Rohit Pawar slams BJP over Kalyan attack on Marathi family | Nagpur News

NAGPUR: Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Rohit Pawar on Friday strongly condemned the attack on a Marathi family in a high-profile Kalyan society, holding the BJP-led government accountable for the deteriorating law and order situation in Maharashtra.
Comparing the incident to the worsening state of law and order in Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and Delhi, Pawar said, “Maharashtra is a land of saints, but under the BJP’s rule, the state’s harmony and law and order are collapsing. Such attacks on Marathis will not be tolerated.”
Pawar was speaking to mediamen outside Vidhan Bhavan premises during the ongoing Winter Session of state legislature.
The incident occurred on Wednesday evening at Azmera Heights/1, Yogidham, Kalyan West, where Akhilesh Shukla, a resident, allegedly assaulted Lata Balkrishna Kalvikatte (56) and her family following a heated argument over incense smoke.
Shukla reportedly brought outsiders to the society and attacked the family with iron rods, pipes, and wooden sticks, leaving two to three members injured.
Sources revealed that the dispute escalated when Shukla verbally abused Lata with casteist slurs, saying, “You Marathis are dirty people. You eat fish and meat and belong in slums. You don’t deserve to live in this building.” The verbal tirade soon turned violent, culminating in a brutal assault.
The attack has sparked widespread outrage, with locals and political leaders demanding strict action. Drawing a parallel to law and order issues in other states, Pawar remarked, “Maharashtra is heading towards the chaos we see in Bihar, UP, and Delhi, where governance has failed and criminal acts thrive unchecked. The government must act before such incidents become the norm.”
Pawar criticized the BJP government for failing to protect the dignity and safety of Marathis in their own state. “This is not just an attack on a family but an insult to the pride of Marathis. The government’s inability to maintain law and order is paving the way for such divisive and violent acts,” he added.
The Kalyan police have launched an investigation into the case, and several political leaders have intensified their criticism of the BJP’s governance as tensions rise ahead of the elections. The incident has further fueled the debate over the state government’s failure to curb such attacks and ensure public safety.