Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Ajit Pawar and his party MLC Amol Mitkari have reacted differently after a video in which the former is allegedly heard threatening a woman IPS officer for stopping an illegal excavation went viral. On Friday, Pawar claimed on X, formerly Twitter, that he had the utmost respect for the police force and its officers. “Women officers serve with distinction and courage. I value the rule of law above all,” Pawar stated.

On Thursday, Pawar was criticised by Opposition parties and social activist Anjali Damania, after the deputy chief minister’s viral video, where he was allegedly asking IPS officer Anjana Krishna (SDOP of Karmala, Solapur) not to act against illegal excavation work.

Within 24 hours of the video going viral, the deputy chief minister sought to clarify what had happened. “I never meant to interfere with the police and only stepped in to stop the situation from getting worse,” Pawar said. Pawar further claimed that his intention for intervention was to ensure that the situation on the ground remained calm.