Politicians, others go to Koregaon-Bhima for annual occasion; Chandrakant Patil offers it a miss

By PTI

PUNE: Hundreds of individuals together with political leaders visited Jaystambh army monument in Maharashtra’s Pune district on Sunday to mark the 205th anniversary of the Koregaon-Bhima battle amid heavy safety deployed on the venue in view of violence close to it on January 1, 2018.

Pune Guardian Minister Chandrakant Patil, nonetheless, didn’t go to the memorial to keep away from any untoward incident, citing an ink assault risk to him if he went to there.

Last month, ink was thrown at Patil throughout an occasion in Pimpri city of Pune district in an obvious protest towards his controversial comment about Dr B R Ambedkar and social reformer Mahatma Jyotiba Phule.

As per the Dalit narrative, British forces that fought the Peshwas at Koregaon Bhima on January 1, 1818, comprised largely of troopers from the Dalit Mahar group, who waged a struggle for freedom from ‘casteism’ of the Peshwas.

Every 12 months on today, numerous folks, primarily from the Dalit group, go to the Jaystambh (victory pillar) which was erected by the British in reminiscence of the troopers who fought towards the Peshwas within the battle of Koregaon Bhima.

Violence had damaged out close to Koregaon Bhima village throughout the 2 hundredth commemoration of the historic battle on January 1, 2018 by which one individual was killed and plenty of others injured.

According to police, “provocative speeches” made on the Elgar Parishad conclave held in Pune metropolis a day earlier than had triggered the violence.

OPINION | Life and liberty within the Bhima Koregaon case

People go to the Koregaon Bhima struggle memorial on 205th anniversary of Koregaon Bhima battle, in Pune, on January 1, 2023. (Photo | PTI)

On Sunday, numerous folks gathered on the victory pillar, adorned with flowers and lights, situated in Perne village on Pune-Ahmednagar Road amid heavy police safety.

Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA) president Prakash Ambedkar and Shiv Sena (UBT) spokesperson Sushma Andhare had been amongst those that visited the memorial.

However, Pune Guardian Minister Chandrakant Patil didn’t go to the memorial to keep away from any untoward incident there.

The minister in a press assertion mentioned, “I have received threat of an ink attack on me if I visit the memorial. I am walking on the path of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar’s thoughts, thus I am even ready to take bullets on my chest. However, some people wish that there should be an untoward incident or communal riots there. As scores of people go there with lot of devotion, their safety and security is important for me. So, I have decided not to go there,” he added.

The district administration has made elaborate preparations, together with of parking amenities, bogs, water and bus providers, for folks visiting the memorial.

PUNE: Hundreds of individuals together with political leaders visited Jaystambh army monument in Maharashtra’s Pune district on Sunday to mark the 205th anniversary of the Koregaon-Bhima battle amid heavy safety deployed on the venue in view of violence close to it on January 1, 2018.

Pune Guardian Minister Chandrakant Patil, nonetheless, didn’t go to the memorial to keep away from any untoward incident, citing an ink assault risk to him if he went to there.

Last month, ink was thrown at Patil throughout an occasion in Pimpri city of Pune district in an obvious protest towards his controversial comment about Dr B R Ambedkar and social reformer Mahatma Jyotiba Phule.

As per the Dalit narrative, British forces that fought the Peshwas at Koregaon Bhima on January 1, 1818, comprised largely of troopers from the Dalit Mahar group, who waged a struggle for freedom from ‘casteism’ of the Peshwas.

Every 12 months on today, numerous folks, primarily from the Dalit group, go to the Jaystambh (victory pillar) which was erected by the British in reminiscence of the troopers who fought towards the Peshwas within the battle of Koregaon Bhima.

Violence had damaged out close to Koregaon Bhima village throughout the 2 hundredth commemoration of the historic battle on January 1, 2018 by which one individual was killed and plenty of others injured.

According to police, “provocative speeches” made on the Elgar Parishad conclave held in Pune metropolis a day earlier than had triggered the violence.

OPINION | Life and liberty within the Bhima Koregaon case

People go to the Koregaon Bhima struggle memorial on 205th anniversary of Koregaon Bhima battle, in Pune, on January 1, 2023. (Photo | PTI)

On Sunday, numerous folks gathered on the victory pillar, adorned with flowers and lights, situated in Perne village on Pune-Ahmednagar Road amid heavy police safety.

Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA) president Prakash Ambedkar and Shiv Sena (UBT) spokesperson Sushma Andhare had been amongst those that visited the memorial.

However, Pune Guardian Minister Chandrakant Patil didn’t go to the memorial to keep away from any untoward incident there.

The minister in a press assertion mentioned, “I have received threat of an ink attack on me if I visit the memorial. I am walking on the path of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar’s thoughts, thus I am even ready to take bullets on my chest. However, some people wish that there should be an untoward incident or communal riots there. As scores of people go there with lot of devotion, their safety and security is important for me. So, I have decided not to go there,” he added.

The district administration has made elaborate preparations, together with of parking amenities, bogs, water and bus providers, for folks visiting the memorial.