"Government sponsored incident": Vijay Wadettiwar calls for ban against BJP's T Raja Singh

Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], March 18 (ANI): Amid protests by Shiv Sena leaders and Sangh Parivar organisations demanding the removal of Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb's tomb, senior Congress leader Vijay Wadettiwar on Tuesday lashed out at the ruling Mahayuti government in Maharashtra over Nagpur violence claiming that it was a "government-sponsored incident".
Wadettiwar, in a scathing attack against Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader T Raja Singh, called for a ban against him in Maharashtra, accusing him of "inciting violence." He also accused the Mahayuti government of promoting such people.
"This is a government-sponsored incident. Shambar takke main bol rha hu...Nagpur ki ghanta Sarkar prastut ghantna hai. T Raja (Telangana BJP leader) should be banned in Maharashtra. Vahan k^^ta nahi puchta usko, idhar aake bak bak kar raha hai. He is inciting violence here. Such worthless people should be shown their place. It is the government that is promoting such people," Wadettiwar, Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly, told reporters.
"Why are they protesting over the Aurangzeb issue when they are in power, both in the state and at the centre?" he asked.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis today said that the violence that erupted in Nagpur "looks like a well-planned attack". He said that rumours were spread that things containing religious content were burnt, as the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal protested in the winter capital of the state.
"In Nagpur, Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal held protests. Rumours were spread that things containing religious content were burnt...It looks like a well-planned attack. No one has permission to take law and order into their hands," Fadnavis said while addressing the legislative assembly.
Apprising about the injuries sustained by police personnel, he stated that attacks on police would not be tolerated and strict action would be taken against those involved in violence. He said that three Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) sustained injuries, and one DCP was attacked with an axe.
"Three DCPs included in total 33 policemen injured. Of five injured civilians, three have been discharged, and one remains in the ICU," Fadnavis said, adding, "11 police stations have issued prohibitory orders in Nagpur. Five separate FIRs have been registered in the matter."
"We have got a trolley of stones from the violence spots - some specified houses and institutions were targeted. One DCP was attacked by an Axe. We will surely take action, and those who have taken law and order into their own hands will not be spared. Attack on police will not be tolerated," he added.
Amid increasing tensions over Nagpur violence, Fadnavis attributed people's anger against Aurangzeb to the Chhava movie and appealed to the people to maintain peace.
Nagpur Police on Tuesday said over 50 people in connection with the violence which erupted in Nagpur on March 17 night, and is in the process of identifying any other people involved through CCTV footage and social media posts. The situation in the area is peaceful now, city's Commissioner of Police Ravinder Kumar Singal said.
"The situation is peaceful now, we have imposed a curfew under the area of around 11 police stations. The situation is under control," Nagpur Commissioner of Police told ANI.
"We have taken more than 50 people into custody. Other than that if people are being seen in CCTV's and in social media posts of doing such acts of violence of damaging property and disturbing peace then we are identifying them and catching them," he said.
The Nagpur CP also dismissed any allegations of Police not responding adequately to the violence, pointing out that the officials were present from the start, which led to 33 policemen being injured.
"The allegations might be made, but if one can see the police was there from the start, no one has been hurt physically (from the public), and if we see then because of us being in front around 33 policemen have been injured," he added.
Meanwhile, the ruling Mahayuti and the opposition in Maharashtra came face to face in the assembly premises on Tuesday morning with MLAs from both sides seen raising slogans against each other.
While Shiv Sena leaders protested seeking the removal of Aurangzeb's tomb, the opposition labelled the "riots a success of the government".
The opposition said that the situation in Maharashtra was worsening due to statements made by some ministers in the Mahayuti government.
However, MLAs from the ruling alliance accused some people of glorifying Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb.
A curfew has been imposed in multiple areas of Nagpur city under Section 163 of the Bhartiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) following tensions over the demand to remove Aurangzeb's grave, read an official Maharashtra police notification. According to the official order issued by Nagpur Police Commissioner Ravinder Kumar Singal, the restrictions will remain in place until further notice.
The curfew applies to police station limits in Kotwali, Ganeshpeth, Tehsil, Lakadganj, Pachpaoli, Shantinagar, Sakkardara, Nandanvan, Imamwada, Yashodharanagar, and Kapilnagar. (ANI)