Maharashtra Congress slams BJP over alleged kidnapping, assault of Ahilyanagar district president

Harshvardhan Sapkal. Pic/Maharashtra Congress

The Maharashtra Congress on Wednesday issued sharp criticism of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government, alleging that the kidnapping and assault of Ahilyanagar District Congress President Sachin Gujar amounted to "an attack on democracy" on Constitution Day. Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) president Harshvardhan Sapkal condemned the incident, calling it indicative of "growing authoritarianism" under the Devendra Fadnavis-led administration.

According to Congress leaders, Gujar was allegedly abducted and assaulted early on Wednesday by individuals linked to the BJP. They described the episode as "shocking, deliberate, and politically motivated," particularly amid the ongoing election cycle. Sapkal said such acts threaten the democratic environment and raise concerns about the safety of opposition leaders and workers.

"This is an extremely serious and condemnable incident," Sapkal said. "On Constitution Day, the BJP has murdered democracy in Ahilyanagar. The kidnapping and assault of a district president of a national party in the middle of elections is unacceptable and intolerable."

Invoking the memory of the 26/11 terror attacks, Sapkal said it was symbolic that the assault occurred on the same date. "On this day, Pakistani terrorists had attacked India. Today, choosing the same date, those close to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis have launched an attack on democracy," he alleged.

Sapkal also targeted state minister Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil and former MP Sujay Vikhe Patil, accusing them of creating "a climate of intimidation" in Ahmednagar district. He referred to an earlier incident in which two Congress workers, who were preparing to contest municipal elections, were allegedly detained, assaulted, and taken to the Vikhe Patils against their will. "The entire episode resembles a scene from a movie," he said.

The MPCC chief further criticised the chief minister's leadership, saying the government was displaying "its true colours" through repeated incidents of political coercion. "The BJP does not believe in democracy or the Constitution. What we are witnessing is a regime that relies on brute force," Sapkal said.

He added that such developments raise fundamental questions about the fairness of the electoral process. "Under these circumstances, should the Opposition even be expected to contest elections safely? Devendra Fadnavis must rein in his workers. The arrogance of power does not last forever," he said.

Sapkal asserted that the Congress would pursue all democratic and legal remedies, insisting the party "will not tolerate the abuse of power" by the ruling dispensation.