Karjat MLA Rohit Pawar has voiced strong criticism against Chief Justice of India Surya Kant's recent remarks likening unemployed youth to "parasites and cockroaches." Pawar stated the language was "unacceptable" and indicative of an "extreme intolerance towards critics and those who ask questions."
The legislator, a leader within the Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar), asserted that such comments from a constitutional authority are deeply hurtful, appearing to mock an entire generation facing economic hardship, broken promises, and a dearth of opportunities. He stressed that individuals like RTI activists exposing corruption, journalists probing transparency, and students speaking truth to power are, in fact, the "true pillars of democracy."
Pawar, representing the Karjat-Jamkhed constituency, acknowledged a profound respect for the Indian judiciary. However, he argued that lumping unemployed youth and RTI activists into the same category, particularly when the remarks may have originated in discussions about fake degrees and senior advocate designations, was an inappropriate conflation. He urged the judiciary to exercise "sensitivity, restraint, and constitutional wisdom" when addressing young people.
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The remarks, reported as being made on May 16, 2026, have drawn Pawar's attention while other reports indicate recent political activity, including his criticism of the Maharashtra government's request for a CBI probe into the plane crash that killed Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar in late January 2026. While these past criticisms relate to different issues, they place Pawar in a position of public commentary.
Earlier in the year, in February 2026, Pawar also expressed disapproval of the Maharashtra government's push for a CBI investigation into the plane crash that claimed Ajit Pawar's life. He alleged the move would lead to delays in the inquiry process.
An unrelated report from April 2025 noted a setback for Pawar in local politics with a no-confidence motion filed against the chairperson of the Karjat civic body.
