Nagpur violence updates: Probe underway, social media ‘monitored’, says commissioner

Nagpur violence updates: Rajkumar Sharma, a member of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, gave his version of the incident that led to violence in Nagpur on Monday night.

Speaking to news agency ANI, he said, "Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal announced earlier that they will hold a protest...The protest was over the removal of the grave...There was a grave on which a green cloth was kept, if something is written on it in Urdu, how will one understand, many people don't understand Marathi even after living in Maharahstra...Usually, a green cloth is kept on the grave... When it was burnt, when it was broken, they unnecessarily made an issue out of it...The issue was discussed with the police administration. People from the Muslim community also understood it."

"But whatever riots happened after that was planned by the 'Aurangzeb ki aulad'...They gathered in the mosque there; they planned to close their shops, loot the shops of Hindus and attack their houses. This was all planned, and an attempt was made to incite an issue which has no meaning... If the administration feels that the effigy of Aurangzeb was burnt, we have no objection to the administration's action...this country will run as per the Constitution...But these 'Aurangzeb ki aulad' should also understand that this country will run as per the Constitution... If they will get out on the streets, vandalize our homes, burn the vehicles, and destroy the temple, then why is no action being taken against them? Then the Hindu society must react to this by getting down on the streets," he added.

Nagpur violence updates: AIMIM's Maharashtra president Imtiaz Jaleel on Tuesday, amid row over 'Chhaava' film ignited emotions in the state over Aurangzeb, said that a number of films have been made in western countries on World War II, but they did not lead to any riots.

His statement came hours after chief minister Devendra Fadnavis said that the Nagpur violence seemed like a 'pre-meditated' incident, adding that "Chhaava" film reignited people's emotions against the Mughal emperor.

Jaleel said, "Aurangzeb is not the only person who killed his own people to come to power. History also says that emperor Ashoka came to the throne after killing his brothers...which is not important. What is important is that Ashoka turned towards Buddhism."

"The western countries preserved monuments related to World War II and the generations that came after that learnt lessons out of it. Numerous films were made in Europe over World War II, but it did not lead to any riots. This happened because films were made after thorough research which helped people to understand the importance of non-violence," Jaleel added.

Nagpur violence updates: Sena UBT chief Uddhav Thackeray slammed the BJP for raking up a "400-year-old" issue had said that the government in Maharashtra should remove the tomb of Mughal emperor but must call NDA partners Bihar CM Nitish Kumar and Andhra Pradesh CM Chandrababu Naidu when that happens.

“Raze Aurangzeb’s tomb immediately, but do call Nitish Kumar and Chandrababu Naidu when that happens,” Thackeray said.

"If BJP has any issue with green colour, it should remove the green colour from their flag,” Thackeray said. “You tried to malign our party’s saffron flag and try to teach us Hindutva,” he added. Thackeray said Aurangzeb was born in Gujarat and was vanquished and died in Maharashtra.

Nagpur violence updates: Security has been beefed up at the site where violence had broken out in Nagpur on Monday night.

Visuals of heavy police deployment was seen in the area.

Nagpur violence updates: A case has been filed against some office bearers of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal for allegedly hurting religious sentiments during their protest demanding the removal of Aurangzeb's tomb, a news agency PTI report said.

The FIR was registered at the Ganeshpeth police station against Govind Shende, VHP's secretary-in-chare of Maharashtra and Goa, and others, officials said.

The FIR was filed on the basis of a complaint that was lodged against the protesters after the violence broke out in Nagpur.

Nagpur violence updates: Nagpur police commissioner Dr Ravinder Singal told news agency ANI that they have registered case in connection with the violence that broke out in the region on Monday night, adding that they are also arresting people.

"Our action to establish peace is continuing. Social media is being monitored and we are developing the information we are getting. Whether someone was conspiring this and how many people were involved in it is being investigated," Singal said.

Nagpur violence updates: Maharashtra congress chief Harshvardhan Sapkal on Tuesday slammed the Devendra Fadnavis-led home department of the state and said that Nagpur violence was a failure of the ministry.

"This is a failure of the home department...Various cabinet ministers of the state government are also provoking the public...Action should be taken against those responsible and efforts should be made to ensure that again," Sapkal told news agency ANI.

Nagpur violence updates: Police and security personnel on Tuesday evening conducted a flag march in the strife-torn area in Nagpur to reaffirm confidence in people that the situation was under control.

Nagpur violence updates: BJP leader Bhagwat Karad said that chief minister Devendra Fadnavis has categorially stated that the Maharashtra government will be working in accordance to the law in relation to the row over Aurangzeb's tomb.

He also said that AIMIM's Asaddudin Owaisi's statement was 'wrong', adding that nobody wants any such riots.

"CM Devendra Fadnavis has categorically stated that the government will be working as per law and will work to prevent riots. Owaisi talks wrong. Nobody wants such riots. Everybody is working for peace in Maharashtra," he told news agency PTI.

Nagpur violence updates: Bihar deputy chief minister Vijay Kumar Sinha described the violence in Nagpur as a "very sad" incident.

Speaking to reporters, he said, "We should stay away from the symbols and signs related to people who worked to erase the country's culture. We all should work towards making India a respected, proud nation of the 21st century."

Nagpur violence updates: Vanchit Bahujan Aaghadi chief Prakash Ambedkar told news agency ANI that as per the information he received from his workers, "the effigy of the Mazar on which a green cloth was laid was burnt".

"The first rumour was that the green Mazar was burned...Before the namaz could begin, a delegation went to the police commissioner and met him. And they informed him that there was a rumour which was being spread. Before the namaz is over, the police should have reacted to it," he added.

Ambedkar further said, "The rumour was that the Quran was burnt... If the police had acted on these two reports, which they had, and made a statement that no Quran was burnt and no green cloth was burnt, I think the situation would have been a totally different one."

He said that police alone should not be held responsible, adding that they are the ones who have to manage the show. "But the CM should blame both sides. What CM is doing CM is taking action against only one."

BJP MP Dinesh Sharma tells ANI, "...The opposition is reviving the ideology of Aurangzeb...Instead of promoting the ideology of Aurangzeb, they (Congress) should promote the ideology of Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam...The main task is not to remove the tomb of Aurangzeb, but to remove the ideology of Aurangzeb which is in the mind of Congress and the opposition..."

Congress MP Praniti Shinde criticised BJP over the Nagpur violence, alleging that the issue, was being used to divert attention from pressing concerns in Maharashtra.

"The issue which is 300 years old is a diversion tactic as there are many issues in Maharashtra. Devendra Fadnavis as the Home Minister is a big failure and to hide it, these kinds of things are being done. Continuous efforts are made (by BJP) to instigate riots in Maharashtra and the nation. But the public of Maharashtra does not listen to them (BJP). They want to harm the social balance of Maharashtra," Shinde told ANI

Nagpur violence updates: BJP MP Dinesh Kadam accused the opposition of allegedly trying to revive the ideology of Aurangzeb, suggesting them that instead they should be promoting the ideology of Dr APJ Abdul Kalam.

"The main task is not to remove the tomb of Aurangzeb, but to remove the ideology of Aurangzeb which is in the mind of Congress and the opposition," Sharma told news agency ANI.

Nagpur violence updates: DCP Niketan Kadam, who got injured in Nagpur violence, told news agency ANI as to what went down on Monday night and how he got injured.

He said that a massive crowd had gathered, following stones were being pelted and vehicles were vandalised. "The way stones were being pelted from all sides, some of our officials have also been injured... A crowd of 100 people suddenly came from another street, they had weapons, they had petrol, they had sticks, so my team was there so my natural reaction was to stop them there or push them back otherwise anything could have happened," he said.

Kadam further said, "So I moved forward and tried to stop them, some of them moved back but one of them had an axe, he came forward and attacked me and I got a deep injury on my hand. But thankfully no one from our team got hurt."

Nagpur violence updates: Samajwadi Party MLA Abu Azmi on Tuesday expressed regret over the violence that broke out in Nagpur and urged people to "not get provoked by anyone".

"I am regretful and deeply saddened that Nagpur, where everyone was living with harmony, communal riots never occurred earlier, has witnessed such a major incident this time. Several people have been injured. I just want to say, do not get provoked by anyone. I appeal to everyone to maintain peace and work towards the progress of the country," he said in a video message.

Nagpur violence updates: Samajwadi Party MP Pushpendra Saroj on Tuesday told news agency PTI, "Ever since BJP came to power, instead of spreading progressive thought, attempts to divide people are being made through movies, Aurangzeb and more. I wish everyone is safe after the violence."

Nagpur violence updates: Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray on Tuesday, speaking to reporters, told people to ask chief minister Devendra Fadnavis as to "who is behind this (violence)".

Noting that the RSS headquarters is situated in Nagpur, Fadnavis said that the double-engine government in Maharashtra "has failed".

"I am not the Chief Minister, nor am I the Home Minister, ask the Chief Minister who is behind this (violence). Because the RSS headquarters is there. There is a double-engine government here; if the double-engine government has failed, then they should resign...If you want, you can remove his (Aurangzeb's) grave, but call Chandrababu Naidu and Nitish Kumar during that time," Thackeray said.

Nagpur violence updates: Sena UBT leader Aaditya Thackeray on Tuesday told reporters that the BJP is "shameless" over the violence in Nagpur because the incident took place in the hometown of chief minister Devendra Fadnavis.

"Sadly, when the BJP cannot govern, they resort to violence, riots and this is their set formula in every state. If you look at Manipur, that is exactly what they want to convert Maharashtra to...They are trying to dig up the history of someone who lived 300-400 years ago, but they cannot speak about the future. They cannot speak about the present. The irony is that the grave is protected by the central government," he added.

Nagpur violence updates: The Vishwa Hindu Parishad on Tuesday demanded that a memorial be built for Chhatrapati Rajaram Maharaj and warriors Dhanaji Jadhav and Santaji Ghorpade in place of Aurangzeb's town in Maharashtra.

Nagpur violence updates: Congress leader Nana Patole said that if chief minister Devendra Fadnavis is calling the violence in Nagpur to be a "pre-planned conspiracy", then it is clear that this is a "failure of the government and the police".

"He (Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavi) himself is from Nagpur; if this incident is happening there, then it is the failure of the government... They don't believe in Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj; their only aim is to destroy Maharashtra...The government was involved in the incident in Nagpur," Patole told news agency ANI.

Nagpur violence updates: Maharashtra minister Nitesh Rane on Tuesday blamed Samajwadi Party MLA Abu Azmi for the violence in Nagpur, saying that it was a "pre-planned" violence meant to defame the state government.

"Abu Azmi is responsible for this. He started this issue. This was a preplanned violence to defame the government. We will not spare those who raise their hands on our police personnel. Strict action will be taken in this matter," Rane told media persons.

Azmi had earlier reportedly said that Aurangzeb was not a "cruel administrator" and "built many temples", adding that the battle between the Mughal emperor and Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj was for state administration, not about Hindu and Muslim, a news agency ANI report said.

Nagpur violence updates: Vishwa Hindu Parishad's Devesh Mishra on Tuesday condemned the violence that broke out in Nagpur amid demands seeking to remove Aurangzeb's tomb and said that he "won't tolerate the glorification" of the Mughal emperor.

Nagpur violence updates: Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange on Tuesday claimed that violence in Nagpur was "sponsored" by the Maharashtra government, blaming chief minister Devendra Fadnavis for the unrest in the city.

"This riot has been sponsored by government and Devendra Fadnavis," Jarange alleged while talking to reporters.

"If they want to remove the Aurangzeb's grave, they are in power at the Centre and in the state. If the Congress made a mistake of protecting the structure earlier, now the rulers have a chance to correct it. This (violence) is just being done to make the poor people fight amongst themselves. The poor people should remain alert," he said.

Nagpur violence updates: Union minister Ramdas Athawale on Tuesday said that the movie 'Chhava' stoked people's sentiments against Mughal emperor Aurangzeb.

Speaking to reporters outside the Parliament, Athawale said, "Demands are being raised about Aurangzeb's grave, a movement is going on. The grave has been there for 500 years, but after watching the Chhaava movie, the way he murdered Sambhaji Maharaj, that has made people angry."

"That is why protests are happening. We appeal to the protesters that they should agitate peacefully. There should be no violence," he added.