A video showing currency notes being showered on BJP leader and former MLA Kailas Gorantyal during a bhajan programme in Maharashtra has sparked a political row amid concerns over drought and water scarcity in the region.
Opposition Shiv Sena (UBT) and Maharashtra minister Sanjay Shirsat, who belongs to the BJP's ruling ally Shiv Sena, questioned the propriety of the incident as farmers face crop losses, mounting debt and concerns over water and fodder availability.
The incident took place on Tuesday night during a programme organised near the Manmadevi temple in Jalna. According to reports, Gorantyal joined the devotional singing and danced to the bhajans at the insistence of party workers.
Some participants allegedly showered him with Rs 500 and Rs 200 currency notes during the programme. A video of the incident circulated on social media and drew criticism over the display of money at a public event while several parts of the state were reeling from drought.
Responding to the controversy, Gorantyal said the programme was religious and devotees traditionally showered money during such events.
"I frequently listen to devotional songs of goddesses and Hanuman ji sung by Lakkha Singh. When someone is spellbound and dances in public, one doesn't understand what is happening or whether anyone is showering money on you," he said.
Gorantyal alleged that the video circulated on social media was incomplete. "If you see the full video, we also held prayers for farmers in view of the prevailing drought conditions. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis is a competent leader and he has taken many decisions for drought-affected people," he said.
"Whenever people organise such religious programmes, they want us to join them, and sometimes we have to dance with them. We cannot disregard their feelings. People should question us if we fail to take steps to tackle drought," Gorantyal added.
Shirsat criticised Gorantyal, saying, "Conducting such programmes during this time of drought will not be appreciated by ordinary people. Gorantyal is now in the BJP and he should try to adapt to the party's character. He should remember that he is not in the Congress."
Gorantyal was with the Congress for over three decades before leaving the party and joining the BJP more than a year ago. He represented the Jalna Assembly constituency three times.
Shiv Sena (UBT) district president Manish Shrivastav said BJP leaders were not serious about the hardships faced by farmers because of the drought. "If BJP leaders really want to help, they should organise a charity dance show and donate the proceeds to drought-hit people," he said.
The video has, therefore, led to criticism from both the opposition and a leader of the ruling alliance, while Gorantyal has defended his participation as part of a religious programme and said prayers were also held for drought-affected farmers.
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With PTI inputs