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Mumbai: Enraged Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) cadres on Monday staged state-wide protests against Maharashtra Agriculture Minister Abdul Sattar over his unparliamentary language against Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader and Baramati Lok Sabha MP Supriya Sule. The bad in taste remarks of the minister from the Chief Minister Eknath Shinde-led Balasahebanchi Shiv Sena (BSS) faction led alliance government evoked condemnation across the social and political spectrum including leaders in the ruling Shinde group.
Known for being a ‘loose-tongued’ politician, Abdul Sattar – an MLA from Sillod in Aurangabad district – lashed out at NCP leader Supriya Sule and the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) for the latter’s alleged taunts of the Shinde camp rebel MLAs having taken bribes to split the Shiv Sena.
Referring to the frequent jibe of ‘50 khoke (boxes) ekdum okay’ made by the Thackeray faction to describe the rebel MLAs under CM Eknath Shinde after they split the Uddhav Thackeray-led party and toppled the MVA government to join hands with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to form the new government.
A defiant Abdul Sattar who is no stranger to controversy, further added that he stood by his expletive-laden remarks. However, following the intensity of the protests, he backed down somewhat, remarking that he “was sorry” if he had hurt the sentiments of any woman.
The chastised minister said, “I did not direct my remarks against Ms. Sule or against any woman…I was alluding to the fact that the MVA leaders repeatedly accused us of having taken a bribe to split the MVA…I 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.”
Sattar’s remarks evoked widespread condemnation, with aggressive NCP staging protests in Mumbai, Thane, Pune, Nashik, Solapur and Aurangabad among other places in the State.
NCP cadres staged angry demonstrations outside Abdul Sattar’s house in Mumbai. A few glass panes were smashed in the stone-pelting, causing the police to intervene and take some protestors in custody. In Pune, irate NCP activists ripped off Sattar’s photos after hitting his effigy with footwear and raising slogans against him.
While NCP leader Supriya Sule herself stayed away from the controversy, party spokesperson Mahesh Tapase demanded that CM Shinde and Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis censure Sattar and seek the Minister’s resignation.
The NCP spokespersons disclosed that the party had filed a police complaint in Mumbai’s Borivali police station accusing Sattar of “insulting the entire women community of the country.” Party MLC Amol Mitkari demanded that Sattar issue an apology within 24 hours and warned that the NCP cadre would not allow him to move about in the State if he did not do so.
Mitkari further remarked, “It is unfortunate that such a person is the State’s Agriculture Minister. Respecting women is axiomatic in Maharashtra’s culture. If he (Sattar) does not take back his remarks within 24 hours, then we will teach him a lesson he will never forget.”
The Minister’s private residence 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 all-time low levels, social activist Anjali Damania said that Abdul Sattar’s 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 “highly improper” if Sattar had indeed used such unparliamentary language.
Reacting to the developments Minister from the Shinde camp, Deepak Kesarkar said, “If he has spoken in this manner, then he must immediately apologize… Everyone respects Ms. Sule. She is (NCP chief) Sharad Pawar’s daughter and has been an MP for many years. As chief spokesman of the Shinde group, I humbly apologize to Supriya Sule on behalf of my party.” He further informed that CM Shinde had immediately called for a meeting of party spokesmen following the unseemly incident.
State Industries Minister Uday Samant also condemned Sattar’s remarks while Shinde group spokesman Naresh Mhaske said it was important for politicians “to speak in a restrained manner”, while stressing that the party did not condone Sattar’s remarks.
It may be recalled that Sattar has made several controversial remarks recently, dubbing Thackeray Sena leader Aaditya Thackeray as ‘Chhota Pappu’ while sarcastically asking Beed District Collector Radhabinod Sharma if he drank alcohol during a field visit.
