Shinde-Fadnavis govt must go after SC remarks: Nana Patole

Maharashtra Congress president Nana Patole demanded that the Eknath Shinde-Bharatiya Janata Party government leave office immediately, alleging the Supreme Court has expressed anger over religious disputes getting out of hand in the state and flagged instances of alleged hate speech.

In a statement, Patole alleged the state government has dealt a big blow to the image of Maharashtra in the last nine months.

Communal disputes are on the rise in the state due to inflammatory speeches made by members of some organisations, but the Shinde-Devendra Fadnavis government is not taking any action against them, alleged the state Congress president.

The Supreme Court has expressed anger against the Maharashtra government and dubbed it “impotent” as due to their inaction religious disputes are getting out of hand in the state, he added.

We are hearing the contempt petition because states are not taking action in time. This is because the state has become impotent, powerless, and does not act in time. Why should we have a state at all if it is silent, the SC said and posted the matter for hearing on April 28 and sought response from Maharashtra on the plea.

A family member of a notorious bookie roams freely in the Home Minister’s house, but the police and the Home Minister have no idea about this. Ex-ministers and MLAs are being attacked, but no action has been taken by the government. Even when an MLA of the ruling party (Shiv Sena) fires bullets in public, no action is taken, he alleged.

The Shinde-Fadnavis government, which assumed charge on June 30, 2022, has no right to remain in office and it should quit immediately, said the Opposition MLA.

Maharashtra is a progressive and advanced state. Mumbai and Maharashtra have a great reputation in the country, but some organisations are engaged in defaming the state in the name of religion, he said.

The top court on Wednesday made strong comments during the hearing of a contempt petition seeking action against several state authorities, including Maharashtra, for allegedly failing to register first information reports (FIRs) against those who make hate speech.