After 'rummy' video, minister's 'govt is beggar' remark sparks Maha row

MAHARASHTRA agriculture minister Manikrao Kokate stirred a controversy by calling the Mahayuti government a "beggar" on Tuesday.

- Sudhir Suryawanshi @Mumbai

Kokate used the word in the context of the government charging only a rupee from farmers for crop loan insurance. "The reality is a beggar also does not accept a rupee as alms, but the state government is accepting it from the farmers. It shows who is rich and who is the beggar," Kokate said. Later, he explained that his statement was twisted and blown out of proportion to target him.