Attack on Nikhil Wagle pushes Pune BJP into a corner: Party leadership raps it for giving Oppn ammo ahead of LS polls
The city units of the Congress, Sena (UBT) and NCP-Sharadchandra Pawar came out in support of Nikhil Wagle and accused the BJP and allies of indulging in hooliganism after coming to power.
Party workers had attacked Wagle’s car, breaking its windowpanes and putting the lives of its occupants in danger despite police protection. (Express Photo by Arul Horizon)
The recent attack on senior journalist Nikhil Wagle in Pune over his controversial remarks against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and veteran leader L K Advani has pushed the city unit of the BJP into a corner with the party pulling up local leaders for creating a law and order issue while giving the Opposition an opportunity to attack the BJP.
“The senior party leadership has pulled up the local leaders for the incident that is being used by the Opposition to criticise our party ahead of the Lok Sabha elections,” said a BJP leader. The attack by party workers on the journalist’s car as he was headed to deliver a speech at a Nirbhay Bano meeting has not pleased the party high command, he said.
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The Pune BJP, led by its chief Dheeraj Ghate, had organised the protest on Friday to stop Wagle from reaching the venue of the Nirbhay Bano meeting. Party workers had attacked Wagle’s car, breaking its windowpanes and putting the lives of its occupants in danger despite police protection.
The city units of the Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT) and NCP-Sharadchandra Pawar had come out in support of Wagle to challenge the BJP and its alliance partners who had warned of violent protests against the journalist over his remarks in the wake of the Bharat Ratna awarded to Advani.
The NCP-Sharadchandra Pawar held a protest in the city on Saturday accusing the BJP of indulging in hooliganism after coming to power. The city Congress unit too organised an agitation on Monday against the incident and its youth wing workers were detained by police after they decided to walk to the Pune BJP office.
Ajay Jadhav is an Assistant Editor with The Indian Express, Pune, a role that reflects his seniority and editorial Authority. He is a highly specialized journalist whose work demonstrates significant Expertise in the critical areas of urban development, governance, and sustainability, often linking policy to its on-the-ground impact across Maharashtra.
Expertise
Senior Editorial Role: As an Assistant Editor at The Indian Express, Ajay Jadhav contributes to the editorial direction and maintains high standards of Trustworthiness and quality in his reporting.
Core Specialization: His reporting focuses intensely on the intersection of infrastructure, politics, and social development, with expertise in:
Infrastructure and Civic Issues: Provides in-depth coverage of crucial development and urban governance topics. His work includes reporting on the glaring contrast between planned infrastructure projects (like private helipads) and the lack of basic facilities (schools and hospitals) in politically significant areas, highlighting accountability gaps.
Politics and Governance: Consistently reports on political developments, scrutinizing decision-making that affects public life and development initiatives in Maharashtra.
Sustainable Development & Environment: Demonstrates a commitment to responsible development by reporting on initiatives that successfully protect the environment while ensuring essential infrastructure development.
Investigative and Policy Impact:
National Impact: Ajay has written notable research articles on Conservancy staff which achieved a nationwide impact by directly contributing to the framing of policies aimed at improving the working conditions of waste-handling laborers. This demonstrates his capacity for impactful, evidence-based journalism.
Additional Interests
Personal Engagement: His background as a trekker and sports enthusiast suggests a keen personal interest in the environment and outdoor spaces, which likely informs his detailed and passionate reporting on sustainable development and civic issues.
Ajay Jadhav's sustained focus on governance, his track record of high-impact policy-shaping research, and his critical eye for infrastructure gaps establish him as a trusted and authoritative source for news and analysis in Pune and Maharashtra. ... Read More
