BJP Workers in Pune Attack Journalist Nikhil Wagle’s Car, Opposition Decries ‘Goonda Raj’

Opposition parties have strongly criticized the Maharashtra government following an alleged attack on senior journalist Nikhil Wagle’s car by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) workers at Khandoji Baba Chowk in Pune on Friday evening. The incident reportedly occurred as BJP workers protested against Wagle’s remarks concerning Prime Minister Narendra Modi and LK Advani following Advani’s receipt of the Bharat Ratna, India’s highest civilian award.

According to an official from Deccan police station, BJP workers threw ink on the car carrying Nikhil Wagle, Aseem Sarode, and Vishwambhar Choudhary, who were traveling under police protection to the ‘Nirbhay Bano’ event organized by the Rashtra Seva Dal in the Singhad Road area of Pune.

Reacting strongly to the incident, Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) MP Sanjay Raut alleged that several women workers from Maha Vikas Aghadi were assaulted by “BJP goons,” and they were pelted with eggs, stones, and bricks. At the same time, the Pune Police stood by as spectators.

“Senior journalist Nikhil Wagle’s car vandalized, ink and eggs thrown at his car… A blatant attempt to murder democracy by BJP in Pune… MVA will not be deterred. Shame on you Devendra Fadnavis, for ordering your cadre to harm and injure helpless daughters of Maharashtra… Maharashtra will not forgive you,” Sanjay Raut wrote on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter).

Another Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi condemned the incident in Pune. “Less than 24 hours since the untimely and unfortunate killing of our former corporator, Abhishek Ghosalkar, and now we have this attack on activists who are critical of the BJP. Goondagardi under the gundaraj,” Priyanka Chaturvedi wrote on X.

Earlier on Friday, Priyanka Chaturvedi urged Union Home Minister Amit Shah to intervene urgently regarding the law and order situation in Maharashtra following the murder of Abhishek Ghosalkar, a leader from her party, in Mumbai. In a letter to Amit Shah, Chaturvedi referred to Ghosalkar’s murder on Thursday, as well as an incident earlier this month in the neighboring Thane district where a BJP MLA opened fire inside a police station.

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Supriya Sule of the Sharad Pawar faction of the NCP strongly condemned the attack on Nikhil Wagle, describing him as “a voice of truth and a beacon of journalism.”

“This is not just an assault on an individual but an attack on freedom of speech itself. The deteriorating law and order situation in Maharashtra under the BJP regime, which is tacitly enabling such acts, is alarming and warrants the strictest accountability. #Goondaraj,” Supriya Sule wrote.

Why was Nikhil Wagle attacked?

A case has been registered in Pune against 64-year-old journalist Nikhil Wagle for allegedly making derogatory remarks about Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP leader LK Advani following the announcement of Advani being conferred with the Bharat Ratna. The police stated that Wagle has been booked under sections 153A (promoting enmity between different groups), 500 (defamation), and 505 (statements conducing to public mischief) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) at Vishrambaug police station. An official mentioned that the matter is under investigation. The complaint against Wagle was filed by senior BJP leader Sunil Deodhar at Vishrambaug police station on Tuesday.

According to Deccan police, individuals obstructed Wagle’s vehicle’s path to the venue, with some even climbing on top of the car. Others threw ink on the car carrying Wagle, along with Aseem Sarode and Vishwambhar Choudhary, who were under police protection, to the event. Television footage depicted BJP workers surrounding the vehicle at Khandoji Baba Chowk and causing damage to its windshield and side panes. Despite the disturbance, Wagle managed to arrive at the event venue with police escort.

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During the ‘Nirbhay Bano’ event, Wagle addressed the audience, expressing forgiveness towards those who attacked him. He noted that this incident marked the seventh time he had been targeted.

A confrontation ensued between workers from the ruling BJP-Shiv Sena and the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi outside the Rashtra Seva Dal premises earlier, with protesters objecting to Wagle’s participation in the event. Pune city Shiv Sena president Pramod Bhangire clarified that their objection was not directed at the event itself, but specifically at Wagle’s involvement.