Centre, Maharashtra clash over Pune techie murder case

New Delhi: In what has now emerged as a major political flashpoint between the Maharashtra government and the MHA, the former’s report to the Centre, has categorically refused to accept that the murder of Pune techie, Mohsin Sadiq Sheikh, was an incident of communal violence though it admits to “involvement of two different groups and communities in the incident.”

Importantly the report states, “There was no communal violence and this is a stray criminal incident rather than a clash between two different communities.” A section of the media has already reported that Maharashtra government’s report has merely disclosed the facts of the case saying the issue was a mere law and order problem.

The report clearly clarifies the important issue that its not an incident of “communal violence” which probably has irked the home ministry to tick off the state government asking it to send out a detailed report now.

Sources claimed, it is possible that the victim was not behind the incident at all and these postings may well be part of a larger conspiracy. The incident is also politically significant since after coming to power at the Centre the BJP government now wants to be seen as reaching out to the minority community as well keeping in line with PM Narendra Modi’s slogan of “Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas”.

It is for this reason, sources added, that the home ministry wants to specifically know why Sadiq Sheikh’s killing cannot be treated as an incident of communal clash. The fact that Maharashtra heads for polls later this year also makes the entire issue politically important.