MUMBAI:A 24-hour statewide bandh to protest against the cold-blooded murder of veteran CPI leader Govind Pansare will be observed in Maharashtra on Sunday following a call from the Left parties. And the Opposition Congress and the NCP have also declared their support for the Left-sponsored protest.
Besides, the Opposition sought to know who should be held responsible for the deteriorating law and order situation in the state.
Pansare’s remains were consigned to flames in his hometown Kolhapur in the presence of a large number of his friends,supporters and admirers. However, no religious rituals were performed at the Communist stalwart’s funeral. In another development, former High Court Judge and social activist B G Kolse Patil asked Pansare’s followers to avenge his killing. Meanwhile, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said in Nashik that Pansare’s murder was a challenge to the system. “It is not an attack on an individual. It is not an attack on an ideology. It is a challenge to the system,” he said.
Also, on Saturday a group of youngmen staged a protest march against Pansare’s killing. The protesters wore T-shirts emblazoned with ‘Kill me if you can’ slogan.
Two motorcycle-borne assailants had shot at Pansare and his wife Uma on Monday near their residence in Kolhapur when the couple were returning from their morning stroll. Pansare, who was hit by three bullets, succumbed to injuries at Breach Candy Hospital here late on Friday. Uma is presently recuperating in a Kolhapur hospital. The police have formed 10 teams to nab the attackers, but there has been no breakthrough so far.