Maharashtra Bandh tomorrow; 100 detained; Mevani to visit

Bharipa Bahujan Mahasangh (BBM) leader Prakash Ambedkar has called for Maharashtra bandh on Wednesday to protest the state government's "failure" to stop the violence at Bhima Koregaon village in Pune district. Ambedkar alleged that Hindu Ekta Aghadi was responsible for the violence.

He said Maharashtra Democratic Front, Maharashtra Left Front, besides 250 organisations, have supported tomorrow's shutdown. Ambedkar, the grandson of Dalit icon B R Ambedkar, has appealed for peace during the bandh period.

In last three-hours the Mumbai police officials have arrested over 100 agitators after stone pelting and damage to public property was reported. Gujarat Dalit leader and legislator Jignesh Mevani will also visit Mumbai today.

Congress President Rahul Gandhi attacked the BJP and its ideological mentor RSS and tweeted, "A central pillar of the RSS/BJP's fascist vision for India is that Dalits should remain at the bottom of Indian society. Una, Rohith Vemula and now Bhima-Koregaon are potent symbols of the resistance."