During a press conference in Jalna district – the seat of the quota activist’s many protests – he released purported audio clips of BJP leaders discussing money allegedly paid to him to control the political narrative. MUMBAI: Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange-Patil accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of conspiring against him ahead of the 2024 elections, on Thursday.
In response, the deputy chief minister denied the allegations and demanded a formal investigation to determine if the audio clips are AI-generated fakes. They are Shweta Shalini, BJP’s state in-charge of social media and IT cell; Atul Bhatkhalkar, MLA of Kandivli East; and Youtuber Sushil Kulkarni. “Our leader and MP Shrikant Shinde has been named in the tape, which is damaging for the party. An SIT should be constituted to investigate the veracity of the tapes by using forensic and cyber technology. “The voice in the clip is not mine.
This follows his recent claim that deputy chief minister Eknath Shinde boasted to the BJP leadership about channelling ₹ 500 crore to the activist through his son, MP Shrikant Shinde. He said that he will intensify his attack on the government, making it difficult for the ruling coalition to make any gains in the 2029 assembly polls if they do not respond positively.
The clips, said Jarange-Patil, expose the thought process of people working against a man who was fighting for the Marathas, adding that his life is under threat even as attempts were being made to suppress his voice. “I would not name the people in the audio, as it is the chief minister’s job, and that of his two deputies, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi,” said Jarange-Patil. As the names emerging from the conversation in the tapes are linked to the BJP, one should also probe the intent behind the leaks,” said a Sena leader. Requesting Jarange-Patil to name people in the clips, Sena minister Sanjay Shirsat said: “Maharashtra will then know who is defaming Eknath Shinde and Jarange-Patil. I have never been a part of such a conversation,” said Bhatkhalkar, alleging that it may have been created using AI. “The clip is part of a well-planned political conspiracy aimed at creating a rift within the Mahayuti alliance (BJP and Shiv Sena) and tarnishing the image of our leaders ahead of the upcoming elections.”
Meanwhile, although Jarange-Patil hesitated to take names, at separate press meets on Thursday, two Shiv Sena leaders – MP Naresh Mhaske and industries minister Uday Samant — said all the people in the tapes are related to BJP. a delegation of senior Shiv Sena leaders – Sachin Ahir, Milind Deora and Rahul Shewale — met chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on Thursday seeking a probe into the episode While Samant and Mhaske demanded a probe into the clips.
