‘Government is beggar’: Maharashtra minister Manikrao Kokate sparks row with fresh comment; CM Fadnavis terms it ‘inappropriate’ | India News

Maharashtra agriculture minister Manikrao Kokate, left, and chief minister Devendra Fadnavis

NEW DELHI: Maharashtra agriculture minister Manikrao Kokate who was allegedly caught enjoying rummy on his cell phone throughout the monsoon session of the state legislature landed into one other controversy Tuesday after referring to the federal government as a “beggar” whereas making an attempt to clarify a earlier assertion about farmers.Earlier this 12 months, Kokate confronted backlash for allegedly evaluating farmers to beggars.”Even a beggar does not take Re 1 in alms, but here we are giving crop insurance for Re 1. Even then, some people try to misuse it,” he had mentioned, as reported by PTI. On Tuesday, whereas clarifying this assertion, he instructed reporters, “The government doesn’t give Re 1 to farmers, it takes Re 1 from them. The government is a beggar.”Kokate, who represents the Sinnar constituency in Nashik district, claimed that 5 lakh to five.3 lakh bogus functions below the now-scrapped Re 1 crop insurance coverage scheme had been rejected, and corrective steps had been taken. The scheme has since been changed with the Prime Minister Crop Insurance Scheme.Reacting to the minister’s newest remarks, chief minister Devendra Fadnavis mentioned as quoted by PTI, “If he has made such a comment, it is inappropriate for ministers to speak in this manner. We have taken corrective measures in the crop insurance scheme as we saw insurance companies benefitting and not farmers.”“We have taken steps to make an investment of Rs 5,000 crore every year in the agriculture sector. Maharashtra’s economy is good despite challenges,” he added.NCP (SP) MP Supriya Sule additionally criticised Kokate’s feedback, calling them insensitive. “It is an insult to the hard work of all the chief ministers of the state so far and the people of the state. We will never tolerate this insult,” she mentioned in a put up on X.Last week, NCP (SP) MLA Rohit Pawar shared a video that appeared to indicate minister Kokate enjoying Rummy on his cellphone throughout the monsoon session of the Maharashtra legislature. The following day, Jitendra Awhad additionally posted two extra movies, claiming Kokate was enjoying ‘Junglee Rummy’ throughout the proceedings.Dismissing the allegations, Kokate instructed PTI, “I don’t know how to play online rummy. 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,” He additionally threatened authorized motion towards opposition leaders for allegedly defaming him by circulating the video.When requested in regards to the mounting requires his resignation, Kokate pushed again strongly, saying, “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?”Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis additionally voiced disapproval over the video, prompting a response from Kokate, who mentioned, as cited by PTI, “The CM’s reaction is based on media reports. It’s true I didn’t brief him”.Kokate maintained he has adopted legislative guidelines for the previous 25 years, however authorized hassle continues to mount. A Justice of the Peace court docket in Nashik district not too long ago convicted Kokate and his brother Sunil Kokate for submitting faux paperwork to safe flats below a authorities quota. They had been sentenced to 2 years of imprisonment.Their conviction was stayed by the district court docket on March 5.