Senior leaders of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) gathered on the occasion of the party’s foundation day to express their concern over recent incidents of communal unrest in Maharashtra. The leaders highlighted the negative impact of such incidents on democracy and called for efforts to promote harmony and reduce tensions between communities.
Communal Unrest in Maharashtra:
The NCP leaders specifically mentioned incidents of communal unrest in Kolhapur, where tension arose after two individuals allegedly posted an offensive audio message along with an image of Tipu Sultan, the 18th-century ruler of Mysore. The situation escalated when protesters hurled stones during a demonstration against the use of Tipu Sultan’s image.
Another incident occurred in Ahmednagar district, where individuals carrying posters of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb during a procession sparked controversy. A video of the incident went viral, leading to a police case being registered against four persons.
In the Ashti town of Beed district, a teenage boy’s social media post glorifying Aurangzeb further heightened tensions, prompting a ‘bandh’ (shutdown) called by Hindutva organizations.
NCP Leaders’ Concern and Call for Action:
Addressing the gathering, Supriya Sule, NCP MP, expressed her concern about the communal unrest, emphasizing that it is detrimental to democracy. She urged NCP workers to actively contribute towards reducing tensions and promoting communal harmony. Sule commended the party workers, highlighting their crucial role as the backbone of the organization.
Jayant Patil, the state chief of NCP, addressed the issue of social media being used to exacerbate tensions in society, something that was unprecedented in the past. He stressed the need to strive for a “dispute-free” Maharashtra and called for collective efforts to achieve this goal.
Remembering Party Leaders and the Way Forward:
During the event, Supriya Sule remembered late party leader R R Patil, who served as the state home minister and expressed her hopes for the release of former minister Nawab Malik, who is currently in jail on money laundering charges. She expressed confidence that Nawab Malik would join them next year to hoist the flag on the party’s foundation day.
The NCP, led by veteran politician Sharad Pawar, used the occasion of its foundation day to address the growing concerns regarding communal unrest in Maharashtra. The party leaders stressed the importance of maintaining harmony and unity among communities and called for efforts to mitigate tensions. As part of the Maha Vikas Aghadi alliance, the NCP remains committed to working for the development of Maharashtra and the country.