Hindutva outfit attempts to honour murder accused
Dhananjay Desai
Organisers postpone award ceremony after police deny permission
Six months after Pune techie Mohsin Sheikh was
bludgeoned to death, allegedly by activists of the Hindu Rashtra Sena
(HRS), Hindutva organisations in Pune have announced they would honour
HRS chief Dhananjay Desai with ‘Hindutva Shaurya Puraskar [Hindutva
Bravery Award]’.
The police have denied permission for the award ceremony, which was scheduled for Sunday.
Mr. Desai was initially scheduled to be awarded at a function on Sunday
— Shivpratap Din Utsav — organised by Akhil Bharateeya Krushi Gou-seva
Sangh president Milind Ekbote. However, after the police denied
permission for the event, Mr. Ekbote said the ceremony would be
postponed till Mr. Desai’s release. Mr. Ekbote, who contested the recent
Assembly elections on a Shiv Sena ticket, is a former BJP corporator.
“It
is not part of tomorrow’s agenda. Police have served us a notice to not
hold the programme. It is against democracy... But he [Desai] will
definitely be awarded when he comes out of jail. The award is not
cancelled," said Mr. Ekbote.
Though initially
Desai’s wife and father were scheduled to receive the award on his
behalf, only a formal announcement will be made on Sunday. “Bhai [as
Desai is locally referred to] will be given the award in person when he
comes of out jail,” Milind Hambir, HRS’ head in Desai’s absence, told The Hindu.
The
Shivpratap Din Utsav is celebrated to commemorate the killing of Adil
Shah’s general Afzal Khan by Maratha warrior Chhatrapati Shivaji.
The event was banned by the previous Congress-NCP government but the current government has rescinded the ban.
A
resident of Solapur district, Mohsin was killed on June 2 allegedly by
HRS activists when he was returning home after offering evening prayers
in Pune. The HRS, however, said the award was not linked to Mohsin’s
murder. “That is a recent incident. ‘Bhai’ has been dedicated to
Hindutva all his life. He is being awarded for his sacrifice and
contribution to Hindutva,” Mr. Hambir said.
Sadiq
Sheikh, Mohsin’s father, expressed his “sadness” at the “disgraceful”
development and said he was further disappointed in the State for
letting a Hindutva leader accused of killing his son being felicitated
at a public forum. He accused the BJP-run State government of furthering
anti-Muslim interests. “Why is the State quiet? By not condemning such
acts, the State is encouraging extreme elements and at the same time
demoralising Muslims.”
The Sri Ram Sene’s Pramod
Muthalik will be awarded the ‘Veer Jeeva Mahale’ award while a few
lawyers will also be felicitated with the ‘adivakta’ awards.
