Now, Sena minister Shirsat in video with ‘wads of cash'
The video was shared online by Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut on Friday. Shirsat, Shiv Sena MLA from Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar and a close aide of deputy chief minister Eknath Shinde, has rubbished the claim, saying the bag contained only clothes and sundry items.
The video, which quickly went viral online, has evoked a flurry of reactions from the opposition. In his social media post while sharing the video, Raut said, 'Prime minister Narendra Modi and Union home minister Amit Shah need to see this exciting video. What's going on in the country? This video of a minister from Maharashtra explains a lot.'
Raut added that he 'felt sorry' for chief minister Devendra Fadnavis. 'The second name of helplessness is Fadnavis. How many incidents of embarrassment Fadnavis is going to tolerate silently?' he remarked.
Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray took a sharp jab at Shirsat, with a quick-witted comment. He said the purported cash in the bag was part of '50 khoke', referring to his party's allegation that each of the Shiv Sena MLAs who had defected with Eknath Shinde had been given ₹50 crore to switch loyalties.
Thackeray added, 'He (Shirsat) just received an IT notice. With this video, at least now CM Fadnavis will take action in the matter.'
Sena (UBT) group leader in the legislative assembly Bhaskar Jadhav went a step further, alleging that the video of Shirsat could expose a conflict within the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance, of which the Sena is a constituent. 'We can see money in the bag. First an inquiry into a hotel deal involving his son, then an IT notice, and now this video with a bag of money. It seems someone in the ruling alliance does not want to see Shirsat as a cabinet minister and so this video was leaked,' alleged Jadhav.
Shirsat defended himself, saying, 'It looks like I came back from travel and my travel bag was lying around with clothes and some other stuff. Even my pet dog is sitting nearby. It doesn't mean I am doing anything wrong.'
How did a candid video of the minister end up being recorded in his home, in the first place? Shirsat said he could not tell when it was shot. Since he is a leader of the common man, a range of people have access to his home and some 'enthusiastic' party workers may have recorded the video, he claimed.
This is the third time this week that Shirsat has been embroiled in controversy. On Monday, he was caught on the wrong foot over allegations that the auction of a hotel in Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar had been manipulated to favour his son Siddhant.
After the opposition levelled the allegation in the legislative assembly, chief minister Devendra Fadnavis announced an investigation into the matter. The demand was made by the Sena (UBT).
The video with the purported wads of cash is ill-timed for Shirsat, who on Thursday said he had received a notice from the Income Tax department, which has sought a clarification on a significant increase in his assets from 2019 to 2024.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
India Today
23 minutes ago
- India Today
Russia warns US, South Korea, Japan against security alliance targeting North Korea
Russia's foreign minister on Saturday warned the US, South Korea and Japan against forming a security partnership targeting North Korea as he visited his country's ally for talks on further solidifying their booming military and other Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov spoke in North Korea's eastern Wonsan city, where he met the country's leader, Kim Jong Un, and conveyed greetings from President Vladimir between Russia and North Korea have been flourishing in recent years, with North Korea supplying troops and ammunition to support Russia's war against Ukraine in return for military and economic assistance. That has raised concerns among South Korea, the US, and others that Russia might also transfer to North Korea sensitive technologies that can increase the danger of its nuclear and missile programs. Speaking with reporters after a meeting with his North Korean counterpart Choe Son Hui, Lavrov accused the US, South Korea and Japan of what he called their military buildups around North Korea.'We warn against exploiting these ties to build alliances directed against anyone, including North Korea and, of course, Russia,' he said, according to Russia's state Tass news US, South Korea and Japan have been expanding or restoring their trilateral military exercises in response to North Korea's advancing nuclear program. On Friday, the three countries held a joint air drill involving U.S. nuclear-capable bombers near the Korean Peninsula, as their top military officers met in Seoul and urged North Korea to cease all unlawful activities that threaten regional Korea views major US-led military drills as invasion rehearsals. It has long argued that it's forced to develop nuclear weapons to defend itself from US, military said Russia understands North Korea's decision to seek nuclear weapons. "The technologies used by North Korea are the result of the work of its own scientists. We respect North Korea's aspirations and understand the reasons why it is pursuing nuclear development,' Lavrov said, according to their meeting, Choe reiterated that North Korea 'unconditionally' supports Russia's fight against Ukraine, as Lavrov repeated Russia's gratitude for the contribution that North Korean troops made in efforts to repel a Ukrainian incursion into Russia's Kursk border city, the meeting venue, is where North Korea recently opened a mammoth beach resort that it says can accommodate nearly 20,000 his comments at the start of his meeting with Choe, Lavrov said that 'I am sure that Russian tourists will be increasingly eager to come here. We will do everything we can to facilitate this, creating conditions for this, including air travel,' according to the Russian Foreign Wonsan-Kalma tourist zone is at the center of Kim's push to boost tourism as a way to improve his country's troubled economy. However, prospects for the tourist complex aren't clear, as North Korea appears unlikely to fully reopen its borders and embrace Western tourists anytime soon.- EndsTune InTrending Reel
The Hindu
35 minutes ago
- The Hindu
TMC demands apology from Himanta for ‘writing Bengali as mother tongue' remark
Amid allegations by migrant workers from West Bengal of being targeted in BJP-ruled States, the Trinamool Congress (TMC) on Saturday raised objection to remarks by Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma that 'writing Bengali as mother tongue in the Census documents will quantify the number of foreigners in Assam'. 'Where does this hatred stem from? Why this contempt for Bengalis and Bangla?' the TMC wrote in a social media post. Mr. Sarma had said on Friday that people who seek to replace Assamese with Bengali in the electoral rolls would help the government get an idea about the number of 'foreigners' in the State. The TMC in a series of social media posts said the Assam Chief Minister has made an 'outrageous claim'. 'Let's remind him: our National Anthem is in Bengali. Our National Song is in Bengali. So when Himanta sings 'Jana Gana Mana' or 'Vande Mataram', does he automatically become an illegal Bangladeshi? By his own twisted logic, shouldn't his citizenship now be questioned?' the party said. The remarks came days after a Foreigners' Tribunal in Assam issued a notice to Uttam Kumar Brajabasi, a resident of Dinhata in Cooch Behar, declaring him an 'illegal migrant'. While the TMC and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said Mr. Brajabasi was a resident of the State, the Assam CM said 'Brajabasi is not a citizen of Bengal, where he went temporarily. He is a citizen of Assam'. TMC leader Sushmita Dev accused Mr. Sarma of 'divisive politics and racial profiling'. 'Bengali is the 7th most spoken language in the world. Yet, under BJP's rule, Bengali-speaking Indians are subjected to racial profiling, targeted harassment, and systematic persecution. By branding Bengalis as 'illegal Bangladeshis', the Assam CM has disgraced the very office he holds. He must apologise immediately,' Ms. Dev said.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Suvendu Adhikari's call to stay off Kashmir riles own party, NC slams it as ‘terrorism'
File photo: Bengal BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari (Picture credit: PTI) SRINAGAR: Bengal BJP leader of opposition Suvendu Adhikari's comments advising Bengal's people not to travel to Kashmir have drawn fire in J&K, with his own party repudiating the statement and the governing National Conference (NC) equating it with 'terrorism'. 'Kashmir is the crown of India, an integral part of our motherland. Every Indian holds Kashmir close to his heart,' former J&K BJP chief Ravinder Raina said in a video message where she asked Adhikari to visit the Valley and witness firsthand the 'patriotism of Kashmiris'. Adhikari had advised Bengal's people against going to places 'where Muslims are in a majority'. 'If you want to visit Kashmir, visit Jammu.' Referring to the Pahalgam terror attack, Adhikari said tourists were 'selectively killed' and advised people to visit Himachal Pradesh or Uttarakhand instead. Raina contested Adhikari's version of events. 'After the Pahalgam terror attack, it was local Kashmiris who rescued the wounded and later sheltered tourists to ensure their safety. Thousands of Kashmiris have laid down their lives for the nation's unity and security. Many of our own BJP workers from Kashmir were killed by terrorists. Countless Kashmiri policemen and security personnel have been martyred defending the country. If the Tricolour flies proudly in Kashmir today, it is because of the sacrifices and patriotism of Kashmiris,' Raina said. Adhikari's comments came after a meeting between J&K CM Omar Abdullah and Bengal's Mamata Banerjee in Kolkata on Thursday. After the talks, Mamata had appealed to the people of her state to travel to Kashmir and support its tourism. She also accepted Omar's invitation to visit the Valley, promising to do so after Durga Puja in Sept. Mamata's TMC has slammed Adhikari's comments, accusing him of indulging in a 'disgraceful, calculated act of communal provocation' and 'pushing the message of terrorists at home'. On Saturday, Omar's NC echoed the condemnation. NC spokesperson Tanvir Sadiq said he did not find 'any difference between him (Suvendu) and terrorists' and pointed out that the statement was contrary to efforts by the Centre and J&K govt to revive tourism. 'Terrorists also wanted that no one should visit Kashmir and this person (Adhikari) is saying the same. If you want to condemn the Pahalgam terror attack, you must visit Kashmir,' Sadiq added.
