Maratha quota violence: Govt regrets use of force by police, says Fadnavis

Maharashtra deputy chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on Monday (September 4) expressed the government's regret over the use of force by the police on Maratha quota protestors in Jalna district.

Facing criticism over how the Maharashtra government tackled the Maratha quota protest in Jalna district, Fadnavis who is also in charge of the home department told reporters in Mumbai that the 'Maharashtra government expresses regret for the use of force by police in Jalna district a few days back'. Further, he also added that the lathi-charge order was not given by any top official to the Jana Police last week.

"Such decisions (use of police force etc.) are taken at the local level," Fadnavis pointed out.

Earlier in the day, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut had claimed that the lathi-charge order was given on a phone call made from the office of the chief minister and state home minister. Senior NCP leader Anil Deshmukh has also claimed that police lathi-charged protesters in Jalna district after a phone call was made from the Maharashtra home ministry.

Demand for an enquiry

The former state home minister also demanded an enquiry by a retired judge to find out who called up the Jalna district superintendent of police and ordered him to lathi-charge the protesters. Police charged and lobbed tear gas shells to disperse a violent mob in Antarwali Sarathi village in Jalna district on Friday after protesters allegedly refused to let authorities shift a man on hunger strike for Maratha quota to hospital.

Several persons. including 40 police personnel, were injured and more than 15 state transport buses were set ablaze in the violence. 

(With inputs from agencies)