Bipin Kumar Singh and Varun Singh track the journey of the 2 leaders to riot-torn Sangli
Bipin Kumar Singh and Varun Singh track the journey of the 2 leaders to riot-torn SangliWhile the state was busy stopping BJP leader Gopinath Munde from reaching riot-torn Miraj by air, road or rail yesterday, another leader managed to sneak past the defences.
The police stopped Munde at Mumbai airport and fought his followers, but about the same time, senior Shiv Sena leader and party spokesperson Neelam Gorhe was in Miraj, meeting people who had been arrested and their kin.
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She even managed to hold a gathering outside the hotel where she had checked in, before the police stopped her.
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Hungama: BJP supporters clashed with the police outside Mumbai airport yesterday after party leader Gopinath Munde was prevented from flying to Sangli where he planned to address a meeting about riot-hit Miraj. |
Incidentally, Gorhe managed to pull off all this despite Director General of Police S S Virk's presence in Miraj.
The area has been put under curfew and netas are being disallowed from visiting for fear of further incitement of communal tension.
Ek hi Raasta for GorheAccording to Gorhe, she stayed in Miraj for over three hours and did as she pleased.
"I travelled to Sangli by road and reached there by 11.45 am. I met the affected people. I wanted to meet the city collector, but wasn't allowed to.
Instead, I was given a letter citing section 144 (which relates to unlawful assembly) and was asked to leave within an hour."
However, Gorhe didn't go too far. She has camped in Satara district, just a few kilometers away from the riot- affected area.
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"So what if I am not in the main city, I'll still hold meetings. I will follow whatever my party high command says.
If they want me to stay here, I will do that," said a defiant Gorhe.
Munde stopped twiceGopinath Munde had initially planned to travel by air to Miraj, but he was not given a boarding pass.
Following this, BJP supporters clashed with the police outside Mumbai airport, resulting in a lathi charge.
He then decided to travel by road, but without success. Munde and MLC Vinod Tawde, also the general secretary of the BJP state unit, were stopped in Lonavla.
Inspector Balraj Lanjile of the Lonavla police said, "We had orders not to let any politician go to Sangli. But they told us they were going to Pune, so we let them go."
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No Stopping Her: Shiv Sena spokesperson Neelam Gorhe |
According to PSI Tavde, Pune city control room, Munde's entourage reached Pune at around 10 pm and halted at the Boat Club Guesthouse. Munde is scheduled to hold a press conference in the city today.
Speaking to MiD DAY from Pune, Tawde said, "We were served a notice issued by the Sangli collector at Lonavla, barring us from entering the district. So, we halted in Pune. We will leave for Sangli tomorrow.
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We are going there to make peace. We will meet the heads of all Ganesh mandals and try to find a solution."
When asked what they would do if they were stopped, he said, "We'll try to convince them to let us enter. If they don't budge we will decide our future course of action at that time."
Inputs by Sanjeev DevasiaWhat Happened in Miraj?On September 3, Hindus and Muslims clashed in the area over the installation of a welcome arch in a market area.
One of the communities had put up a welcome arch showcasing an event of historic significance.
This did not go down well with members of the other community.u00a0
