No one will be wronged regarding Vishalgarh encroachment – Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar

Kolhapur : Regarding the removal of encroachments from Vishalgad Fort, on Sunday, July 14, protesters damaged houses and a place of worship in the village of Muslimwadi in Mauje Gajapur while returning from the fort. Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar inspected the damaged area, interacted with the local victims, and provided relief.

The district administration has sent a proposal to the government regarding the damage caused by the protesters at Mauje Muslimwadi, a village unrelated to the encroachment. Emergency help has been provided by the government, as Deputy Chief Minister Pawar informed the victims present. Some citizens and women from Vishalgad had come to Muslimwadi. Currently, only commercial encroachments are being removed from Vishalgad; other encroachments, excluding those under judicial review, will be addressed after the rainy season, Deputy Chief Minister Pawar said. MLA Rajesh Patil, Collector Amol Yedge, Superintendent of Police Mahendra Pandit, Sub Divisional Officer Sameer Shingte, along with local administration officials and villagers, were present on this occasion.

Before the incident, the administration, especially the Collector, Superintendent of Police, and other government officials, were constantly discussing the demands made by the protesters regarding the removal of encroachments on Vishalgad. They were working to understand and address these concerns. There are pending encroachments on Vishalgad, some of which are under review by the Bombay High Court. It was made clear that no actions would be taken that could be considered contempt of court. Discussions were held with the Advocate General or Senior Government Advocate regarding this matter. The administration was in touch with senior government officials and the Chief Minister. “Remain calm, as the government will positively address your demands within the framework of the law,” Deputy Chief Minister Pawar assured the villagers.

The government has provided immediate relief of Rs 25,000 to Rs 50,000 each for the damage caused in Muslimwadi. The villagers were also informed that all officials had closely inspected the damage and prepared a compensation proposal amounting to Rs 2 crore 85 lakh.

The entire incident has been recorded on video by the police. A thorough investigation will be conducted, and appropriate action will be taken. No one should attempt actions that could create a polluted environment in the state.

The administration has been informing us about the Vishalgad incident regularly. We inspected it ourselves despite this. Some NGOs are also planning to assist in the future. This help is being coordinated through Tehsildars. The Collector and Superintendent of Police are reviewing the situation daily, and the government is closely monitoring it as well, Deputy Chief Minister Pawar stated to the people of the state. The government has taken this matter very seriously and will not support any wrongdoing. Historical forts should be preserved, and the government allocates funds for this every year. Shiva lovers and history enthusiasts demand that there should be no encroachments on forts from the Shiva period. He appealed that no one should engage in actions that could lead to societal division, deteriorate communal harmony, or create a polluted atmosphere in the state.