Will Uddhav govt drop Koregaon Bhima cases?

After dropping the case against the green activist in Aarey and protestors in Nanar refinery, Uddhav Thackeray led government may also drop cases against those related to Koregaon-Bhima violence. The request for withdrawal of cases related to Koregaon-Bhima violence comes from none other than NCP leader and MLA Dhananjay Munde.

On Tuesday, Uddhav Thackeray has assured delegation of cabinet members that included Jayant Patil, Chhagan Bhujbal and Prakash Gajbhiye that the cases against people involved in this matter will be withdrawn as early as possible.

What is the case of Koregaon-Bhima violence?

While the case of Aarey is fresh in the minds of people. Most have a hard time recollecting the Koregaon-Bhima violence. This case dates back to January 2018. It is alleged that inflammatory speeches were made at a conclave that was organised to commemorate 200 years of battle between the Peshwas and the East India Company. Following this incidence, violence had erupted in this area and to protest against the same even a bandh was called. In this bandh, incidents of vandalism were reported and several people were booked for damaging public property.

While Munde claims that the through this exercise, BJP-led government "harassed" intellectuals, activists, social workers and ordinary citizens who had raised their voice against injustice and had labelled several of them as "urban Naxals".

There are also acquisitions made some of the activists that were arrested by the Pune police in connection to this case of having links with Naxal outfits, which also includes the banned Communist Party of India (Maoist).

How the opposition has reacted?

While it is yet to be seen how and when the Maharashtra government will react to this, but this has definitely got the opposition up and about. Amit Malviya , who is the social media head of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) took to his Twitter to say that, “"Is this the Shiv Sena of the legendary Balasaheb Thackeray? Weak and compromised."

He even went on to add that had Balasaheb Thackeray been here, he would have ever negotiated on issues of national security"