Jallianwala Bagh-like situation can occur in Barsu: Sanjay Raut on protests in Ratnagiri refinery

Sanjay Raut said the local people are continuing their protest while police are trying to suppress them. He apprehended that police might fire on the protesters.

Mumbai: Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut on Tuesday apprehended that the ongoing protests in Barsu over petrochemical refinery in Ratnagiri may turn into Jallianwala Bagh massacre with locals and environmentalists continuing to oppose the project while the government is trying all means to suppress them. A survey is set to be held for the refinery project.

In a press conference at his house, Raut said that the project is being strongly opposed by the local people. Locals have alleged that they being threatened by the police, Raut said. "Now, if these people don't withdraw their protest then the government may go ahead with a Jallianwala Bagh-like incident in Barsu with the help of the police...This is a perverted and terrorist minded government. I think if the thousands of protesters sitting on the Malarana don't step down, then they will be shot at. So I fear Barsu may witness a massacre like the one in Jallianwala Bagh," Raut said.

Asserting that the refinery has drawn protests from all quarters, Raut said, around 5,000 to 6,000 people have gathered at Barsu's Malarana to protest against the administration. The locals have said that they were ready to face the bullets but would not budge from the site. Many protesters have been issued notices and many others are being put behind the bars, Raut said adding that people from Mumbai who opposed the project have also been arrested.

"Uddhav Thackeray himself is looking into the matter. The project has been opposed by people. We are always with the people. We will go to Barsu to support the locals," he said. Raut further claimed that the project is aimed at benefitting the foreigners who bought land in Barsu.