Maharashtra Congress chief Nana Patole
Assembly elections have begun in Maharashtra. All political parties have started preparations. Meanwhile, Maharashtra Congress chief Nana Patole on Thursday urged the Election Commission of India to remove Director General of Police Rashmi Shukla in view of the elections. The Congress chief has written a letter to Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar making this demand.
The Maharashtra Congress president accused Rashmi Shukla of being biased against opposition parties like Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT) and NCP (SP). According to him, Shukla’s continued tenure in office will raise doubts about holding elections in a fair and transparent manner. Congress believes that his departure is necessary to maintain fairness during the electoral process.
Demand for dismissal of Director General of Police Rashmi Shukla
Nana Patole alleged that in the last 20 days there have been several incidents of political violence against opposition leaders in Maharashtra and the cases are reportedly increasing. It says the Election Commission had ignored Congress’ request to remove Shukla, but accepted a similar request by the BJP to remove top police officials from opposition-ruled West Bengal and Jharkhand, a country heading to the urns.
read this too
The demands made earlier by the Congress for Shukla’s removal are mentioned in the letter written on October 31. Patole said the Congress had written letters on September 24 and October 4 demanding Shukla’s removal and when Election Commission officials visited Mumbai on September 27, a party delegation had reiterated this demand.
Congress leveled allegations against DGP Shukla
The Maharashtra Congress accused DGP Shukla of directing various communist parties and political parties in the state to file false cases against opposition leaders and demanded his immediate removal to ensure fair elections. The letter said Shukla has directed several PCs and SPs to register false cases against opposition leaders.
He said the police machinery is allegedly obstructing, pressuring and threatening opposition leaders and workers. It is also said in the letter that Rashmi Shukla’s point of view has also been controversial earlier. She was involved in wiretapping of opposition leaders and cases were registered against her.
‘The DGP helps the ruling party’
The letter further claims that Shukla was appointed to the post of DGP after the BJP came to power, and even after his retirement, his tenure was extended irregularly. The Congress said that for a transparent and fear-free electoral environment, it is necessary to remove controversial DGP Rashmi Shukla, who is allegedly helping the ruling party.
The Congress is demanding Shukla’s immediate removal to ensure fair elections and warns that the party may resort to court if its demand is ignored.
