All-party march in Medha demands strict action against attackers of panchayat samiti member Atish Kadam

An all-party march was held in Medha today demanding the immediate arrest of, and strict action against, those accused of attacking panchayat samiti member Atish Kadam at a police station. The march was also held in protest against the injustice done to Usha Umbarkar.

The march began in the afternoon at Venna Chowk and reached Medha police station. Eknath Ombale and several other prominent people addressed the gathering at Medha's main chowk. Leaders and workers of parties including the Shiv Sena, the Nationalist Congress Party and the MNS took part. Eknath Ombale, Sunita Ombale, Sunita Dundale, Shilpa Shinde, Mohanrao Shinde, Suresh Parte, Sameer Gole, Sachin Karanjekar, Sonali Pawar, Randhir Gore, Sachin Jawal, Narayan Shingte and Ram Kadam were among those present, along with many women and men from the taluka.

Speaking at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Chowk, Ankush Baba Kadam, a corporator of the Vashi municipal corporation, said Javali taluka had elected the man opposite him for four terms and given him affection, yet he was spreading terror in the same Javali. According to Kadam, the people of Javali would never tolerate this. He said that in Chhatrapati's time nobody dared to touch even the stalk of a farmer's crop. He said he earnestly requested those who call themselves descendants of Shivaji Maharaj to adopt at least one per cent of his ideals.

Ankush Baba Kadam asked what kind of frenzy it was to throw gulal and burst firecrackers in front of Atish Kadam's house when there was a two-month-old baby inside and the firecrackers reached into the house. He said it took a great deal of pride in power and revelry to do that. Kadam said that saying to a woman "Where has Usha gone, which hole has she crept into" was the frenzy of power.

He alleged that road works were being grabbed, contractors were being made, money was being earned through contracts and arrogance was then displayed. Kadam said he would not rest until this arrogance was brought down. He said he followed Chhatrapati, but would no longer tolerate terror and goondaism in the taluka, and that the people were wise. Kadam said a Valmik Karad had been created in the Parli area and one had also been created in Javali, but the people of Javali would never tolerate it. He also said the situation was so bad that ministers threatened those who gave water to Dund village, but that he would bring this arrogance down.

Leader Eknath Ombale said at the march that the people of Javali were peaceful and restrained, but some people wanted to turn Javali into Bihar, which the people of Javali would never tolerate. He said the people here had shown their place in the Zilla Parishad election.

Sudhir Patil, assistant police inspector at Medha police station, said while receiving the memorandum that two people had been arrested. He assured the gathering that the third accused would be arrested by tonight.