Team Goemkarponn
PUNE: Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar landed in an awkward situation on Sunday after reacting with “who Parrikar?” when a resident invoked late Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar’s style of surprise inspections to highlight local civic issues.
Pawar, accompanied by Pune Municipal Commissioner Naval Kishore Ram and senior officials, was touring parts of the city, including Keshav Nagar in Hadapsar, to take feedback from citizens on civic concerns such as traffic congestion. While responding to complaints, he apologised for arriving late and assured residents that the government was working to resolve problems swiftly.
During the interaction, a woman suggested Pawar emulate Parrikar, recalling how the former Goa leader was known for unannounced visits to assess ground realities. She urged the Deputy CM to personally check the traffic situation during peak hours. Pawar, appearing taken aback, interrupted her with the query, “who Parrikar?”, prompting the woman to clarify that she was referring to the late BJP stalwart.
The exchange left the woman visibly upset, and she remarked that the traffic situation had become so unbearable that some residents were considering moving out of the locality.
Parrikar, an IIT-Bombay alumnus, served as Goa’s Chief Minister for three terms and was India’s Defence Minister between 2014 and 2017. Fondly remembered for his simplicity and accessibility, he was known to travel by scooter across Goa to directly understand people’s problems.
