A day after social activist Anna Hazare allegedly ridiculed the attack on Union agriculture minister Sharad Pawar, infuriated supporters of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) descended upon Ralegan Siddhi to protest, which then sparked a tiff between them and the villagers.
On Friday, the NCP supporters gathered in front of the Yadavbaba temple, the place where Mr Hazare lived earlier and raised slogans. The face-off escalated when the villagers tried to accost the NCP supporters and a squabble ensued. During the altercation, two vehicles were damaged and a villager sustained minor injuries. The NCP supporters were adamant that they would sit on a fast in Ralegan Siddhi to lodge their protest, which didn’t go down well with the villagers. The police had to intervene to pacify the villagers and the NCP workers. The police also detained few villagers and the protesting supporters.
Later, Mr Hazare himself jumped into the fray and told the agitating supporters that he has already condemned the incident with strong words. However, Mr Hazare addressed a Gram Sabha in which he questioned the NCP supporters, as to why didn’t they express the same anger when farmers were beaten. “Why are you so angry now? Why don’t you get angry when the farmers are lathicharged?” Mr Hazare asked.
“The NCP workers tried to create terror in the village. The villagers, including women, gathered at the spot and a heated argument took place which was followed by a scuffle later,” said Datta Awari, Mr Hazare’s close aide.
Meanwhile, the police has beefed up Mr Hazare’s security and around four commandos have been deployed to guard him.
Mr Hazare on Thursday had landed himself in trouble over his reaction to the attack on Union agriculture minister Mr Pawar, as the former had earlier ridiculed the incident, but later condemned it in strong words.