Pankaja Munde

Women and child development minister Pankaja Munde has found herself mired in yet another controversy with the emergence of an audio clip in which she is reportedly heard ‘threatening’ a priest of Bhagwangad hill shrine to allow her to make a speech on Dussehra. Pankaja, daughter of late BJP leader Gopinath Munde, is heard in the clip saying that false cases would be lodged against the supporters of Namdev Shastri Maharaj, who has asked her not to make political speech at Bhagwangad during Dussehra celebrations.

“What is to be done with Namdevshastri is a matter that can be decided later. We have to get the Dussehra celebrations done and, thus, do not want anything wrong to happen from our end,” she is allegedly heard saying in the purported audio clip.

“We are also not simple. Our men can beat people up in Parli and get false cases lodged against them and (they can be) forced to leave the place,” she is reportedly heard saying.

Pankaja hails from the Vanjari community, which has played a major role in promoting the Munde family into state politics. However, she has been at loggerheads with Namdevshastri, The Vanjari’s religious head, who has warned her against making a political speech at the annual event.

The Dussehra meeting is the biggest congregation of the Vanjaris, and Gopinath Munde, till his death, addressed the gathering every year. Last year, Pankaja had addressed the meet. In the purported conversation in the audio clip, she allegedly said she could 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 the 11th (of October). I can buy you people out but don’t want to do that. Whatever I have given is due to the affection towards you and without asking. You remember me giving you money from the 25-15 Now I won’t give you money,” Pankaja is heard saying.

After the audio clip went viral, Namdev Shastri Maharaj, speaking to the media, said there was a threat to his life.

Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the Legislative Council Dhananjay Munde, who is also cousin of Pankaja, said this is ‘blatant abuse’ of power and that she should be removed from her post immediately. “She has no right to remain as a minister now. The audio clip we heard of hers is very serious. People responsible for making laws are talking about taking the law into their own hands,” Mr Munde said. He further said she was “cheating” the government by talking about buying people from a scheme meant for the people’s upliftment.

However, the BJP has decided to stand firmly behind the minister. Party spokesman Madhav Bhandrai said, “Pankaja Munde has not spoken against anyone. She is only being targeted. No one has made any political speech so far on Bhagwangad. Then why the opposition now ”