A photo posted by Shivsena UBT MP Sanjay Raut went viral on social media a couple of days ago. Clearly, it could be seen that it is BJP State President Chandrashekhar Bawankule sitting in one corner and enjoying a game of roulette or Black jack in the Macau Casino. A hue and cry was made of it and our TV channels and social media just couldn’t keep themselves away from mudslinging Bawankule and how it was in ‘bad’ taste of Bawankule to do so when the state is not in the best of shape. First a few of the BJP members came in defence of Bawankule and later Bawankule himself tweeted a photo clarifying that he was on a family trip.
So be it, was my answer when someone asked me. What is the big deal if a human being is seen in a Casino? Is it a crime? Some people were of the view, aree bhai, he is State President of the BJP, there are teachings of RSS and Sanatan in him and on the top he is the state president, how can he visit a casino? Isn’t it not looked down upon in our ‘Hindu’ culture? I was like, boss, if that is the case then every person who joins the BJP or the RSS or is a Sanatani should stop having kids also. What are we talking about and in what age are we living? Aree, those who are talking big about dharma and preaching philosophy in this entire episode, answer me simply, don’t we all play cards at home during Diwali or enjoy at the Casino or don’t go on Bangkok trips? If I was Bawanukle, my approach to this whole mud-slinging would have been totally different. I would care a damn about the issue raised! But Bawankule is emotional; gets disturbed. Bawankule hasn’t committed a crime. Be it RSS or Sanatani or BJP members, don’t these people have life or what? Saying this, I am also against bedroom pictures of Kirit Somayya or Rahul Gandhi enjoying a drink at a club in Bangkok and Aaditya Thackeray enjoying a drink at a party held for David Beckham. Boss, it is our life and there is something PERSONAL too. If I get down to what politicians do for ‘leisure’ or in which hotel a leader goes with whom, where a bureaucrat enjoys in ‘showcase’ flats of Pune, or how Nagpur farmhouse parties are famous for politicians and senior bureaucrats, it will not look nice nah ? I also know which ‘aunty officer’ uses her charm to get her work done, let’s not get there. There is a personal life and let’s keep it personal. If that was the case, then Rahul Kanal has joined Eknath Shinde group. Has he told everything about the Dino Morea parties to CM Eknath Shinde or not? Who knows more than Rahul about Aaditya? But then there is decency and a line should not be crossed. Let all our skeletons be inside the cupboards, locked!
“Each to its own”, is my formula. Do you all even know why Chandrashekhar Bawankule had taken this family trip? He and his family have recently gone through a very very tough time during Diwali. It was very personal. They came out of it (touchwood) and it was decided amongst the family that a family trip had to be planned. They planned for Hongkong/Macau. What I know of Bawankule, he is a teetotaler, and a game at the casino does not make you look bad or any less of a good person!
But boss, this is one part of the story. What I have observed in this whole scenario is totally a new angle. Do you know apart from the regular 5 to 6 BJP supporters and 2 to 3 MLAs out of 105 not a single MLA or MLC or newly appointed Spokespersons across Maharashtra by Bawankule himself, came to defend him. Similarly when MVA was in power, there were huge allegations on Devendra Fadnavis, none of these guys came in front to defend him too. Why BJP ? Why no unity shown ? Do you have doubts about 2024 or your own seat ?
– Vikrant Hemant Joshi
