Ahilyanagar

BJP MLA from Rahuri, Akshay Kardile, has sparked controversy with remarks he allegedly made during a bandh in Ahilyanagar following the death of municipal employee Dhiraj Pardeshi.

Pardeshi, an employee of the Ahilyanagar Municipal Corporation’s electricity department, was allegedly attacked by a group of six to eight people in the Mukundnagar area on August 7. He sustained serious injuries and died during treatment on August 9.

During the protest called to condemn the killing, Kardile reportedly said: “We don’t want your votes, and you should not come to us begging for work either.”

He also made several angry remarks against the accused, including a call for severe punishment. According to the reported statement, he said that if the authorities could not arrest the accused, the protesters should inform them, adding that if those gathered entered Mukundnagar, “not a single person would remain alive.” He further said that the accused should be “beheaded” rather than merely sent to jail.

Kardile also accused some people of trying to portray the incident as political. Referring to votes, he reportedly said that people could keep their votes and that he did not need to “beg” for them.

What happened to Dhiraj Pardeshi?

Pardeshi was attacked on August 7 in the Dargah Daira area of Mukundnagar. He was critically injured and admitted to a private hospital, where he battled for his life for three days before succumbing to his injuries on August 9.

Following his death, Hindutva organisations called for a bandh in Ahilyanagar. Several areas, including Kapad Bazaar, Ganj Bazaar, Mochi Galli, Maliwada and Delhi Gate, as well as parts of the suburbs, observed the shutdown. Protesters also held demonstrations demanding strict action against those responsible.

During the agitation, some protesters demanded that bulldozers be used against the accused's homes and raised slogans calling for Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to intervene.

According to the report, MLA Gopichand Padalkar spoke to Fadnavis by phone during the protest. After Fadnavis reportedly assured the protesters of strict action, the sit-in demonstration was withdrawn.

Kardile’s remarks, particularly his comments about voters and the violent language directed at the accused, have since drawn attention and criticism on social media. 

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