Politics of appeasement: Move over Aarey, Uddhav Thackeray to close Bhima Koregaon case?

Bengaluru: First it was the Aarey forest case. Secondly, it was the Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train case. Thirdly, it was the relinquishment of the singing of the Vande Mataram on the floor of the Maharashtra Assembly. 

Well, what do all these things have in common? 

Moments after Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray took oath as the CM, he decided to invalidate these plans by the earlier BJP-Shiva Sena government. 

Now, we need to add two more issues to the list of vindictiveness practised by the Uddhav government. 

As per reports, Uddhav is being prevailed upon to shut down the Bhima Koregaon case and reopen judge Loya case. 

While the NCP is keen on the first issue, the Congress is keen on the Loya issue. 

The NCP feels that the accused in Bhima Koregaon case have been meted out with injustice and therefore, a correction needs to be done. 

Gopal Agarwal, a BJP spokesperson says, “These are all kneejerk reactions. They only arise from political immaturity. Reactionary politics are being played out. When the government changes, this doesn’t mean it reverses all the earlier decisions. It’s very clear that the Shiva Sena is under pressure of Congress and NCP. It is unfortunate that Uddhav Thackeray, when it comes to national security, is playing into the hands of those who are endangering the lives of Indian people.” 

It might be recalled that Shiva Sena and the BJP were in a prepoll alliance. While the BJP won 105 seats, the Shiva Sena won 56 seats. But after the elections, the Shiva Sena refused to honour the prepoll alliance terms and decided to join hands with ideologically different Congress and NCP, thereby forming a government with them. 

Joining hands with Congress and NCP also means that the Shiva Sena will be forced to toe the line of secularism and divorce its Hindutva principle, which forms its very core. 

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