Maharashtra Minister Kokate Apologizes Following Backlash Over Remarks About Farmers

Manikrao Kokate's comments accusing farmers of misusing funds and defaulting on loans have drawn widespread criticism, with opposition leaders demanding his removal despite his public apology.

Manikrao Kokate, Maharashtra's Agriculture Minister, faced backlash after accusing farmers of misusing agricultural funds for personal expenses like weddings and deliberately defaulting on loans.
His remarks, made during a visit to Nashik, quickly went viral on social media, amplifying criticism from farmer groups and opposition leaders.
Kokate issued a public apology on April 6, stating that his comments were unintentional and misunderstood, but opposition leaders continue to demand his removal from the cabinet.
The Maharashtra government has pledged to apologize to farmers in an effort to manage the political fallout from Kokate's controversial statements.
Kokate has a history of making contentious remarks about farmers, including previously comparing them to beggars, further straining relations with the agricultural community.