A day after being injured in a stone-pelting incident directed at his car, former Maharashtra Home Minister and NCP (SP) leader Anil Deshmukh on Tuesday condemned the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), vowing to teach them a ‘lesson.’
Deshmukh made it clear that he would not be intimidated, saying, “I want to tell the people of BJP that you can hit me with stones and even shoot me but (I) Anil Deshmukh will not die. We will not leave without teaching you a lesson,” he told reporters on Tuesday.
Deshmukh sustained head injuries after his car was stoned at Belphata while he was returning to Katol near Nagpur on Monday evening. Following the attack, he was hospitalized at Alexis (Max) Hospital.
Nagpur Rural Police have registered an attempt to murder case against four unidentified individuals in connection with the attack. Harsh Poddar, Superintendent of Police, Nagpur Rural, confirmed the development, stating, “Nagpur Rural Police has registered a case of attempt to murder against four unknown persons in the attack on Anil Deshmukh. Deputy Superintendent of Police (DYSP) Katol is investigating the incident. The Regional Forensic Team has gone to the spot to collect technical evidence. No one should spread rumours. If anyone tries to disrupt law and order, strict action will be taken against them.”
Poddar further added, “DYSP Katol is investigating the case. The Honourable Special Police Inspector General, Nagpur Circle, and Nagpur Collector have also visited the spot. The Regional Forensic Team from Nagpur has come to the scene to collect technical evidence.”
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Meanwhile, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut criticized Maharashtra’s Home Minister, Devendra Fadnavis, over the “worsening law and order situation” in the state following the attack on Deshmukh.
Speaking to reporters, Raut said, “The law and order in Maharashtra has completely collapsed. Never before did such violence take place in this state during elections. Devendra Fadnavis is the current Home Minister. A conspiracy to murder the former Home Minister of the state occurred in his city… Who is responsible (for this)? First of all, the Election Commission is responsible for this.”
Raut continued his criticism of Fadnavis, adding, “The condition in Maharashtra has turned bad. I believe that Home Minister Devendra Fadnavis has ruined Maharashtra’s law and order in 2 years. A former minister like Baba Siddiqui was murdered on the streets in Mumbai. The way former Home Minister Anil Deshmukh was attacked and a murder attempt was made – Devendra Fadnavis himself should take accountability for that.”
The Maharashtra Assembly elections are scheduled for November 20, with the counting of votes for all 288 constituencies set for November 23. This marks the first Assembly election since the split in Shiv Sena and the Nationalist Congress Party, making it a crucial contest for various political players.
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