Maharashtra minister Manikrao Kokate found playing rummy in Assembly, Opposition calls it ‘insult to democracy'
Sharing the video, Pawar said, 'NCP (led by Ajit Pawar), cannot do anything without consulting the BJP. And 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 and is spending time playing rummy.' Kokate is an MLA of the NCP faction led by Ajit Pawar from the Sinnar Assembly constituency.
Reacting to the video, BJP leader Sudhir Mungantiwar said, 'There is no law under which action can be taken against minister Kokate. At best, he will be warned… I had told Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to make a law against such activities, but he said the right is with the Central government.'
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Kishori Pednekar said, 'This is not the first time minister Kokate has been caught on the wrong foot. Earlier, too, he was found making irresponsible statements. The way he is behaving is nothing but an insult to democracy.'
Pednekar said, 'There was a time when MLAs were held in high esteem but today they are stooping low every day.'
NCP (SP) MLA Jitendra Awhad said, 'Where is he playing rummy? He is playing right in the state legislature. Kokate is a minister, but he has not replied to even one poser in the House. The minister is found playing Junglee Rummy, which has destroyed several families in Maharashtra. These ministers have no shame and have no respect for the State legislature. Now I want to see how Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar will react. I am curious what he will do.'
In the Karnataka Assembly, when some members were found watching their cellphones, they were made to sit at home, said Awhad.
Awhad said if the ministers were genuinely concerned about farmers' issues, they would not be behaving as they currently are. 'The state legislature is a temple of democracy, and yet look at how they are acting in this temple,' he said.
Shiv Sena (UBT) spokesperson Sanjay Raut said, 'There are four ministers whom Union Home Minister Amit Shah wants out, one of the ministers is Kokate.'
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