Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis welcomes SC verdict on Bhima Koregaon violence case
New Delhi, Sept 28 (IBNS): Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Friday welcomed the verdict given by the Supreme Court in the Bhima Koregaon violence case.
Speaking to media, the Chief Minister said: "We welcome the decision. On basis of investigation conducted & evidence collected by Pune Police, it has been considered valid & SC has said it'll not interfere in the investigation."
The Supreme Court on Friday extended the house arrest of five activists, who were earlier detained over terror charges and for inciting violence at Bhima Koregaon in Maharashtra in January this year, by four weeks and also rejected a plea seeking a special investigation into the case, media reports said.
The verdict has been passed by a three-judge bench with ratio 2:1.
The top court has said the case is not due to political dissents by Varavara Rao, lawyer Sudha Bharadwaj, activists Arun Fereira, Gautam Navlakha and Vernon Gonsalves, who are under house arrest since Aug 29.
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) chief Amit Shah said those who tried to politicise the issue of arrest of the activists should 'apologise' after the verdict of the Supreme Court was announced.
"Those who stooped down to the level of polticising an issue of national security have been exposed by the Honourable Supreme Court's decision today. It is high time that the Congress now clears it's stand on this critical issue of Urban Naxalism," Shah tweeted.
Those who stooped down to the level of polticising an issue of national security have been exposed by the Honourable Supreme Court's decision today.
— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) September 28, 2018
It is high time that the Congress now clears it's stand on this critical issue of Urban Naxalism.
He said: "India is a vibrant democracy with a healthy culture of debate, discussion and dissent. However, plotting against the country with the intent to harm our citizens is not one of these. Those who politicised this issue need to apologise."
India is a vibrant democracy with a healthy culture of debate, discussion and dissent. However, plotting against the country with the intent to harm our citizens is not one of these. Those who politicised this issue need to apologise.
— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) September 28, 2018
The activists were arrested by Pune Police in multi-city raids on Aug 28 in connection with the Dalit-upper caste violence in Bhima Koregaon.
The activists were freed from judicial custody following the top court's order on Aug 29.
On the same day, the Supreme Court had observed, "dissent is the safety valve of democracy. If dissent is not allowed then the pressure cooker may burst."
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