Controversy over cash shower on Congress MLA in Mumbai

Senior Congress legislator Naseem Khan on Tuesday courted controversy as a video clip showing him being showered with currency notes at a religious event here went viral.

During a visit to a 'bhajan' event organised by the Bhanushali community, Khan was welcomed by several people by showering currency notes on him. The Congress leader is seen smiling as he entered the venue in Chandivali in Andheri East last week.

BJP spokesperson Madhav Bhandari demanded to know how so much cash was thrown around freely and demanded a probe. Khan claimed a political conspiracy behind the clipping.

Congress sources claim the clipping could be the handiwork of a faction within the party's Mumbai unit, especially as attempts are on to dislodge Mumbai Congress President Sanjay Nirupam from the post.

The clipping surfaced the day Nirupam met Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and demanded reservation in education and jobs for over 30 north Indian communities living in Maharashtra for decades.

Khan and Nirupam are from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar respectively and are wooing north Indian voters in Mumbai.

Khan maintained it is a custom with the community to welcome their guests in this manner and that all the cash thus collected is donated for religious activities like constructing or maintaining cow shelters.

"Every community has different traditions or customs. How can I challenge these? It is all the more surprising as even leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena from the community were openly showering cash to welcome the guests," Khan told IANS.

--IANS

qn/tsb/mr