CPI flays Maharahstra govt over killing of crusader Govind Pansare

New Delhi, Feb 21: Expressing grief over the death of its leader Govind Pansare, the Communist Party of India (CPI) on Saturday lashed out Maharashtra government over failure to nab his killers and asked democratic forces to protest against such attacks on political activists. [Pansare succumbs to injuries]

The party also warned extremist right wing forces that they cannot succeed through such actions and vowed to carry forward the struggle of Pansare, who was leading an anti-road toll agitation.

"Despite widespread condemnation, the Maharashtra government failed to arrest the killers so far suspected to be communal and reactionary elements. It shows utter inaction of the state government. The party demands that the Maharashtra government must show its will to chase the criminals and arrest them who carried such a dastardly attack on a senior communist leader of the country. The party appeals to all democratic forces in the country to protest against such attacks on political activists," the Left party said.

Pansare was shot at along with his wife by unknown assailants in Kolhapur on February 16 while they were taking a morning walk. The veteran CPI leader succumbed to bullet injuries at a Mumbai hospital late on Friday night.

The mortal remains of Pansare were flown to Kolhapur in a chartered flight for the last rites.

The party said that it would carry on the struggle for which Pansare laid down his life and also appealed to all state units to organise befitting mass meetings in his honour and take up the unfinished tasks he had left.

Noting that Pansare was shot by certain "dark forces" who were opposed to all rational progressive views and struggles of the toiling people, the party said it "reminded" of similar killing of Narendra Dabaholkar in 2013 in Pune.

"Pansare was a great fighter and a prominent theoretician of the communist movement, who always led from the frontline all the struggles for the exploited and socially oppressed people," the party said. The party also sent its condolences to Uma Pansare and other family members while sharing their pain.

Related read: Peon to professor to bestselling author, Comrade Govind Pansare a left-wing stalwart

Meanwhile, expressing grief, CPI(M) also demanded that the Maharashtra government and police take speedy and effective action to apprehend the culprits behind the heinous plot.

"The killing of Pansare followed the same modus operandi as that of Narendra Dabholkar in August 2013 in Pune. Extremist communal elements are suspected to be behind both these murders," the party politburo said.

PTI