Congress MP Renuka Chowdhury (L) Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis (R) |
New Delhi: The recent violence in Nagpur sparked political uproar in the Parliament as Congress MP Renuka Chowdhury moved a suspension notice in the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday. She blamed Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis for failing to perform his duties.
She cited a ‘complete breakdown of communal harmony and law and order’ in the Nagpur district, urging immediate discussion. The second part of the Budget Session, currently underway, will continue till April 4.
Chowdhury’s notice demanded the suspension of Zero Hour and other scheduled proceedings to address the unrest. “In its 300 years of dynamic existence, Nagpur has never experienced riots,” her statement read, according to a Mint report.
The violence reportedly erupted following rumours that a sacred text of a particular community was burned during a protest by a right-wing group demanding the removal of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb’s tomb. Several houses, vehicles and even a clinic were vandalised during the clashes.
Chowdhury Blames Maha CM Fadnavis For Unrest
Chowdhury directly blamed Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis for the unrest. Her statement accused him of deliberately ‘weaponising 300-year-old history’ to create divisions and distractions. “It is the Constitutional duty of the CM to maintain peace, harmony, and law and order, but he has failed in his Rajdharma,” she said. The term ‘Rajdharma’ in Sanskrit refers to the duties of a ruler.
Curfew Imposed In Several Parts Of Nagpur
Curfew has been imposed in parts of Nagpur as tensions escalated over the demand to relocate Aurangzeb’s tomb from Maharashtra. The 17th-century emperor’s final resting place is in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district (formerly Aurangabad).
According to police reports, the violence broke out on March 17 when supporters of Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal gathered near Shivaji Maharaj’s statue in Nagpur’s Mahal area. The protestors were demanding the removal of Aurangzeb’s tomb from Maharashtra. The demonstration soon turned violent, with stones hurled at police officers and multiple vehicles torched.
Reports confirm that at least four civilians sustained injuries, while more than a dozen police personnel were also wounded. Local police have detained 50 individuals in connection with the riots as investigations continue. The situation remains tense, with law enforcement maintaining strict vigilance to prevent further escalation.
