Case filed against BJP workers, party cries foul- The New Indian Express

By PTI

MUMBAI: A day after NCP and BJP staff clashed at an occasion attended by Union minister Smriti Irani in Pune, police on Tuesday mentioned a case has been registered in opposition to three BJP staff for allegedly assaulting a lady, even because the saffron get together denied the allegation.

Maharashtra House Minister Dilip Walse-Patil mentioned motion might be taken in opposition to these discovered responsible.

The BJP, however, claimed there was “state-sponsored terrorism” in Maharashtra the place the Nationalist Congress Occasion is in energy together with the Congress and Shiv Sena.

Staff of the Congress and NCP staged protests in opposition to worth rise exterior a luxurious resort and later on the Bal Gandharva auditorium in Pune the place Irani attended occasions on Monday.

The NCP alleged that one in all its ladies staff was assaulted by BJP staff at Bal Gandharva auditorium the place Irani attended a guide launch perform.

“An offence was registered late final evening in opposition to three BJP staff beneath Indian Penal Code Sections 354 (assault or prison pressure to lady with intent to outrage her modesty), 323 (voluntarily inflicting harm) and different related sections,” Deccan Gymkhana police station’s senior inspector Murlidhar Karpe mentioned.

The incident befell when NCP staff went to submit a memorandum to Irani over the LPG worth hike.

State house minister Walse-Patil mentioned on Tuesday that motion might be taken in opposition to the responsible regardless of which get together she or he belongs to.

“To beat a lady office-bearer or any lady is objectionable. So, applicable motion might be taken,” he advised reporters.

NCP Maharashtra unit’s chief spokesperson Mahesh Tapase questioned Irani and senior state BJP leaders Devendra Fadnavis and Chandrakant Patil’s `silence’ over the alleged assault on the lady NCP employee.

“This exhibits the Maharashtra BJP’s mentality. Girls within the state will certainly bear in mind this incident,” Tapase tweeted.

NCP spokesperson Clyde Crasto mentioned it was not stunning that Irani, “who as soon as spoke vociferously” (earlier than 2014 when the BJP was in opposition) on worth hike, was silent on the difficulty now.

“However #SmritiIrani ji, Girls and Baby Improvement Minister silent and never condemning a #BJP Man’s assault on a #NCP Girl in #Pune is deplorable and dereliction of her obligation,” Crasto tweeted.

Maharashtra BJP chief spokesperson Keshav Upadhye focused NCP chief Sharad Pawar over the difficulty.

He additionally referred to previous incidents of alleged beating of an engineer for social media trolling at state minister Jitendra Awhad’s residence “within the presence of policemen”, and up to date “assaults” on BJP chief Vinayak Ambekar and Marathi actor Ketaki Chitale by NCP staff.

“There may be state government-sponsored terrorism in Maharashtra with mute approval of Sharad Pawar”.

“The folks’s proper to reside peacefully has been endangered because of the hooliganism of NCP staff,” Upadhye mentioned in a press release.

The state house division, headed by an NCP minister, has instructed police to guard these engaged in spreading terror and the ruling alliance has deliberate to “destroy political opponents via terrorism,” he alleged.

Pune BJP metropolis unit president Jagdish Mulik claimed that the allegations of molestation in opposition to get together staff had been false.

“When the incident befell contained in the Bal Gandharva auditorium, police had been current. There may be an try to suppress our voice by levelling false allegations,” he mentioned.

Some 150 to 200 NCP staff barged into the luxurious resort the place Irani was attending a program earlier, there was additionally an try to dam her convoy and throw ink, Mulik mentioned.

Later NCP staff tried to assault the Union minister’s convoy however regardless of all this police took no motion, he alleged.

BJP leaders approached the Deccan Gymkhana police station and demanded that the false circumstances of molestation in opposition to three get together staff be withdrawn and circumstances be registered in opposition to those that tried to create chaos at Bal Gandharva auditorium, Mulik additional mentioned.

“We additionally demanded registration of circumstances in opposition to those that tried to dam Irani ji’s convoy, those that tried to assault her and 150 to 200 NCP get together staff who barged into the resort,” he mentioned.