the morcha organised at the PMC building which was totally non-violent and peaceful."u00a0

Shiv Sena spokesperson Dr Neelam Gorhe accused Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar of being the person who ensured the removal of Dadoji Konddeo's statue.

"By passing the resolution to remove the Dadoji statue from Lal Mahal, NCP is making use of the Sambhaji Brigade to fulfil its own political ambitions," said Gorhe. Mayor Mohansingh Rajpal condemned the Sena-BJP's violence in the PMC house. He said that those involved in the violence would be suspended in the next general body meeting scheduled on January 7.

"The decision will be finalised after discussions with party leaders," he said.

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