Stay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram
© The Indian Express Pvt Ltd
Tags:
Journalism of Courage
Congress leader Prakash “Mama” Pagare alleged that a group of BJP workers forcibly draped a saree around him in Dombivli on Tuesday, after he shared a morphed video of Prime Minister Narendra Modi dressed in a saree.
Pagare said the incident occurred outside a local eye hospital, where he had gone for a check-up.
The 72-year-old Congress leader claimed that he was approached by a group of BJP workers under the pretext of discussing a civic issue.
The group, he alleged, included BJP’s Kalyan district president Nandu Parab.
“As soon as I stepped out, they surrounded me and forcibly draped a saree around me. They said nothing, just carried out this act of humiliation,” Pagare told mediapersons.
The Congress leader said that he will file a complaint under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, citing caste-based humiliation and an attack on his personal dignity.
Later in the day, a senior police official said that a complaint in connection with the incident was received at the Tilak Nagar police station and they will decide on the course of action after looking at the evidence.
Pagare said that on Tuesday, he received a phone call from someone identifying himself as Suresh Patil, who requested a meeting regarding a building issue. He then agreed to meet the person only to be allegedly ambushed outside the hospital.
Kalyan District Congress president Sachin Pote called the incident “disgusting and dangerous.”
“Forcing a saree onto a senior leader is not just misbehavior, it’s humiliation. This is BJP’s brand of politics, bullying laced with toxic masculinity,” said Pote.
Pagare said that he did not create or edit the video and shared it as a political satire.
“I only forwarded something that was already viral. There was no intent to insult anyone. But what followed was a blatant misuse of power,” the Congress leader said.
“I’ve followed the Congress ideology for over 50 years. I’ve never witnessed such an assault on personal freedom. This was not a protest. This was mob mentality,” he added.
Stay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram
