An argument broke out between Warkaris (devotees of Lord Vitthal) and police during a religious procession in Maharashtra’s Pune district on Sunday, a senior official said, adding that there was no lathi charge by the police, according to a report published by the news agency It was PTI.
However, opposition parties claimed that the police lathi-charged the Warkaris and demanded a high-level inquiry and strict action. NCP demands resignation of Maharashtra Home Minister Devendra Fadnavis if he cannot handle the law and order situation.
“I condemn the (state) government for the incident of lathicharge on warkaris. This has never happened in all these years. Pilgrimage (to Pandharpur) has been a tradition for the last few centuries. The mismanagement of the administration put a blot on this annual festival. Saddened to see the lathicharge on the Varkari community. NCP working president Supriya Sule said those who are at fault should face action.
Maharashtra Congress President Nana Patole also demanded a high-level inquiry and strict action against the guilty. He said that the police officers involved in the lathicharge should be suspended.
Maharashtra’s Leader of the Opposition Ajit Pawar claimed that the lathicharge incident was painful.
“Such an incident has never happened in the history of Pandharpur wari (pilgrimage). This incident could have been avoided with proper planning but it did not happen. Prima facie mismanagement has led to this incident. I condemn the police and the lathicharge.” Government in strong words,” he tweeted.
The incident took place when devotees were scrambling to get inside Sant Dnyaneshwar Maharaj Samadhi Temple During the ceremonial procession, which is part of the annual Ashadhi Ekadashi pilgrimage to Pandharpur, in Alandi town, 22 km from Pune city, PTI reported.
Pimpri Chinchwad Commissioner Vinay Kumar Choubey said that the police have made elaborate arrangements and held meetings with the trustees of the temple to prevent any untoward incident.
He said that when the police were sending batches of 75 devotees at a time, some people broke the barricades and tried to enter the temple.
“When the police tried to stop them, a brawl broke out,” Choubey said. But the police dismissed the allegations of lathicharge on the Warkaris.
(With PTI inputs)
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Updated: June 12, 2023, 06:29 AM IST