It was a day of high drama in the Mantralaya as a Pune man jumped into the safety net in the state administrative headquarters to press for his demands, which includes that of a female chief minister for Maharashtra.
The disgruntled citizen has been identified as Laxman Annasaheb Chavan, a member of Prajasattak Bharat Party, who resides in Kothrud.
Incidentally, the safety net was only installed after the suicide of murder convict Harshal Raote (45) in August 2018. The move had drawn snide remarks from the Opposition.
Chavan, who calls himself a "desh sewak," had written a memorandum to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on demands including declaring all elected representatives as public servants, 50 per cent quota for women in Parliament and state assemblies, regulating fees of pre-primary schools, providing medical and other facilities in rural areas, and better working and living conditions for the police.
On Monday afternoon, Chavan climbed on to the net to press for his demands. A police naik Babasaheb Rankhambe, who was on duty, and Rajesh Namdas, a driver with the state forest department, tried to dissuade him."He asked me to maintain a distance threatening to jump otherwise," said Rankhambe, adding that Chavan had also sought a written assurance as a condition to withdraw his protest.
Namdas said Chavan complained that his letters to the state government had failed to illicit a response. Prashant Khaire, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), Mantralaya security, also negotiated with Chavan and fire brigade personnel were summoned, after which he (Chavan) agreed to come out. Police personnel said they faced tense moments during the roughly 10-minute standoff as the net was sagging and could have given way.
Later, Chavan was taken to Marine Drive police station.