NCP files police complaint, demands Abdul SattarтАЩs resignation; Shinde group leaders apologise
NCP files police complaint, demands Abdul SattarтАЩs resignation; Shinde group leaders apologise
Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena faction leader and Maharashtra Agriculture Minister Abdul Sattar stirred up a hornetsтАЩ nest on Monday after he used unparliamentary language against Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader and Baramati MP Supriya Sule, which triggered State-wide protests not just by the NCP but condemnation across the social and political spectrum, including leaders in the ruling Shinde group.
Known as a тАШloose-tonguedтАЩ politico, Mr. Sattar тАФ an MLA from Sillod in Aurangabad district тАФ lashed out against Ms. Sule and the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi for the latterтАЩs alleged taunts of the Shinde camp rebel MLAs having taken bribes to split the Shiv Sena.
The Minister was alluding to the frequent jibe тАШ 50 khoke [boxes] ekdum okayтАЩ made by the Thackeray faction and the NCP leaders to describe the rebel MLAs under Mr. Shinde after they split the Uddhav Thackeray-led party and toppled the MVA government to join hands with the Bharatiya Janata Party.
A defiant Mr. Sattar, no stranger to controversy, further said he stood by his expletive-ridden statements. However, following the intensity of the protests, he backed down somewhat, remarking that he тАЬwas sorryтАЭ if he had hurt the sentiments of any woman.
тАЬI did not direct my remarks against Ms. Sule or against any womanтАжI was alluding to the fact that the MVA leaders repeatedly accused us of having taken a bribe to split the MVAтАжI am not scared of any condemnation. I will use the same words in my public address. Those who try to defame me, I will answer in the same vein,тАЭ said Mr. Sattar.
His remarks evoked widespread condemnation, with an aggressive NCP staging protests in Mumbai, Thane, Pune, Nashik, Solapur and Aurangabad among other places in the State.
Glass panes smashed
There were angry demonstrations outside Mr. SattarтАЩs house in Mumbai where a few glass panes were smashed in the stone-pelting, causing the police to intervene and take some protesters into custody; in Pune, irate NCP activists tore Mr. SattarтАЩs photos after hitting his effigy with footwear and raising slogans against him.
While Ms. Sule herself stayed aloof from the controversy, NCP spokesperson Mahesh Tapase demanded that Chief Minister Mr. Shinde and Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis chastise Mr. Sattar and take the MinisterтАЩs resignation.
Mr. Tapase said the party had filed a police complaint in MumbaiтАЩs Borivali station accusing Mr. Sattar of тАЬinsulting the entire women community of the country.тАЭ
тАШTender apologyтАЩ
NCP MLC Amol Mitkari said Mr. Sattar must issue an apology within 24 hours and warned that the NCP cadre would not allow him to roam in the State if he did not do so.
тАЬIt is unfortunate that such a person is the StateтАЩs Agriculture Minister. Respecting women is axiomatic in MaharashtraтАЩs culture. If he [Sattar] does not take back his remarks within 24 hours, then we will teach him a lesson he will never forget,тАЭ said Mr. Mitkari.
The MinisterтАЩs home in Aurangabad was under siege by NCP workers as well, with stones being pelted.
Remarking that the level of political discourse in Maharashtra had plummeted to appallingly low levels, social activist Anjali Damania said Mr. SattarтАЩs disgraceful language was an insult to all women in the State.
While the Shinde group leaders claimed they had not actually heard the statement, most said it was тАЬhighly improperтАЭ if Mr. Sattar had indeed used such unparliamentary language.
тАЬIf he has spoken in this manner, then he must immediately apologiseтАж Everyone respects Ms. Sule. She is [NCP chief] Sharad PawarтАЩs daughter and has been an MP for many years. As chief spokesman of the Shinde group, I humbly apologise to Ms. Sule on behalf of my party,тАЭ said Minister Deepak Kesarkar of the Shinde faction.
Mr. Kesarkar further informed that Mr. Shinde had immediately called for a meeting of party spokesmen following the unseemly incident.
Industries Minister Uday Samant too condemned Mr. SattarтАЩs remarks while Shinde group spokesman Naresh Mhaske said it was important for politicians тАЬto speak in a restrained mannerтАЭ, while stressing that the party did not condone Mr. SattarтАЩs remarks.
Mr. Sattar had made several controversial remarks recently, dubbing Thackeray Sena leader Aaditya Thackeray as тАШChhota PappuтАЩ while sarcastically asking Beed District Collector Radhabinod Sharma if he drank alcohol during a field visit.
