Maharashtra: Arvind Kejriwal alleges BJP-RSS behind Bhima-Koregaon violence

Mumbai: Criticising the state government for recent riots in Bhima Koregaon, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal held Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) responsible for the violence. The Aam Aadami Party supremo also said that if people wanted riots then they should choose BJP, which follows a specific pattern.

Kejriwal was on a Maharashtra tour and attended a public rally at Sindkhedraja, the birth place of Rajmata Jijau, mother of Chhatrapati Shivaji in Buldhana district. He said that the BJP-RSS supporters had attacked Dalits at Bhima–Koregaon on their victory day, which led to caste tension in part of the state.

Talking about the poor and their right to study, Kejriwal pulled up Vinod Tawde, the minister for school education for shutting down schools permanently. Recently, Kejriwal has been praised for empowering public schools in Delhi. “Maharashtra is the land of Jyotiba and Savitribai Phule, who dedicated their lives for the education of children. India’s first school for children was started by them, but the BJP led government in Maharashtra, has shut down thousands of schools,” said Kejriwal. He egged the people to think ans asked had they voted this government to shut down schools? “A party that cannot run schools, do we expect them to run the government efficiently?” he questioned. He also alleged that the BJP in Maharashtra had ‘crushed’ the dreams of the social reformer couple (Phules) and those of Shivaji Maharaj.

He lamented at the condition of farmers in Maharashtra. “The state of farmers in Maharashtra is shameful as we see farmers are crying tears of blood. When the crop fails, it is the first and foremost responsibility of any chief minister to address their grievances. When crops failed in Delhi, we granted 50,000 per hectare compensation to farmers. Here, sadly, I do not see it happening,” alleged Kejriwal. Sudhir Sawant, former Congress MP, joined the AAP at Kejriwal’s rally.