Over 28,000 panchayats in Maharashtra will go on strike on January 9, 2025 to protest the killing of sarpanch Santosh Deshmukh in the state’s Beed district, the All India Sarpanch Parishad (ABSP) said on Tuesday, December 24, 2024.
The union said that the panchayat will not work even for a single day. The killing of Deshmukh has created fear among the Panchayat heads of the state.
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“At least 3 lakh gram panchayat members will stage a peaceful protest. The aim of the protest is to protect the sarpanch. Santosh intervened in village matters and lost his life. We are all shocked,” ABSP president Jayant Patil said. Hindu. ‘Government should bring a law for the safety of Gram Panchayat employees. We demand that strict action be taken against the guilty to prevent such incidents from happening again,’ he said.
On December 9, Deshmukh of Masajog village in Kaij tehsil of Beed was abducted and killed after he intervened in an extortion attempt at a wind power plant.
Political leaders and workers have been demanding action against Valmik Karad, a close aide of Agriculture Minister Dhananjaya Munde. During the winter session of the Rajya Sabha in Nagpur, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis announced the formation of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the incident.
The opposition has criticized the Mahayuti government over the investigation into the murder.
“The Chief Minister gave a long speech but could not take immediate action. Everything remains discreet, there is no clarity on who is involved,” said NCP (SP) leader Jayant Patil. The government announced the SIT but did not give any time frame for the probe, he said.
Bharatiya Janata Party MLA Suresh Dhas has demanded the arrest of Mr. Karad and an inquiry into the police officer’s role in the incident. Baramati MP Supriya Sule praised Mr Dhas and another BJP MLA Namitha Mundada for expressing concern over the murder.
Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange Patil condemned the incident and asked people to participate in the demonstration on December 28 to demand justice for the deceased. “I will not let this case be dismissed. Even if I come under political pressure, I will not compromise,’ he said.
Commenting on the issue, anti-corruption activist Anjali Damania flagged the higher number of gun licenses issued in Beed, 1,222, compared to 32 in Parbhani and 243 in Amravati Rural.
“Why are there so many in Beed and who gave these licenses… Karad had a gun license, but his aides Kailash Phad and Nikhil Phad did not. For this, it is necessary to immediately investigate and take action against the Karad gang. I have informed SP Navneet Kavat,” he posted on X.
published – Dec 24, 2024 09:46 pm IST