Manikrao Kokate Removed from the Agriculture Ministry After Controversies

Maharashtra minister Manikrao Kokate has been shifted from the Agriculture Ministry to Sports and Youth Welfare following criticism over his remarks on farmers.

Manikrao Kokate, the minister of agriculture for Maharashtra, was transferred to the ministry of sports and youth welfare today. Kokate was already embroiled in controversy after he was seen on camera playing an online card game during the assembly and making offensive remarks about the state government and farmers. Agriculture Minister Dattatraya Bharane has been named.

Mr. Kokate has refuted all the allegations, stating that he wasn’t playing rummy but was merely attempting to close a pop-up advertisement on his phone. He even said he would resign if the charges were proven true. But his comment regarding farmers infuriated the Chief Minister. A few months ago, Mr. Kokate made a contentious remark when discussing the government's crop insurance program for farmers. These days, even beggars refuse to take just one rupee.

Yet, the government provided crop insurance to farmers for that very amount. He had claimed that some people had abused this plan.  He explained, stating that his remark was misunderstood, after it caused widespread indignation. Farmers pay one rupee to the government. However, the farmers do not receive a single rupee. Money is taken by the government. Who is the beggar, then? It's not the farmers who are beggars — it's the government that's acting like one.

Funds given to farmers through government programs are instead used for weddings and other special occasions, according to Mr. Kokate's earlier claims. Mr. Fadnavis made it plain on Tuesday that recurrent occurrences would result in severe punishment, and he sharply cautioned his ministers from becoming embroiled in ongoing disputes.