Leaders of the Shiv Sena Uddhav Thackeray faction have demanded the dismissal of the Eknath Shinde government in Maharashtra, citing the law and order situation following the murder of the party leader, Abhishek Ghosalkar.
The leaders also mentioned a previous incident in which a Shinde faction leader was shot by a BJP MLA inside a police station last week.
In the aftermath of the killing, a heated political battle has erupted in the state. However, the state government maintains that a detailed probe will be conducted to unravel the entire motive and conspiracy behind the incident.
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut alleged that the law and order situation in the state had been deteriorated and he demanded the resignation of Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who holds the home portfolio. “This (twin attacks) reflects the failure of (state) Home Minister (Fadnavis). Prime Minister Narendra Modi and (Union Home minister) Amit Shah are responsible for imposing this government on us,” the Rajya Sabha member said.
MP Priyanka Chaturvedi, another Shiv Sena (UBT) wrote to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, seeking his urgent intervention. Hilighting the murder of Ghosalkar on Thursday and the fire inside a police station, she alleged that the “once-vibrant city of Mumbai, renowned for trade and commerce, is now marred by escalating crime, violence and gunfire.” “The rampant use of firearms to intimidate innocent civilians and public representatives has plunged the state into a perpetual state of fear and insecurity,” she added.
The Mumbai Police arrested the bodyguard of ‘social activist’ Mauris Noronha, who shot dead Ghosalkar during a ‘Facebook Live’ on Thursday. Noronha used the bodyguard’s licensed gun to kill the Shiv Sena leader. Noronha killed himself moments after shooting Ghosalkar.
Noronha, who had faced criminal charges, was previously arrested in a rape case and spent nearly five months behind bars. He suspected Ghosalkar of framing him in the case. Police also stated that there was a tussle between Ghosalkar, a former corporator, and Noronha, who also harboured political aspirations.
On February 2, the BJP MLA Ganpat Gaikwad shot and injured a local leader of the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena at a police station in Ulhasnagar near Thane over a land dispute and political rivalry.