Mumbai : NCP chief Sharad Pawar has expressed concern over a recent attempt to attack one of his party MLA Jitendra Awhad in a letter written to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.
“Lately the people putting forth the pragmatic and progressive views are being targeted in Maharshtra,” Pawar has said and expressed ‘shock’ over the manner in which Awhad was manhandled at a program in Western Maharashtra town of Sangli and was threatened at a live TV program.
“Such threats to pragmatic personalities is a shame for the Maharshtra and the rising intolerance and ochlocracy in the state is a cause of concern,” Pawar has said. He also said that the Chief Minister, who is also the home minister, would take note of the threats being given to Awhad. Pawar also sought adequate protection for Awhad.
“I am confident that you would not want anything untoward to happen to Awhad. As the CM and as head of the home department, you cannot evade your responsibility,” Pawar stated in his letter.
“Awhad is a prominent Other Backward Caste (OBC) leader and an active member of the Assembly. I am sure that you will take due cognisance of the threats to him,” Pawar stated in his letter.
Awahd had been opposing government’s decision to give ‘Maharahstra Bhushan’ award to historian Babasaheb Purandare. In one of his recent public meetings in Sangli, he allegedly used derogatory language against local social worker Sambhaji Bhide, upon which a group of agitated youth pelted stones on his vehicle and a complaint registered against him at a local police station.