Shinde denies paying Rs 500 crore to Jarange, asks him to produce proof for an inquiry

Deputy Chief Minister and Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde has rejected the allegations made against him by Maratha agitator Manoj Jarange Patil. Speaking at a Dussehra rally in Beed, Jarange Patil had said there was talk in the BJP that Shinde had given him Rs 500 crore through his son Shrikant Shinde. He had also challenged Shinde to respond from his own Dussehra rally.

Shinde made no statement on the matter at the Dussehra rally. Speaking to reporters now, he rejected the allegations. "I have neither given nor taken Rs 500 crore from anyone," Shinde said plainly. He also said Jarange Patil should verify the facts before speaking.

Shinde was in Delhi today to invite the President to the Simhastha Kumbh Mela in Nashik. He responded there when reporters asked him. Saying that all the party's spokespersons were speaking on the matter, he said that if Jarange Patil had any evidence, he should submit it and it should be inquired into, after which the truth would come out ("dudh ka dudh, paani ka paani"). This is the first time Shinde has stated his position on Jarange Patil's allegations.

At the Dussehra rally, senior leaders of Shinde's Shiv Sena had targeted Jarange Patil. Ramdas Kadam was at the forefront. He had questioned Manoj Jarange's standing and sternly warned him not to speak against Eknath Shinde again.

Jarange Patil then held a press conference and said he would now present evidence. "I had asked you for the answer to a simple question, but you are getting angry and have become flustered," he said. Asking Shinde to say yes or no to whether he had given him Rs 500 crore, he said he was waiting to hear what Shinde had to say. Jarange Patil also said it would become clear in a few days that Shinde should have thought before speaking.

Shinde also spoke about the Maratha community. He said that while Jarange Patil was working for the Maratha community, he had done justice to the community through various works. "We did what had not been done in the last 60 years, and even today the Maratha reservation has held," Shinde said.

Saying that Manoj Jarange was working only for the Maratha community and that was why "we helped him", Shinde also said Jarange should not turn it into a political platform.