Maharashtra: Both ruling & opposition parties object to ‘derogatory’ post on Sharad Pawar by Marathi actor Ketaki Chitale

Mumbai: Both ruling and opposition parties strongly condemned on Saturday a controversial post by Marathi actor Ketaki Chitale on Facebook, allegedly targeting Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar.

Chitale and a 23-year-old pharmacy student were arrested by the Thane police over a post she had allegedly shared on her Facebook page. The student, identified as Nikhil Bhamre, was arrested in Nashik district for allegedly making an objectionable comment against Pawar on Twitter. The post contained phrases like “hell is waiting” and “you hate Brahmins”, allegedly referring to Pawar, whose party shares power in Maharashtra with the Shiv Sena and Congress.

Black ink and eggs were thrown at Chitale outside Kalamboli police station in Navi Mumbai by workers of the NCP’s women wing as she was being taken away.

Chitale had posted a poem about Sharad Pawar on her Facebook account. Penned by advocate Nitin Bhave, the poem was shared in response to poetry recently presented by Pawar. Asserting that Chitale’s post insulted the NCP chief, party office-bearer Swapnil Netke filed a case against her at Kalwa police station. Terming the post ‘defamatory’, Netke said, “It has caused outrage among party leaders and activists.”

Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray found the language used by Chitale objectionable. So did Leader of the Opposition Devendra Fadnavis who criticized the derogatory language used. Meanwhile, Pawar said that neither he knew her, nor did he know what the matter was0.

Even Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray, who has recently stepped up attacks against the NCP chief, said it was wrong on the part of Chitale or the writer of the post to make such comments about someone like Pawar, who has been active in state politics for many years. He said that ideology had to be fought with ideology.

“We have differences with them [Pawar] and those will be there. But it is wrong to stoop so low. This is not Maharashtra’s culture. To write something like this is not a tendency, but wickedness. It must be checked on time,” he added.

“Such writing has no place in the culture of Maharashtra. We strongly condemn it,” he declared.

Pawar’s close confidant and Housing Minister Jitendra Awhad warned that derogatory language against his leader would not be tolerated. He felt that Chitale should have not used objectionable language against a leader like Pawar who has been in public life for over five decades and has survived cancer.

State NCP women’s wing chief Vidya Chavan said that Chitale should have first read the writings of Sant Tukaram and Sant Dnyaneshwar. Chavan also wondered whether Chitale hoped to get roles in films by criticising Pawar, who has been at the forefront when it comes to putting in practice the progressive thoughts of Chhatrapati Shivaji, Mahatma Phule, Chhatrapati Shahu and Dr B R Ambedkar.

The chief of the Maharashtra State Commission for Women, Rupali Chakan, directed the police to register an offence against Chitale for her derogatory language against Pawar.

Chitale gained prominence with her role in the television series, ‘Tuza Maza Breakup’.

The actress was trolled on social media for her allegedly reckless statements. Sources said this was not the first time she had courted controversy with her social media posts.

Published on: Saturday, May 14, 2022, 11:11 PM IST