MUMBAI: There were large-scale protests throughout Maharashtra by Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) activists on Thursday late evening after NCP President and Federal Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar was slapped by Harvinder Singh, a young Sikh transporter, when Pawar had gone to attend a literary function in New Delhi. Singh had earlier assaulted former telecom minister Sukhram outside Rohoni court on Saturday after the minister was sentenced in a corruption case. Singh shouted at Pawar saying he was angry and frustrated with scams, corruption and price hike.
The incident sparked violent protests throughout Maharashtra with NCP workers setting vehicles on fire and pelting shops with stones. Schools and colleges were closed and shops pulled down their shutters.
NCP activists blockaded roads in Solapur and Nashik district to protest the attack on Pawar. In Nashik district, NCP workers disrupted vehicular traffic at Trimbak Road and Kalwan, while in Navi Mumbai, the agro produce market was closed. In Baramati town in Pune district, the hometown of Pawar, traders closed their shops and businesses.
NCP workers also held protests in Mulund and Worli suburbs of Mumbai. Police arrested some NCP workers in Mulund on charges of trying to disturb law and order.
Sudhir Mungantiwar, the Maharashtra state president of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) condemning the attack on Pawar described it as a cowardly act. Eknath Khadse, the Leader of the opposition in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly, denouncing the attack on Pawar said that in democracy such attacks are condemnable and that one can protest using only non-violent means.
In the evening, Pawar appealed to the NCP workers in Maharashtra to observe restraint and not to indulge in violence. He said he did not want to react to the incident.
However, the NCP had called for total shutdown in Pune, Mumbai, Nashik, Navi Mumbai, Solapur, Kolhapur, Satara, Sangli, Jalgaon and some other cities on Friday.
News Source: Arab News
