BJP has no link with attack on Sambhaji Brigade leader: Minister Bawankule

Maharashtra minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule on Monday asserted the BJP has nothing to do with the attack on Sambhaji Brigade founding member Pravin Gaikwad over his remarks on Swami Samarth.

Bawankule's comments came after several photos and videos featuring him with Deepak Kate, an accused in the case of attack on Gaikwad on Sunday, surfaced on social media.

Gaikwad was manhandled and ink was hurled on him allegedly by activists of an organisation over his reported remarks on Swami Samarth, who is believed to be a reincarnation of Shree Dattatreya, at Akkalkot village in Solapur district on Sunday, police earlier said.

A viral video shows Gaikwad being pulled out of his car and manhandled by a group of people.

Police later booked Deepak Kate and six other members of Shivdharm Foundation under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita sections for rioting and detained them. They were later allowed to go after the police served them notices.

Asked about claims of BJP supporting Kate, Bawankule said, "The BJP has nothing to with the attack on Gaikwad. It is not in our blood to stoop and indulge in such low level actions." "Kate should not have acted in such a manner with Pravin Gaikwad, and the BJP does not approve of his action. An accused is always an accused, irrespective of his party," Bawankule told reporters.

BJP MLC Parinay Fuke claimed his party's criticism by opposition NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar and Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sushama Andhare showed their prejudice against it.

"They always have an outlook of BJP being behind anything happening in the society. Such an incident should not seen with a political angle, but I support action against the assailants," Fuke said.

Gaikwad had gone to Akkalkot, widely known for its association with Swami Samarth, to attend a felicitation ceremony organised by an educational institute and Sakal Maratha Samaj.

The protesters also objected to Gaikwad terming Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj as 'Sambhaji'. They demanded that the Sambhaji Brigade be renamed as Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj Brigade, a polic official said on Sunday.

Gaikwad alleged that he was targeted over his "progressive thoughts" by followers of Hindutva ideology.

Sambhaji Brigade, a Maratha outfit, is named after Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj, son of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.

It had gained exposure in 2004 for allegedly attacking and vandalising the Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute in Pune, claiming it helped American scholar James Laine’s book on Shivaji Maharaj, certain parts of which were unacceptable to them.