Devendra Fadnavis and me backed cabinet minister Sanjay Rathod: Eknath Shinde
Rathod, who was then part of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government, had also come under fire from the BJP.
Nagpur: In a public meeting in Washim on Sunday, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde said that he and Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis have fully supported cabinet minister Sanjay Rathore, Who was caught in the suicide case of Tiktok star Pooja Chavhan in the year 2021.
Rathod, who was then part of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government, had also come under fire from the BJP.
Eknath Shinde was also solemnly addressing a huge gathering of members of the Banjara community, the Rathores Rathores belong to.
Eknath Shinde said, “You as a community stood with the Rathores, so he is now standing here as a minister. And Devendra Fadnavis and I stood firmly with the Rathores. It never occurred to us to say that what do we have to do with this Rathore controversy? We are as close as brothers and we consider you our community as well. I am speaking not as CM, but as a family member.”
State coffers will be kept open for all welfare schemes
Without naming anyone, the CM has also targeted the Maha Vikas Aghadi leaders over the 2021 controversy. “Even during the crisis, some people have completely refused to help Rathod. But you (Banjara community) were firmly behind them.” Eknath Shinde said.
In the year 2021, both Devendra Fadnavis and BJP’s Chitra Wagh launched an aggressive campaign against Rathore after his name cropped up in the Pooja Chavhan suicide case as well.
But after the formation of the Shinde-Fadnavis government last year, Rathore was again back in the state cabinet.
Eknath Shinde has also said on Sunday that the state coffers will also be kept open for all welfare schemes related to the Banjara community. “In fact, Devendra Fadnavis is saying that one key (to the state treasury) should be given to Rathod only,” Shinde said.
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