Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], July 18 : Maharashtra Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar, speaking on the clash between supporters of Bharatiya Janata Party Member of Legislative Assembly (BJP MLA) Gopichand Padalkar and National Congress Party-Sharadchandra Pawar (NCP-SCP) leader Jitendra Awhad outside the Maharashtra Assembly, said that what happened was "very unfortunate".
"The incident that occurred in the premises of the Vidhan Bhavan is very unfortunate. I have ordered a thorough investigation and requested a report. Once the report is received, I will announce further action on this matter in the Assembly," said Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar.
A clash broke outside the Maharashtra Assembly between BJP MLA Padalkar and NCP-SCP leader Awhad on Thursday. Following this, supporters of the NCP-SCP sat on a protest outside Mumbai's Marine Drive Police Station.
NCP-SCP MLA Rohit Pawar and Jitendra Awhad were among the protestors who were demanding the release of activist Nitin Deshmukh, who was taken to the police station. They further demanded the arrest of the accused involved in the scuffle.
Speaking to the media, Pawar alleged that Awhad received a threatening SMS on his phone after the scuffle.
"I, Jitendra Awhad, and all our party workers are here at Marine Drive Police Station. Jitendra Awhad was going to be attacked by a person who had various allegations against him. Nitin Deshmukh intervened and attempted to prevent the scuffle, but an altercation ensued. The Speaker had said that Nitin Deshmukh would be released as soon as the session is over, and action would be taken against the four accused," he said.
Adding further, Pawar said, "Only one out of those four people has been arrested so far. Jitendra Awhad also received a threatening SMS on his phone. What example is the government trying to set with these incidents in the assembly?"
He further alleged that the police were not concerned about the poor, but in the middle of the night, after receiving a phone call, they were taking action against the peaceful protesters.
Raising concerns over his party worker Nitin Deshmukh, Jitendra Awhad said that they don't know where the police have taken him.
Speaking to ANI, Awhad said, "We are being framed. The Speaker said he (Nitin) would be released. We trusted him blindly. later, we got to know that Nitin Deshmush is being taken to the police station. When we tried to stop the police, our karykartas were beaten. We don't know where he has been taken. Some are saying he has been taken to Azad Maidam Police Station, so we are going there."
A video of the scuffle went viral on social media, showing members of both groups engaging in a heated altercation.
Following the incident, Jitendra Awhad alleged that he was abused and threatened with death by individuals he described as "goons" who confronted him outside the Assembly.
"The whole of Maharashtra knows who the attacker was. We are being asked for evidence again and again, while the whole country has seen who carried out the attack. Goons are being allowed to enter the assembly, posing a threat to the safety of the MLA's. I was abused, threatened with death. Abusive words like 'dog', 'pig' were used. Was this what was expected to happen in the assembly?" Awhad told reporters.
Expressing concern over legislators' safety, he added, "I just came out after giving a speech, and these people came to confront me. If MLAs are not safe in the assembly, then why should we remain MLA's?