Sharad Pawar seeks security for Vikas Lawande after ink attack over comment on warkari sect members

Pune: NCP (SP) spokesperson Vikas Lawande on Sunday met party chief Sharad Pawar at the latter's residence in Shivajinagar, a day after he was allegedly attacked with black ink over his remarks on the warkari sect.Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Lawande said Pawar had spoken to Maharashtra director general of police (DGP) Sadanand Date and Pune commissioner of police (CP) Amitesh Kumar, seeking security for him following the incident. He added that Pawar would also raise the matter with chief minister Devendra Fadnavis during a meeting scheduled in Mumbai later in the day."Pawar saheb has asked me to continue my work. I will not be intimidated by such attacks," Lawande said.The incident took place near Mhatobachi Alandi on Saturday morning, when Lawande was returning after attending a religious programme in which he had performed a kirtan as part of a tenth-day ritual.According to the FIR registered at Loni Kalbhor police station, Lawande alleged that a group of around 14 people led by right-wing activist Sangram Bhandare intercepted his vehicle, threatened him with a pistol and forcibly dragged him out of the car before throwing black ink on him. A video showing Bhandare and his supporters throwing ink on Lawande soon surfaced on social media, sparking strong political reactions across party lines. While some right-wing supporters backed the act, several political functionaries condemned the attack.Controversy had erupted after Lawande had earlier released a list of 20 members from the warkari sect, alleging that they had "infiltrated" the community. His remarks came days after Sharad Pawar claimed in a speech that the followers of "regressive ideology" are intruding in the warkari sect and nearly 60% of speakers from the sect are making statements to help "fanatics". Pawar had expressed his opinion in an interview given for a souvenir, which was published on the occasion of the first Marathi literary conference of women administrative officers in Delhi, inaugurated by Fadnavis last month.Lawande on Sunday maintained that he stood by his remarks and reiterated that the 20 names he mentioned in the list were "star campaigners" for BJP.Pune CP Amitesh Kumar did not respond to calls by TOI to confirm if any decision has been taken on providing security to Lawande.