"The Bharatiya Janata Party-led alliance government has turned into a gang of corrupt ministers. Former Agriculture Minister Dhananjay Munde has crossed all limits of corruption under the guise of helping farmers. Now, Manikrao Kokate has been sentenced to two years in prison by the Nashik District Court for fraudulently preparing fake documents," said Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee President Harshwardhan Sapkal.
He demanded the expulsion of both ministers from the cabinet.
Sapkal said Munde’s scams during his tenure as agriculture minister are being exposed daily. "Munde’s corrupt actions have tarnished Maharashtra’s reputation. Now, Manikrao Kokate has been sentenced to two years in prison and fined ₹50,000 by the Nashik District Court for document forgery and fraud. Given this, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis should learn a lesson and immediately sack Kokate," he said.
“The demand for Dhananjay Munde’s resignation has been going on, but Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar lack the courage to remove him. The BJP-led alliance government is looting public funds through corruption. While farmers in the state are committing suicide due to the lack of fair prices for their produce, ministers are indulging in corruption worth crores of rupees,” said Sapkal
According to Sapkal, Deputy CM Ajit Pawar is shielding both Munde and Kokate. "Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis must now muster the courage to remove these corrupt individuals from office," he said.
The Congress leader also pointed out that when Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, was sentenced to two years in a "bogus case", his parliamentary membership was revoked and his official residence was taken away within 24 hours.
He questioned when Kokate would face a similar swift action.
