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Maharashtra Legislative Assembly Speaker Rahul Narvekar on Friday said that he has ordered a detailed inquiry into the viral clip of the state's Agriculture Minister Manikrao Kokate watching a game on his smartphone within the Assembly. In a press conference, Narverkar said that he would comment after receiving the report. He however condemned recording the video, labeling it "an insult" to the assembly as it is against the rules.

 

I have directed a thorough investigation into the case. I will say something on the issue after I get the report. It is not permissible to shoot such footage in the Assembly. It is also an insult to the Assembly. An inquiry has to be conducted in this case.

 

The matter was disclosed when NCP-SP leader Rohit Pawar posted on Sunday, a so-called video of Maharashtra's Minister for Agriculture playing a game on his cell phone during a legislative session, accusing him of his negligence towards the State's critical agricultural problems.

 

Pawar highlighted that while farmers are taking their own lives every day and several agricultural issues are yet to be solved, the minister had spare time for recreation.

 

On an X post, Rohit Pawar had written, "Since the BJP has to approve of everything that the Nationalist government does or else, even with innumerable pending issues of agriculture and 8 farmers taking their own lives every day in the State, the Agriculture Minister has time on his hands to play rummy."

 

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On Sunday, NCP-SP MP Supriya Sule demanded Manikrao Kokate's resignation, highlighting the fact that 750 farmers have taken their own lives in the last three months while the minister was busy engaging in games.

 

She asked the Chief Minister to step in and have him ousted from his seat unless he resigned.

 

Speaking to the reporters, Supriya Sule stated, "A video of Maharashtra's Agriculture Minister has surfaced. He was playing rummy on his phone when the House was in session and the debate was going on…750 farmers have taken their lives in three months and Maharashtra's Agriculture Minister is playing such games. He must resign for this shameful act; else, the Chief Minister must axe him."