A video clip purportedly showing BJP MP Rajesh Chudasama showering currency notes on people dancing at an event in Chorwad town of Junagadh district went viral today even as the legislator defended the act saying it was a tradition.
The video shows Chudasama, who represents Junagadh in the Lok Sabha, showering Rs 10 notes on people who were dancing at Lok-Dayro (a traditional Saurashtra folk event) last night during a Ganesh pooja.
Other BJP leaders including Dilip Barad, the son of minister of state for agriculture and aviation Jasha Barad, and Kodinar Municipality president Shiva Solanki who is an accused in the murder case of RTI activist Amit Jethwa, were also seen showering money.
Chudasama (33), the youngest MP from Gujarat, today defended himself saying it was "a common tradition" at Lok-Dayro, and the money would be used for a social cause.
"It is a common tradition in our region to collect money like this. It would be used as a donation for social cause," Chudasama told reporters today.
"The money will be used to provide skill development training to the youth, education of poor children and treating ailing cows," Chudasama said.
"This is a very common practise here (to shower cash) at Lok-Dayro whereby people encourage the folk-artists," he said. Asked how much money he showered, he said, "I did not shower much; I did not count the notes."
Jasha Barad, Dilip's father, said he was not aware of the incident and refused to comment.
A controversy had erupted in April this year when the BJP MP from Jamnagar Poonam Madam was seen in a video showering money at a Lok-Dayro programme.
