Shinde's instructions to Shiv Sena leaders, Maintain discipline in public life, do not force action

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Monday gave strict instructions to Shiv Sena leaders. He told the party MLAs and ministers to maintain discipline in public life, do not force me to take action. Deputy Chief Minister Shinde has taken this step to reduce the damage to the party's image amid sharp reactions to the continuous incidents related to a Shiv Sena MLA and a minister.

Shiv Sena MLA Sanjay Gaikwad punched and slapped a canteen employee for serving 'stale food' at an MLA hostel in Mumbai. The video of this went viral on social media. Gaikwad was seen wearing a vest and towel in the video. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis also expressed displeasure over this. This stern warning from Shinde has come a few days after the video went viral. Addressing a party meeting, he said, 'Public life demands discipline and we should maintain it. I expect discipline and accountability from all of you.'

Amid outrage, minister Shirsat's video also goes viral

Before the outrage could subside, a video of Shiv Sena minister Sanjay Shirsat went viral, in which he is seen sitting in his bedroom and allegedly holding a bag filled with bundles of notes. The video surfaced days after he received a notice from the Income Tax Department for allegedly increasing his declared assets. While Shirsat, however, had rejected the allegations of wads of cash, Gaikwad stuck to his view and justified the attack on the canteen employee. Both the incidents embarrassed not just the Shiv Sena, but also the Fadnavis government.

Don't force me to take action: Shinde

Addressing a party meeting, Deputy Chief Minister Shinde cautioned MLAs and ministers against succumbing to the pressure of power and restricting their way of working. He said, 'Some ministers had to resign due to public protest. I don't like taking action against my own family members. But don't force me to do so.'

Don't waste your energy on unnecessary issues
The Deputy Chief Minister asked his Shiv Sena colleagues not to waste their energy on unnecessary issues and speak less and work more. He further said, 'I don't behave like a boss. I don't get angry. I work like a worker, and expect you to behave like a worker too.'

People point fingers at me, not you: Shinde
The Deputy Chief Minister referred to some incidents that took place in the last few days. He said that as a leader of Shiv Sena, he had to face sharp questions from people regarding the conduct of his colleagues. He said that people do not point fingers at you. They point fingers at me. They ask me what are your MLAs doing? You are all my people. We are a family. Your defamation is my defamation.

Political opponents are trying to defame
He appealed to the MLAs and ministers not to let success go to their heads and forget their identity as party workers. Shinde said, 'We have achieved a lot in a very short time. The public is with us and that is why some political opponents are now trying to defame us. Be alert and cautious. The coming time will test us.'