Pune: A video showing gangster Gajanan Marne greeting state higher and technical education minister Chandrakant Patil during a Dahi Handi event has gone viral, triggering accusations from opposition parties that the Mahayuti govt in Maharashtra is extending political patronage to criminals. The video clip is believed to be from an event that was organised in Kothrud a few days ago. Marne, along with his wife, is seen felicitating the minister in the clip.
"Patil represents Kothrud in the assembly, and Marne is also from the same area. Elected representatives are ideally for common people. However, in the Mahayuti govt, it appears that they are for the goons.
Such political patronage to goons shows that the elected representatives of Mahayuti want gangsters' support to win elections," leader of the opposition in the state assembly Vijay Wadettiwar said on Thursday. State Congress president Nana Patole said, "Under the Mahayuti govt, goons and mafia have got all the protection. Some of them have been taken out of jail on parole, only to help the Mahayuti allies (BJP, Shiv Sena led by CM Eknath Shinde and deputy CM Ajit Pawar's NCP) win elections.
If the ministers are seen entertaining gangsters, how can we expect the state's law and order to improve under the Mahayuti govt?" Though TOI tried to contact Patil for his comment, the senior BJP MLA did not respond to the phone calls. This is not the first time that Marne has been seen with politicians in video clips. Before the Lok Sabha elections, Ajit Pawar's son Parth had visited Marne's home in Kothrud.
After the poll results were out, first-time MP Nilesh Lanke from Ahmednagar also visited Marne's house. During the recent Nag Panchami festival, BJP MLC Ram Shinde's video with another gangster, Nilesh Ghaywal, in Ahmednagar had gone viral. Citizens and activists said politicians' proximity with gangsters "puts law and order at risk".
Civic activist Sanjay Shitole said, "It shows that society is heading towards lawlessness. A time will come when there will be no control over criminals. Politicians have realised that the common people are not very serious in choosing their representatives.
They are exploiting democracy by taking help from these goons." Dattatray Salunkhe, a senior citizen from Kothrud, said, "When senior politicians, including ministers, are seen with gangsters, it impacts the morale of police. The administration will not take action against criminals because of their proximity to politicians.
" Pune: A video showing gangster Gajanan Marne greeting state higher and technical education minister Chandrakant Patil during a Dahi Handi event has gone viral, triggering accusations from opposition parties that the Mahayuti govt in Maharashtra is extending political patronage to criminals. The video clip is believed to be from an event that was organised in Kothrud a few days ago. Marne, along with his wife, is seen felicitating the minister in the clip.
"Patil represents Kothrud in the assembly, and Marne is also from the same area. Elected representatives are ideally for common people. However, in the Mahayuti govt, it appears that they are for the goons.
Such political patronage to goons shows that the elected representatives of Mahayuti want gangsters' support to win elections," leader of the opposition in the state assembly Vijay Wadettiwar said on Thursday. State Congress president Nana Patole said, "Under the Mahayuti govt, goons and mafia have got all the protection. Some of them have been taken out of jail on parole, only to help the Mahayuti allies (BJP, Shiv Sena led by CM Eknath Shinde and deputy CM Ajit Pawar's NCP) win elections.
If the ministers are seen entertaining gangsters, how can we expect the state's law and order to improve under the Mahayuti govt?" Though TOI tried to contact Patil for his comment, the senior BJP MLA did not respond to the phone calls. This is not the first time that Marne has been seen with politicians in video clips. Before the Lok Sabha elections, Ajit Pawar's son Parth had visited Marne's home in Kothrud.
After the poll results were out, first-time MP Nilesh Lanke from Ahmednagar also visited Marne's house. During the recent Nag Panchami festival, BJP MLC Ram Shinde's video with another gangster, Nilesh Ghaywal, in Ahmednagar had gone viral. Citizens and activists said politicians' proximity with gangsters "puts law and order at risk".
Civic activist Sanjay Shitole said, "It shows that society is heading towards lawlessness. A time will come when there will be no control over criminals. Politicians have realised that the common people are not very serious in choosing their representatives.
They are exploiting democracy by taking help from these goons." Dattatray Salunkhe, a senior citizen from Kothrud, said, "When senior politicians, including ministers, are seen with gangsters, it impacts the morale of police. The administration will not take action against criminals because of their proximity to politicians.
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