Pune (Maharashtra) [India], August 1 (ANI): Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Saturday welcomed Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah in Pune, where the latter is on a two-day visit.
Shinde received the Union Home Minister with a bouquet during a courtesy meeting.
In a post on X, the Deputy Chief Minister shared photographs from the meeting and said that Amit Shah was welcomed during his visit to Pune.
https://x.com/mieknathshinde/status/2083431809426325799
“Union Home and Cooperation Minister @AmitShah, during his two-day visit to Pune, was welcomed this morning with a courtesy meeting and a bouquet”, he said.
In Pune, Amit Shah will honour National Security Advisor Ajit Doval with the ‘Lokmanya Tilak National Award 2026’.
In a post on X, the office of Amit Shah posted on Friday, “Union Home and Cooperation Minister Shri @AmitShah ji will honor Shri Ajit Doval ji with the ‘Lokmanya Tilak National Award 2026’ tomorrow.”
Meanwhile, a political face-off is likely in Pune during Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s visit, with the Congress announcing a protest against the Union Minister while the BJP has sought permission from the police to hold a counter-demonstration at the same location.
In a statement, Pune City (East) Congress President and former Mayor Prashant Jagtap appealed to party workers, students and citizens to assemble at Seven Loves Chowk on Shankarsheth Road to protest against the Union Home Minister.
The Congress alleged that students protesting over the NEET examination paper leak were subjected to police action under the directions of the Union Government and claimed that several protesters were injured and cases were later registered against them. The party said the protest was aimed at opposing what it termed the Centre’s “authoritarian approach” towards students and youth.
On July 29, the Pune city unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) wrote to Pune Police Commissioner Amitesh Kumar seeking permission to organise a counter-demonstration at Seven Loves Chowk in response to the Congress protest.
In its letter, the BJP termed the Congress protest an attempt to “malign” Amit Shah’s official visit and the Lokmanya Tilak National Award function. The party described the award ceremony for NSA Ajit Doval as a matter of pride for Pune and alleged that the Congress was attempting to derive political mileage by opposing the event.
The BJP further praised Amit Shah’s role in key decisions, including the abrogation of Article 370, measures against Left Wing Extremism, the law banning instant triple talaq and the implementation of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, stating that the Union Home Minister has consistently worked in the national interest.
The BJP also stated in its letter that it would oppose the Congress agitation and expose what it called the party’s “political opportunism”. It requested the police to grant permission for its demonstration and make necessary security arrangements. (ANI)
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