Mumbai, Feb 3 (PTI) – Maharashtra Congress leader Vijay Wadettiwar took a swipe at the BJP on Monday over the "grim situation" in Beed, after senior BJP leader Sudhir Mungantiwar referenced the district while discussing Chandrapur's rising crime rate.
Beed has been in the spotlight following the brutal murder of Santosh Deshmukh, the sarpanch of Massajog village, who was abducted, tortured, and killed on December 9. Police have registered cases of murder and extortion, with Walmik Karad, a close aide of NCP minister Dhananjay Munde, among those arrested in the extortion case linked to the killing.
The opposition has accused the ruling alliance of failing to maintain law and order in Beed, alleging that criminals operate with political patronage. Deshmukh's murder has also intensified caste tensions, as the victim belonged to the Maratha community, while most of the arrested suspects are from the Vanjari community.
Political War of Words Over Beed’s Crime Situation
During a District Planning and Development Council (DPDC) meeting for Chandrapur, Mungantiwar remarked that the district should not become like Beed, a statement that Wadettiwar seized upon."Even BJP leaders are now acknowledging the grim situation in Beed. The party knows how dire the law and order situation is there," said Wadettiwar, a former Leader of Opposition in the Maharashtra Assembly.
However, Mungantiwar defended his comments, insisting he was only referring to the Santosh Deshmukh murder case, rather than making a blanket statement about Beed's crime rate.
"I was only highlighting rising crime in Chandrapur. This district, known for its industries, is seeing an increase in coal and sand mafias. The police superintendent's report raised concerns, and I have directed authorities to act," Mungantiwar told reporters.
Dismissing the controversy, he added:
"When people mention Bihar in discussions about crime, it doesn’t mean every village there is crime-ridden. Similarly, my comment on Beed was about one incident, not the whole district. What Wadettiwar claims is irrelevant to me."
Call for Munde's Resignation Grows
The Deshmukh murder case has put immense political pressure on the Maharashtra government, with the opposition demanding the resignation of Dhananjay Munde from the Fadnavis cabinet. However, the NCP minister has denied any involvement in the case.Deshmukh was reportedly murdered for opposing an extortion attempt on an energy firm operating a windmill project in Beed. As the investigation unfolds, the case continues to spark political and caste tensions, with opposition leaders using it to attack the ruling alliance.
With crime concerns growing in both Beed and Chandrapur, political battles over law and order in Maharashtra are likely to escalate further.
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