Video: Minister seen playing online rummy inside Maharashtra Assembly

Mumbai: Amid mounting farm distress in Maharashtra, controversial agriculture minister and NCP leader Manikrao Kokate came under fire once again. A purported video of his playing rummy, an online card game, inside Assembly went viral inviting severe criticism from the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi on Sunday.

A five-time MLA from Sinnar in Nashik district, Kokate in the past courted several controversies.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy CMs Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar, who is the NCP President, have not commented on the incident so far.

The video was brought to light by NCP (SP) Karjat-Jamkhed MLA Rohit Pawar and immediately went viral on social media platforms.

On his part, Kokate said: “The proceedings of Upper House ended and I was browsing to know what was happening in the Lower House. That's why I opened YouTube. At that time, advertisements popped up and in seconds, I switched to another page. I was skipping the advertisements. You can see my entire browsing history.”

Kokate said that he had not committed any sin. “When my work is transparent, why would I indulge in such things? I didn’t even notice the ad,” he said.

“The NCP which is in power cannot do anything without consulting the BJP even with countless agricultural issues pending and eight farmers dying by suicide every day. The Agriculture minister, with nothing else to do, seems to have time to play rummy. Come and visit agricultural lands some time,” said NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar.

NCP (SP) Working President Supriya Sule demanded resignation of Kokate. “It is shameful that the agriculture minister is busy gaming online while farmers are dying by suicide. Manikrao Kokate must resign,” she said.

Congress Legislative Party leader Vijay Wadettiwar said, "If a minister plays rummy inside the Assembly, it clearly shows he has no respect or seriousness for the dignity of his position. Should the Chief Minister really keep such a minister?”

Meanwhile, Shiv Sena (UBT) Rajya Sabha member Sanjay Raut claimed that Union Home Minister Amit Shah has decided to remove four ministers, including Kokate.

NCP (SP) national spokesperson Clyde Crasto said: “Kokate's video of him playing rummy on his phone in the Legislative Assembly proves how the BJP-led state government is gambling with the lives of farmers."

"Farmers are dying by suicide due to lack of support from the government and those who are their representatives, instead of voicing their plight in the House, are busy playing games. Manikrao Kokate and BJP are rubbing salt in the wounds of the farmers of Maharashtra, which is shameful.”

Veteran farmer leader Raju Shetti said Kokate is the worst agriculture minister of Maharashtra so far.

However, Shiv Sena deputy leader Sanjay Nirupam said: “It is expected from a people’s representative to focus on the important issues while in the House. I do not support such an act. However, it is not such a big political issue.”

Not the first controversy for Kokate

This is not the first time that Kokate landed in a controversy.

In April, Kokate had said: “Even a beggar does not take Re1 as alms, but here we are giving crop insurance for Rs 1. Even then, there are people who try to misuse it. Crop loans are being misused for other purposes like weddings.”

In February, Kokate and his brother Vijay were convicted by a court in a 30-year-old case involving alleged tampering of documents for illegal acquisition of two flats under the Chief Minister’s discretionary quota. Later, on appeal, the conviction order was stayed.