PERNEM
Stating that the MGP meeting was cancelled since Jeet Arolkar had not followed necessary procedures, Mandrem MLA Dayanand Sopte said Arolkar should not blame him for the incident.
The drama had prevailed at Mandrem on Monday evening when authorities reportedly refused permission to businessman Jeet Arolkar and about 100 of his supporters to hold an MGP meeting at Mandrem and they responded by joining the party at a roadside function.
Arolkar claimed to have requested Pernem Deputy Collector Ravishankar Nipanikar about eight days ago for permission to hold a public meeting at the Mandrem high school ground on Monday at about 3.30 pm.
Nipanikar, however, informed the organisers at the last moment on Monday that he had rejected their request to conduct the meeting. The MGP leaders then accused Sopte of getting authorities to deny them permission to have the meeting.
"Arolkar did not complete the proper procedure and formalities to hold the public meeting and hence he was denied permission by authorities and police. He should not blame me for this," said Sopte, while addressing a news conference in Mandrem on Wednesday in the presence of Mandrem BJP Block Vice President Govind Ajgaonkar and block member Milind Talkar.
