Gaikwad shot Shinde’s MLA. Know why?
Maharastra’s MLA Ganpat Gaikwad, a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA, has been arrested for shooting and injuring a leader of Chief Minister Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena due to a land dispute in Thane district of Maharashtra. Additional Police Commissioner Dattatreya Shinde told the media that BJP MLA Kalyan Ganpat Gaikwad opened fire on Shiv Sena’s Kalyan unit chief Mahesh Gaikwad inside the room of the senior inspector of the Hill Line police station in Ulhasnagar area on Friday night.
What did the BJP MLA say?
Before his arrest, Ganpat Gaikwad told a news channel over the phone that his son was being beaten in the police station, so he opened fire. He alleged that Chief Minister Eknath Shinde is trying to establish an “empire of criminals” in Maharashtra. Mahesh Gaikwad was first taken to a local hospital, from where he was taken to a private medical centre in Thane.
He also said, “Yes, I shot myself; I have no regrets,’ says BJP’s Ganpat Gaikwad, who shot his Shiv Sena ally”.
A video has surfaced that shows the sequence of events where BJP MLA Ganpat Gaikwad was seen firing at Mahesh Gaikwad, the Shiv Sena chief of Kalyan. Ganpat Gaikwad has been arrested. However, without any remorse, he said, “Yes, I shot him myself. I have no regrets. If my son is being beaten in front of the police inside the police station, what will I do?” asked Ganpat Gaikwad while talking to a news channel. He claimed that he fired five rounds.”I have no regrets at all. As a father, I can’t tolerate it if someone beats up my child,” he added.
Gopal Landge, in charge of Shiv Sena’s welfare wing, said, “His (Mahesh Gaikwad’s) operation was successful.” According to Additional Police Commissioner Dattatreya Shinde, Ganpat Gaikwad’s son had come to the police station to complain about a connection with a land dispute. Then Mahesh Gaikwad reached there with his people. Later, Ganpat Gaikwad also reached the police station.
Besides Ganpat Gaikwad, the police have also arrested two others. They have been booked under Indian Penal Code sections, including 307 (attempt to murder) and 120B (criminal conspiracy), said an official.
What was the reason for the fight?
The official said that during the fight between the MLA and the Shiv Sena leader, Ganpat Gaikwad allegedly opened fire on Mahesh Gaikwad inside the senior inspector’s room, injuring him and his colleague. Ganpat Gaikwad told a news channel, “Yes, I shot him myself. I have no regrets. If my son is being beaten in front of the police inside the police station, what will I do? He claimed that he fired five bullets. The BJP MLA alleged that Chief Minister Eknath Shinde is “trying to create an empire of criminals in Maharashtra.” The BJP and the Shinde-led Shiv Sena are part of the ruling alliance in Maharashtra. Apart from Ganpat Gaikwad, the police have also arrested two other people.
Was the land dispute the reason?
Regarding the land dispute that led to the firing, Ganpat Gaikwad said that he had purchased a plot of land 10 years ago. He said that there were some legal issues, but he won the case in court. He alleged that Mahesh Gaikwad took it over by force. The MLA said that his son had gone to the Ulhasnagar police station to complain about the land.
Who is Ganpat Gaikwad?
Ganpat Gaikwad is an Indian politician and a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party. Gaikwad is a three-term member of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly, representing the Kalyan East constituency. Three times MLA from Kalyan East constituency since 2009.