Our stand has been vindicated, says Maharashtra CM
The SC verdict and observations have vindicated our stand and our action. This is not a political conspiracy, an attempt to curb dissent or malafide action by the Pune police. The Apex court has clarified that. DEVENDRA FADNAVIS, Maharashtra chief minister
MUMBAI: Reacting to the Supreme Court verdict on Friday regarding the arrests of activists following the Bhima Koregaon violence, Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis said the stand of the Pune police and his government has been vindicated. The three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra, in a 2:1 verdict, refused the plea seeking the immediate release of the activists.
“The SC verdict and observations have vindicated our stand and our action. This is not a political conspiracy, an attempt to curb dissent or malafide action by the Pune police. The Apex court has clarified that,” said Fadnavis who spoke to reporters after the verdict.
The Pune police has presented material evidence before the Apex court showing a conspiracy hatched by the accused against the nation, Fadnavis said. He added that the evidence will be presented in the appropriate courts.
“Our evidence shows that these people have colluded to create instability and a civil-war like situation in the country. They have tried to instigate communities against one another and have colluded with agencies of the enemy state and conspired to assassinate the PM,” he said.
He said he was certain the Pune police would get custody of the accused based on the evidence, which allegedly links them to Maoists.
When asked about the dissenting opinion on this judgement, which has raised questions about the police holding a press conference while the case was being heard in court, Fadnavis said, “I have not read the dissenting judgement but even that has not cast a suspicion on material evidence gathered by the police. Whether the decision of police to hold a press conference was right or wrong can be examined.” Fadnavis said the reason the police held the press conference was because there had been an attempt by the media, certain political parties and “pseudo-liberals” to “create an atmosphere” of distrust towards the police’s action. “The police presented their side through the press conference. If SC says that is wrong, care will be taken in the future to not engage in it.”
The CM also said that political opponents should keep their ideologies aside and not support people who have been accused of conspiring against the nation. “At least after this SC judgement, I hope no political party will sympathise with these people out of political motives and if they do, they will stand exposed.”