Eyewitnesses revealed that Devendra Shelekar, the organiser of the party, was drunk on the occasion.
The Republican Party of India (Athawale) sure seems to have a unique brand of patriotism. On the evening of Republic Day, atop a makeshift stage set up outside Mira Road (East) railway station, alleged bar dancers were thrusting and grooving to Bhojpuri numbers for the amusement of RPI (A) workers, against a banner featuring Dr B R Ambedkar and party chief Ramdas Athawale.
Passers-by said the organizer of the event, Devendra Shelekar, party's district president of Mira-Bhayander, was mocking the Constitution of India and its chief architect, Dr Ambedkar, in full public view. What's more, they blocked traffic to put up the show.
Eyewitnesses revealed that Shelekar was drunk on the occasion, perhaps forgetting that it was a dry day. Sandeep Lokhande, an ardent follower of the teachings of Ambedkar, said he was shocked to find bar dancers gyrating to Bhojpuri numbers, even as the banner on the stage announced that RPI(A) was celebrating Republic Day.
"I was passing by the railway station after work when I saw that the traffic was blocked completely by the stage. At first I thought it might be a cultural programme, but when I neared the stage I found bar girls dancing there, on the eve of Republic Day," exclaimed Sandeep Lokhande, a resident of Nallasopara.
"I was further outraged to see the photo of Dr Ambedkar on the same stage, and thought of reasoning with the organiser, but I presumed they were in a drunken state as they were dancing inappropriately, so I walked off," said Lokhande. Later, the event saw an orchestra programme followed by a feast.
Shelekar, however, said the activities were in keeping with the teachings of Dr Ambedkar and the Constitution. "We fed 10,000 persons on the evening of Republic Day and a woman was dancing to the tune of songs dedicated to Dr Ambedkar," he said.
Asked if he was drunk for the occasion, Shelekar rubbished the allegation, stating it was a move by opposition parties to defame him.
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