A forest department employee interrupted the Republic Day 2026 speech of Maharashtra minister Girish Mahajan in Nashik on Monday for not mentioning Dr BR Ambedkar, following which the minister apologised, calling it an unintentional omission, news agency PTI reported.

The state water resources minister was addressing the official Republic Day 2026 function after unfurling the national flag when Madhvi Jadhav, a staffer from the forest department, interrupted the speech and sought an explanation for the absence of Ambedkar’s name.