MUMBAI, DHNS: Amid growing demands for his arrest by Dalit and Left organisations, Hindutva ideologue Sambhaji Bhide Guruji on Friday claimed innocence and said that he was ready to face any probe.
"I am ready to face any inquiry," Sambhaji, founder of the Shree Shiv Pratisthan Hindustan, told reporters at Sangli district in western Maharashtra. "The incident is sad and disturbing," he said.
"The allegations of a conspiracy made against me are completely baseless. I demand the government investigate this matter thoroughly. Strong punishment must be given to whomsoever is guilty," the 85-year-old said.
He and another right-wing ideologue, Milind Ekbote, founder of Samastha Hindu Aghadi, are being accused of the violence at Bhima Koregaon.
Veteran Dalit leader Prakash Ambedkar on Wednesday had demanded that the Maharashtra government slap charges on Sambhaji and Ekbote.
"They should be arrested and must face the same punishment as Yakub Memon," said Ambedkar, who is the grandson of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar.
Sambhaji also said the charges made against him by Ambedkar are false.
