The panel had earlier summoned Pawar in 2020, but he could not appear before it due to the coronavirus-induced lockdown. Later, another summons was issued to Pawar for appearing before the commission on February 23 and 24 this year, but the senior politician had sought a fresh date, saying he wanted to file an additional affidavit before recording his testimony.
The last hearing was conducted on November 15, 2021.
This is just another instance of the indifference with which the Commission has been treated by the government.
At this point commission member Sumit Mullick asked the government counsel: 'Your job is to protect the State. How are these questions on Peshwas relevant?'
Either this affidavit was prepared a long time back, or, Ambedkar has not been following the Commission's hearings.
'Not giving the Commission space in Mumbai is an insult to Maharashtra's Dalits who are waiting for the inquiry report.'
With all the evasions, one assertion made by the Pune (Rural) police stood out: They had found no connection of the Elgar Parishad with the violent incidents of January 1, 2018. Yet, the case against the 'Bhima Koregaon 16', which is based on exactly this alleged connection, continues, and seven of the accused continue to be behind bars under the UAPA, explains Jyoti Punwani.
Ambedkar told Rediff.com that he intended making an application that private witnesses not be cross-examined by the Bhima Koregaon Commission of Inquiry.
Apart from Sharad Pawar, the commission will also record the evidence of the then superintendent of police (Pune Rural) Suvez Haq, then additional SP, Sandip Pakhale and the then additional commissioner, Pune, Ravindra Sengaonkar, between February 21 and February 25.
'We want the Commission to finish its work; the issue it is investigating is too crucial for its work to be left incomplete.'
Pawar filed an additional affidavit before the probe panel on April 11, a copy of which was made available on Thursday.
'The circumstances indicate that the government is not serious about the commission...' '...We are not at the mercy of the government.'
Pawar recorded his testimony before the commission in Mumbai in connection with the January 2018 violence at the Koregaon Bhima war memorial in Pune district of Maharashtra.
ACP Shivaji Pawar has been asked to file his affidavit by August 15.
If the Bhima Koregaon commission is terminated before completing its work, the people affected by the violence 'would feel cheated'.
The government has decided to construct cruise terminals at Mumbai, Goa, Mangalore, Kochi and Chennai.
Government rejects activists' request. Commission requests new witness to attend.
Testimony presented before the Bhima Korgaon Commission over the last two months reveals the background to the violence that broke out on January 1, 2018.
'Those who attacked me, punish them.'
'Whenever Dalits have agitated on the streets, the government has blamed Naxalites.'
The reasons for the snail's pace at which the commission is proceeding are linked both to the government's indifference to it as well as the indifference of the parties appearing before it.
Tanaji Sable's story confirmed what the first witness had told the commission: That the Dalits who had gone to Bhima-Koregaon were stoned; that there were motorcyclists bearing saffron flags roaming around inspiring fear; that the police did nothing to protect the Dalits.
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