Bhujbal dismisses Rs 500 crore claim in Jarange audio clip as idle talk, urges leaders to focus on drought

Allegations and counter-allegations are flying in Maharashtra politics over an alleged audio clip made public by Manoj Jarange Patil. Minister Chhagan Bhujbal has now given his view on the matter and offered direct advice to political leaders.

"Why would anyone give anyone Rs 500 crore? This is village-square gossip," Bhujbal said, using the argument to question the whole discussion.

The alleged clip is said to mention a transaction of Rs 500 crore. Bhujbal asked for what reason anyone would give so much money to anyone. He also said that if money had to be given, the BJP would have gone and given it itself. Noting that he was in touch with the minister concerned in the matter, he stressed that the real facts should come out instead of charges and counter-charges.

Bhujbal said there was no point in needlessly heating up the political climate on the basis of such conversation. The alleged transaction has not been separately proved, he said, so what finally emerges from the investigation is what will matter.

Bhujbal appealed to leaders to drop their mutual quarrels and attend to the public's concerns. According to him, farmers are in distress because of drought. He said the issues of both the village farmer and the ordinary city resident must be put first.

Bhujbal also said that once the panchnamas of farmers' losses are completed and the necessary information is verified, the government will decide how much assistance to give. The government has already announced advance assistance of Rs 5,000 for drought-hit farmers.

Bhujbal also praised the police investigation into the firing on actor Tiger Shroff's car. He said suspects were traced with the help of police in other states. Bhujbal said he is a former Home Minister of the state and therefore knows how the police work. On that basis, he expressed confidence in the Mumbai and Maharashtra police.

Bhujbal has thus advised restraint in the political row over the alleged Rs 500 crore clip. All eyes are now on what the examination of the clip reveals and how much help farmers receive.