Maharashtra: Woman throws slipper at Ajit Pawar, detained

Upset with the Congress-NCP-led state government’s apathy towards the demand for statehood for Vidharbha, an activist hurled a slipper at deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar at Chamorshi in Gadchiroli district on Tuesday.

Upset with the Congress-NCP-led state government’s apathy towards the demand for statehood for Vidharbha, an activist hurled a slipper at deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar at Chamorshi in Gadchiroli district on Tuesday.

The slipper, however, fell short of its mark and landed in the crowd. Police personnel present at the venue detained the woman immediately.

The incident took place at an NCP rally, which Pawar was addressing in Chamorshi, a remote tribal area, ahead of the assembly elections.

Home minister RR Patil, the guardian minister of the district, was present at the event.

According to reports, the i ncident occur red as soon as Pawar began his speech. Activist Shobha Mhaske, who has been at the front of the movement for separate statehood for Vidharbha, hurled the slipper towards him.

A number of organisations, especially lawyers’ groups in the region, have been campaigning for a separate state. The movement got a shot in the arm after BJP leaders, particularly Union minister Nitin Gadkari and state BJP president Devendra Fadnavis openly supported the cause.

But while the BJP is in favour of separate Vidarbha, Shiv Sena, its principal ally, is against the bifurcation of the state.