Latest news with #Pro-GovindaLeague
NDTV
6 days ago
- Politics
- NDTV
Maharashtra Minister Flagged Rapido's "Illegal" Op, It Is Now Sponsoring His Son's Event
Mumbai: A Maharashtra minister who had carried out a viral sting against a ride-hailing platform is facing opposition criticism after it has emerged that the same company is sponsoring his son's event. Just a month ago, State Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik had exposed ride-hailing company Rapido's illegal bike taxi services in Mumbai. The opposition has pointed out that Rapido is the major sponsor for the Pro-Govinda League, a dahi handi competition organised by Mr Sarnaik's son, Purvesh, in Mumbai this year. On July 2, Mr Sarnaik booked a ride using the Rapido app to verify a senior official's claim that the app and its illegal bike taxi service were not functional. He booked a ride himself from his office in the Mantralaya to Dadar using a different name on the Rapido app. The bike reached his location within ten minutes. The rider was stunned to see the minister. "I am the Transport Minister. These rules are for your benefit," he was heard telling the visibly surprised rider in a video shared on his official X account. "You came here, for that I am giving you Rs 500," he said. However, the rider refused to accept the money. मंत्रालय येथूनचं ट्रॅप ऑपरेशन - अनधिकृत रॅपिडो बाईक टॅक्सी सेवांवर थेट कारवाई... #PratapSarnaik #TransportMinister #MaharashtraTransport #ActionAgainstIllegalBikeTaxi @rapidobikeapp — Pratap Baburao Sarnaik (@PratapSarnaik) July 2, 2025 He then said no action will be taken against the rider. "We will not gain anything by filing a case against a poor person like you. But the people behind the illegal operation should be punished. That is our intention," the minister said. Now, Congress leader Vijay Wadettiwar has said that Mr Sarnaik "secured" Rapido's sponsorship of his son's event by performing a "stunt". "The Transport Minister deserves congratulations for demonstrating to the Maharashtra government how to raise funds for their event. First, book a bike through a private app, then catch the poor, unsuspecting bike rider, perform a stunt claiming that riding a bike through the app is against the rules, make videos of it to promote how smart and alert the Transport Minister is, and build their own image. And then, obtain funding for the event from these private app companies that are in trouble - what a brilliant idea," he posted in Marathi on X on Thursday. स्टंटचे ' प्रताप ' करून मिळवली रॅपिडोची स्पॉन्सरशिप... परिवहन मंत्र्यांचे अभिनंदन केले पाहिजे, की त्यांनी आपल्या इव्हेंटसाठी पैसे कसे उभे करायचे याचा डेमो महाराष्ट्र सरकारला दाखवला. आधी एका खासगी अॅपवरून बाईक बुक करायची मग गरीब बिचाऱ्या बाईकवाल्याला पकडायचे, अॅपवरून बाईक चालवणे… — Vijay Wadettiwar (@VijayWadettiwar) August 7, 2025 "Given the state's financial condition, it seems that in the coming times, ministers from various departments will also have to resort to such stunts," he added. NCP (SP) MLA Rohit Pawar said it was the "abuse of ministerial power". It "clearly shows" that the Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis-led government does not "work for the people but for itself". Mr Sarnaik said that it was "wrong" to link the Pro-Govinda League with politics. He also pointed out that Rapido has been a sponsor since the league started, and it is the third year of the league. "I took action against the company on July 2, while the sponsorship was given on May 26. I fearlessly took action against the company that was sponsoring the event organised by my son. Instead of praising this action, some people are opposing it," he said. His son, Purvesh, also brushed aside the opposition's criticism. "Apart from Rapido, there are other sponsors too. Rohit Pawar should not bring politics into the game. This event has no relation to Pratap Sarnaik. I am the president of the Pro-Govinda League," he said.
News18
6 days ago
- News18
Month After Maharashtra Minister's Rapido Sting Operation, Company Becomes Sponsor For Son's Event
Last Updated: Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik ordered a crackdown against Rapido in July over 'illegal service'. Rapido will be sponsoring this year's Pro-Govinda League, a Dahi Handi competition in Mumbai organised by the son of Maharashtra Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik. The sponsorship comes just a month after Sarnaik publicly announced action against the bike taxi aggregator for operating in the city 'without permission". The incident dates back to July 2, when Sarnaik booked a ride using a random name to verify public complaints about unauthorised bike taxi services. Sarnaik personally caught Rapido operating illegally and led a government crackdown on the company. 'I myself used this illegal service despite the government not giving it the nod. Such companies operating without state sanction will be taken strictly to task," he had said. Following this, his Transport Department launched raids, seizing 78 Rapido bike taxis operating without permission. 'The minister caught the Rapido bike. He got publicity. And then he rapidly changed his position and brokered a sponsorship. It just proves that this government works for itself and not for the public. I want to ask whether this is not a misuse of the ministerial post?" he said. view comments First Published: Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
India Today
07-08-2025
- Politics
- India Today
Maharashtra minister draws ire over Rapido sponsorship after crackdown on firm
Maharashtra Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik's announcement of Rapido as the sponsor of the Pro Govinda League—made alongside former West Indian cricketer Chris Gayle and his son Purvesh Sarnaik, who is also the president of the sporting event—has drawn sharp criticism from the development has sparked a political row, as Sarnaik had, on July 2, caught a Rapido bike red-handed for illegally booking passengers through its app, despite the state government not having granted official permission to any bike taxi service. View this post on Instagram A post shared by India Today (@indiatoday)Pointing out the irony, NCP (SP) MLA Rohit Pawar, questioned the Eknath Shinde government's motives, using the hashtag #BlackmailGovernment, said, 'From this, it is clear that this government is not working for the people but for itself! But I want to ask the government—is this not an abuse of ministerial office?'advertisementMeanwhile, Congress leader Vijay Wedattiwar remarked, "Rapido's sponsorship was obtained by doing a 'Pratap' stunt. The Transport Minister should be congratulated for showing the Maharashtra government a demo of how to raise money for his event."Amid the backlash, Minister Sarnaik has appealed for the separation of sports from political discourse. "Any sport is a sport, it is not right to bring politics into it. Purvesh Pratap Sarnaik has been organising the Pro-Govinda League, an adventure sports competition that is the pride of Maharashtrian culture, for the last 3 years. This year, when this competition started from May 26, out of the 20-25 sponsoring organisations for this competition, Rapido is also one of the sponsoring organisations. This fact cannot be denied."The minister's office also clarified that Sarnaik took action against Rapido on July 2, when the matter first came to his notice, even though the company had been associated with the event since May 26."Not only this, but as per the instructions of Minister Sarnaik, the Transport Department on July 17 and 18, took action against the high-ranking officials of Rapido FIR has been registered at Amboli Police Station, Mumbai," the minister's office further response to the Opposition, the minister's public relations officer clarified, "Don't link sport to politics. FIR was filed against Rapido for wrongdoing despite they being sponsors. This should be appreciated not criticised." The FIR led to actions against Rapido, and the minister maintained that the company's sponsorship did not influence the legal Pro-Govinda League is credited with improving safety standards for traditional games, the transport minister's office pointed out. Sarnaik highlighted that "the traditional game of Dahi Handi is now played on mats and in safety due to 'Pro Govinda', which is a matter of joy for our Maharashtra." Despite the recent row over sponsorship, Sarnaik has urged that the Pro-Govinda League's association with Rapido should not overshadow the event's cultural significance. "Therefore, please do not link the game #ProGovinda with politics. This is an appeal made by Transport Minister Shri. Pratap Sarnaik," the Transport Minister's office said.- EndsTrending Reel
