Kharge further said that economic development of Maharashtra became possible because Congress governments maintained law and order, but the BJP government “formed with the force of the Enforcement Directorate” was playing with the security of the people of Maharashtra by spreading “goonda raj”.
Pune Police, meanwhile, registered a case against some workers of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for allegedly attacking Wagle’s car.
Protesting against the senior journalist’s comments about the Modi government conferring the country’s highest civilian honour on BJP veteran Advani, they were seen vandalising the car in which Wagle and two others, activists Aseem Sarode and Vishwambhar Choudhary, were travelling under police protection to the ‘Nirbhay Bano’ public meeting organised by Rashtra Seva Dal.
An FIR was registered at Parvati police station under IPC sections 147 (rioting), 336 (causing grievous hurt by an act endangering life or personal safety) and other relevant provisions.
The complainant, a woman, claimed in the FIR that she and a few others were protecting Wagle’s car even as some BJP workers hurled stones at the vehicle and injured them.
A case was also registered against Wagle and Pune city unit presidents of the BJP, Shiv Sena (UBT) and Congress for allegedly violating section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code.
“The case was registered against them as the event was being held without police permission,” said Sambhaji Kadam, deputy commissioner of police.
Earlier, another case was registered against Wagle for allegedly making offensive remarks against PM Modi and Advani under IPC sections 153A (promoting enmity between different groups), 500 (defamation) and 505 (statements conducing to public mischief) at Vishrambaug police station.
BJP leader Sunil Deodhar had filed a complaint against the 64-year-old journalist on Tuesday over his controversial comments, police said.
