Pune: Police Stop Rally led by BJP’s Gopichand Padalkar Over Bopdev Ghat Iftar Incident
Pune, 8th April 2026: A rally led by BJP MLA Gopichand Padalkar and other leaders demanding action against those who had gathered at Askarwadi to for iftar during Ramzan month was stopped by police on Tuesday, triggering tension in the area.
The protest, described as a ‘Hindu Janakrosh Morcha’, was organised from Saswad to Kondhwa following the recent Bopdev Ghat incident, where around 14 men were assaulted by a group of nearly 150 people after they had gone to break their Ramzan fast near Askarwadi lake. An FIR was registered in the matter and eight people were arrested for the alleged assault.
The protests demanded immediate arrests of 14 men for organising iftar at a public place. The rally, which included a large bike procession, was led by Padalkar along with MLA Sangram Jagtap and former MLA Sanjay Jagtap. It was scheduled to culminate at Khadi Machine Chowk in Kondhwa, where Padalkar was expected to address a gathering.
However, police prevented the rally from proceeding further before it could reach its destination. Authorities had deployed heavy security across key routes, setting up barricades and restricting movement to avoid any law and order situation. Despite being halted, Padalkar and Sangram Jagtap remained adamant for over an hour, insisting on moving ahead, while police continued to hold them back.
Officials said the restrictions were imposed as a precautionary measure amid concerns of potential unrest. Reports indicated that members of the Muslim community had also begun gathering near Khadi Machine Chowk, raising fears of a possible confrontation if the rally was allowed to proceed.
The protest also raised issues related to alleged incidents of “love jihad” and land transactions in Purandar taluka, with leaders using the platform to voice broader concerns.
Police maintained a strong presence in the area to ensure the situation remained under control, even as tensions lingered following the standoff.
