Pankaja Munde embroiled in Bhagwangad controversy

08 October, Mumbai

Maharashtra Child and Women Welfare Minister Pankaja Munde found herself embroiled in a fresh controversy in Bhagwangad Dussehra rally after a purported audio clip went viral in social media, in which she is threatening the priest of Bhagwangad hill shrine, at Ahmednagar district.

The controversy between Ms Pankaja and Bhagwangad priest Namdev Shastri Maharaj was going on for past several days, as the priest had objected to her delivering political speech from shrine area on the occasion of ‘Dussehra’.

In audio, Ms Pankaja also allegedly heard saying that false cases would be lodged against the supporters of Namdev Shastri Maharaj in Parli, who are opposing her Dussehra speech from Bhagwangad.

In the purported conversation, she allegedly said she can buy anyone she wishes from the money provided for ’25-15,’ a scheme meant for funding small works in rural areas.

”I have told my people that we do not want to fight until October 11, day of Dussehra. I can buy you (people) out, but don’t want to do that. Whatever I have given you in the past I have given with you asking. You remember me giving you money out of 25-15? Now I won’t give you money,” Pankaja was allegedly heard as saying.

”What is to be done with Namdev Shastri is a matter to be thought about in the future. We have to get the Dussehra celebrations done and thus, do not want anything wrong to happen from our end,” she is further heard saying in the purported audio clip.