As many as 40 people have been arrested for the violence in Maharashtra's Parbhani on Wednesday. The violence was sparked by a man who allegedly vandalised a replica of the Constitution in front of a BR Ambedkar statue in Parbhani. Although reports of violence have stopped, the situation is still tense.
The miscreants are being identified and all the videos that have surfaced are also being checked. The police have said that if a complaint is lodged by those whose properties have been damaged, more cases will be registered.
Initially, Ambedkar's followers called for a bandh. However, the bandh quickly turned violent and resulted in widespread stone-pelting, arson and vandalisation. Protesters demanded that those who insult the Constitution should be hanged. Tear gas shells were fired to bring the situation under control.
Initially, one person was arrested on Wednesday for the vandalisation. After the violence broke out in Parbhani, prohibitory orders were clamped down in the region. Internet was also shut down to prevent the spread of rumours.
The protesters hurled stones at police vehicles, forcing the cops to flee for their lives. The BJP blamed the Opposition for the violence. BJP leader Amar Sable said, "This country will run on the Constitution. PM Modi, Amit Shah, and CM Devendra Fadnavis have that goal too. But the opposition, MVA, has set up a narrative against the Constitution, which is why there is unrest in Parbhani now. There has been a mockery of the Constitution, the narrative set by the opposition is one of the reasons for this unrest."
"The second reason is that whenever Devendra Fadnavis takes oath as Maharashtra's Chief Minister, unrest between communities is promoted [by the Opposition]. We have seen this before too. There is going to be a big event in Bhima Koregaon; this is why unrest is being fuelled by the Opposition. But the people of Maharashtra will reply befittingly," he said.
(This story is being updated.)