A controversy unfolded on Thursday during the inauguration of the State Reserve Police Force (SRPF) training center in Kusadgaon, located in the Jamkhed taluka. The event, organized by Rohit Pawar, the MLA of Karjat-Jamkhed, was marred by police intervention, preventing him from entering the center.
Since the center’s inception, a dispute over credit between Rohit Pawar and BJP MLA Ram Shinde has been ongoing. Pawar accused the authorities of delaying the inauguration despite the center being ready for some time. When he attempted to attend the inauguration, police stopped him at the entrance, leading to protests from his supporters who raised slogans against the government.
The SRPF training center in Kusadgaon was initially approved for Jamkhed taluka before being shifted to Jalgaon and then back to Kusadgaon. MLA Pawar has previously accused the BJP of moving the project out of the district.
Pawar had organized the inauguration, intending to have the center inaugurated by former Home Minister Anil Deshmukh and former Minister Anil Parab. However, the State Reserve Police Force and local administration denied permission for the event. When police blocked Pawar at the entrance, clashes ensued between his supporters and the police, with chants directed at Home Minister Devendra Fadnavis and MLA Ram Shinde.
In response to the incident, MLA Rohit Pawar took to social media, expressing his frustration: “In the state, atrocities against women and children occur openly, and murders happen in broad daylight. The law and order situation has never been worse. Yet, the state’s Home Minister has no time to address these issues. However, a large police presence is mobilized to prevent us from inspecting the SRPF center in Kusadgaon, which we approved and completed. No matter how much force you deploy, the self-respecting public will counter your efforts,” Pawar stated.
