VHP drops plan to protest at Gadkari's home over Piyare Khan, shifts agitation to Shivaji Chowk

The Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) had announced that it would hold a protest today in front of Union Minister Nitin Gadkari's house in the Mahal area, demanding the removal of Piyare Khan as chairman of the State Minorities Commission. The venue of the protest has now changed.

It is learnt that some BJP leaders had also tried to ensure that the VHP protest was not held in front of Gadkari's house. As part of this effort, VHP office-bearers from Nagpur city met Gadkari at his residence today. The VHP's complaints about Piyare Khan were discussed at the meeting.

VHP office-bearers claim that Gadkari assured them the complaints would be forwarded to the department concerned. For this reason, the VHP has decided not to hold the protest in front of Gadkari's house for now. The protest will instead be held at Chhatrapati Shivaji Chowk, a short distance from Gadkari's house. The information was given by Amol Thakre, metropolitan secretary (mahanagar karyavah) of the VHP.

According to Thakre, the discussion with Gadkari today was held in a positive manner and Gadkari heard everything calmly. He said Piyare Khan, chairman of the State Minorities Commission, is misusing his position, and that Gadkari had not been aware of this.

According to the office-bearers, when they put their case, Gadkari assured them that the information would be sent to the departments concerned and that it would be investigated.

Thakre also said the VHP has been agitating for two months. In his words, it would have been better if they had met Gadkari a month earlier. He said, "Nitinji is like a father to us."

The protest scheduled for 3.30 pm today has not been cancelled. Thakre clarified that it will now be held in front of the statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. He also said their agitation will not stop.

The protest in front of Gadkari's house has thus been put off for now, but the demand remains the same and the agitation continues, with only the venue changed to Shivaji Chowk.