Mumbai: Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar on Friday clarified his intention after a video surfaced of him ‘rebuking’ a female IPS officer and asking her to stop action against illegal soil mining. He said that he did not want to interfere, but was only trying to reduce the tension.
At the same time, the police have registered a case against several people after Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) president Pawar was criticized on this issue. The police have alleged that they obstructed the work of IPS officer Anjana Krishna and other officers when they were taking action against illegal ‘murum’ soil mining in Solapur district. A video was broadcast on Thursday in the case in which Ajit Pawar is heard scolding IPS Krishna on the phone. On this, Pawar said in a statement on Friday, “I want to clearly state that my intention was not to interfere with law enforcement, but to ensure that the situation on the ground remains calm and the dispute does not escalate.” Pawar said that he values ​​the rule of law and has the highest respect for the police force and its officers, including women officers who serve with distinction and courage. Not only this, Deputy CM Pawar said, “I am fully committed to transparent governance and will ensure that every illegal activity, including soil mining, is dealt with strictly according to the law.” NCP (SP) MLA Rohit defends uncle Ajit Pawar Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, who is facing criticism for allegedly threatening a woman IPS officer in a video, on Friday got support from his nephew and rival NCP (SP) MLA Rohit Pawar, who called him a victim of a “trap” laid by colleagues. NCP general secretary Rohit Pawar claimed that Ajit Pawar’s alliance partners deliberately tried to twist the conversation between him and the IPS officer over illegal excavation of ‘murram’ soil (used in road construction and other works) in Solapur district.
“Ajitdada (as the deputy chief minister is called in political circles and by his supporters) should pay attention to how his friends are laying traps,” the opposition MLA said in a post on social media platform X. The Ajit Pawar-led NCP is an ally of the BJP and the Shiv Sena, which are part of the ruling Mahayuti alliance.
