Maharashtra Agriculture Minister Manikrao Kokate on Tuesday said he plans to take legal action against opposition leaders who, he claims, defamed him by circulating a video alleging he was playing ‘rummy’ on his mobile phone during a legislative session.
Addressing the media, NCP leader Kokate denied the allegations and asserted that he doesn`t even know how to play online rummy. He added that he will write to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Legislative Council Chairperson Ram Shinde to seek a formal probe into the viral video, according to news agency PTI.
The controversy began on Sunday when NCP (SP) MLA Rohit Pawar posted a video on X (formerly Twitter), showing Kokate seated in the legislative council. A day later, MLA Jitendra Awhad also shared two videos, claiming Kokate was playing `Junglee Rummy` during the ongoing monsoon session.
With calls for Kokate’s resignation gaining momentum, NCP state president Sunil Tatkare said party chief and Deputy CM Ajit Pawar is taking the matter seriously and will speak to the minister about the incident.
Facing flak, the minister on Sunday said he was only trying to skip the downloaded rummy game on his mobile phone in the legislative council, as per the news agency PTI.
On Monday, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis also expressed his displeasure over Kokate`s video clip.
CM Fadnavis also stressed that Kokate clarified he wasn`t playing any game and that a notification had popped up on the screen of his mobile phone.
“I don`t know how to play online rummy. One needs an OTP and a bank account needs to be linked to play the game. One can check if my mobile phone is linked to any such game. I was trying to skip a game which popped up on my screen for 10 to 15 seconds,” the minister said on Tuesday, reported PTI.
Asked about demands for his resignation, he said, “What have I done to resign? Let the chief minister probe and make a statement in the Nagpur (winter) session of the state legislature and if I am guilty, I will resign immediately.”
Kokate said he will sue the opposition leaders who tried to “defame” him by circulating an incomplete video.
The assembly speaker and council chairperson will check what should be the conduct of members of the Lower House in respect of proceedings of the legislature`s Upper House, he said.
Kokate said he will also issue a show-cause notice to the opposition leaders who maligned his image.
“I have been an MLA for 25 years and I know the protocol of conduct in the legislature,” he said, adding that a non-issue has been dragged on for so long, reported PTI.
Responding to the criticism, Kokate earlier said that when the Upper House of the state legislature was adjourned, he took out his mobile phone to check the business transacted in the Lower House and was trying to open YouTube.
“The downloaded game suddenly opened, and I was skipping it. It was a matter of just 5 to 10 seconds; why was that part not shown?” he had said.
(With PTI inputs)