Ajit Pawar will speak to Kokate about his mobile 'game' video: NCP leader

Senior NCP leader Sunil Tatkare on Monday said party president and Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar will take a serious note of the video of Agriculture Minister Manikrao Kokate playing a game on his mobile phone during a legislative session and talk to him about it reported news agency PTIKokate is in the eye of the storm over a purported video of him playing a game of rummy on his mobile phone during a legislative session He however clarified on Sunday that he was only trying to skip the downloaded game on his mobile phoneHe was checking his phone when the Upper House of the state legislature was adjournedTalking to reporters in Tuljapur Tatkare the NCPs state unit president said The statements made by the agriculture minister in the past were not correct Party president Ajit Pawar had earlier spoken to him about that In this video issue also Pawar will take a serious note and instructions will be given to Kokate accordinglyThe ministers video clip posted on the X by NCP Sharadchandra Pawar MLA Rohit Pawar triggered a protest by Chhava Sanghatna in Latur which culminated in a clashNCP workers beat up activists of Chhava Sanghatna on Sunday after they confronted Tatkare and threw playing cards in front of him during his press conference in Latur while demanding the sacking of Kokate from the state cabinetTelevision channels showed Chhava Sanghatna leader Vijay Ghatge confronting Tatkare and hurling a deck of playing cards on his table while demanding Kokates resignation Later NCP activists rained blows and kicks on Ghatge and others before the police intervenedNCP Youth wing president Suraj Chavan was involved in the attackThe NCP has always been on the path of peace The incident in Latur is condemnable I understand the feelings of Chhava Sanghatna workers Though they threw playing cards at me I kept quiet and thanked them he saidDuring his visit to Tuljapur Tatkare met activists of the Chhava Sanghatna at the organisations office where they demanded action against ChavanMeanwhile taking serious note of the beating up of Chhava Sanghatna activists by NCP workers Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar on Monday asked his partys youth wing chief Suraj Chavan to resign from his postDeputy CM Ajit Pawar said he has asked Chavan to immediately resign from his postThe incident in Latur between officebearers of the NCP and the Chhava organisation is extremely serious unfortunate and condemnable Pawar said in the statementThe NCP head asserted he is against any form of violence indecent behavior or use of unparliamentary languageWe sincerely respect the rightful demands and sentiments of every section of society The identity of the Nationalist Congress Party is based on the democratic egalitarian and fraternal ideals of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Shahu Maharaj Mahatma Phule and Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar he saidPawar said he has asked his party workers to always uphold the values of democracy peace and nonviolence in the public lifeWith inputs from PTI