Overview

• At a rally in Karmala taluka of Solapur, Jagtap urged shoppers to ensure only Hindu traders profit during Diwali purchases.
• A video of the remarks circulated widely online, and Jagtap later defended himself by citing the Pahalgam terror attack and urging buyers to check sellers’ religion.
• Ajit Pawar called the comments completely wrong, said they were not acceptable to the NCP, and announced that a show-cause notice would be sent.
• Pawar noted he had previously warned Jagtap to stop making communal statements, saying the MLA had promised to change but did not.
• Opposition figures, including Congress spokesperson Gopal Tiwari, condemned the statement and pressed for stronger steps such as a police complaint or removal, as Pawar’s NCP faction governs with the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance.