Maharashtra Assembly: Speaker says "ordered detailed inquiry" into Agriculture Minister Kokate's gaming incident

Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], July 25 (ANI): Maharashtra Assembly Speaker Rahul Narvekar on Friday said that he has ordered a detailed inquiry into the viral video of the state's Agriculture Minister Manikrao Kokate playing a game on his mobile inside the Assembly.
Speaking with ANI, Narverkar said that he will comment on the incident after receiving the report. However, he condemned the act of recording the video, terming it "an insult" to the assembly as it is not permitted.
"I have ordered a detailed inquiry into the matter. I will comment on the issue once I receive the report. It is not allowed to shoot such videos in the Assembly. This is also an insult to the Assembly. An inquiry will have to be done in this matter."
The incident came to light when NCP-SP leader Rohit Pawar shared on Sunday, a purported video of Maharashtra's Agriculture Minister playing a game on his mobile during a legislative session, criticising him for his lack of attention to the State's pressing agricultural issues.
Pawar pointed out that while farmers are committing suicide daily and numerous agricultural concerns remain unresolved, the minister had time for leisure.
In a post on X, Rohit Pawar wrote, "Since the Nationalist faction in power cannot do anything without consulting the BJP, even with countless agricultural issues pending and 8 farmers committing suicide daily in the State, the Agriculture Minister, with nothing else to do, seems to have time to play rummy."
On Sunday, NCP-SP MP Supriya Sule called for the resignation of Manikrao Kokate, pointing out that while 750 farmers had committed suicide in the past three months, the minister was engaged in playing games.
She urged the Chief Minister to take action and remove him from his position if he does not resign.
Addresssing reporters, Supriya Sule said, "A video of the Agriculture Minister of Maharashtra has come out. When the House was in session and the debate was underway, he was playing rummy on his mobile...750 farmers have committed suicide in three months and the Agriculture Minister of Maharashtra is playing these games. He should resign for this dirty act; otherwise, the Chief Minister should remove him." (ANI)