Maharashtra Congress chief Harshwardhan Sapkal blasted the state government, accusing ministers of arrogance and ignoring farmers' struggles. He claimed six farmers end their lives every day even as the Agriculture Minister played games, demanding his immediate removal from the position for 'insulting' farmers
Maharashtra Congress president Harshwardhan Sapkal. File Pic.
Maharashtra Congress president Harshwardhan Sapkal on Monday slammed the state government, and accused the ministers and office-bearers of the ruling parties of displaying arrogance and insensitivity towards the plight of farmers, reported news agency PTI.
Sapkal claimed that six farmers died by suicide every day in Maharashtra even as Agriculture Minister Manikrao Kokate was observed playing an online game during the Monsoon Session 2025. He consequently demanded the immediate dismissal of the minister.
"The Agriculture Minister insults farmers, calls them beggars and claims they spend loan waiver amounts on marriages. Now he is seen playing a game on his mobile. What is wrong in protesting against the minister? Arrogance of power doesn't last long," Sapkal asserted in a statement.
Meanwhile, workers from the Ajit Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) assaulted activists of Chhava Sanghatna on Sunday after they confronted Maharashtra unit president Sunil Tatkare and threw playing cards in front of him during his press conference in Latur.
According to PTI, the Chhava Sanghatna activists were protesting against Minister Kokate following a viral video which purportedly showed him playing a game of rummy on his mobile phone during the recently concluded monsoon session of the state legislature.
After NCP (SP) MLA Rohit Pawar shared Kokate's video clip, the minister clarified that he was merely skipping a downloaded game that appeared on his mobile phone screen in the legislative council.
Furthermore, referring to the scuffle in Latur, Sapkal claimed that activists from the Chhava organisation had engaged in a peaceful protest by handing over a pack of playing cards to NCP state president Sunil Tatkare, reported PTI.
They were then allegedly assaulted by workers of the Ajit Pawar-led NCP.
"This is not democracy, it's mob rule. Not just MLAs, but even ministers and office-bearers have become arrogant," Sapkal contended. "The Chief Minister must show the courage to take action," he added.
The Congress leader also accused Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis of misleading the legislative assembly over alleged honeytrap incidents involving state ministers and bureaucrats.
"Photographic evidence has surfaced of individuals (connected to the honeytrap) with links to ministers who are close to the CM," he claimed, demanding a high-level probe into the matter.
"The government should act against its own ministers and party functionaries involved in misconduct," Sapkal demanded.
(With inputs from PTI)
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