New Delhi, March 18: The violence in Nagpur has drawn sharp reactions from political leaders across parties. The incident, which erupted after a protest by Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal supporters, has sparked heated debates regarding its origins and motives behind it.

Shiv Sena(UBT) leader Priyanka Chaturvedi condemned the violence, stating, “This was a planned conspiracy, executed under a well-thought-out political strategy by those who had issues with Maharashtra. This narrative, which originated in Delhi, was brought to Maharashtra and implemented. Behind this violence, there is a clear backdrop of provocation. From CM Devendra Fadnavis to his cabinet ministers, provocative statements were made.”

She further criticised the Maharashtra government, adding, “CM Devendra Fadnavis is pushing Maharashtra into underdevelopment, creating an environment where no one will want to invest in the state. Law and order have been shattered, and you are misleading and provoking the people. It is shameful that such violence took place. Nitin Gadkari himself stated that, to date, no such incident has ever occurred in Nagpur. The so-called ‘double-engine’ government they claim is actually a ‘double disaster’ government.”

Shiv Sena leader Manisha Kayande voicing her concern, said, “I strongly condemn this serious incident. Who started it and who spread the rumours, this is very dangerous and frightening.”

Congress MP Pramod Tiwari appealed for peace, stating, “I humbly appeal to the residents there that peace, harmony, and calm must be restored at all costs and I directly blame the Bharatiya Janata Party and its associated organisations, along with the state government, for fuelling the fire that was already burning.”

BJP leaders, too, weighed in on the incident, claiming it is a conspiracy.

BJP State President Chandrashekhar Bawankule described the violence as “unprecedented”, adding, “The unfortunate incident that occurred in Nagpur has never been seen before. The way this incident took place it is a clear case of conspiracy.”

BJP MLA Sanjay Upadhyay was more direct in his comments, saying, “In Nagpur, the way Hindu vehicles were set on fire, the police were attacked, and Hindus were targeted. I stand in support of every Hindu who faced atrocities. The perpetrators and those behind the conspiracy must be exposed, and actions like bulldozer operations should be taken against them.”

According to police reports, the violence erupted after VHP and Bajrang Dal supporters gathered near Shivaji Maharaj’s statue in Mahal to protest against Aurangzeb’s tomb.

During the protest, they allegedly burned a photograph of Aurangzeb and a symbolic grave wrapped in a green cloth filled with grass.

This act reportedly led to rumours that sacred verses had been set on fire, which escalated tensions.

As tensions mounted, around 80-100 individuals became aggressive, hurling stones at police officers and setting vehicles on fire. Some reports even claimed that knives were thrown at security personnel. The police responded with lathi charge and tear gas to disperse the crowd.

Authorities have since detained around 50 individuals in connection with the violence, and a heavy police force has been deployed to maintain law and order in the area.

As investigations continue, political leaders continue to weigh in, each blaming the other for the violence that has marred the peace in Nagpur.

Mumbai, March 18: Opposition on Tuesday staged a protest at the entrance of the Assembly demanding the removal of BIP Minister Nitesh Rane from the cabinet for “spreading hatred”.

The legislators from Congress, Shiv Sena(UBT) and NCP(SP) raised slogans like “Dangal Namo, Shantata Havi (Don’t want riots, want peace)” and “Shantata Priya Maharashtra Hava, Dangal Mukt Maharashtra Hava (Want peaceful Maharashtra, riot free Maharashtra)”.

Congress Legislature Party leader Vijay Wadettiwar said, ”Nagpur is a very peaceful city, but it has been attacked by pro-ruling organisations. All this is because of a minister in the cabinet who made absurd and provocative statements. The Chief Minister should immediately remove this minister from the cabinet. Deliberate efforts are being made to spread hatred and incite conflict between the two communities and this is being done by the ruling alliance. Nagpur residents should maintain peace and ensure that no untoward incident occurs.”

He further stated, “It is an unfortunate incident that arson and stone-pelting took place in a peaceful city like Nagpur. For the past few days, a minister in the cabinet has been constantly fiddling and his statements have caused a dispute between two communities. If this minister had been stopped in time, this time would not have come. It is unfortunate that this incident took place in the home district of the Chief Minister, who is also the Home Minister, and action should be taken against whoever is responsible for this.”

He claimed that the minister (Rane) has been making statements for the last four months that will create a rift between the two communities. He reiterated that it was necessary to stop that minister from creating a rift at the right time, especially, now after Nagpur violence.

Rane recently sparked controversy with his comments about the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb’s grave in Khuldabad, Sambhaji Nagar (formerly Aurangzeb district). He stated that the day is not far from when the tomb will be removed. He also claimed that there were no Muslims in Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s Army. He also appealed to people to buy ‘Malhar Certified’ mutton, a platform aimed at certifying ‘jhatka’ mutton shops.

On Monday, Rane stirred another controversy after he compared Aurangzeb’s grave with a toilet. “The grave is not worth keeping here, even if it is declared a toilet, it would not be wrong. Whatever was done to our Chhatrapati Shivaji and Sambhaji, none of their filth is worth keeping in our state and this is the stand our Chief Minister has taken and this filth is not going to stay for long. You will get the breaking news at the right time,” he remarked.

Mumbai, March 18: A day after the violence in Maharashtra’s Nagpur over the demand for the demolition of Aurangzeb’s grave, Shiv Sena(UBT) MP Sanjay Raut on Tuesday said Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Deputy Chief Ministers Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar, and RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat should take up spades and shovels and fulfil the wishes of “their” people.

“Whose inspiration is it, why are riots being incited? It is a subject of research. Holi was also spoiled, what happened in Rajapur, and what happened in other areas is known. There have never been riots in Maharashtra during festivals like Holi, tomorrow our own people will try to incite riots on Gudi Padwa. Some people are inciting Hindu-Muslim riots in this state by using Aurangzeb as a shield. They are giving the example of Babri, they are saying that they will destroy Aurangzeb’s grave in Maharashtra like Babri,” said Raut.

Referring to those who are demanding the demolition of Aurangzeb’s grave, he further stated, “The government is yours, Narendra Modi, Devendra Fadnavis are yours, why are you creating riots, the government should go and destroy the grave. It is a government of your own ideas, Mohan Bhagwat, Devendra Fadnavis, Eknath Shinde, Ajit Pawar, these four people should take spades and shovels in their hands and fulfil the wishes of their people.”

Raut said the party has been repeatedly saying that the Aurangzeb’s grave is a memorial of the bravery of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. “One Aurangzeb came here. One Afzal Khan came, one Shahiste Khan came and never returned from here. The Mavlas and Sambhaji Raja dug their graves here. This is a symbol of the bravery of the Mavlas. But the ideology of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and the BJP from the beginning is to reduce the importance of Sambhaji Raja and Shivaji Maharaj. Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj and Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj were never and are not symbols of bravery and victory for the BJP. Therefore, if you eliminate the villain first, you can automatically eliminate the hero. Therefore, attack the villain and eliminate the heroes of Maharashtra,” he alleged.

“Shiv Sena supremo Balasaheb Thackeray pressed for the construction of Ram temple in Ayodhya at the place where the encroachment took place which was where Babri mosque was situated. We will not interfere with any other mosque or grave. Hindus and Muslims should live in harmony in this country. Then this country and state will survive. It was Balasaheb Thackeray’s stance. Balasaheb’s fight for Hindutva was for the Ram temple, for which Babri was demolished. Balasaheb Thackeray never instilled the Hindutva of getting up every day and demolishing a mosque and breaking a grave,” said Raut.

Commenting on Nagpur violence, Raut said it was not possible for people to come from outside. “If people from outside come to the Chief Minister’s constituency and start riots, and there is massive arson, it means that the Chief Minister is failing as the Home Minister,” he claimed. “If such a riot is happening in his constituency while the Assembly session is underway when the chief minister is talking about law and order, then who are those who are doing this?” he asked.

Raut said he was watching the activists from the Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal groups coming forward in Nagpur, making provocative statements and issuing warnings on news channels. “They are not from outside. They are definitely people from the Vishwa Hindu Parishad or people from the RSS and they are from Nagpur. They can be recognised. The chief minister must be knowing these people,” he added.