Pune: After his comment on Puneri pagadis (turbans) drew flak, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar tried to salvage the situation by saying that he did not mean to hurt the sentiments of any community. Mr Pawar had said that everyone should wear the Mahatma Phule pagadi instead of the Puneri pagadi. The comment was perceived as anti-Brahmin as the Puneri pagadi is part of the traditional attire of Brahmins from Pune. Speaking at the NCP’s 19th anniversary programme in Pune, Mr Pawar had said that henceforth, only people wearing the Phule pagadi should be felicitated and not those wearing the Puneri pagadi. The comment drew severe backlash owing to its communal undertones.
Mr Pawar, while inaugurating Pune Municipal Corporation projects, including Dr Kadam’s Diagnostic Centre and Wall Murals at Padmavati, Pune-Satara Road, on Saturday, clarified that he had insisted on the Phule pagadi as he idolised social reformer Mahatma Phule and dalit icon Dr B.R. Ambedkar but had no intention of making light of the Puneripagadi.
