‘Where is the law, where is the order?’ Awhad questions state’s governance

The Opposition in the Maharashtra State Legislative Assembly has expressed concern over the deteriorating law and order situationSharad Pawar led NCP leader Jitendra Awhad in a veiled reference to minister Nitesh Rane questioned the governmentrsquos silence over the language used by one of the Mahayuti ministers ldquoI am surprised that the CM is not saying anything to the concerned ministerrdquo Awhad said during his speech during the budget session in the State Legislative Assembly on Monday Minister Nitesh Ranersquos brother Nilesh MLA from Eknath Shinde led Shiv Sena immediately raised objection over Awhadrsquos remarks ldquoThe member read Awhad should furnish documents or evidence if he has anyrdquo Nilesh Rane said objecting to the statement of the NCP SP leader in the HouseRecently Nitesh Ranes statement has sparked a new controversy over meatndashJhatka or Halal While halal methods involve Islamic rites Jhatka meat is prepared by slaughtering the animal with a single painless blow in accordance with Hindu traditionHowever responding to the objection Awhad said ldquoI have not named anyone on the food Also I know the proceedings of the Assembly but I would not like to go into detail and speak about the samerdquo Awhad addedFurther speaking on the subject the NCPSP leader questioned ldquoWhere is the law and where is the orderrdquoReferring to the Akshay Shinde encounter case the NCPSP MLA stated that the government will have to file an FIR against those involved in the killing of the accused in the Badlapur sexual assault caseldquoThe high court has been asking about the FIR but the government is not willing to listen But one day or another the government will have to register a case against the policemen Awhad added In fact Awhad questioned how a senior police inspector officer was present to transport the accused from jailldquoDoes a Sr PI level officer accompany the accused while being transferred from jail to another palacerdquo he questionedThis year the Bombay High Court had ordered to register a complaint against five policemen under scanner in the custodial death of Akshay Shinde a key accused in the Badlapur sexual assault caseLast year August 2024 Shinde was arrested in connection to the Badlapur school sexual assault case The accused died during a police shootout on September 23 2024 The police have claimed that Shinde snatched an officerrsquos gun while being transported from Taloja prison to a transit remand for interrogation leading to a shootoutShindersquos family contested the police claim of firing in selfdefence following which a magisterial inquiry was ordered which raised questions on police conduct Five officers senior police inspector Sanjay Shinde Assistant police inspector Nilesh More head constable Abhijeet More and Harish Tawde and a police driverndashare allegedly under scanner for Shindersquos deathStating that a landslide mandate to the government does not mean one can do whatever they want ldquoThis is a sign of a danger for democracyrsquo Awhad cautioned During the debate citing all the cases like Shinde and Somanth Suryavashi Awhad asked ldquoIs the government bigger than the judiciaryrdquoSuryavanshi was arrested in connection to violence in December 2024 in Parbhani city Marathwada region and he died on December 15 in a staterun hospital The magisterial inquiry conducted into the death of the law student observed that Suryavanshi died due to police torture