Seeking to corner the Uddhav Thackeray-led coalition government in Maharashtra over recent incidents including the mistreatment of a retired naval officer, a group of BJP MPs led by party vice chairman Vinay Sahasrabuddhe have approached the National Rights Commission Human (NHRC) to demand an investigation into the events.
In a letter to NHRC President HL Dattu, BJP MPs claimed that there have been several rights violations in Maharashtra since December 2019.
The letter, also signed by the MPs of Rajya Sabha Vikas Mahatme and Bhagwat Karad, affirms that the right to freedom of expression, life, equality, etc. it has been raped in Maharashtra during the indicated period.
The letter claimed that a man named Hiraman Tiwari was attacked in a social media post by people associated with Shiv Sena in December 2019. The letter also mentions the Palghar incident in which three Hindu seers were killed.
The letter also mentioned that Madan Sharma, a retired Navy officer, was beaten by 8 to 10 people in a social media post critical of the state government.
“Physical attacks on citizens for exercising rights such as freedom of expression to criticize the state government and public servants end in state-sponsored violence,” the letter states.
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The MPs also claimed there were incidents of complaints against journalists and actor Kangana Ranaut after their vocal criticism of the state government.
“The government suppresses any oppositional voice with the help of the state mechanism,” the letter said. “While the publication of defamatory material against the prime minister or anyone else in the opposition is conveniently overlooked due to discriminatory practices adopted by the Maharashtra state government,” the letter states.
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Claiming that there were incidents of human rights violations in the state, including the right to life, freedom of expression and the right to equality, the BJP MPs asked the NHRC to conduct an investigation.
Shiv Sena Lok Sabha MP Arvind Sawant and the party’s spokesman declined to comment on the offensive mounted by the BJP. “Such things shouldn’t even be answered. No comment, ”he said. MP Rajya Sabha and Sena’s chief spokesman Sanjay Raut were unavailable for comment despite attempts.
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