Maharashtra government shifted Manikrao Kokate from the Agriculture ministry to the Ministry of Sports and Youth Affairs, following a viral video of him playing a game on his phone during the assembly session caused a political uproar.
The furore was caused after the NCP-SP MLA Rohit Pawar posted a video clip on X, where Kokate is seen allegedly playing an online rummy game on his phone in the middle of the session.
NCP-SP leader Supriya Sule reacted sharply to the government's move to shift the minister's portfolio, calling the move a "reward" for playing rummy.
On an X post, Sule wrote, "The honourable Minister, who blackens the state's name by terming the Maharashtra government a "beggar" must be given the boot by none other than the honourable Chief Minister himself. Giving him a reward for playing rummy in the assembly by making him the Minister of Sports and Youth Welfare and Minority Development, and Waqf is absolutely inexplicable."
Sule called the announcement of Kokate as Sports Minister a "cruel joke."
Also read: Kokate video row: Maharashtra Assembly Speaker orders inquiry
This has exposed the priorities of the government. On one front, the youth of the state is being destroyed by pursuing online rummy, and while there is a demand to prohibit it, allotting a significant portfolio such as Sports and Youth Welfare to Manikrao Kokate as a reward for playing rummy in the legislature is a cruel joke," NCP-SP leader Sule argued.
She also called for the resignation of the Sports minister who was appointed recently. “My humble request to the honourable Chief Minister is to please accept Manikrao Kokate's resignation and work to preserve the state's reputation.”
Earlier on July 25, Maharashtra Assembly Speaker Rahul Narvekar stated that he has directed a thorough inquiry into the Manikrao Kokate viral video. Narvekar explained that he would respond to the incident after reading the report. Nonetheless, he denounced the act of taking the video, which he referred to as "an insult" to the assembly.
I have directed a thorough probe into the issue. I will say something about the issue when I get the report. Shooting such videos within the assembly is not permitted. This is an insult. In this issue, an inquiry will have to be conducted.
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