Cases against stone-pelters won’t be withdrawn: CM Fadnavis

Mumbai: The Shiv Sena, Congress and NCP on Thursday raised the issue of police cases registered against the job-seeking apprentices who staged a rail-roko on Tuesday in both Houses of the legislature. Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis responded by assuring the Assembly that the police will withdraw cases against all the agitators except those who indulged in stone-pelting.

Leader of Opposition, Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil, raised the issue in the Assembly and demanded that the police cases against these apprentices who recently staged a protest be withdrawn. The agitators have been charged under stringent sections including section 307. “The government recently withdrew cases against agitators during the bandh called after the Bhima-Koregaon incident. The government should apply the same yardstick to these apprentices,” said Mr Vikhe-Patil.

Leader of Opposition Dhananjay Munde also raised the issue in the Council in the afternoon and demanded that the cases against the agitators be withdrawn.

Sena MP Arvind Sawant requested Union railway minister Piyush Goyal and Mr Fadnavis to withdraw the cases against the protesters. Both Mr Goyal and Mr Fadnavis assured Mr Sawant that they would give positive consideration to the matter and instruct the police appropriately.