'Speeches Within The Ambit Of The Constitution, Cannot Be Called Anti-National: Sharad Pawar To Bhima Koregaon Commission

MP Sharad Pawar, supremo of the ruling coalition, the Nationalist Congress Party in Maharashtra told an inquiry commission on Thursday that the speeches at the Elgar Parishad event, must have been an outcry against oppression and atrocities which wouldn't be an offence in law. Pawar said that a person giving speech within the ambit of the Constitution of India and Parliamentary Democracy, cannot be called anti-national. The leader deposed as a witness before the two-member commission of former Calcutta High Court Chief Justice JN Patel and member Sumit Mullick, on Wednesday. The commission was tasked with probing the Bhima Koregaon Caste violence from January 2018 in which one man was killed, and several others were injured. Advocate Aashish Satpute examined the MP while several lawyers cross examined him. The leader's statement is diametrically opposite to the Pune Police and National Investigation Agency's case that inflammatory speeches at the Elgar Parishad event let to violence the following day at Bhima Koregaon. "The incident of Koregaon Bhima and the Elgar Parishad are two different and separate issues. I am also aware that an eminent Judge late Hon'ble Justice P. B. Sawant, Former Judge of Supreme Court of India was to preside over the Elgar Parishad, I feel that there was nothing wrong may have taken place. The speeches in Elgar Parishad may have been an outcry against oppression and Atrocities committed against weaker section which does not amount to committing any offence under law." Pawar said when asked about his recommendation to form an SIT to probe the role of the police. Significantly, Pawar said that the police was not right in filing cases against some persons who were not even present at the Elgar Parishad event. Father Stan Swamy, an 84-year-old priest arrested in this case, and died in custody on July 5, 2021. He was one of those not present at the event. However, during cross examination, Pawar said he did not have personal knowledge regarding the circumstances leading up to violence and his information was based on news reports and hearsay. Pawar was of the view that the Vijay Stambh – War Memorial at Koregaon should be notified as an archeological monument and the State Government should take care of it by compensating the Malvadkar. He suggested another memorial close by to end the controversy around some persons putting up a plate consisting names of soilders who had sacrificed their lives in Kargil War. On a question regarding idealogy, Pawar said that to him right wing meant " persons who taking advantage of the fault lines (relating to religion and caste) in society spread hatred amongst different sections of the society." On political leaders addressing people, Pawar said "when any political leader chooses to address the people he should ensure the speech should not contain inflammatory substance which may cause disturbance of peace, law and order and animosity amongst different sections, religious groups and members of the society. If any person/political leader chooses to do so and indulge in such public address or speech, then he is responsible for the consequences"

'Speeches Within The Ambit Of The Constitution, Cannot Be Called Anti-National: Sharad Pawar To Bhima Koregaon Commission

Sharmeen Hakim

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