MLC Bawankule’s press meet at Police Bhavan triggers controversy

Nagpur: An impromptu interaction with the media at Police Bhavan on Friday by BJP MLC Chandrashekhar Bawankule and MLA Krushna Khopde snowballed into a political controversy. City police are now facing flak for not initiating action against the BJP leaders.
Former NCP leader and social activist Jwala Dhote on Saturday challenged the city police authorities to also allow her to organize a press conference on the sixth floor of the Police Bhavan after submitting a memorandum regarding Ganga Jamuna to CP Amitesh Kumar.
Her entry created a furore at the Police Bhavan where an exhibition of police paraphernalia was on display.
Bawankule, who had gone to meet the CP along with Khopde regarding controversial Congress leader Shaikh Hussain, said he had not planned the media interaction. “The media followed us to Police Bhavan and were waiting for us. They had already placed their mikes on the table and started posing questions after the CP had left the room,” said Bawankule, adding, “I’m a member of the state legislature and the conference room is government property.”
Meanwhile, Dhote said the CP should have issued notices to the BJP leaders for using the Police Bhavan to express their political views.
“If the BJP can use the conference room for a media interaction then why can’t I?” she said. “I will start a protest from Tuesday demanding action against the BJP leaders,” said Dhote.
Reacting to the controversy, the top cop said there are certain elements who are nursing a grudge against the police department and targeting officers to initiate action. “We will not be provoked by such insinuations. The law will take its own course. We shall deal with any situation stringently if there is a breach of peace and law and order. In this case too, strict action has been initiated under relevant sections of the law,” he said.
NCP leaders like spokesperson Nutan Rewatkar and Shailendra Tiwari went to Sadar police station demanding action against the BJP leaders for using the police conference room to air their political views.
It’s learnt a sizeable numbers of cops met CP for action over the ruckus created by Dhote at Police Bhavan and the language she used against the department and its officers.