The last week of the budget session in the state Assembly will prove to be problematic for Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis as his government will be facing two major agitations opposing each others' claim on the Bhima Koregaon issue — one for the arrest of Sambhaji Bhide and the other against the same.

Bhartiya Republican Party Bahujan Mahasangh Leader, Prakash Ambedkar, will be leading an Elgaar March on Monday for pressing the arrest of Shivpratishthan founder Sambhaji Bhide. Ambedkar had alleged that it was Bhide and Samasta Hindu Aghadi leader, Milind Ekbote who had instigated the violence at Bhima Koregaon on January 1.

While the state police department has denied permission for the Elgaar March which was scheduled from Byculla to Azad Nagar, Ambedkar has condemned the decision and decided to go on with the agitation. After the denial of permission, Ambedkar has urged all the organisations to assimilate at Azad Maidan, adding that the police will be responsible for any untoward incident at the protest location.

"The government is hiding behind the police and the reason for denying permission is worth laughing since the SSC and HSC examinations are over. Many students are also participating in this march," he said.

He also informed that several social outfits including the Lingayat Sewa Sangh, the Kunbi Mahasangh, the OBC Mahasangh, the Dhangar Tiger Front and the Bhatke-Vimukta Sanghatana, will be participating in the march.

Meanwhile, the right wing organisations have also decided to show their support towards Sambhaji Bhide and Milind Ekbote by participating in the statewide marches at all the district headquarters on Wednesday.

The march, titled 'Bhide Guruji Sanman Mahamorcha', would be handing over a memorandum seeking withdrawal of the FIR against Sambhaji Bhide who has already claimed that he was at Islampur in Bangladesh when the violence sparked off on January 1.

Bhima Koregaon is situated 30 kms from Pune on the Pune-Ahmednagar road and Dalits visit a memorial there every year to mark the victory of their ancestors over the native Peshwa rule in the 19th century colonial India. It was a defeat of the Peshwa rule by the British forces which mostly comprised of Dalits. The Dalits were celebrating the completion of 200 years of the Bhima Koregaon battle on January 1 when the violence ensued, killing one person.

Moreover, sources within the government informed that both these marches would stir the political atmosphere in the state. BJP and RSS have taken a stand that CM Fadnavis should clearly mention the hand of left wing extremism in Bhima Koregaon violence. The right wing organizations have become vocal on the issue especially after the arrest of Milind Ekbote.

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