The Congress on Wednesday demanded withdrawal of cases registered against protesters involved in the Maratha reservation agitation and Dalit activists who had protested against the Bhima-Koregaon violence.

The party's statement comes soon after its ruling alliance partner in Maharashtra, the NCP, pressed for similar demands.

In a letter to chief minister Uddhav Thackeray, Congress leader Naseem Khan said both the agitations were for seeking 'natural justice'.

The Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi government, therefore, should withdraw the cases filed against Dalit and Maratha activists, he said.

Earlier in the day, state minister Jayant Patil had said the state government was in favour of granting relief to those who were falsely framed in cases related to the 2018 Bhima-Koregaon violence, but the power to take decision in this regard rests with the chief minister, as portfolios are yet to be allocated to ministers.

Thackeray had said on Tuesday evening that the previous government had ordered withdrawal of minor cases related to the Bhima-Koregaon caste violence, and he was now finding out how many cases were actually withdrawn.

Earlier in the day, BJP MP G.V.L. Narsimha Rao had claimed that there are 'attempts to politicise' police investigation in some cases that pose threat to national security.

He said investigation and revelations in the Bhima-Koregaon case have shaken the entire country and some of the people arrested in the case have been charged under the stringent Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA).