Pressure on the Mahayuti government is mounting over the murder of sarpanch Santosh Deshmukh, with villagers continuing to level serious allegations against the Guardian Minister of Beed District, Dhananjay Munde, and his close associate Valmiki Karad.
Following NCP (SP) president Sharad Pawar and Congress MP Praniti Shinde’s visit to Deshmukh’s family, Congress leaders Balasaheb Thorat and MLA Amit Deshmukh also called on them on Wednesday. To demand the arrest of the accused, an all-party march is scheduled in Beed on December 28.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has already announced a judicial inquiry into the matter and transferred the superintendent of police.
Thorat said on Wednesday: “The murder of sarpanch Santosh Deshmukh is a deeply painful incident that has shocked the entire state of Maharashtra. The perpetrators and masterminds behind this heinous crime must be immediately identified and given the harshest punishment. There should also be a thorough investigation to uncover who is responsible for spreading terror in Beed district and the state.”
The killing has now become linked to the Maratha agitation. Manoj Jarange-Patil, the reservation activist, suggested that the people of Beed district should take charge of the investigation themselves to make the government realise the gravity of the matter.
The issue also created a stir during the recently concluded Winter Session. According to the complaint, the accused assaulted a watchman from the sarpanch’s village. When Deshmukh confronted them, he too was assaulted by the accused. It remains unclear, even to the doctors and police, how exactly the matter escalated.
Munde is yet to make a statement about the case. When Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar visited Beed to meet the villagers, they demanded the dismissal of Munde from the cabinet. Ruling party MLA Suresh Dhas has urged Fadnavis to take charge of the guardian minister post.
With opposition leaders and rivals within his own party gunning for him, it is unclear how long Munde will be able to hold on to his position.
