Hunger strike: Maharashtra BJP MLAs caught having snacks during meeting

In an embarrassment to the BJP, two of its Pune MLAs were seen having snacks during a meeting on Thursday - at a time when the saffron party observed a day-long fast protesting against the washout of Parliament proceedings during both legs of the budget session.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP President Amit Shah too undertook fasts. In Mumbai, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis also undertook a fast.

The BJP legislatorsidentified as Bhimrao Tapkir and Sanjay Bhegade alias Bala were filmed while 'breaking' their fast mid-way during an official meeting convened in the Pune Council Hall by Guardian Minister Girish Bapat to discuss the kharif season and review government works. As per TV reports sandwiches, wafers and barfis were served.  

This comes close on the heels of the 'feast before fast' act of Congress, when BJP leader Harish Khurana tweeted an image that showed Delhi Congress chief Ajay Maken having food along with Amrinder Singh Lovely at a food joint - before the fasting session started. Some Congressmen were seen having chhole-bhature. Congress president Rahul Gandhi had come under sharp criticism by BJP in the social media after the incident.

Former chief minister and Maharashtra Congress president Ashok Chavan said that the "drama of fasting will not work anymore" as the people are no longer interested in false promises made by the government.

Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee spokesperson Sachin Sawant tweeted a short video of the two BJP MLAs eating during the meeting. "If somebody eats three hours before a fast, BJP finds it objectionable, but it is okay if they eat during the fast," Sawant said.