A video has surfaced showing Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar in a heated exchange with a woman IPS officer, Anjana Krishna, sparking a political controversy and drawing criticism from opposition parties. The incident reportedly occurred in Solapur district, where Krishna was taking action against the illegal excavation of 'murrum' soil, commonly used in road construction.
According to reports, the altercation began when Krishna, the sub-divisional police officer for Karmala, received a call on an NCP worker's phone. The caller, claiming to be Ajit Pawar, instructed her to halt the action against the illegal excavation. Krishna, unable to recognize the caller's voice, requested that he call her directly on her mobile phone to verify his identity. This seemingly angered Pawar, who allegedly responded with a threat, asking, "How dare you?". He then reportedly made a video call to Krishna, reiterating his order to stop the excavation and questioning if she recognized his face. "Listen, I am the deputy chief minister and giving you the order to stop it," Pawar is heard saying in the video.
The video quickly went viral, drawing strong reactions from various political factions. Opposition parties have seized upon the incident to accuse Pawar of misusing his power and obstructing justice. Critics argue that his behavior reflects a disregard for the rule of law and an attempt to shield illegal activities. Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut demanded Pawar's resignation, stating, "Ajit Pawar has no moral right to remain in the government. You have turned Maharashtra into a state of thieves". Sushma Andhare, another Shiv Sena (UBT) spokesperson, supported Krishna's actions, stating that her wish to confirm Ajit Pawar's identity was valid.
The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), to which Ajit Pawar belongs, has defended his actions, claiming that his remarks were misinterpreted and that the video was deliberately leaked to malign him. NCP State President Sunil Tatkare asserted that Pawar may have "chided the IPS officer to placate party workers" and that he "didn't mean to stop the action completely". He added that Pawar is known for his "straight talk" and would never support illegal activity, suggesting that he "meant to stop the action briefly, just to defuse the situation". NCP spokesperson Anand Paranjpe also defended Pawar, stating that he only tried to manage the situation and that the clip was being misrepresented.
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has also weighed in on the controversy, with Vijay Kumbhar, the party's vice president in Maharashtra, calling Pawar's actions a "misuse of power". He questioned whether ministers seek officers of their choice in specific locations to enable such interference.
The controversy raises concerns about political interference in policing and the handling of illegal activities. It also puts a spotlight on the issue of illegal soil excavation, which is a significant environmental and economic problem in many parts of India. The incident continues to be debated, with questions being raised about the appropriate balance of power between elected officials and law enforcement officers.
