Mumbai: Declaring an eight-day deadline to clear alleged encroachments, Rajya Sabha BJP MP Medha Kulkarni has issued a strong call for karseva to restore the dignity of a historic Pandav-era stepwell (locally known as a Barav) in Manchar, located in the Ambegaon tehsil of Pune district. The ultimatum follows a tense standoff and a physical altercation on Friday between the MP and Pune Rural Police personnel, who intervened to stop Hindu activists from marking the disputed site and placing a photograph of a deity. The focal point of the controversy is the ancient stepwell and an adjacent dargah. MP Kulkarni visited the site on the occasion of Shiv Jayanti to review the ground situation following growing concerns among local Hindu groups regarding the unauthorized alteration of the heritage structure. Speaking out against the alleged encroachments, Kulkarni asserted the historical rights of the Hindu community and announced a strict course of action if the local administration fails to act. "They [the local Muslim community] have put up boards, painted the structure, and constructed a mazaar here without any permission," Kulkarni alleged. "We have given them an eight-day deadline, failing which Hindus will carry out karseva to reclaim possession of this place." The situation at the site escalated rapidly during the MP's visit. According to local sources, Kulkarni urged activists from local Hindutva organizations to mark the alleged encroachments with coloured paint. Tensions flared when activists attempted to install a photograph of a Hindu deity at the site. MP Kulkarni attempted to write the sacred symbol 'Om' on the structure to assert Hindu claims. Anticipating a severe communal flare-up, the Pune Rural Police intervened immediately to halt these activities. This intervention resulted in a brief scuffle—involving light pushing and pulling—between the police forces and MP Kulkarni. A video of the altercation has since gone viral on social media, further fuelling the ongoing debate. In the video a police official is seen snatching the photograph of deity from the hands of an activist and running away and the MP chasing him in her attempt to recover the photo. Emphasizing the historical significance of the Barav, she added, "This place belongs to us, and we have ample proof to support our claim. Several proofs have already been submitted to the authorities to support that this is a Pandav-era stepwell. The place belongs to Hindus." Following the chain of incidents, authorities have significantly ramped up police deployment in Manchar to maintain law and order. Efforts are currently underway to initiate dialogues between leaders of both communities to defuse the communal tension and find a peaceful resolution before the deadline expires.
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