Sharad Pawar, the chief of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), has stirred controversy with his remarks regarding the Warkari sect, stating that 60% of its members have begun to adopt communal ideologies. In an interview prior to the 'All India Marathi Literary Conference of Women Officers in Government' in Delhi, he expressed concern over the increasing number of female preachers promoting regressive ideas. Pawar emphasized the need for progressive institutions to counteract the rise of extremist ideologies, which he claims are financially backed and thriving. He criticized the current political leadership for failing to address violence against women and highlighted a historical decline in the feminist movement in Maharashtra. His comments have provoked sharp reactions from leaders of the Mahayuti coalition, including BJP spokesperson Navnath Ban and Shiv Sena minister Sanjay Shirsat, who accuse him of defaming Hinduism and overlooking pressing issues like 'love jihad'. In contrast, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis defended the Warkari philosophy, asserting that attempts to infiltrate it with opposing ideas have been successfully countered.