Daijiworld Media Network - Solapur

Solapur, Jul 14: Tension gripped Akkalkot town in Solapur on Sunday afternoon after black ink was poured on the head and face of Maratha leader Pravin Gaikwad, prompting police action and sharp political reactions across the state.

Gaikwad, a Pune-based leader associated with the Sambhaji Brigade, was attacked while walking towards a felicitation event organised by Sakal Maratha Samaj and Fattesinha Shikshan Sanstha. The incident occurred around 12.30 pm and was captured on video, which later went viral.

The alleged attack was led by Dipak Kate, BJP Yuva Morcha’s state secretary and head of the Shivdharma Foundation. Kate had recently staged a protest demanding that the Sambhaji Brigade include the honorific “Chhatrapati” in its name, claiming that omitting it was disrespectful to Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj.

According to Gaikwad, the attackers not only threw ink on him but also attempted to kill him. "This was an attempt to murder. We had previously discussed the name change, but technical issues and prior registrations have delayed it. The attacker is linked to the ruling party, and this is an attack on the entire Maratha community. It shows the failure of the Home Minister and Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis,” he told reporters in Akkalkot.

Solapur police detained two individuals, including Kate, by evening and registered a case at the Akkalkot North Police Station. A total of seven individuals have been booked under BNS sections 115(2), 189(2), 191(2), 190, and 324(4), relating to unlawful assembly, rioting, voluntarily causing hurt, and mischief.

The attack has sparked political outrage. Congress state president Harshwardhan Sapkal demanded that the accused be charged under the recently passed Public Safety Act, warning that failure to act could worsen the law and order situation.

Leaders from the NCP (Sharad Pawar faction), including MPs Supriya Sule and Amol Kolhe, and MLAs Rohit Pawar and Jitendra Awhad, also strongly condemned the incident.

The incident has further intensified the political temperature in Maharashtra, highlighting tensions within the Maratha community and raising serious questions about public safety and political intolerance.