Maharashtra Congress accuses BJP of trying to vitiate atmosphere in the state

The Congress party on Friday said that the Bharatiya Janata Party was trying to vitiate the atmosphere in MaharashtraMaharashtra Congress president Nana Patole claimed the ruling party was busy targeting the Opposition instead of addressing issues faced by people PTI reportedPatoles comments came in the backdrop of tension in some districts in the last few days over controversial social media postsSpeaking to reporters in Nagpur he said the BJP was set to lose in Maharashtra in the next years polls and the upcoming visit of Union Home Minister Amit Shah considered a key election strategist to the state will not make any difference to its electoral fortunesShah will address a rally in Nanded city in central Maharashtra on June 10 as part of a special monthlong outreach campaign launched by the BJP on completion of nine years of the Narendra Modi government Besides Lok Sabha elections Maharashtra will see Assembly polls in 2024To a query on Shahs Maharashtra tour Patole said the home minister could not stop violence in Manipur where he camped for several days and has failed to address border issues in the NortheastPatole said the central as well as the Maharashtra governments have failed to address issues like rising inflation unemployment poverty and also problems of farmersThe BJP was only busy in election publicity and people were very angry with the saffron outfit said the Congress leaderAlso readAjit Pawar appeals political parties to desist from using foul language against one anotherThe ruling party was trying to vitiate atmosphere in Maharashtra and targeting Opposition leaders he saidPatoles comments came in the backdrop of tension in some districts in the last few days over controversial social media postsTension gripped Kolhapur city in western Maharashtra on Tuesday after two men allegedly put 18th century Mysore ruler Tipu Sultans image along with an offensive audio message as their social media status The next day police wielded lathis to disperse hundreds of protesters after they hurled stones during a demonstration against the alleged use of Tipu Sultans imageIn Ahmednagar some youths displayed photos of 17th century Mughal emperor Aurangzeb in a procession earlier this weekIn Ashti town of Beed district a teenage boys alleged act of putting a social media status message glorifying Aurangzeb triggered tension with some Hindutva organisations giving a bandh call on FridayIn Ghoti town of Maharashtras Nashik district some local residents gathered outside a police station on Thursday evening and sought action against a man over his Facebook post which they alleged hurt their religious sentiments police said on Friday PTI