Latest news with #RohitPawar
Time of India
5 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Sangli contractor death: Opposition targets Maharashtra govt, questions pending payments
Kolhapur/Pune/Mumbai: The opposition targeted state govt after a 35-year-old contractor from Sangli, who was working under the Jal Jeevan Mission, died by suicide allegedly as govt was yet to clear his Rs 1.4 crore dues. NCP (SP)'s state general secretary Rohit Pawar said Harshal Patil's death was not a case of suicide, but a murder by the corrupt system. Speaking to reporters in Pune, Rohit Pawar claimed contractors have not received payment for the work done with the help of subcontractors. Pointing out to the "insensitive reality behind govt's popular schemes", Congress MLA Vijay Wadettiwar said farmers were committing suicide, and now this govt has brought contractors to the point of suicide as well, You Can Also Check: Mumbai AQI | Weather in Mumbai | Bank Holidays in Mumbai | Public Holidays in Mumbai Harshal Patil, was found dead hanging from a tree on his farm in Sangli on Wednesday, prompting his family to allege that he was under stress as the payment for work done under the govt's Jal Jeevan Mission was pending. The family claimed a payment of Rs 1.4 crore was due and Harshal also had a loan of Rs 65 lakh. The opposition parties questioned state govt over payments to contractors. Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut, in a post on X, said, "Many Harshal Patils are dying by suicide daily in Maharashtra. The govt is committing these murders." Rohit Pawar said: "Several other contractors are also yet to receive payments and are facing financial stress. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Cardiologists Recommend: Eat 1 Teaspoon Tonight – Wake Up With a Flatter Stomach Hollywood News | USA Click Here Undo I appeal to all of them not to take any drastic step like Patil." He demanded financial records from govt on dues of contractors. He also accused the state of favouring some private contractors over govt contractors in allotment of projects. He said, "The PWD is not giving projects to the govt contractors. Instead, it is engaging private contractors to carry out projects, for which huge funds are being allocated. " Rohit further said, "Patil might have got the sub-contract for the work, but if the main contractor has not received the payment, how can s/he pay the sub-contractor? Therefore, we demand the state govt bring out all the facts and figures of the works being executed through contractors and how much of their dues are pending with the govt.
Time of India
22-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Agri minister Manikrao Kokate seeks inquiry into card playing allegations, says will resign if found guilty
Nashik/Pune: State agriculture minister Manikrao Kokate on Tuesday again dismissed the allegations that he was "playing an online game of cards" on his cellphone during a state assembly session and said he was ready to face an inquiry. NCP (SP) MLA Rohit Pawar, however, claimed that the minister was lying and shared a video of the minister, along with the audio from the session. He insisted that Kokate resign before facing a probe. Kokate, who was in Nashik on Tuesday, said he would seek an inquiry into a video released by his political rivals and tender his resignation if found guilty during the winter session. Kokate also announced his intention to sue all those trying to defame him. When reporters brought up the opposition's demand, Kokate asked: "What should I give my resignation for? Have I committed any crime?" "I am going to write to the chief minister, deputy chief minister, the chairperson of the legislative council, and the Speaker of the assembly to conduct an inquiry into the episode and make public the report during the next winter session. If found guilty, I will tender my resignation to the Governor without even meeting the chief minister or the deputy chief minister," Kokate said. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Up to 70% off | Libas Purple Days Sale Libas Undo He further said when he goes to Mumbai next week, he would contact his lawyers, issue notices to all politicians involved in defaming him, and file a defamation suit. "I have been in the House for over 25 years and would never indulge in acts that violate the norms. I have already clarified that when I wanted some updates on my cellphone, I opened it only to encounter a pop-up advertisement of the online game. I struggled to skip the advertisement despite attempting multiple times. There is a complete video, and it is longer than 17 seconds. It reveals the truth, as I was able to skip the advertisement after multiple attempts. I will, therefore, seek the call records of the politicians engaged in the act and file defamation cases against them," said Kokate. When asked about chief minister Devendra Fadnavis's statement that playing cards in the House was inappropriate, Kokate said, "Currently, I have neither briefed the CM (Devendra Fadnavis) nor the deputy CM (Ajit Pawar) on the issue. The CM's statement might have been based on the media reports." Does Not Take 42 Seconds To Skip Advertisement: Rohit Pawar A few days ago, Rohit Pawar had uploaded a video of Kokate without the background audio on his X handle. When Kokate claimed on Tuesday that he was surfing on his cellphone when there was no discussion going on in the assembly, the Karjat-Jamkhed MLA reposted it with the audio on the same social media platform. "Respecting the assembly's decorum, I first posted the video without the audio. However, since the state agriculture minister is lying, I had to repost it with the background audio. He was seen playing the game of cards on his cellphone while issues about a tribal community were being discussed in the assembly," Rohit said on X. He reiterated it while speaking to reporters in Karjat Jamkhed on Tuesday. Countering Kokate's claim that he was surfing on his cellphone when the advertisement of the online game popped up and he was skipping it, Rohit said, "It does not take 42 seconds to skip an advertisement. If the minister says that he will face a probe, he should resign and then appear for the inquiry." The MLA said that farmers expected much from the state govt, but the agriculture minister has been making controversial statements about them in the last four years. "When the farming community needs support, he is playing a game of cards. Such politicians should not hold a cabinet minister's post," Rohit Pawar added.
NDTV
22-07-2025
- Politics
- NDTV
'Rummy' Turn In Maharashtra Politics After Minister Caught In Card Row
Mumbai: The cards are on the table, so to speak, in the Maharashtra Assembly after videos of Agriculture Minister Manikrao Kokate tapping away at a game on his smartphone - while the House was in session - were widely shared online and pushed the ruling Mahayuti alliance into a corner. Led by NCP patriarch Sharad Pawar's grandnephew, Rohit Pawar, the opposition has accused the Nationalist Congress Party leader of playing online rummy during a discussion on livestock support for farmer from tribal communities, a topic within an Agriculture Minister's wheelhouse. Videos shared by Mr Pawar do seem to show Manikrao Kokate playing a card game; a 19-second clip posted on X showed him swiping intently and purposefully at a stack of cards on the screen. Mr Kokate, meanwhile, has denied the charge. He told reporters he does not play the game in question - i.e., rummy - and was trying to open video-sharing app YouTube when an ad for the card game popped up on his phone. It is unclear why he was trying to open YouTube. He also threatened legal action against those who had "defamed" him. Mr Kokate said he intends to write to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis - who was forced to censure the senior minister after the videos were circulated - to 'investigate' the video. The rummy storm erupted Sunday after Rohit Pawar posted the videos on X. ' #जंगली_रमी_पे_आओ_ना_महाराज …!' सत्तेतल्या राष्ट्रवादी गटाला भाजपला विचारल्याशिवाय काहीच करता येत नाही म्हणूनच शेतीचे असंख्य प्रश्न प्रलंबित असताना, राज्यात रोज ८ शेतकरी आत्महत्या करत असताना सुद्धा काही कामच नसल्याने कृषिमंत्र्यांवर रमी खेळण्याची वेळ येत असावी. रस्ता भरकटलेल्या… — Rohit Pawar (@RRPSpeaks) July 20, 2025 A sarcastic swipe at the NCP faction led by Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar - which broke away from Sharad Pawar's NCP in 2023 to join the BJP-led ruling alliance - accompanied the post. "Since the NCP faction in power cannot do anything without consulting the BJP... even with countless agricultural issues pending and eight farmers committing suicide daily, the Agriculture Minister, with nothing else to do, seems to have time to play rummy." Mr Pawar underlined his jab with a follow-up post this morning, calling out "misguided ministers" and a government that ignores, he said, "the desperate plea of farmers..." #राजीनामा_द्यावाच_लागेल! सभागृहाचं कामकाज संपलं होतं हे कृषिमंत्री महोदयांचं विधान धडधडीत खोटं आहे. उलट विकासाच्या मूळ प्रवाहापासून दूर असलेल्या आदिवासी बांधवांना दुधाळ जनावरं देण्याच्या अत्यंत महत्त्वाच्या विषयावर सभागृहात चर्चा सुरु होती, पण 'ओसाड गावच्या पाटलांना' या चर्चेत… — Rohit Pawar (@RRPSpeaks) July 22, 2025 The videos were quickly picked up and shared by other opposition leaders, including Jitendra Awhad of the NCP (Sharad Pawar), and the clamour for Mr Kokate's resignation grew. Pressure on Ajit Pawar to sack his party leader grew after Mr Fadnavis' censure - the BJP leader, however, offered a measure of support by claiming Mr Kokate wasn't actually trying to play the game - and rumblings from the third member of the Mahayuti, Eknath Shinde's Shiv Sena. VIDEO | Maharashtra Minister Caught Playing Rummy In Assembly. His Defence Mr Kokate has also insisted, again, that he does not know how to play rummy online. "You need an OTP and a linked bank account to play the game... can check if my phone is linked to any such game. I was trying to skip a game that popped up on my screen for fifteen seconds." And he responded fiercely to demands for his resignation, saying, "What have I done to resign? Let the Chief Minister conduct a probe... and if I am guilty then I will resign immediately." "I have been an MLA for 25 years and I know the protocol of conduct in the House." Kokate's Birthday Wish For Ajit Pawar While this controversy plays out, Mr Kokate seemed to be currying favour with party boss Ajit Pawar this morning, orchestrating a grand 'happy birthday' message for the 66-year-old. 'Happy birthday, dada (as Mr Pawar is referred to)' was written across 11 acres of agricultural land within the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation area. The message was etched across a field in Mr Kokate's Sinnar constituency. And, of course, also featured a large photograph of the birthday boy, i.e., Mr Pawar.
United News of India
22-07-2025
- Politics
- United News of India
Maha awaits resignation, says Rohit Pawar amid growing controversy around Agriculture Minister
Mumbai, July 21 (UNI) Maharashtra is eagerly waiting for the resignation of Agriculture Minister Manikrao Kokate, said NCP-SP MLA Rohit Pawar today, launching a fresh attack on the minister and the Ajit Pawar-led NCP group. Pawar criticised the lack of direct action against Minister Kokate, even though the NCP leadership has taken disciplinary steps against party officials and workers involved in the recent incident in Latur. The incident involved alleged assaults on office-bearers of the Chhava organisation who were protesting against Kokate. Adding to the controversy, a photograph of Minister Kokate allegedly playing the card game Rummy on his mobile phone during the ongoing monsoon session of the Maharashtra Legislature went viral on social media. Rohit Pawar shared the image, intensifying public and political scrutiny. In his defence, Kokate claimed the image was misinterpreted and that he was merely deleting a Rummy game advertisement from his phone. He termed it a deliberate attempt to malign his image. Despite his explanation, opposition leaders and activists have demanded strong action. Prominent social activist Anjali Damania has urged Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to immediately sack Kokate. UNI
Scroll.in
21-07-2025
- Politics
- Scroll.in
Maharashtra minister's video playing online card game on phone in Assembly sparks row
A political row erupted in Maharashtra on Sunday after a purported video of state Agriculture Minister Manikrao Kokate playing an online card game in the Assembly was shared on social media by Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) leader Rohit Pawar. In a post on X, Rohit Pawar quipped that Kokate appeared to have 'time to play rummy' since the Ajit Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party faction could not take any decision without the Bharatiya Janata Party. He added: 'Therefore, when scores of farm issues are pending and every day eight farmers are ending their lives in Maharashtra, the agriculture minister does not seem to have any work.' Kokate, a member of the Nationalist Congress Party group led by Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, represents the Sinnar seat in the Nashik district. The faction is part of the ruling Maha Vikas Aghadi alliance in the state, which includes the BJP and the Shiv Sena group led by former Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. ' #जंगली_रमी_पे_आओ_ना_महाराज …!' सत्तेतल्या राष्ट्रवादी गटाला भाजपला विचारल्याशिवाय काहीच करता येत नाही म्हणूनच शेतीचे असंख्य प्रश्न प्रलंबित असताना, राज्यात रोज ८ शेतकरी आत्महत्या करत असताना सुद्धा काही कामच नसल्याने कृषिमंत्र्यांवर रमी खेळण्याची वेळ येत असावी. रस्ता भरकटलेल्या… — Rohit Pawar (@RRPSpeaks) July 20, 2025 Commenting on the row, Kokate claimed that someone else had downloaded the game on his phone, ANI reported. He claimed that he was merely checking the proceedings of the other House on YouTube and the game popped up while skipping the advertisement during the video. He also claimed that it was 'a solitaire game, not rummy'. Kokate added: 'The full video should come out. This is a conspiracy. The Opposition's tactics will never succeed.' #WATCH | Nashik | On being accused by NCP-SCP MLA Rohit Pawar on 'X' of playing rummy while in the Maharashtra Assembly session, Maharashtra Minister Manikrao Kokate, says, "Rohit Pawar has become addicted to playing rummy. It wasn't rummy, but solitaire on my phone. Some PA or… — ANI (@ANI) July 20, 2025 Nevertheless, the video drew criticism from across party lines. Supriya Sule, Lok Sabha MP from the Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar), demanded Kokate's resignation. 'Seven hundred and fifty farmers have committed suicide in three months and the agriculture minister of Maharashtra is playing these games,' India Today quoted her as saying. 'He should resign for this dirty act. Otherwise, the chief minister should remove him.' Kishori Pednekar from the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) said that Kokate had been found 'on the wrong foot' earlier as well and described his behaviour as an 'insult to democracy', The Indian Express reported. However, BJP leader and state minister Sudhir Mungantiwar was quoted as saying by The Indian Express that there was no legal provision under which action could be taken against Kokate, adding that 'at best, he will be warned '.
