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'Even a mother…': BJP's Patil on ink attack over his remark on Ambedkar, Phule
Patil's clarification came after ink was thrown at him in Pimpri Chinchwad city of Pune district over his alleged remark on Ambedkar and Phule.
Maharashtra cabinet minister Chandrakant Patil on Saturday said he never criticised Dr BR Ambedkar and Mahatma Jyotiba Phule while using “bheekh” remark for the social reformers. Patil's clarification came after ink was thrown at the BJP leader in Pimpri Chinchwad city of Pune district over his alleged remark on Ambedkar and Phule.
A video of the incident showed a man suddenly come in front of Patil and smear his face with ink as the minister emerged out from a building. Security personnel around the minister immediately caught hold of the man.
Patil courted controversy earlier this week when he said Babasaheb Ambedkar and Mahatma Phule went to people and begged to start schools.
Addressing media after the incident, Patil said, “I went to distribute certificates at a university in Paithan in Devgiri district on completion of the course. They asked for more funds. ₹12 crore is already given to them and they asked for more ₹23 crore from the government. While sanctioning it, I said the government will surely give but you should try and collect funds from other sources.”
"With due respect, I said that in Maharashtra, schools were started by Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar, Mahatma Phule and Maharshi Karve. When did I criticize Dr Ambedkar and Mahatma Phule? I said they did not wait for the government's financial aid but they begged (bheek) to start a school," he added.
Clarifying on his “bheekh” remark, Patil said, "I come from 'dehat' (rural area), they have a problem with it. In 'dehat', even a mother says (to her child) after your father's death I begged to raise you. Does it mean she was standing with a begging bowl? When someone goes to the court and pleads to the judge for justice and says "I beg for Justice", is it wrong? Is 'bheekh' the wrong word?"
Patil further said that the incident did not impact him.
"Nothing can happen by splashing ink on my face. Doesn't impact me. I changed my shirt and moved ahead," he said.
BJP leaders condemned the ink attack while the opposition parties, including the NCP and the Shiv Sena, said that they do not condone such act as the minister should have been careful while making remarks on Ambedkar and Phule.
Deputy chief minister Devendra Fadnavis termed the incident “unfortunate”.
“This is serious and unfortunate. What Chandrakant Patil had said meant people like Ambedkar and Karmaveer Bhaurao Patil never sought subsidy from government and instead collected money from people to build institutions,” said Fadnavis.
