Amit Shah Visits Pune Amid Congress Protest

Union Home Minister Amit Shah arrived in Pune on Saturday to attend the Lokmanya Tilak National Award 2026 ceremony.

The ceremony was held to confer the award on National Security Adviser Ajit Doval for his exceptional contribution to India's national security.

However, the Congress party staged a protest against Shah's visit at City Pride Chowk, prompting heavy police deployment to maintain law and order.

A large number of Congress workers gathered at the protest site and raised slogans against the Union government.

The protest was organised against the Delhi Police's alleged lathi charge on students protesting the NEET paper leak at Jantar Mantar last month.

The Congress party held Amit Shah, in his capacity as Union Home Minister, politically responsible for the police action and demanded accountability.

Ahead of the visit, the BJP criticised the Congress protest and said it would hold a counter-protest, accusing the opposition party of trying to politicise Shah's visit and disrupt an important public event.

In view of the political protests, Pune Police tightened security arrangements across key locations in the city.

Additional personnel were deployed to ensure the programmes ran smoothly and to prevent any law-and-order issues.

The visit and the protest have sparked a significant political debate in the city, with both parties exchanging accusations.

The Lokmanya Tilak National Award is a prestigious award that recognises outstanding contributions to various fields, including national security.

Ajit Doval's award is a testament to his exceptional service to the nation, and the ceremony was attended by several dignitaries.

The protest and the counter-protest have highlighted the ongoing political tensions in the country, with both parties trying to assert their dominance.

The situation was brought under control by the police, and the ceremony was held without any major incidents.

The visit of Amit Shah to Pune has sparked a significant political debate, and the city remains on high alert due to the ongoing tensions.

In conclusion, the visit of Amit Shah to Pune has been marked by protests and counter-protests, highlighting the ongoing political tensions in the country.