A controversial video of minister for dairy development Mahadev Jankar is doing the rounds on social media. In the video, Mr Jankar is allegedly giving out the ‘rates’ of various posts in his party, Rashtriya Samaj Paksha (RSP) — including Rs 1 lakh to become an executive committee member and Rs 25,000 for the post of district president. Mr Jankar has defended himself saying he meant to collect Rs 10 from each person who wished to become a member of the party and an executive committee member has to register 10,000 members.

According to Mr Jankar, the video is as old as two-three years prior to when he had contested the Lok Sabha and state assembly elections. In the video, Mr Jankar is seen stating that there are several aspirants to become executive committee member of the party for which they are ready to pay Rs 1 lakh. He is also seen saying that if someone wants to become district president, he has to pay Rs 25,000 and aspirants have to pay Rs 25,000 to become a taluka president.

When asked about the video, Mr Jankar denied all allegations and claimed that the amount for which he was seen asking was the membership fee of the party. “The Election Commission has allowed parties to charge potential members Rs 10. This means if someone is to become an executive committee member, he has to register 10,000 members. So he has to pay Rs 1 lakh to the party as the members’ fee and there’s nothing is wrong in this,” said Mr Jankar.

He further added that his party is not rich and it doesn’t have donors.

“We collect a small amount from party workers, which helps us run the party. The statement in the video is about fee collections and it should be taken in any other way,” he clarified.

The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) had targeted Mr Jankar last week after his controversial statement against NCP leader and former deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar. NCP party workers burnt effigy of Mr Jankar and also demanded his resignation. Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis too expressed displeasure with Mr Jankar and sought a clarification from him.