NCP demands cancellation of Padalkar's membership of legislative council

The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leaders and workers on Thursday staged a protest against Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLC Gopichand Padalkar raising strong objection to his remarks against the party’s patriarch Sharad Pawar. 

The Pune and Nashik unit of the NCP staged a protest against Padalkar condemning his remarks against Pawar. They have demanded an apology from the BJP MLC saying that the remarks made by him are objectionable. 

The NCP activists staged ‘Jode Mara’ (hit chappals) protest against Padakar and hit the BJP leaders’ photograph with footwear. In Pune, the party workers burned his effigy but the police in Nashik prevent them from doing the same. 

NCP district President demanded Padalkar to tender an apology or else he will not be allowed to enter in the Nashik district. Meanwhile, NCP city unit President Ranjan Thakare demanded the cancellation of Padalkar’s membership of the legislative council. 

In Pune, NCP city unit spokesperson Ankush Kakde informed that a huge number of party activists gathered near the Mandai area to protest against Padalkar while demanding an apology for his remarks against Pawar. 

“Padalkar’s effigy was burnt and his photos were hit with shoes and chappals,” Kakde said. 

Earlier, Padalkar accused Pawar of ignoring the demand for reservation quota for the Dhangar community. Padalkar, who himself hails from the Dhangar community, was speaking at a press conference at Pandharpur in Solapur district. 

“Sharad Pawar is coronavirus for Maharashtra. He has been leading the state for several years but has only oppressed people from the backward classes and will continue to do so in the future. I don’t think that he will be positive about the demand of reservation for the Dhangar community,” the BJP MLC asserted.   

His remarks created sparked a huge outrage with NCP leaders slamming the BJP MLC for his statements against Pawar. Even Devendra Fadnavis had to jump in and say that Padalkar’s remarks were not appropriate. 

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