'Nagpur Clashes 'Govt-Sponsored', BJP's T Raja Inciting Violence': Maharashtra LoP Vijay Waddetiwar

Tension gripped Nagpur after violence erupted during a protest by a right-wing organization demanding the removal of Aurangzeb's tomb.

Tension gripped central Nagpur on Monday after stones were hurled at the police amid rumours that the Quran was burnt during a protest by a right-wing organisation demanding the removal of Aurangzeb's tomb. The violence left four persons injured, prompting the police to fire tear gas shells and resort to a cane charge to disperse the mob in Chitnis Park and Mahal areas. 

Reacting to the violence in Nagpur, Leader of Opposition Party in Maharashtra Assembly and Congress MLA Vijay Waddetiwar said, "This is a government-sponsored incident...T Raja (Telangana BJP leader) should be banned in Maharashtra as he is inciting violence here. Why is the govt protesting over the Aurangzeb issue when it has got govt both in the state and at the Centre?..."

What LoP In Maharashtra Legislative Council Ambadas Danve Said?

Leader of Opposition in the Maharashtra legislative council, Ambadas Danve, has blamed CM Fadnavis and his government for violence in Nagpur, and claimed the ruling BJP was trying to disrupt harmony in the state.

In a video statement on Monday, he said, "I am clearly stating that the Maharashtra government and state Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who also holds the home department portfolio, are behind the Nagpur violence." The CM holds the home department portfolio but does not get to know about the possible eruption of violence in his native place, the Shiv Sena (UBT) leader said.

"This government has made efforts for the last one month to stoke Hindu-Muslim violence in the state. Such violence would disrupt the daily life of Hindus as well as Muslims, but (the government) wants to reap political benefits out of it. The BJP and its associated organisations are trying to disrupt the harmony in the state," he alleged.

What Happened In Nagpur?

Violence erupted in Nagpur after rumours of the Quran being desecrated spread in the city. The violence erupted amid rumours that the Quran was burnt during a protest by a Bajrang Dal demanding the removal of Aurangzeb's tomb.

Another clash broke out in Nagpur's Hansapuri area and several houses and vehicles were vandalised late Monday night as the unrest grew amid demands for the removal of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb's tomb in this Maharashtra city.

The city saw tense scenes after Bajrang Dal members staged a demonstration near the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj statue in the Mahal area. Soon, rumours of the desecration of the Quran spread which triggered outrage, leaving six people and three policemen injured.

Stones were thrown at police personnel in Chitnis Park and Mahal, following which we had to use tear gas shells.