Forest guard gets upset as Mahajan fails to mention Ambedkar in Republic Day speech

Nashik: Madhavi Jadhav, a forest guard of the Sinnar range in Nashik, expressed her anger during a Republic Day function at Nashik's Police Parade Ground after state cabinet minister Girish Mahajan failed to mention the name of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar in his speech.The incident created some tension at the venue, and the police took Jadhav to the Sarkarwada police station. Senior police officers said no complaint has been registered against the forest guard, so far. However, they said Jadhav has given an application to the Sarkarwada police station demanding a case against Girish Mahajan under the Atrocities Act. Senior police officers, who did not wish to be quoted, confirmed the same.Jadhav, who was at the programme in uniform for the parade, tried to get near the stage where a woman was anchoring the programme. When police personnel stopped her, she allegedly got angry over Mahajan for not mentioning Dr Ambedkar. "I would not let the identity of Dr Ambedkar get wiped away," she was heard saying.Speaking to reporters, she said that while at the Republic Day function, she realised that Mahajan had made a mistake and she approached the stage to politely bring the matter to Mahajan's notice. "My only intention was to ensure that the identity of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar, who gave us the Constitution, is not wiped away. However, I was gheraoed like a criminal by the police personnel there, after which I raised slogans of Dr Ambedkar," she said.She further said that later, she came to know that Girish Mahajan had apologised for his error. Jadhav said she is not satisfied with his apology and wants a written apology instead. "I also want to see what action the police take against Mahajan in response to the complaint application," she said.The forest guard further said that if Mahajan did not render a written apology, she may resort to a hunger strike.Meanwhile, on the same day, Girish Mahajan posted on X that he has immense respect for Dr Ambedkar and he has always been at the forefront during the celebration of Dr Ambedkar Jayanti. He said it was an unintentional mistake on his part not to mention the name of Dr Ambedkar in his speech.