‘Prevented from sitting in the first row because he was a Brahmin’, BJP MP accuses his own party’s MLA

During the felicitation ceremony of Maratha candidates who were successful in the competitive exam in Pune, BJP Rajya Sabha MP Medha Kulkarni accused her own party’s MLA of preventing her from sitting in the first row because she was a Brahmin. However, MLA Abhimanyu Pawar, on whom he made this allegation, said that there was a misunderstanding and denied that caste was an issue in the matter. Actually, this program held in the presence of Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis was organized to honor the candidates of Maratha community who had passed the competitive exams conducted by UPSC, MPSC and other institutions.

According to PTI report, the event was organized by Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj Research, Training and Human Development Institute (SARTHI), an autonomous body, at Ganesh Kala Krida Manch in the city. Later, speaking to reporters, Kulkarni alleged that Pawar stopped him from sitting in the front row and said that the event was for the Maratha community. She said that she left the program immediately after this ‘order’. She said, ‘Since no other MP was present, the officials believed that as per protocol, I could sit in the first row. Narendra Patil, Chairman of Annasaheb Patil Economic Backward Development Corporation was also entitled to sit there.

‘Pawar raised the issue of caste’

Kulkarni claimed, ‘However, Abhimanyu Pawar wanted to sit in the first row. When the officials told that as per protocol I could sit there, Pawar raised the issue of caste and said that since the program was for the Maratha community, my sitting in the front row could lead to controversy.

What did Pawar say on the allegations?

Responding to these allegations, Pawar, who represents Ausa assembly constituency in Latur district, denied the caste issue and said there was a misunderstanding. He said, ‘I just said that since Narendra Patil is the Chairman of Mahamandal, he can sit in the first row, while MLAs and MPs can sit in the second row. There is no issue of caste here. Many people were present there and they heard what I said.

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