Pune VIDEO: Protests Erupt In Pimpri-Chinchwad Against PCMC Commissioner Shekhar Singh; Accusations Of Casteism Raised

Pimpri-Chinchwad: A protest has erupted again in Pimpri-Chinchwad against PCMC Commissioner Shekhar Singh. The protest, in response to alleged disrespect shown by senior PCMC officials to Pimpri MLA Anna Bansode, was conducted on Monday afternoon. 

Protesters have called this incident a result of casteism and have said that this is not the first time PCMC Chief Shekhar Singh has done this to MLA Anna Bansode. This situation has resulted in heavy traffic congestion in the PCMC Administrative Building area.

On 7th July, members of the Ajit Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) had protested against the draft Development Plan (DP) proposed by PCMC. Bansode, who is also the Deputy Speaker of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly, was leading the protest. 

Apparently, senior PCMC officials refused to meet him, which has sparked today’s protest. This protest, not bound to any single political party, is being carried out by multiple social and political organisations. 

Slogans were raised against PCMC Commissioner Shekhar Singh in this protest, which took place near Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Chowk in Pimpri.

Baba Kamble, who was leading the protest, said, “MLA Anna Bansode had gone to PCMC to submit a request, but neither the PCMC Commissioner nor any official came to receive it. Whenever any minister comes, PCMC officials are always present. But just because Anna Bansode is a Dalit, he faces disrespect. PCMC should apologise.”

Amol Dambale, another protester, said, “The PCMC Commissioner has done work that is casteist. He has disrespected MLA Anna Bansode multiple times since he became Deputy Speaker. He should be removed from PCMC, and a case under the Atrocity Act must be registered against him.”

This protest has resulted in significant traffic congestion in the Pimpri area, especially on the service road of the Old Mumbai-Pune Highway.