BJP Warns Congress Against Disrupting Amit Shah’s Pune Visit
Reported by Mubarak Ansari
Pune, 29th July 2026: Pune BJP president Dheeraj Ghate has warned the city Congress against disrupting Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah’s scheduled visit to Pune on August 1, saying the BJP would respond with a major show of support if Congress workers attempted to create a disturbance.
Shah is scheduled to visit Pune on Saturday to attend the presentation of the Lokmanya Tilak National Award. The Pune city Congress has announced a protest against his visit.
Calling the proposed protest “politically motivated” and “unnecessary”, Ghate alleged that opposing Shah in Pune amounted to disrespecting the city’s political and social traditions.
“If Congress creates any disturbance during Amit Shah’s visit, it will receive a befitting response,” Ghate said in a statement.
He said BJP workers would gather at Seven Loves Chowk to show their support for Shah if Congress proceeded with its planned protest. Ghate also criticised Pune Congress president Prashant Jagtap over the decision to stage the demonstration.
Ghate defended Shah’s record as Union Home Minister, highlighting the abrogation of Article 370, action against Left-wing extremism, the law against instant triple talaq and the introduction of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
He also credited Shah with supporting the implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP) and promoting initiatives related to startups, innovation and sports. Ghate further praised Shah’s organisational role in expanding the BJP’s presence across the country.
Targeting the Congress, Ghate said the party had no standing to question Shah’s political record and accused it of repeatedly opposing the BJP-led government for political reasons.
Ghate also invoked Pune’s historical association with Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, Bajirao Peshwa, Mahatma Jyotirao Phule and Lokmanya Tilak, arguing that the city should welcome the Union Home Minister during his visit.
He said the BJP would organise a large-scale welcome for Shah despite the Congress protest and alleged that attempts to disturb the city’s peace for political gain would be rejected by Pune residents.
The Congress has yet to respond to Ghate’s remarks.
