Pune Police Deny Permission For Elgaar Parishad On December 31
Mubarak Ansari
Pune, December 23, 2020: The Pune city police have denied permission for the proposed ‘Elgaar Parishad’ on December 31. The organiser, Lokshasan Andolan Sanstha, had planned to conduct the program at Ganesh Kala Krida Manch, Swargate, from 2 pm to 7 pm.
Permission was sought from police for the event. However, the police have denied permission. Former High Court Justice BG Kolse Patil had formally sought permission to hold the proposed event on December 31 at Ganesh Kala Krida Manch from 2 pm to 7 pm. Police have cited Covid19 pandemic and law and order as the reason for denying permission.
A Vijaystambh had been erected at Perne phata by the British as a memorial for the soldiers killed in the Koregaon Bhima battle on January 1, 1818. Dalits believe that it was a victory over casteism as the British army comprising a large contingent of Dalit Mahar soldiers had defeated the forces of Peshwa who was the Brahmin custodians of the Maratha kingdom.
On January 1, 2018, caste clashes had broken out around Koregaon Bhima village which left one dead and injured several others. A day before ie on December 31, 2017, Elgaar Parishad was organised at haniwarwada. Pune police and the National Investigation Agency (NIA) had filed chargesheets stating that provocative speeches were delivered at the program which led to the violence.
