Pune: There is no need for any individual to possess firearms in Maharashtra, NCP (SP)’s working president Supriya Sule on Saturday said and urged chief minister Devendra Fadnavis to order a ‘jumbo review’ of all such licences issued across the state.Her remark comes in the backdrop of the Vaishnavi Hagawane murder case in which police, apart from her husband and in-laws, including an expelled NCP member, arrested their family friend Nilesh Chavan, who allegedly threatened Vaishnavi’s parents with a pistol. Later, investigations revealed that Chavan managed to get a firearm licence despite having an FIR registered against him in Pune.After the murder of Santosh Deshmukh, sarpanch of Massajog village in Beed district, in Dec last year, the spotlight was once again on the rising crimes. In a subsequent verification by police, it was found that an ‘excessive’ number of firearm licences had been issued in the district without much scrutiny. Soon thereafter, more than 300 permits were revoked. Advocating for a gun-control policy, Sule told the media in Pune: “I have full confidence in the capabilities of Maharashtra police who uphold the law and order. Therefore, I personally feel there is no need for anyone to possess a firearm for their self-protection. I request the CM to carry out a jumbo review across the state to find out who have got firearm licences and the reasons for their issuance.”Amidst speculations of Thackeray cousins — Uddhav and Raj — reuniting before the civic polls, the Baramati MP said she would welcome such an initiative. “Balasaheb Thackeray made a lot of effort to form Shiv Sena, and he attracted many individuals to grow the party. Whatever happened (the split in Thackerays) was unfortunate, but if they are coming together to serve the state, it will be a welcome step,” she said.
