Pune: In a significant revelation, Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar faction) leader Sharad Pawar claimed that during the judicial inquiry into the Bhima Koregaon violence, certain individuals attempted to pressure him into making statements that were untrue.
Pawar made these comments on Monday (September 30) at an event where Advocate Rahul Makhare, National General Secretary of the Bahujan Mukti Party, and others officially joined the NCP (SP faction). The event was held at Nisarg Mangal Hall.
Pawar recounted his experience during the inquiry, stating, “The Bhima Koregaon incident, which involved violence incited by casteist elements, had a nationwide impact.
The state government decided to investigate the incident through a judicial commission. I was summoned to appear before this commission, which operates like a court, and I complied.
During my testimony, I was cross-examined by several lawyers, including Advocate Rahul Makhare, who follows the ideologies of Phule and Ambedkar. Some individuals were trying to coerce me into making statements that weren’t true, but I stood by the facts.
Innocent people were attacked, and certain casteist forces were trying to erase the history of a memorial, a symbol for which people of various castes and religions had sacrificed their lives. It was the youth inspired by Ambedkar, including Makhare, who raised their voices and brought the truth to light.”
Pawar emphasized the need to fight against caste-based forces, urging people to follow the principles of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, Shahu, Phule, and Ambedkar. He called for unity across castes and religions in this battle for justice.
In a broader political context, Pawar discussed the previous Lok Sabha elections, accusing Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of attempting to alter the Constitution.
“They had aimed to surpass 400 seats in Parliament, but through the efforts of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), many small and large parties united to safeguard the Constitution, leaving Modi's ambitions unfulfilled,” said Pawar.