Mumbai BJP chief faces flak over remarks on monsoon-related deaths in city

Mumbai BJP president Ameet Satam is facing flak from the Opposition for his comments on monsoon-related deaths in the city, after a viral video showed him smiling while speaking about the tragedies.

In the video, Mr. Satam, who is also the party’s MLA from Mumbai, is seen with NCP (SP) MLA Jayant Patil on the Vidhan Bhavan steps, saying, “Yesterday, it was because of a tree; today it is a manhole.” An 11-year-old boy was killed due to a tree falling on a school bus, and a 60-year-old man died after falling into an uncovered manhole in the city earlier this week.

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Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut shared a screenshot of Mr. Satam’s viral video. "Merchants of death. The cruel face of Mumbai BJP," he said in a message on X.

“If you can’t help people, at least don’t laugh so brazenly. Show some humanity,” said Mumbai Congress president and MP Varsha Gaikwad. Slamming Mr. Satam, former MP Priyanka Chaturvedi of Shiv Sena (UBT) said the two deaths were “murders” due to the negligence of those in power.

“However, forget accountability; here we have the Mumbai President of the BJP casually joking about it and laughing loudly. Tells you all about the triple engine governance,” Ms. Chaturvedi posted on X.

Also Read: Man dies after falling into manhole amid heavy rains in Mumbai

MNS chief Raj Thackeray on Saturday (July 4) said CM Devendra Fadnavis should seek resignations from "those behaving so shamelessly.” “Your party MLA and office-bearer is seen laughing over people's deaths, and not a single step is taken against him,” he added.

Mr. Satam said his remarks are being misconstrued. “I was telling Jayant Patil that while speaking in the assembly a day earlier, I had spoken about the tree falling, and the next day, I spoke about the manhole incident,” Mr. Satam said.