Pune: A Congress leader said he was assaulted on Monday, February 23, allegedly by some right-wing workers outside a Marathi news channel studio in Pune’s Swargate area in Maharashtra following a dispute during a debate.
Hanumant Pawar, a Pune City Congress spokesperson, accused one Tushar Damgude, who was one of the panellists, and his five aides of assaulting him.
“There was a debate over a viral video showing portraits of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and Maharani Padmini placed on washroom doors at a banquet hall in Sikri in Haryana. During the debate, I raised the issue of how BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) leaders regularly indulge in insulting Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj,” he said.
कॉंग्रेस पक्षाचे प्रवक्ते श्री. हनुमंत पवार यांना दैनिक पुढारी कार्यालय, मित्र मंडळ चौक पुणे येथे भाजप गुंड तुषार दामगुडे याने बंदुकीचा धाक दाखवत मारहाण केली आहे. या घटनेचा आम्ही निषेध करतो.
देवेंद्र फडणवीस यांच्या आशिर्वादाने या मर्द मावळ्यांच्या महाराष्ट्रात गुंड मवाल्यांचं… pic.twitter.com/xwQ5ub0YbZ
— Harshwardhan Sapkal (@INCHarshsapkal) February 23, 2026
“During the programme, I received a call from our Maharashtra Congress president, Harshwardhan Sapkal. Immediately after the debate, I stepped outside to return his call. While speaking on the phone, Damgude and those with him began hurling abuses me. They asked me why I got angry after he (Damgude) spoke against Sapkal,” Pawar added.
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Pawar alleged Dagmude asked him why he was speaking against the BJP and also pointed to the pistol strapped at the latter’s waist.
“When I told them I was not scared of such threats, they slapped me and assaulted me,” Pawar claimed.
Swargate police station Senior Inspector Yashwant Nikam said a complaint has been received from Pawar, and the process of registering an offence is underway.
Meanwhile, Harshwardhan Sapkal condemned the alleged attack on Pawar.
With blessings of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, the “reign of goons” is spreading in the state, Sapkal said.
“Home Minister Fadnavis should not harbour such elements,” the Maharashtra Congress chief said in a social media post.
Damgude must be arrested, Sapkal demanded.
