Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA from Mumbai Atul Bhatkhalkar has strongly responded to the opposition's criticism of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and Home Minister Devendra Fadnavis over the law and order situation in the state. The Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) has targeted Fadnavis and demanded his resignation after the killing of former MLA Baba Siddiqui. However, Bhatkhalkar supported Fadnavis and highlighted that the police caught two of the three accused quickly.
Responding to the opposition's allegations that the government has failed to maintain law and order in the state, Bhatkhalkar cited the record of the MVA government's tenure, particularly that of its home minister Anil Deshmukh, who was in jail on bribery charges. Bhatkhalkar said that during MVA's rule, the police were ordered to demand extortion from Hotels. He cited another MVA Minister, who was jailed for his alleged links with the Dawood Ibrahim gang (D-gang), which exposed the corruption of the MVA Government.
BJP MLA appreciated the efforts of the current Mahayutti (Shinde-BJP) government for a prompt inquiry into the Baba Siddiqui murder case. He highlighted that the police arrested two accused within 12 hours of the crime, which shows the government's strong commitment against crime. "The third accused is currently absconding, but will be nabbed soon," said Bhatkhalkar, assuring the efficiency of the Fadnavis-led police force.
Bhatkhalkar criticized the opposition for making baseless allegations against Fadnavis. He said the leaders of MVA had no moral right to criticize the current government's handling of law and order, as many controversial incidents had taken place during their tenure. Bhatkhalkar said MVA's allegations were an attempt to distract the public from the failures of his own tenure, which included corruption scandals and administrative inefficiencies.
This statement of MLA has come in the backdrop of intense political controversy arising out of security issues of citizens in Maharashtra. The assassination of Baba Siddiqui, known as an important figure in the political circles of the state, has now turned into a bigger controversy. The opposition has accused the ruling government of failing to maintain peace in the state. Opposition leaders have taken advantage of the incident to launch a tirade against Fadnavis and hold the state's law enforcement machinery responsible.
However, due to the urgent action taken by the police highlighted by Bhatkhalkar, the opposition's narrative has weakened a bit. By arresting two of the three accused within 24 hours, the Mahayutti government has demonstrated its commitment to maintaining law and order, which is in stark contrast to the opposition's allegations of inefficiency.
As the investigation into Siddiqui's murder continues, the political debate surrounding the case is likely to intensify. Both sides will take advantage of this incident to push their political agendas. For now, the Shinde-BJP government, backed by swift police action, has stood by its record and responded strongly to opposition demands for Fadnavis' resignation.