On a recent visit to a flood-stricken region in Nagpur city, the Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Devendra Fadnavis, found himself at the center of a controversy as the opposition accused him of pushing a local resident. The ruling BJP, however, swiftly rejected these allegations.
In response to the incident, the Maharashtra Congress and Shiv Sena (UBT) shared a video captured during Fadnavis' visit to the rain-affected area, denouncing his actions as a display of "arrogance of power."
The video footage portrays a scene in which some women engaged in a heated exchange with the police and security personnel accompanying Fadnavis. These women apparently demanded that he visit their homes. During this tumultuous interaction, Fadnavis approached a man who had been standing with the women and engaged in conversation with him.
Clyde Crasto, the NCP national spokesperson, took to social media to express his disapproval of Fadnavis' conduct. He commented, "Instead of spending his 'nights' in disguise to bring down the MVA government, Devendra Fadnavis should have spent his 'Days' serving the people of his hometown Nagpur. Had he done that, he probably would not have faced the 'Anger' of these people. P.S His behavior here is not acceptable," as he posted the video along with his statement.
The Maharashtra BJP, in response to the video and allegations, dismissed the opposition's claims as "misleading and politically motivated." They clarified that during Fadnavis' visit to the flood-affected area in Nagpur, numerous residents had requested him to visit their homes. However, given the impracticality of visiting every home, a situation arose where one resident insisted that Fadnavis visit his residence. As the police sought to intervene, Fadnavis reached out to the resident, bringing him closer to convey his intention to visit his home.
The BJP pointed out that there was nothing unusual about residents wanting Fadnavis, who also serves as a local MLA, to visit their homes, highlighting his popularity in Nagpur.
In a veiled criticism aimed at former chief minister Uddhav Thackeray, the BJP expressed its disappointment that such incidents were being politicized by individuals who seldom engage with the public.
Furthermore, the BJP shared a video of Fadnavis visiting the home of the individual seen in the controversial video, emphasizing the constructive nature of his visit.
Taking a swipe at the opposition, the BJP congratulated Uddhav Thackeray and the Congress for seemingly abandoning constructive opposition work in favor of engaging in online trolling. The BJP suggested that the rejection by the state's populace had left them with no other recourse.
Earlier in the day, Fadnavis had visited areas surrounding Ambazari Lake, Nagpur's largest water body, which had breached its boundaries due to heavy rainfall. The city had experienced extremely heavy rainfall, totaling 109 millimeters within three hours, with 90 millimeters falling between 2 a.m. and 4 a.m. on a particular Saturday. This deluge inundated several areas, affecting around 10,000 homes and causing mud to enter houses. The administration had taken steps to provide medication and assistance in cleaning up the flood-affected regions, recognizing the gravity of the damage caused. Tragically, four individuals, including a bedridden woman, lost their lives in rain-related incidents, while over 400 people had to be relocated to safer locations during the course of that Saturday.
