Maharashtra Agriculture Minister Manikrao Kokate Sparks Row Again Over 'Beggars' Remark, Defends Rummy Video

Maharashtra Agriculture Minister Manikrao Kokate has once again found himself at the center of controversy, this time over a statement that many have called deeply offensive to farmers and the state. Days after being criticised for allegedly playing online rummy during an Assembly session, Kokate has stirred political backlash with his recent clarification about the remark, claiming he never called farmers "beggars" but was instead referring to the government as such.

Speaking to the media, Kokate said, “People misunderstood what I said. I never called farmers beggars. In fact, what I meant was that the government is the beggar, not the farmer. We collect one rupee from the farmers for crop insurance. That’s not giving it’s taking. So who’s the beggar?”

Maharashtra Agriculture Minister Manikrao Kokate's video of him playing Junglee Rummy, an online card game, on his phone in the Legislative Assembly proves how the BJP led state government is 'Gambling' with the lives of farmers.
Farmers are committing suicide due to lack of… pic.twitter.com/9WZpwtvSsG

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Kokate’s clarification came after he was heavily criticized for a past statement in which he said, “Even beggars these days don’t accept just one rupee, but we gave crop insurance to farmers for one rupee, and some misused it.” This comment triggered outrage among farmers and political opponents, leading to calls for his resignation.

In defending his original remark, Kokate also claimed that under his tenure, the government detected over five lakh bogus crop insurance claims and canceled them immediately. “We issued at least 52 Government Resolutions (GRs) related to reforms. That shows how proactive we've been,” he said.

CM Fadnavis Disapproves of Kokate’s Statement

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis expressed disapproval, stating, “I haven't heard the exact comment, but if such a statement was indeed made, it is highly inappropriate for a minister.” Fadnavis reminded the media that reforms to the crop insurance scheme were made deliberately to protect farmers from being exploited by insurance companies.

“We realized that while farmers benefitted occasionally, most of the time insurance companies were the primary gainers. So we changed the model. Simultaneously, we decided to invest ₹5,000 crore annually into agriculture, starting this year, leading to a cumulative ₹25,000 crore investment over five years. In this context, such comments from a minister are unacceptable,” said Fadnavis.

Opposition Outrage: “An Insult to Maharashtra’s Legacy”

Opposition parties have condemned Kokate’s remarks, calling them an affront to the dignity of the state and its farmers. NCP SP MP Supriya Sule stated, “Maharashtra was built on the sacrifices of 105 martyrs and the visionary leadership of Yashwantrao Chavan. To call such a state ‘beggarly’ is not just insensitive it’s an insult to the tireless work of its people and leaders.”

She further added, “We’ve never seen an agriculture minister so out of touch with ground realities. Instead of expressing regret over his controversial rummy video, he has doubled down and now added another irresponsible remark. We urge the Chief Minister to take immediate action and hand the agriculture portfolio to someone who understands and respects the farming community.”

Rummy Row Resurfaces: Kokate Defends Himself

Kokate also addressed the earlier controversy involving a viral video that appeared to show him playing rummy on his phone inside the State Assembly. The video sparked public criticism and led to demands for his resignation. Dismissing the video as misleading, he said, “Online rummy requires linking a bank account. My account is not linked to any such app. I have never played even a rupee of rummy. In fact, I don’t even know how to play rummy. These allegations are baseless and have caused reputational damage.”

Rummy Row: Agriculture Minister Manikrao Kokate Under Fire, Youth Leader Suraj Chavan Resigns After Assault In Latur (Video)

The minister went on to issue a legal threat: “I will drag to court those political leaders who have defamed me.”

In a bold move, Kokate announced that he would write to the Chief Minister, Deputy Chief Minister, Assembly Speaker, and Council Chairperson demanding a formal investigation into the rummy allegations.

“Let there be a thorough probe. If I am found guilty, then during the winter session in Nagpur, either the CM or Deputy CM can make a statement, and I will immediately tender my resignation without even meeting them. I’ll go straight to the Governor and resign,” Kokate asserted.