Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray has expressed regret after failing to meet Commonwealth Games gold medallist and para-athlete Dilip Gavit during his recent visit to Nashik, attributing the incident to a communication lapse.
The clarification came after reports emerged that Gavit, accompanied by his coach, had waited for nearly two hours in the hope of meeting the MNS leader but eventually left without an interaction.
In a video message shared by the MNS, Raj Thackeray said he was unaware that the decorated athlete had come to meet him. He explained that no one had informed him about Gavit’s visit and maintained that the meeting would have taken place had he received the information in time.
Thackeray also conveyed his regret over the missed opportunity and said he intends to meet the athlete once he returns from Delhi.
Dilip Gavit, a native of Nashik, recently brought glory to India by winning the gold medal in the men’s 100m T47 event at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. According to his coach Vaijanath Kale, Gavit had been invited to meet Raj Thackeray during the MNS chief’s tour of Nashik.
Videos circulating on social media showed party workers requesting Gavit and his coach to wait, but the meeting did not materialise. The athlete and his coach later departed for Delhi.
India delivered a memorable performance in the men’s 100m T47 event at the Commonwealth Games, securing both the gold and silver medals. While Dilip Gavit finished on top of the podium, fellow Indian para-athlete Mohammed Basil Morssinganakath claimed the silver medal, marking a significant achievement for the country’s para-athletics contingent.
The episode has drawn attention in Maharashtra, with Thackeray’s public expression of regret seen as an attempt to address the misunderstanding and acknowledge the achievements of one of the state’s celebrated para-athletes.
