Within days after she created a major stir in the State political circles opposing discontinuation of water supply to the liquor and other manufacturing units in drought-hit Marathwada Maharashtra’s rural development Minister Pankaja Munde on Monday landed in a fresh controversy for clicking selfies while touring drought-affected areas.
A day after she took the selfies in the backdrop of Manjara river where de-silting work was going on Sunday, the Shiv Sena and Opposition leaders hit out at her for her “insensitive” act of taking selfies in a drought-affected region.
After taking the selfie on her, she shared the photograph on the social media with a tweet: “Selfie with trench of said barrage (in) Manjara (river).. relief to latur,”
After she was trolled on social media for taking “selfies” in the drought-affected, Panjkaja explained as to why she took the selfie from mobile phone. “During my visit to latur on Sunday, I held several meetings to review drinking water problem. During my visit to latur, I also inspected the de-silting work being carried out there. When I visited Sai bandhara building Manjara river, I felt satisfied seeing water there because of the de-silting work done there. Seeing water in such a parched area brought me happiness. That’s why I took photographs and recorded the event on a video using my mobile”
“The photograph that I took in 45 degree heat was in appreciation of the excellent de-silting work done at the Sai bhandara. There was absolutely excitement there. What I did was borne out of satisfaction that I derived from what I saw,” Pankaja said, reacting to criticism from various quarters.