The Maratha community members were of the opinion that spiritual guru Bhaiyu Maharaj and the victim's family did not consult them or the locals before constructing the statue
A week after a statue of the Kopardi rape and murder victim was erected in Ahmednagar district, it was pulled down by the local administration and the 15-year-old girl's family members following objections raised by the locals and members of the Maratha community to which the girl belonged.
The Maratha community members were of the opinion that spiritual guru Bhaiyu Maharaj and the victim's family did not consult them or the locals before constructing the statue. In fact, they questioned the necessity of such a memorial since it was a sensitive issue rather than something to be eulogised.
Members of Sambhaji Brigade, a community organisation, came out on the streets and burned the effigy of Bhaiyu Maharaj across Maharashstra. They alleged it was a secretly orchestrated game-plan by Bhaiyu Maharaj.
"When the family members of the victim realised their mistake, they voluntarily decided to pull down the statue," said Sanjeev Bhor, president of Shiv Prahar Organisation from Ahamadnagar.
Bhor said since it was a sensitive issue, no one confronted the victim's family over the statue. "But a majority of the people was not happy and they expressed their displeasure over it. The victim's family had told us that it was a personal matter so no one should interfere. But people knew that Bhaiyu Maharaj was working at the government's behest to stir up another controversy and divert public attention from crucial issues like justice to the rape victim, reservation for Maratha community and implementation of Dr Swaminathan Commission recommendations. We are happy that they realised their mistake and corrected it pulling down the statue on Saturday evening," he added.
Bhaiya Patil, a social media expert and member of Sambhaji Brigade, said that it was not right to construct the memorial of a rape victim. "What message do we want to give? This is a blot. Getting her justice will be real tribute to her. It has been almost a year, and still justice has not been delivered. The government need to be serious about such incidents; otherwise, the simmering anger will take a violent turn," Patil warned.
Patil said that it would not have been possible to protect the statue, and any defacing of it would have stirred another controversy. "Thus it was better to pull it down," Patil added.
WHAT'S THE CASE
- On July 13 last year, a 15-year-old girl was raped and brutally murdered at Kopardi village in Ahmednagar district. Three persons were arrested for the crime.
- The incident sparked widespread protests by the Maratha community because the accused, after the incident, threatened the parents of the victim with a case of atrocity if they complained against them.
- The Maratha community took out silent marches across Maharashstra and demanded capital punishment for the culprits by putting the case on fast track, amendments to the Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, reservation for Maratha community, etc.
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