Nitesh Rane Says Abu Azmi Responsible For 'Preplanned Violence' In Nagpur, SP MLA Responds

Samajwadi Party MLA Abu Azmi expressed sadness over the violence in the Maharashtra city and urged people not to pay heed to any rumours.

File photo of SP MLA Abu Azmi and Maharashtra Minister Nitesh Rane.

Source : PTI

Maharashtra Minister Nitesh Rane on Tuesday blamed Samajwadi Party MLA Abu Azmi for the violence in Nagpur saying it was a 'preplanned violence' to defame the government.

Speaking on the violence, Nitesh Rane said, "Abu Azmi is responsible for this... He started this issue... This was a preplanned violence to defame the government...We will not spare those who raise their hands on our police personnel... strict action will be taken in this matter."

Nitesh Rane also said whoever raised a hand against the police in the violent incident will not be spared.

Rane said that 33 policemen have been injured and questioned what sort of agitation was going on in Nagpur where the protestors were violent against the police.

#WATCH | Mumbai | On the Nagpur incident, Maharashtra Minister Nitesh Rane says, "...Abu Azmi is responsible for this... He started this issue... This was a preplanned violence to defame the government...We will not spare those who raise their hands on our police personnel...… pic.twitter.com/CpYKr5281D

— ANI (@ANI) March 18, 2025

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis also said the violence in Nagpur appears to be premeditated.

A curfew has been imposed in several areas of Nagpur after a protest against Aurangzeb's tomb on Monday triggered violence, during which several houses and vehicles were vandalised.

Fadnavis, who holds the home portfolio, said 33 police personnel, including three deputy commissioners of police, were injured in the violence, and one of the senior officials was attacked with an axe.

Meanwhile, SP MLA Abu Azmi expressed sadness over the violence in the Maharashtra city and urged people not to pay heed to any rumours.

बेहद अफ़सोस के साथ आज नागपुर में सांप्रदायिकता की आग में झुलसते हुए देखा। मेरी हिन्दू - मुस्लिम सभी भाइयों से अपील है की हमें शान्ति बनाए रखना है और आपसी भाईचारगी को बढ़ाना है। कानून अपना काम करेगा - लेकिन इन्साफ होना चाहिए। #NagpurViolence #Nagpur #NagpurRiots #NagpurClash… pic.twitter.com/DCfyjvLqiC

— Abu Asim Azmi (@abuasimazmi) March 18, 2025

"I am very sad that Nagpur, where there were no communal violence ever and people used to live in harmony, there such a huge violence unfolded and so many people were hurt. I want to say that this country is of Ganga-Jamuna culture. Don't pay any heed to rumours," Azmi said.

He urged people to call for peace and urged them to avoid any violence. He added that the law will take its course and demanded justice for the incident.

Meanwhile, Jamaat-e-Islami Hind also condemned the communal violence in Nagpur and said that the Maharashtra government failed to crack down on those who were inciting unrest. 

"We strongly condemn the communal violence that erupted in Nagpur. The state government completely failed to read the situation and crack down on those who were inciting unrest by weaponizing history and provoking communal discord.  The Maharashtra police appear to be told to give a free hand to the anti-social elements giving hate speeches. This is spoiling the peaceful atmosphere in the state and is bound to lead to communal violence," the Jamaat-e-Islami Hind said in a statement.