Communal clash: Don’t get provoked, urges Maharashtra home minister

Dilip Walse Patil, state home minister

AMID rising communal tension across Mumbai and Maharashtra, state Home Minister Dilip Walse Patil on Monday warned of strict action against those trying to provoke two communities to gain political benefits. Police stations have been asked to carry out maximum patrolling in sensitive areas, as sources in the home ministry said some people with vested interests might try to divide people on communal lines ahead of the BMC polls.

In the past few weeks there have been several incidents in the city and the state which could have led to communal unrest, but the swift actions taken by the state police have managed to subdue them. "Since the past few days, some people have been trying to create a rift between two communities through inflammatory speeches. I request all my Hindu and Muslim brothers to be aware of such people and not indulge in unwanted activities. The police are keeping close watch and doing their work. We will take strict action against those found on the wrong side of the law," Patil said.

He added, "This is the time when we should be talking about development and the issues people are facing, but it is sad to say that for some political gains people are trying to divide two communities and creating communal tension." The home minister's statement came after an incident in Mankhurd on Sunday night wherein over 40 people allegedly attacked parked vehicles inside a MHADA Colony with swords and bamboo sticks, damaging around 20-25 vehicles. One person also got injured. Following the incident, senior police officials visited the area and deployed heavy bandobast to maintain law and order.

Abu Azmi, SP MLA from Shivaji Nagar, met Commissioner of Police Sanjay Pandey over the incident on Monday. Another incident was reported last week where members of the Bajrang Dal carrying out a rally during Ram Navami started playing drums near the mosque as Aazaan started on loudspeaker. Local police averted any escalation in the area.

Recently, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray, during the Gudhi Padwa rally, asked his supporters to play Hanuman Chalisa on loud speakers if the government failed to remove loudspeakers from mosques, following which a number of incidents were reported wherein MNS workers were found blasting speakers outside mosques. Thackeray's statement came on the heels of the Bharatiya Janata Party raising the issue in the last assembly, asking for removal of loudspeakers from mosques.