Fadnavis pushes man pleading for state's assistance in Nagpur floods aftermath

Maharashtra Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis pushed away a man pleading for the state government's assistance in dealing with the aftermath of the Nagpur floods on Sunday. Shiv Sena UBT leader Priyanka Chaturvedi posted a video of the incident on X, writing, 'Arrogance of power makes one blind to people’s hardships'.

A video of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has gone viral in which he appeared to lose his cool and pushed a man while he was inspecting parts of flood-hit Nagpur on Sunday.

Fadnavis represents the Nagpur South West seat of the Orange City, which is the winter capital of Maharashtra.

Even as the Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi comprising Congress, Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena group, and the Sharad Pawar-led NCP lashed out at Fadnavis, the BJP gave its own version of the story.

After statements of political leaders and criticism on social media platforms, the BJP in a post on X clarified as to what exactly happened.

“Fadnavis was visiting the flood-affected areas when this person and many others asked him to come to their houses too. But, it is not possible for the leader to go to everyone's house. As the police stopped him, Fadnavis took the man's hand and pulled him close from the crowd and said, 'Chal, baba is coming to your house too', and he took his hand and went to his house!”

The BJP said that those who are criticising never go to the public and accused the Shiv Sena (UBT) and Congress of leaving the work of a “constructive opposition” and doing the work of a “trolling gang”.

After the video went viral, the state Congress described Fadnavis as being “arrogant”. “This is not the way to deal with voters,” it said.

The Shiv Sena (UBT) said: “This is arrogance of power.”

Shiv Sena (UBT) Rajya Sabha member Priyanka Chaturvedi said: “Arrogance of power makes one blind to people’s hardships. Look how unconstitutional deputy Fadnavis pushes a man who’s asking for help in the Nagpur floods.”

Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi founder Prakash Ambedkar said: "Drunk on power? Corrupt with power? Or, both? Fadnavis’ reaction and indifference to the people’s complaints, caught in the middle of floods, which has claimed at least 4 lives, in Nagpur says a lot about Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena and BJP government’s attitude. Honestly, I am not surprised. I have seen this on countless occasions. For years, Akola has been at the receiving end of his indifference attitude under his guardianship and the representation of the BJP.”

NCP national spokesperson Clyde Crasto said: "Instead of spending his 'nights' in disguise to bring down the MVA government, Fadnavis should have spent his 'days' serving people of his hometown Nagpur. Had he done that, he probably would not have faced the 'anger' of these people. His behavior here is unacceptable”.