Shinde-camp Minister triggers controversy again over his order to control crowds during event

Maharashtra Minister Abdul Sattar faces controversy after instructing police to lathi-charge and "break bones" of revellers.

Maharashtra Minister Abdul Sattar, a senior leader of the ruling Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena faction, courted controversy yet again after he allegedly instructed the police to lathi-charge and “break the bones” of revellers during a dance show organised on occasion of his birthday in Sambhajinagar district.

The incident occurred on Wednesday night in Sillod town during a performance by popular dancer Gautami Patil, which was organised by Mr. Sattar as part of his birthday celebrations.

In a video clip which went viral, Mr. Sattar, the Minority Development Minister, is seen urging an apparently unruly crowd of revellers to sit down.

However, when the situation did not improve, Mr. Sattar is seen sternly instructing the police to use batons to control the situation.

“Beat them like dogs...baton-charge the people at the back. Beat them so much that their bones are broken,” he is seen instructing police in the microphone while exhorting the crowd to be seated and enjoy the show instead of creating an apparent ruckus.

The opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) lost no time in censuring the Minister for the statements, with the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Ambadas Danve, the Leader of the Opposition in the Maharashtra Legislative Council, lashing out at Mr. Sattar for his inappropriate language.

“The kind of language that Sattar used perhaps suits his culture and values… this has also been accepted by the Shinde faction and the BJP that are ruling the State,” Mr. Danve said.