MAHARASHTRA Minister and BJP leader Nitesh Rane Sunday questioned the Block Development Officer of Ahilyanagar over his decision to stay a resolution of the Madhi village banning Muslim community traders from conducting business during the annual Madhi Chi Yatra.
“The BDO should remember that a Hindutva sarkar is in power in Maharashtra. Though the resolution passed by the Madhi gram panchayat has been stayed by the BDO, I urge the villages to again pass the resolution. If all villagers sign the resolution, then how will the BDO reject it,” Rane said during his visit to Ahilyanagar.
On February 22, the gram panchayat of Madhi village in Pathardi taluka had passed a resolution banning Muslim community traders from setting up stalls during the annual Madhi Chi Yatra, which began on February 28.
Terming the decision “historic”, Rane, who hold the Fisheries and Ports portfolio, said, “The hardcore Hindutva supporters have been awakened in the village. The gram sabha’s decision will provide direction to the nation. If the Hindu religion is challenged, then such a decision will be taken across Maharashtra.”
Earlier, District Guardian Minister Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil had supported the decision of the gram sabha. “The gram sabha is well within its constitutional rights to pass such a resolution imposing the ban.. The Supreme Court has acknowledged the rights of the gram sabha,” he had said.
After the resolution was passed, Ahilyanagar Zilla Parishad CEO Ashish Yerekar had ordered BDO Shivaji Kamble to conduct an inquiry into the validity of the gram sabha’s resolution. The BDO ruled that the resolution was “unconstitutional”.
This story was originally published in indianexpress.com. Read the full story here.