Maharashtra minister Pankaja Munde is facing a controversy after a man was seen carrying her slippers
Maharashtra Minister Pankaja Munde has bristled at accusations of imperious behavior after a man was seen carrying her slippers when she was walking on a muddy road recently.
Ms Munde sought to clarify that the man was a member of her personal staff and not a government employee.
"The media sees that I removed my
chappals and somebody carried them. But did the media see the problems I had to endure while walking barefoot? On seeing a muddy road I simply removed my chappals and continued walking. I wasn't even aware that somebody has picked up my chappals. I learnt that later," Ms Munde said last evening.
The minister, who has lately battled controversy involving alleged corruption in clearing contracts worth crores for the supply of snacks at government schools, was touring the Parbhani district when the incident took place.
She tweeted pictures of a mud-filled patch and said: "Zoom i m barefeet bcoz chappal got stuck in the mud i walked from up till down without footwear."
When the visuals on TV channels provoked comments, the minister said: "That person was my private employee and not a government servant. The real news is the drought and the condition of farmers."
The Congress has accused Ms Munde of high-handed behavior.
"Her attitude shows the government in bad light. This only shows her high-handedness and being completely oblivious to the rights of people...What good will she do for a poor farmer when she makes a poor person carry her slippers? All her claims of serving the poor have fallen flat," said Congress spokesperson Al-Nasser Zakaria.