A viral audio has created a stir in Maharashtra politics. Manoj Jarange, the main face of the Maratha reservation movement, alleged that a big conspiracy was hatched to silence and weaken the movement. Jarange alleged that he was asked to give Rs 500 crore through Shiv Sena MP Shrikant Shinde, so that the Maratha reservation movement could be weakened.
Shrikant Shinde's father and Maharashtra Deputy CM Eknath Shinde reacted to Jarange's allegations. He challenged Jarange to prove his allegation. After this, Manoj Jarange released the audio clip in a press conference held in Jalna on Thursday. Now this audio clip has created a political storm in Maharashtra. On Friday, a Shiv Sena delegation met Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. After the meeting, CM Fadnavis announced to conduct forensic investigation of the audio.
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Shiv Sena and BJP have demanded investigation into this matter. We will investigate this entire matter. This also includes why this audio surfaced after two and a half years, what is the motive behind it, who are the people involved in it and what is its truth? Devendra Fadnavis, Chief Minister of Maharashtra.
What does the woman say in the audio clip?
In the audio clip, a woman reportedly says, 'Rs 500 crore has already reached Jarange Patil, which has reached from Shrikant Shinde. Now, I have a different opinion on whether Jarange Patil will be of benefit to us in the assembly elections or not. The calculation is different. Whatever you guys think…that's the fact.
Shiv Sena cornering BJP
Shiv Sena leader Ramdas Kadam alleged that Jarrange conspired with the BJP to eliminate Deputy CM Eknath Shinde. He said that Jarange has now been exposed. They are misleading the Maratha community and creating division among different communities. Said that you (Jarange) are conspiring with BJP to eliminate a Maratha leader. Ramdas Kadam also claimed that the name of BJP Legislative Council member Praveen Darekar is also in the audio clip. Shiv Sena minister Uday Samant also targeted BJP.
What did BJP MLC say?
On the other hand, BJP MLC Praveen Darekar said that the court will decide. Everything will come out after investigation, but I think it is not right to blame each other like this. Our senior and wise leader Ashish Shelar has said that no leader of Bharatiya Janata Party is involved in this nor is behind it.
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Is the audio made by AI?
Shiv Sena spokesperson Sanjay Nirupam said that we ourselves had gone to the Chief Minister. Our party leaders had gone to demand an investigation into this entire matter. It is for the state government to decide whether the investigation work will be done by the agencies of the state government or the central government.
He also said that an audio clip has surfaced, but you must remember that today we are living in an era of very rapid development of technology. AI is being used on a large scale. There are many such posts on social media, which are completely fake. People make big video posts in the name of someone who has not actually said anything. Therefore, it would be wrong to say at this time that this video is real. This entire matter should be investigated.