Maharashtra Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik is in trouble over alleged misuse of power in a sponsorship deal with bike taxi provider app RAPIDO.
In July, Sarnaik had carried out a raid near Mantralaya where he caught one of the Rapido bike taxi drivers offering a taxi ride. Sarnaik said that the present law does not permit a bike taxi in Maharashtra and hence Rapido should not start its services.
Then, as it has now emerged, Rapido became a main sponsor for the Pro Govinda League, a competition for Govinda teams organised by Sarnaik's son. The Govinda teams perform their acts during the Dahi Handi festival, which takes place the day after Lord Sri Krishna Janmashtami.
Sarnaik, a month ago, had booked a Rapido ride by using a random name to verify complaints of people about Rapido offering its services in Mumbai. He had said that he had used this illegal service when government had not given permission to it and then asked transport department to conduct raids. Some 75 bike taxis were confiscated and all of them were operating for Rapido.
When the Pro Govinda League championship started, it became clear that Rapido has become one of its main sponsors. This provided the opposition to target Sarnaik for what they called misuse of power. Senior congress leader Vijay Vadettiwar sarcastically said that Sarnaik had shown an example of how to raise the money. " The minister has shown how to raise funds when the state is in poor economic condition," said Vadettiwar.
Rohit Pawar, senior legislator of NCP (Sharad Pawar), reportedly termed Sarnaik's behaviour as blackmail. He got publicity and then changed his stand on the issue he also got sponsorship for his son's venture, said Pawar.
Sarnaik has issued a statement saying it is wrong to connect Pro Govinda sport with politics. "I had taken action on July 2, the sponsorship was given on May 26. In fact, I took action without thinking that the company is sponsor of my son's event," Sarnaik stated.
