Author: Express News Service
Publication: The Indian Express
Date: December 29, 2010
BJP's deputy leader in Lok Sabha Gopinath
Munde on Tuesday said state government was trying to divert people's attention
from the recent series of scams by deliberately creating rows like the removal
of Dadoji Konddeo's statue in Pune.
Munde also alleged Ajit Pawar had violated
India's age old Guru-Shishya tradition by relocating the statue.
"Till date the Congress has tried to
divide the nation on caste and religion. Now, it is trying to divide Hindus.
UPA chief Sonia Gandhi and Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi's recent
remarks on 'saffron terror' are proof of this," said Munde demanding
that the statue be reinstalled at the same place if the government wanted
to avoid a statewide agitation.
Meanwhile, Shiv Sena and BJP staged separate
demonstrations in Aurangabad to protest against removal of the statue. Hundreds
of BJP workers gathered at the CIDCO bus stand area and blocked roads.
The police resorted to lathicharge to disperse
the mob when BJP workers tried to burn effigies of Deputy Chief Minister Ajit
Pawar. As many as 60 BJP activists including BJP women wing national secretary
Vijaya Rahatkar, former mayor Dr Bhagwat Karad and former MLC Shrikant Joshi
were arrested and released on bail later.
Shiv Sainiks led by MP Chandrakant Khaire
also staged demonstration here demanding the status be reinstalled at Lal
Mahal.
