Narendra Dabholkar and Govind Pansare Narendra Dabholkar and Govind Pansare

Families of slain rationalists Narendra Dabholkar and Govind Pansare Thursday came down heavily on Prime Minister Narendra Modi for not giving them time for a meeting, despite repeated attempts.

“Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis assured us many times that he would arrange our meeting with the PM. Despite that, the PM has not given us time. This shows the level of seriousness the government has about the investigation in Dabholkar and Pansare murder cases. We feel there are religious extremist forces behind the murders of Dabholkar, Pansare and M M Kalburgi. If we fail to curb these forces, the situation in India will be similar to Bangladesh, which is observing a series of killings of progressive persons,” Dabholkar’s wife Shaila told the media.

Read | Pansare murder: Court dismisses Gaikwad’s allegation that he was offered money to take names, become approver

Shaila, her son Hamid, Pansare’s wife Uma, daughter-in-law Megha and activists of Maharashtra Andhashraddha Nirmulan Samiti (MANS) were present at the event. “The PM is going all over the world, talking about thoughts on Ambedkar and Gandhi, but is not serious about these cases,” said Hamid.

Megha Pansare said, “We saw developments taking place on daily basis in the Sheena Bora murder probe. Why are the investigators not working with same speed and zeal in Dabholkar and Pansare murder cases?”

Read | Pansare murder Chargesheet: ‘Teen saw Sanatan member on crime spot’

On Wednesday, the Bombay High Court set aside the stay on trail against Sameer Gaikwad, the only person so far arrested by the special investigation team, probing the Pansare murder case. Apparently, the Kolhapur court is likely to frame charges against Gaikwad on April 29. The court also slammed the CBI and SIT for not making any breakthroughs. The court also directed the CBI to give its status report on May 2.

“After Gaikwad’s arrest, there has been no progress in the investigation. The investigating officers in such an important case were changed several times. There is no coordination in the SIT probing this case. SIT chief Sanjay Kumar is heading the state Criminal Investigation Department, so he is not finding time to focus on the murder probe. Due to this, even after having evidence, the investigation has not progressed. And now, the framing of charges against Gaikwad and trial in Pansare murder case are likely to begin though the investigation has not been done properly. Does the government really want to arrest the assailants of Pansare and Dabholkar?” said Uma Pansare.

Shaila’s son Hamid added that they planned to move the Supreme Court against the HC order of setting aside the stay on trail against Gaikwad.

Shaila also blamed the CBI for slow investigation. “About two months back, the CBI told the HC that it required inputs from a third lab on ballistic reports as there were certain discrepancies in the reports received from the forensic labs in Karnataka and Maharashtra. But nothing has happened in this regard so far. This shows the government’s negligence towards these murder cases,” she added.

Two unidentified motorcycle-borne youths had shot Dabholkar dead on August 20, 2013 around 7.15 am. He was out for a morning walk on the Omkareshwar Bridge near Balgandharva Auditorium in Pune.

In a similar manner, two unidentified persons had opened fire on Pansare and his wife Uma while the couple was returning home after a morning walk on February 16, 2015.

Pansare had died while undergoing treatment at the hospital on February 20. Uma had received a bullet injury, but survived. Sanatan Sanstha member Gaikwad was arrested in Pansare murder case on December 14, 2015.

Kalburgi was gunned down by unidentified men at his home in Dharwad, Karnataka on August 30, 2015.

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