Ghaywal link charge: Defamation notice can’t silence me, says defiant Dhangekar

Pune: chief on Wednesday said he would not keep quiet but continue to raise issues concerning people, a day after he received a from Sameer Patil whom he repeatedly accused of having links with gangster Nilesh Ghaywal.Earlier, Dhangekar claimed that Patil is a close associate of cabinet minister Chandrakant Patil, who represents the Kothrud constituency, and that he (Sameer) had been pressuring police not to act against certain people. Dhangekar also alleged that Sameer was in communication with Ghaywal, who fled the country after obtaining a passport by altering his personal documents.Refuting the allegations, Sameer told media persons on Wednesday: "I have challenged Dhangekar to prove that I was in touch with Ghaywal. Dhangekar also alleged that there were MCOCA charges against me. I have dared him to provide documents of those police cases. He is making baseless statements only for political gains."Dhangekar on Wednesday said he would take legal advice before responding to the notice. "If (Sameer) Patil thought that I would get scared by such a notice, he was wrong. I will not remain silent when it comes to raising the issues concerning Pune city."BJP has objected to Dhangekar targeting their senior party member Chandrakant Patil over the Ghaywal issue and has complained to Shiv Sena chief and deputy chief minister Eknath Shinde. Despite Shinde's advice not to speak against BJP members, Dhangekar seems defiant."I am not speaking against BJP, but only raising Pune's issues. I have spoken only 10% of the issues, and soon I will be meeting Shinde to explain my side," Dhangekar said.Recently, Dhangekar showed a photo of Sameer Patil with Ghaywal to media persons in Pune to substantiate his allegations. "Ghaywal's menace has been growing in the city over the past couple of decades and common people are scared due to the gang activities. I am not an enemy of Chandrakant Patil but my only request to the minister is to speak against the deteriorating law and order in the city," he said.Amid the opposition attack on Mahayuti over the Ghaywal issue, NCP (SP) general secretary and MLA Rohit Pawar recently demanded police protection for Dhangekar. "I appreciate the courage shown by Dhangekar to speak against Ghaywal and raise questions over the silence of BJP members even though he is part of Mahayuti. We support Dhangekar's stand for rising above politics and taking up the issues which are important for Pune. As he is speaking against a gangster, there is a possible danger to his life; hence we demand the govt provide him police protection," Pawar said.