Manikrao Kokate, who is under fire for allegedly playing an online card game in the Legislative Council and making controversial remarks comparing the government to a "beggar", has denied all allegations. He currently holds the agriculture portfolio and is a member of the Ajit Pawar-led NCP
Ajit Pawar (above) advised ministers to be mindful of their public conduct and statements. File Pic
Maharashtra Deputy CM and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Ajit Pawar on Thursday stated that a decision regarding action against his cabinet colleague and party leader Manikrao Kokate will be taken after meeting him next week and holding discussions with CM Devendra Fadnavis, reported the PTI.
Manikrao Kokate, who is under fire for allegedly playing an online card game in the Legislative Council and making controversial remarks comparing the government to a "beggar", has denied all allegations. He currently holds the agriculture portfolio and is a member of the Ajit Pawar-led NCP.
Speaking to reporters, Ajit Pawar advised ministers to be mindful of their public conduct and statements.
“Ministers must be careful with their behaviour and comments in public,” he said, according to the PTI.
Referring to the controversies surrounding Kokate, Ajit Pawar added, “I will be meeting Kokate on Monday or Tuesday next week to discuss the video showing him allegedly playing a mobile game during the legislative session, as well as his ‘beggar’ remark. Following that, the CM and I will decide what action should be taken,” as per the PTI.
Kokate, who represents the Sinnar constituency in Nashik district of Maharashtra, has strongly refuted the accusations. He claimed he doesn’t even know how to play online rummy and has threatened defamation proceedings against opposition MLAs.
He has also said he would write to the presiding officers of the legislature to request a formal inquiry and pledged to resign if found guilty.
Earlier this year, Kokate stirred controversy by allegedly comparing farmers to beggars, stating:
“Even a beggar does not accept Re 1 in alms, but here we are giving crop insurance for Re 1. Yet, some people try to misuse it," the PTI reported on Thursday.
In a later clarification, Kokate remarked, “The government doesn’t give Re 1 to farmers, it takes Re 1 from them. The government is a beggar.”
The opposition has been demanding Kokate’s resignation over these controversies.
Earlier this week, the Congress had on Tuesday sought to corner Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis over his under-fire cabinet colleague Manikrao Kokate and sought to know if he lacks courage to sack the latter who is facing criticism on 'rummy' row and 'beggar' remarks.
Maharashtra Congress president Harshwardhan Sapkal sought to know if Fadnavis lacks courage to sack Kokate from the cabinet over his sensitive and brazen remarks.
(with PTI inputs)
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