Viral video of Maharashtra minister playing ‘rummy’ in assembly sparks row
Nagpur/Mumbai, July 20 (PTI): A viral video of NCP leader and Maharashtra Agriculture Minister Manikrao Kokate purportedly playing a game of rummy on his mobile phone during a legislative session has sparked a huge row, with the opposition accusing the government of being insensitive to farmers.
Facing criticism, Kokate on Sunday clarified that he was only trying to skip the downloaded game on his mobile phone, which popped up for 5 to 10 seconds while checking YouTube to understand the business transacted in the lower house during the recently concluded monsoon session.
He was checking his phone when the Upper House of the state legislature was adjourned.
The video was posted on the X by NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar) MLA Rohit Pawar, targeting the NCP headed by Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and the BJP.
"The ruling NCP faction is unable to function without consulting the BJP, which is why even as there are several issues related to agriculture pending and eight farmers committing suicide daily in the state, the agriculture minister, who has no work, appears to have time to play rummy," Pawar stated.
Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader Vijay Wadettiwar accused the BJP-led Mahayuti government of being "deceitful" and "treacherous" towards farmers.
"Farmers are dying, and the agriculture minister was playing a game on his mobile phone. This deceitful and treacherous government is not concerned with farmers. I appeal to farmers to teach them a lesson," he told reporters.
Responding to the criticism, Kokate said, "When the upper house of the state legislature was adjourned, I took out my mobile phone to check the business transacted in the lower house and was trying to open YouTube.
"The downloaded game suddenly opened, and I was skipping it. It was a matter of just 5 to 10 seconds; why that part was not shown?" he asked while speaking to reporters.
The NCP MLA from Sinnar in Nashik district is not a stranger to controversies.
A huge row erupted in April when Kokate claimed that farmers do not spend money received from agriculture schemes on intended purposes, but instead use it for engagement ceremonies and weddings.
As his remarks drew condemnation, he expressed remorse and tendered an apology.
Earlier this year, a magistrate court in Nashik district convicted Kokate and his brother, Sunil Kokate, and sentenced them to two years of imprisonment for submitting fake documents to secure flats under a government quota. The duo filed an appeal against the conviction before a sessions court.
In a huge relief to the Kokate brothers, District Judge 1 and Additional Sessions Judge (Nashik), N V Jiwane, on March 5 stayed the conviction until an order on their appeal.
“#जंगली_रमी_पे_आओ_ना_महाराज…!”
— Rohit Pawar (@RRPSpeaks) July 20, 2025
सत्तेतल्या राष्ट्रवादी गटाला भाजपला विचारल्याशिवाय काहीच करता येत नाही म्हणूनच शेतीचे असंख्य प्रश्न प्रलंबित असताना, राज्यात रोज ८ शेतकरी आत्महत्या करत असताना सुद्धा काही कामच नसल्याने कृषिमंत्र्यांवर रमी खेळण्याची वेळ येत असावी.
रस्ता भरकटलेल्या… pic.twitter.com/52jz7eTAtq
VIDEO | Here's what Maharashtra Agriculture Minister Manikrao Kokate said on allegations of playing a game during the assembly session.
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) July 20, 2025
"It is a solitaire game, not Rummy. Any of my colleagues must have downloaded it. I was trying to see what was happening in the lower house. I… pic.twitter.com/Prfu4OgzOA
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MYAS launches quiz on national flag, 25 top-scorers to get trip to Siachen with Mandaviya
New Delhi, Aug 7 (PTI): The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (MYAS) has launched an online quiz on the national flag and 25 top-scoring participants in the age bracket of 21 to 29 will get an opportunity to visit Siachen with Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya.
The quiz, according to the ministry, will "foster patriotism and enhance awareness about the Indian National Flag."
"This online quiz, hosted on the MYBharat portal (mybharat.gov.in), invites all citizen to participate and test their knowledge about the Tricolour," the ministry stated.
It will consist of multiple-choice questions and all contestants will be awarded an e-certificate.
"As a grand incentive, 25 top-scoring participants will be selected for a remarkable opportunity to visit Siachen in the company of the Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya," the ministry said.
"The selection of winners for the Siachen visit will be limited to youth between the ages of 21 and 29. The final selection of the 25 winners will be conducted through a computer-based lottery system from the pool of top scorers," it added.
