Fast-track Dalit massacre case, Raj Thackeray tells his ‘friend’ Fadnavis

MUMBAI: MNS chief Raj Thackeray held discussions on Sunday with chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on the Dalit massacre at the Javakhed village in Pathardi, Ahmednagar district.

Thackeray demanded that the case be handed over to a fast-track court, at the one-hour meeting at Sahyadri, the state guest house at Malabar Hill. He visited the aggrieved family last week and extended financial assistance to relatives of the deceased.

Observers said the massacre may cast a shadow on the BJP government. Shiv Sena MLA Vijay Shivtare recently announced that he planned to raise the issue on the floor of the legislative assembly during the three-day special session next week.

Thackeray demanded action against those responsible for the “ghastly” act. “I told the CM that there should be no political interference in the case, and no attempts to shield the culprits,” he told TOI.

“I suggested that the CM should not rely on reports from the director-general of police or inspector-general of police alone. In fact, he should convene a meeting of superintendents of police from the rural heartland and deputy commissioners of police from urban regions to get first-hand information on the law and order situation in the state,” Thackeray said, adding, “The chief minister accepted my suggestion… I know him for over two decades. He is a good friend of mine.”

Thackeray will begin a statewide tour from Tuesday. He will tour Kalyan-Dombivli, Marathwada, Konkan, Pune and western Maharashtra in the first phase.

Source: The Times of India