Leader of the Opposition and senior NCP leader Ajit Pawar has condemned the administration for its handling of the Alandi incident. Speaking at a public event in Satara on Sunday evening, he said that prima facie it appears that the 'lathicharge incident' happened due to lack of planning on the administration's part. However, Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis refuted the allegation of lathi-charge on Warkaris. He also urged the media and political parties to observe restraint while commenting. Pawar said, "The incident of lathi charge on Warkarisat Alandi temple is agonising. The Ashadhi Wari is a glorious aspect of Maharashtra's Bhakti tradition. Such a thing has never occurred in its history. Proper planning would have prevented such an incident. I condemn in the strongest words the action, and the government under which it happened." He said he had been part of the planning of this procession for many years as Guardian Minister of Pune district. "Warkaris always cooperate with directives and there is proper planning by authorities of three districts – Satara, Pune and Solapur. Then what lacuna in planning caused today's incident? Those responsible should be punished," he said. However, Fadnavis denied the allegation completely, saying, "There has been no lathi charge on Warkaris. There was a scuffle over entry between a group of young Warkaris and police. Last year, a stampede-like situation had emerged at the temple and some women were injured. To avoid a repeat of such a situation, a meeting took place between the administration, police and temple representative, wherein they decided by consensus that prominent "dindis" will be given 75 passes for entry. Today, some youth disagreed with the 'passes' system and insisted on entering. Some Warkaris broke barricades and police tried to stop them. In the melee, policemen have also been injured. Videos show that the youth were only stopped from entering.” “The 'wari' has only just begun and we want it to conclude without any hitch, said Fadnavis.
