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Vadhu Budruk villagers unite to resolve differences
Elders of Dalit and Maratha communities submit an affidavit to police stating to work towards peace of the village and withdraw cases filed under Atrocity Act .
Pune The elders of Dalit and Maratha communities have decided to bury their differences and proceed ahead with their daily chores of life. Both the community leaders took a public oath that they will not allow outsiders to interfere and influence the local youth and matters of the village. The villagers said that a resolution has been passed to the effect and henceforth only the villagers will give decision on important aspects concerning the village and not outsiders.
Superintendent of police (Pune rural) Mohammad Suvez Haque said that both Dalit and Maratha communities have come together and given an affidavit which says that they have resolved their differences and will work towards peace and unification of the entire village.
“The issue ended on January 1 itself and the resolution in the form of an affidavit has been given to the police. The community members have jointly pledged that they don’t have any connection with whatsoever incidents which are happening outside their areas and will work towards peace and harmony,” he said.
Pandurang Gaikwad, who belongs to Dalit community, said that the meeting between the two communities was positive and the decision has been taken that outsiders will not be allowed to have any say in internal matters and peace will be the sole objective for all matters. Gaikwad had complained to the police and lodged cases against the Maratha community.
Krushna Gurav, a representative from OBC community said, “The locals will not tolerate any outsider influence in the area and all our differences stand resolved. We are part of one society and will work together for the cause of society and the country,” he said.
Prafulla Shivale from Maratha community said that the issue has been resolved and the tomb of Govind Mahar Gaikwad that was desecrated will be restored and it has been agreed that the cases registered against the youth will be withdrawn.
Last week, a contentious board was found put up near a structure believed to be the tomb of Govind Mahar Gaikwad in Vadhu Budruk village. The board said Mahar had defied the orders of Mughal king Aurangzeb and performed the last rites of Maratha king Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj after he was killed by Aurangzeb in 1689. Mahar is a Dalit community.
Local villagers, who believed that it was their ancestors who had performed the last rites of Sambhaji Maharaj, tried to remove the board, leading to quarrel, which resulted in a police case. The case against 49 people triggered violence at Bhima Koregaon and surrounding villages on January 1, leading to one death and four injured. With the resolution, the cases lodged against the Maratha community under the Scheduled Castes (SCs) and the Scheduled Tribes (STs) (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 will be withdrawn soon. The elders maintained that the affidavit has been submitted in the court and the cases will be withdrawn after the rural police file their say in the court.
