The Mumbai Police Department On Friday, the Mumbai Police detained 104 persons, the most of them were striking MSRTC personnel, for reportedly attempting to storm into Silver Oak, the south Mumbai home of NCP president Sharad Pawar.
The event sent shockwaves across the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government, with Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray denouncing the strikers’ actions and state Home Minister Dilip Walse Patil demanding an investigation into why the police did not foresee the violent demonstration.
The event occurred a day after the Bombay High Court dismissed a contempt plea brought by MSRTC in a writ suit against striking employees, ordering the corporation to drop charges against the workers and restore those who had been fired provided they returned to work by April 22.
Since last October, about 90,000 MSRTC employees have been on strike, asking that the company be amalgamated with the state so that they can benefit from the same perks as government employees. While many expected the strike to be called off on Friday, a group of about a hundred protestors gathered at Silver Oak about 3.15 p.m. According to the police, the protestors began shouting anti-Pawar chants, accusing him of failing to address their concerns. The demonstrators attempted to access the Silver Oak premises after a few minutes but were stopped by security. This is when the demonstrators allegedly became violent and attempted to break through security barriers.
Supriya Sule, Sharad Pawar’s daughter and a Lok Sabha MP, attempted to appease the demonstrators outside the residence. Sule later told reporters that her home had been assaulted. “I appreciate the Mumbai Police Department’s quick response… “What occurred today is quite terrible…”
The police stated they began arresting demonstrators as soon as they became aggressive. A complaint has been filed against 132 individuals.
Security was strengthened at the mansions of many state politicians in Mumbai, including Transport Minister Anil Parab, shortly after the event.
The entry and exit gates of Azad Maidan, where hundreds of MSRTC employees are demonstrating, have also been sealed by Azad Maidan police. Many striking employees at Azad Maidan stated they had no knowledge who assaulted Sharad Pawar’s home. “We have been demonstrating at Azad Maidan for nearly five months now, but nobody has listened to us,” a demonstrator claimed, claiming Sharad Pawar had failed to assist them. Sharad Pawar is to blame for the workers’ suicides…”
Pawar, who claimed to be on the side of the workers, claimed that those in charge were leading them astray. “If the leader is immature, even the following may be led astray…” The attack, according to the CM, was despicable. Meanwhile, Mumbai Police Commissioner Sanjay Pandey and Joint Commissioner (Law and Order) Vishwas Nangre Patil have been ordered to take harsh action against those guilty by Walse Patil.
