Former Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray has criticized the state government over the violence in Nagpur, where arson and vandalism broke out amid demands to remove Mughal ruler Aurangzeb’s grave from the state.
"I am not the Chief Minister, nor am I the Home Minister, ask the Chief Minister who is behind this (violence). Because the RSS headquarters is there. There is a double-engine government here; if the double-engine government has failed, then they should resign...If you want, you can remove his (Aurangzeb's) grave, but call Chandrababu Naidu and Nitish Kumar during that time," Addressing the media, Thackeray said.
Read Also | 'BJP Wants to Turn Maharashtra into Manipur': Aaditya Thackeray on Nagpur Violence (Watch Video)
Violent clashes broke out in Chitnis Park in Nagpur around 7:30 p.m. on Monday. Stones were hurled at police after rumors spread about the burning of a holy book. Another violent incident occurred in the Hansapuri area near Old Bhandara Road between 10:30 p.m. and 11:30 p.m. Several vehicles were set on fire, and houses and a clinic were vandalized. Curfew has been imposed in several areas. Police have taken more than 50 people into custody and registered five FIRs.
Police Commissioner Ravinder Singal said the violence began after a photograph was burned and shared on social media. "The incident that happened yesterday, it was between two groups. A photograph was burnt, then it was put on social media. A delegation had visited us and they wanted us to take action, FIR was registered, we were acting. But in the evening, the two groups came in front of each other, sloganeering happened, stones were pelted, police were there, there was action. Five cases have been registered, more than 50 persons were arrested. Action is going on. We want to appeal for peace, I want to urge people not to believe the rumours, and want to request them to report anything suspicious they encounter," he said.
Read Also | Nagpur Violence Was ‘Well-Planned’, Attacks on Police Won’t Be Tolerated: CM Devendra Fadnavis