Pansare's death caused by silent support of govt: Maharashtra activists slam BJP

Mumbai: Following the death of veteran communist leader Govind Pansare, activists and leaders of progressive movements have expressed their anger over the failure of the government in nabbing the killers of Pansare and rationalist Dr Narendra Dhabolkar. Now, the CPI has also called for a state-wide bandh today, which is being supported by the congress, NCP and other political parties and organizations. Pansare, who was at the forefront of anti-toll agitations in Kolhapur, and his wife were were shot near their residence. But what is most disturbing, is that the attack on Pansare is not an isolated case but the latest in a series attacks on social activists in Maharashtra. [caption id=“attachment_2114273” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Image courtesy IBNlive[/caption] According to the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative (CHRI) report in fact, 53 RTI activists have been attacked in the state, which is the highest in the country after the act came into force in 2005. Nine activists have died as a result. Police authorities are so far clueless about the identity of Pansare’s killers but claim that they have managed to draw sketches of killers based on eye witness accounts. Police will release the sketches after running them by Pansare’s wife Uma, who as also injured in the attack. In August 2013, Dabholkar was also shot dead while he was out for a morning walk near the Omkareshwar bridge in Pune. Pansare was attacked in a similar fashion. RTI activists Satish Shetty was also murdered in Pune for exposing land grabbing. Akthough the police remain clueless about who murdered Dabholkar, the CBI, has decided to reopen its investigations into the Shetty murder case. Social activist Medha Patkar said that the attack on Pansare was an attack on all progressive activists working in various movements across the state. “It is quite possible that others will be attacked soon. Such things happen only when the handful of people espousing fundamentalism have political support. Then, the government machinery does not try to nab the killers,” Patkar said. “If Maharashtra is a progressive state, why progressive people being killed? Also, the government is not showing the will to prevent it,” ND Patil, a senior leader and an associate of Pansare said. He added that it was time to introspect to find out the reasons for such attacks. “It will show that the communal elements are behind all this and the government is supporting them by not acting against them. The government lacks the will power to act against them,” said Patil, who along with Pansare was leading the anti-toll agitation in Kolhapur. Bhalchandra Nemade, a noted Marathi writer, who recently won the Jnanpith award, said that it is now shameful for Maharashtra to call itself a progressive state. “Nobody has stooped to such a low to destroy the rationalist ideology in the history of Maharashtra. Murders of such persons are not happening anywhere else in the country. If such situation continues, then it won’t be too long for Maharashtra to become Taliban. We will have to stop this,” said Nemade. However, the congress party has demanded the CBI investigation into the Pansare’s case and asked the CM Devendra Fadnavis to provide protection to leaders of progressive movements in the state. Manikrao Thakare, state congress president said the party would also join the Maharashtra bandh called by Communist parties. The NCP leader Sunil Tatkare and RPI leader Ramdas Athawale too announced their parties support to the bandh.