By Pankaj Upadhyay: The Leader of Opposition in Maharashtra Assembly and NCP leader, Ajit Pawar, has written a letter to the Maharashtra Governor Ramesh Bais demanding a probe into the deaths of 14 people during the Maharashtra Bhushan award event held in Kharghar in Navi Mumbai on April 16.
Pawar has charged the state government of being ill-prepared for the event and termed the tragedy as man-made.
In total, 14 people died and several others were hospitalised after they suffered sunstroke and other health complications during the event that was attended by lakhs of people under the scorching summer sun at the sprawling International Corporate Park in Kharghar area on Sunday.
In his letter to the governor, the NCP leader said that the unfortunate incident happened due to faulty planning. “The state government is fully responsible for this incident and deaths. That is why a case of culpable homicide should be filed immediately. The decision taken regarding the planning of the program, the error in the planning and this unfortunate incident should be investigated by a retired judge,” he said.
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The state government ordered a probe into the incident but the NCP leader said that financial assistance of Rs 20 lakh each needs to be given to the kin of the deceased and a support of Rs 5 lakh each by providing free treatment to the followers.
“I request that a committee of experts should be formed to prepare guidelines so that such incidents do not happen in the future. Letters dated 17th April, 2023 have been addressed to the government, however, the government does not seem positive about any of the demands,” he said.
Earlier, Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) chief Nana Patole had also written to the governor charging the state government for the tragedy and demanding a probe. The state Congress has said it will soon conduct a press conference and expose the government by bringing out the truth behind the tragedy.
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