Raosaheb Danve’s Viral Kick Video Sparks Outrage and Political Debate | Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar News – Times of India

A video showing BJP leader Raosaheb Danve kicking an aide during a photo op with Shiv Sena’s Arjun Khotkar in Jalna has gone viral.

CHHATRAPATI SAMBHAJINAGAR: A video clip that shows senior BJP politician Raosaheb Danve kicking an aide in Jalna on Monday sparked a political storm.
The video circulated on social media and aired on news channels shows Danve posing for a photograph with Shiv Sena’s former minister Arjun Khotkar. Suddenly, Danve is seen kicking his aide, Shaikh Hamad, who is trying to enter the camera frame.
Danve, a five-time MP before he lost the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, and Khotkar, who is contesting from the Jalna assembly seat on a Shiv Sena ticket, were bitter critics of each other. However, the two came together for a closed-door meeting on Monday to iron out their differences ahead of CM Eknath Shinde’s visit to Jalna. After the meeting, they stepped out and Danve presented a bouquet to Khotkar. As the two senior politicians posed for photographers, Hamad tried to move closer to Danve. The former BJP minister, who was holding the bouquet with both hands, was then seen kicking Hamad out of the frame.
On his part, Hamad later tried to downplay the incident. “I have been closely associated with Danve in Jalna for more than three decades. It was a jocular move, and there is nothing more to it,” Hamad said.
“Moreover, Danve’s shirt was partially stuck in his pants, and I went closer to him to tell him about it in his ears. Since he was holding a bouquet with both hands, he had no option but to push me with his leg,” he added.
Danve, however, could not be reached for his comments.
Priyanka Chaturvedi, the Shiv Sena (UBT) Rajya Sabha MP), criticised Danve. “This is a former BJP minister, a former MP. Check his record-breaking arrogance. BTW, who does this kick remind you of, any guesses?” she said in her post on X.
Deputy chief minister and NCP chief Ajit Pawar said politicians should respect everybody. “Behaviour that is unacceptable and can be termed uncultured should be avoided,” he told reporters.
When contacted, BJP Rajya Sabha MP Bhagwat Karad said certain elements were trying to create a mountain out of a molehill. “The individual concerned is a close friend of Danve, and he himself downplayed the issue. So I feel there is no need to react anymore,” he said.