Maharashtra Agriculture Minister Manikrao Kokate denied playing rummy on his phone during the Assembly session, calling it a smear campaign. After video clips surfaced, he said the game popped up briefly and warned of legal action against those defaming him. Kokate asserted he would resign if the allegations were proven true.
Minister Manikrao Kokate. Pic./File pic
Amid the fresh row over Maharashtra Agriculture Minister Manikrao Kokate allegedly playing a game during the Maharashtra Assembly Session, the minister himself claimed on Tuesday that he never played rummy on his mobile phone as alleged by opposition parties. Minister Manikrao Kokate also rejected demands to step down, stressing that a trivial issue had been blown out of proportion.
The Nationalist Congress Party leader warned of legal action against politicians who "defamed" him by sharing his video.
A political storm erupted on Sunday when NCP (SP) MLA Rohit Pawar posted a video clip of Kokate. In that video, Maharashtra's Agriculture Minister Manikrao Kokate was seen playing rummy on his mobile phone during the monsoon session of the state legislature.
On Monday, Pawar's colleague Jitendra Awhad posted two videos, claiming Kokate was playing 'Junglee Rummy' on his mobile phone during the monsoon session.
As reported by PTI, amid the growing clamour for Kokate's resignation, NCP state president Sunil Tatkare on Monday stated that the party head and Deputy CM Ajit Pawar would take serious note of the video and speak to the minister accordingly.
While asserting, "I don't know how to play online rummy,” the minister also stated during a press conference that “one needs an OTP, and a bank account needs to be linked to play the game. One can check if my mobile phone is linked to any such game. I was trying to skip a game which popped up on my screen for 10 to 15 seconds," as cited by PTI.
Asked about demands for his resignation, the minister said, "Tell me what has happened for which the resignation has been demanded. Have I molested someone? Have I stolen something or decided against farmers? Do I have a criminal background?"
Kokate said he would sue the opposition leaders who tried to "defame" him by circulating only a part of the video.
He further added, "They haven't shown the full video. It would have cleared the facts. This is a small issue, and it has been stretched too far."
Further defending himself, he said, "If the video is proved right, I will tender my resignation. The CM or Deputy CM can give a statement during the winter session of the state legislature, and I will tender my resignation to the Governor without even meeting the Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister," Kokate added.
(Wit PTI Inputs)
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