‘Just Speak & Get It Out’: CM Shinde in Tight Spot as ‘Casual Talk’ Over Maratha Quota Goes Viral | WATCH – News18

Maharashtra chief minister Eknath Shinde found himself in a tight spot after a video of the CM, apparently showing him being carefree about the Maratha quota issue, went viral. He later clarified that the remark was shown in a “distorted manner” but by then the opponents had latched onto the remark.

In the video, Shinde can be heard saying, “We just need to speak and get it out of the way and leave, right?” Deputy CM Ajit Pawar replied, “Yes.”

In an attempt to come to their rescue, deputy chief minister Devendra Fadnavis then warns them: “The mike is on.” Pawar was also seen indicating the same.

The clip was reportedly captured moments after a press conference post the all-party meeting on the issue on Monday.

According to a report in Times of India, the video drew strong criticism from the opposition and from Maratha groups, who said it revealed the state government’s frivolous approach to the quota issue.

Reactions by Shinde’s Opponents

• Congress leader Vijay Wadettiwar, who is leader of opposition in the Maharashtra assembly, was quoted by TOI: “This shows the casual and non-serious approach of the government on this issue. It has hurt the sentiments of the Maratha community.”

• “Is this the sensitivity shown by these people towards the Maratha agitation?” Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray asked. The report further quoted him as saying, “This is the mentality of the traitors. For the last 1.5 years, we have been listening to the lies. Let alone the Maratha community, can a single citizen of the country trust this government?”

• Maratha leader Vinod Patil was quoted: “I condemn this…If the government is not serious, the community will finally show the government its place.”

Clarification by Eknath Shinde

On Wednesday, CM Shinde clarified that the clip was “doctored” and the video was “mischievous and aimed at maligning the government.

The chief minister added his government was taking concrete steps and decisions on the quota issue. “It is not right to malign the state’s image by distorting situations and conversations on social media,” he said.

Shinde said that he was talking to his deputies about positively speaking on what transpired at the all-party meeting on the quota issue.

“But our conversation was projected wrongly on social media. This is mischievous and creates doubts in people’s minds,” he said.

Creating misunderstanding through social media and maligning the government’s image “was not our state’s culture,” Shinde said, adding, “Nobody should try to disturb the positive atmosphere in the state.”