Congress leader Manikrao Thakre criticised the Mahayuti Government’s handling of recent violence in Nagpur. He claimed that Government’s bias against a community was visible. The fact finding committee should not have been obstructed, pointed out Thakre while talking to mediapersons on Saturday. Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee President Harshvardhan Sapkal constituted a fact-finding committee to bring out the facts regarding riots in Mahal area on March 17. The delegation was led by former President in-charge of Goa Manikrao Thakre with former MP Hussain Dalwai, former Minister Dr Nitin Raut, Adv Yashomati Thakur, Sajid Pathan as members.Nagpur City Congress Committee President and MLA Vikas Thakre is the Convener and All India Congress Committee Secretary Praful Gudadhe Patil is the coordinator.

 

The committee held a meeting at Ravi Bhavan on Saturday and discussed various issues. The committee members met Dr Ravinder Kumar Singal, Commissioner of Police and submitted a memorandum to him. While interacting with mediapersons, Thakre said, “We condemn the police for not allowing access to affected areas under the pretense of curfew. I question the Government’s commitment to unbiased investigation.” The Congress’s fact-finding committee was not allowed to visit violence-stricken areas due to the curfew. Taking strong objection on this action, Thakre alleged that Government wants that the truth should not come out. Thakre blamed the Government for its failure in its duty to protect citizens and unjustly targeted one community, contributing to a climate of hate. Thakre pointed out that the accountability should be fixed for those who physically participated in the violence, and also for the instigators. Vikas Thakre called for community-driven peace initiatives to help restore peace in the area.