'Mughals Reincarnated In Maharashtra': Opposition outraged as police lathicharge Warkari devotees

Mughals Reincarnated In Maharashtra: A distressing incident unfolded in Pune district, Maharashtra, as Warkari devotees on their way to a temple in Pandharpur were allegedly subjected to lathicharge by the local police on Sunday. This marks the first instance of such police action against Warkaris, who are devoted followers of Lord Vithoba, a form of Lord Krishna, in the state.

Sources suggest that an argument broke out between the devotees and the police during the procession, specifically during their entry into the Shree Kshetra temple in Alandi for a ceremony.

अरे अरे.. हिंदूत्ववादी सरकारचे ढोंग उघडे पडले.. मुखवटे गळून पडले..औरंगजेब यापेक्षा वेगळे काय वागत होता?वारकऱ्यांचा हिंदू आक्रोश सरकार असा चिरडून टाकतआहे. मोगलाई महाराष्ट्रात पुन्हा अवतरली आहे..@BJP4Maharashtra @Dev_Fadnavis @AUThackeray
@ https://t.co/pnUc45IZ01 — Sanjay Raut (@rautsanjay61) June 11, 2023

According to the police, they resorted to a mild lathicharge in order to control the overwhelming number of devotees. The rules stipulated that only 75 members were allowed entry into the temple premises. However, around 400 people attempted to forcibly enter the temple, leading to the confrontation.

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Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis denied allegations of lathicharge and characterised the incident as a "minor scuffle." He explained that measures were taken to avoid a situation similar to the stampede-like scenario that occurred at the same location in Alandi the previous year. The decision was made to issue only 75 passes to each participating group in the pilgrimage.

श्री क्षेत्र आळंदी येथे वारकरी बांधवांवर पोलिसांनी लाठीमार केल्याचा प्रकार अत्यंत संतापजनक आहे. वारकरी संप्रदायाचा पाया रचणारे थोर संत ज्ञानेश्वर महाराज यांच्या आळंदीत वारकरी बांधवांचा झालेला हा अपमान अत्यंत निषेधार्ह आहे. वारकरी संप्रदाय, वारकरी बांधव यांच्याबद्दल सरकारची काही… pic.twitter.com/IDtIy1azn3 — Chhagan Bhujbal (@ChhaganCBhujbal) June 11, 2023

Fadnavis, who oversees the Home portfolio, further stated that approximately 500 individuals insisted on participating in the pilgrimage and disregarded the restricted allotment of entry passes. Consequently, they broke the barricades, prompting the police to intervene, resulting in injuries to some police personnel.

The incident has drawn criticism from opposition parties. Senior Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut tweeted a rough translation stating, "Oh oh... The pretensions of the Hindutva government exposed... The mask fell off. How was Aurangzeb behaving differently? Mughals have reincarnated in Maharashtra."

Similarly, NCP's Chaggan Bhujbal took to Twitter, condemning the police's behavior, particularly the insult to the Warkari community in the presence of the revered saint Dnyaneshwar Maharaj, who laid the foundation of the Warkari sect. He questioned whether the government has any responsibility towards the Warkari sect.

The Warkaris are pilgrims who embark on a journey from Alandi to the Vithal temple in Pandharpur. The pilgrimage commenced on June 11, following the departure of Sant Dnyaneshwar Maharaj Palkhi from Alandi and Sant Tukaram Maharaj Palkhi from Dehu on June 10. The Warkaris are expected to converge in the sacred town of Pandharpur on the auspicious day of Ashadhi Ekadashi on June 29.

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- With inputs from agencies