‘Job of police to take steps to prevent anti-social elements’

NCP chief Sharad Pawar on Thursday appeared before the judicial probe commission in the Bhima-Koregaon case and submitted that it is the job of the police to maintain law and order and to take steps to prevent anti-social elements from infiltrating and causing disturbance to a peaceful demonstration.

To the question that should Uddhav Thackeray, Devendra Fadnavis and Prakash Ambedkar be summoned by the Commission to probe or give advice on the case, Pawar said, “The Commission is free to investigate on its own. If the Commission thinks it can get suggestions from the members of the public to prevent such riots in the future, it can call anyone.”

The Commission asked Pawar that Prakash Ambedkar, who is the founder of Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi, had called a Maharashtra Bandh on January 3, 2018. The rioters then damaged government and private property. Who is to blame for this? On this, Pawar said, “I cannot register my opinion on any matter which is subjudice.”

Further, Pawar submitted that people’s representatives should act responsibly while making public statements as provocative statements can have repercussions at various levels of society and create racial rifts.

Pawar said, while giving space for political meetings, adequate care be taken so that ordinary people will not be inconvenienced. If there is any tension after the meeting the police can control the situation.

Furthermore, Pawar decried the police actions to slap section 124A (sedition) of the Indian Penal Code against activists, saying that such measures suppress liberty and stifle any voice of dissent raised in a peaceful and democratic way. He said, “I propose to raise this issue at an appropriate forum like Parliament as a member of Rajya Sabha.”