Maratha activist Manoj Jarange Patil.
Credit: DH Photo
Mumbai: Cutting across party lines, several leaders and social activists joined hands on Saturday seeking justice for late Sarpanch Santosh Deshmukh, who was brutally tortured and murdered in Beed district for raising voice against a well-oiled extortion racket.
The issue has come as a big embarrassment and challenge for Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar.
Yuvraj Sambhaji Raje Chhatrapati, the descendent of legendary Maratha warrior Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and iconic social reformer Chhatrapati Rajarshi Shahu Maharaj, along with Maratha reservation activist and Shivba Sangathana founder Manoj Jarange-Patil too participated in the morcha.
NCP (SP) General Secretary and Mumbra-Kalwa MLA Dr. Jitendra Awhad, NCP (SP) Beed MP Bajrang Sonawane, BJP Ashthi MLA Suresh Dhas, NCP (SP) Beed MLA Sandeep Kshirsagar, BJP Ausa MLA Abhimanyu Pawar too were present in the rally.
“Please give justice to my father,” appealed Deshmukh’s daughter Vaibhavi Deshmukh.
Anti-corruption activist Anjali Damania, leader Dr Jyoti Mete too was present.
The rally and the unity has compounded problems for NCP leader and minister Dhananjay Munde, whose close aide Walmik Karad has come under the scanner.
The protesters demanded the resignation of Munde and immediate arrest of Karad.
On 9 December, Massejog village Sarpanch Santosh Deshmukh (45) was kidnapped and murdered brutally. Massejog is located in Kej tehsil of Beed. Four persons including local NCP worker Vishnu Chate have been arrested by police.
The Beed police formed a Special Investigation Team and later transferred the probe to State-CID.