In response to a recent incident in Indapur, Pune, where shoe-throwing and sloganeering targeted BJP MLC Gopichand Padalkar, he strongly condemned the actions. Padalkar urged his supporters to remain calm and focus on advocating for Dhangar reservation, emphasizing the OBC community’s commitment to peaceful advocacy. He labeled the incident as bizarre and baseless, highlighting the need to preserve the image of the OBC community amidst deliberate attempts to tarnish it.
Addressing the aftermath of the Indapur meeting, Padalkar clarified that the shoe-throwing incident occurred as he was en route to support a protest for fair milk prices for farmers. He dismissed claims blaming his associates and deemed them absurd.
While reiterating his support for the Maratha community’s reservation demand, Padalkar condemned certain individuals’ actions, referring to them as sociopaths. He emphasized the need for peace and criticized instances of property damage and abusive phone calls targeting leaders in the Maratha reservation battle, suggesting an ulterior motive to sow discord.
Padalkar appealed to his OBC counterparts to avoid responding with violence and stressed the importance of maintaining peace in the state. He announced plans for a peaceful warning march during the upcoming winter session in Nagpur on the 11th, citing Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar’s provision of reservation rights to the Dhangar community.
As a consistent advocate for the Dhangar community’s inclusion in the Scheduled Tribes quota, Padalkar has led protests across the state to address their rightful representation.