February 21st 2025.
Mumbai: The state of Maharashtra has been in turmoil as the Congress party has demanded the resignation of Agriculture Minister Manikrao Kokate. Kokate was recently convicted of fraud for using fake documents to acquire two government quota flats. The state Congress president, Harshwardhan Vasantrao Sapkal, has called for Kokate's immediate resignation and has criticized the state government for not taking action.
Sapkal stated that the state government's failure to dismiss Kokate would be a serious lapse and would go against democratic principles. He also drew attention to the ethical precedent set by former Railway Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri, who stepped down from office after a train accident. In our country, it is customary for public officials to resign in the face of allegations, and in Kokate's case, with a conviction against him, there is no question of him remaining in office.
Sapkal expressed disappointment that Kokate did not voluntarily resign and that his membership to the Assembly was not terminated. He accused the ruling BJP and its allies of having double standards, as they had promptly removed Congress leader Rahul Gandhi from his MP bungalow and terminated his Lok Sabha membership after his conviction in a defamation case. In contrast, the state government has been dragging its feet in dismissing Kokate.
Sapkal also pointed out the case of former Congress Minister Sunil Kedar, who was disqualified as a Maharashtra MLA after his conviction in a 2002 bank scam last year. When asked about BSP chief Mayawati's recent attack on the Congress, Sapkal dismissed her remarks as a desperate attempt to stay relevant in politics. He also mentioned her alliance with the BJP and accused her of venting her frustration on the Congress.
On Thursday, the Nashik district court sentenced Agriculture Minister and NCP leader Manikrao Kokate and his brother Sunil to two years in prison and imposed a fine of Rs 50,000 each for using fake documents to acquire flats provided under the Chief Minister's quota in 1995 and 1997. The brothers were later released on bail after paying a personal bond of Rs 15,000. Kokate has 30 days to appeal the verdict in the Sessions Court, and he has indicated that he will approach the Bombay High Court.
Kokate, a member of the Ajit Pawar-led NCP, was elected from the Sinnar Assembly seat in Nashik district. The conviction and demand for resignation have caused a stir in Maharashtra's political landscape, and it remains to be seen how the state government will handle the situation.
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