Shiv Sena Taunts BJP Over Pansare Assault

NEW DELHI: In a case of the pot calling the kettle black the Shiv Sena attacked the Bharatiya Janata party over the “deteriorating law and order situation” in Maharashtra in the wake of the daylight attack on Communist Party of India leader Govind Pansare,78, and his wife,Uma. Both are stable but not out of danger, after having been shot by assailants while out on their morning walk.

The Sena mouthpiece in an editorial said, "Pansare was shot when the sun's rays were illuminating Kolhapur. All this is happening in our own Maharashtra, despite the change in government.”

It went on to state, "When (anti-superstition crusader) Narendra Dabholkar was killed, there was a Congress government in the state. It was put in the convict's box over the murder. Now who will take responsibility for this daylight attack.”

“The government is ours (Sena is a part of the Fadnavis led ministry) so we cannot even say that the law and order situation is in tatters and convicts are roaming scott free," it said.

"Had it been some other government, one could have battered it with these very words."

"Pansare is against Hindutva. His booklet about Shivaji Maharaj was controversial. Many people didn't like his speeches about Nathuram Godse in Kolhapur. However, his contribution in social work is immense," the Saamna editorial said.

The attack has been followed by protests demanding investigation and arrest of the assailants. Pansare was active in leading a campaign against the BJP/RSS led efforts to idolise Gandhi’s assassin Nathuram Godse. He was also leading a protest against road toll tax that had gained ground over the last several months. According to his supporters he was also planning lecture series on Shivaji to expose the misinterpretation of history by political groups for their own ends. He is a reputed and known voice in Kolhapur.

Significantly, data published by the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative (CHRI) places Maharashtra at the top of all state guilty of attacks on Right to Information activists with 54 cases, including nine murders, registered. Gujarat came second with 34 attacks including three murders.

Police inaction and failure to apprehend the assailants in most cases has contributed to an environment of impunity with the daylight attacks demonstrating the confidence the assailants have in getting away with the crime. The murder of well known rationalist Dr Narendra Dabholkar in a similar manner---he was out on his morning walk when he was gunned down---has not moved forward since. The Mumbai High Court passed the investigation to the Central Bureau of Investigation last year, and thats where it lies. No progress has been reported, with the issue clearly of low importance under the current dispensation.