A few people claiming to be members of the Maratha Kranti Morcha were removed from the premises of Westin Hotel in Pune’s Koregaon Park on Saturday after they demanded that they be allowed to meet Union Minister Amit Shah to seek justice for the family of murdered Beed sarpanch Santosh Deshmukh.
Shah is in Pune to chair the 27th meeting of the Western Zonal Council.
The ‘Maratha Kranti Morcha members’ were speaking to the media at the meeting venue when they were removed by the police at around 12.30 pm. Police officers said that at least three men were removed from the premises.
Deshmukh, the sarpanch of Massajog in Beed district, was murdered on December 9. His death had sparked a row in Maharashtra, leading to calls for NCP minister Dhananjay Munde’s resignation after his close aide Walmik Karad was arrested in a case linked to the murder.
The Western Zonal Council comprises the states of Maharashtra, Gujarat, Goa and the Union Territories of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu. The Western Zonal Council meeting is regarded as a vital platform for resolving disputes and issues between the Centre and the states, as well as among the states within the region.
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