Maharashtra Congress Chief Slams CM Fadnavis's 'Urban Naxal' Claim Over Rahul Gandhi-Led Yatra, Demands List

Maharashtra Congress President Nana Patole has demanded that CM Devendra Fadnavis release a list of organisations allegedly linked to 'Urban Naxals' that participated in the Rahul Gandhi-led Bharat Jodo Yatra.

File Photo of Maharashtra Congress President Nana Patole

Source : PTI

Maharashtra Congress President Nana Patole on Friday called on Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to disclose the list of organisations allegedly linked to Naxals that participated in the Rahul Gandhi-led Bharat Jodo Yatra.  

Patole’s demand followed Fadnavis's statement in the state assembly that 40 of the 180 organisations that took part in the Bharat Jodo Yatra were identified as "frontal organisations" during the Congress-(undivided) NCP government's rule in Maharashtra and the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) tenure at the Centre. Fadnavis had also claimed these groups campaigned for the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), a coalition including the Congress, in the recent state assembly elections.  

In a letter addressed to Fadnavis, Patole criticised the labelling of these groups as "urban Naxals", news agency PTI reported. He argued that many social organisations in Maharashtra work for the welfare of the underprivileged and common citizens and had participated in the Bharat Jodo Yatra to support democracy.  

“It is wrong to label them as urban Naxals. You said these organisations directly or indirectly work for Naxals. I request you to provide me the list of such organisations and those heading them,” Patole wrote.  

‘Congress Never Involved In Any Anti-Social Activity’: Maharashtra Unit President Nana Patole

Defending the Congress, Patole remarked during a presser, “Congress is never involved in any anti-social activity. Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi sacrificed their lives for the nation and the Constitution of India. Rahul Gandhi received a lot of support in the Bharat Jodo Yatra and he united the nation.”  

#WATCH | Nagpur, Maharashtra: Maharashtra Congress President Nana Patole says, "Congress is never involved in any anti-social activity. Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi sacrificed their lives for the nation and the Constitution of India. Rahul Gandhi received a lot of support in… https://t.co/jAcm2kBDgJ pic.twitter.com/JCz8FY81Tk

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The Bharat Jodo Yatra, led by Rahul Gandhi, witnessed participation from various individuals, including intellectuals and senior citizens, who aimed to safeguard democratic values, Patole added, as per news agency ANI.