Pune BJP–Congress Clash: Protests Turn Violent With Stone Pelting; Workers Injured, Vehicles Damaged as Congress Turns Aggressive
Pune BJP–Congress Clash: Protests Turn Violent With Stone Pelting; Workers Injured, Vehicles Damaged
Pune witnessed unrest on Sunday afternoon after workers of the BJP and Congress clashed near the party’s city headquarters, Congress Bhavan, following a controversial statement by Maharashtra Congress chief Harshwardhan Sapkal.
The incident occurred just hours after police registered an FIR against Sapkal for allegedly comparing Tipu Sultan with Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. The complaint was filed by BJP Pune city president Dheeraj Ghate, who said the remark hurt the sentiments of people who revere the Maratha king. Sapkal had made the statement while addressing the controversy surrounding a portrait of Tipu Sultan displayed in the Malegaon deputy mayor’s office.
BJP workers gathered outside Congress Bhavan to protest the comment, while Congress supporters assembled in defence of their state president. Police teams were deployed to control the crowd, but tensions escalated around 1 pm, leading to stone pelting between the groups.
Several people sustained minor injuries and a few vehicles were damaged during the clash. Authorities later brought the situation under control and security was tightened in the area.
