Nagpur: Congress MP from Chandrapur, Pratibha Dhanorkar, has clarified the circumstances surrounding a viral video featuring her and Ramtek MP Shyamkumar Barve inside a bus, stating that the incident was merely a moment of friendly banter and that she has no complaint against him.
The video, which has been widely circulated on social media, shows Barve making a gesture towards Dhanorkar’s cheek. The clip triggered speculation and discussions after claims emerged that he had slapped the woman MP.
Speaking about the incident, Dhanorkar said that Barve is like an elder brother to her and that there was nothing objectionable about what happened. She objected to the incident being presented in a misleading manner and said such reports were unnecessarily damaging the reputation of a woman MP.
Dhanorkar Explains What Happened Inside the Bus
Recounting the incident, Dhanorkar said Congress MPs were travelling together in a bus from Constitution Club in Delhi to Ramlila Maidan.
She explained that MP Varsha Gaikwad was sitting beside her, while MP Shobha Bachhav was seated in front. Some MPs from Jharkhand and Rajasthan were also part of the group.
According to Dhanorkar, Barve had arrived wearing new clothes, prompting other MPs to jokingly ask about his marriage. Varsha Gaikwad reportedly teased him about his age, leading to a light-hearted exchange.
Barve then joined the conversation and jokingly responded that his son was already 20–22 years old, while he himself was yet to turn 30 and get married.
During this playful exchange, Barve lightly touched Dhanorkar’s cheek. She added that he had also engaged in similar joking behaviour with Varsha Gaikwad.
Anonymous Email Complaint Raises Questions
The viral video was followed by screenshots of an alleged complaint sent to senior Congress leaders, including party president Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi and KC Venugopal.
The complaint reportedly originated from an unidentified email account named ‘Nagpur Congress Worker’.
Dhanorkar questioned the credibility of the complaint, pointing out that the identity of the person behind it was unknown. She said spreading allegations without an authorised complaint or a verified complainant was inappropriate.
She also suggested that the complaint could be an attempt to malign her, Barve or Varsha Gaikwad.
‘We Share a Family-Like Bond’
Dhanorkar said that Congress MPs living in the same building share close personal relationships, often eat together and interact like family members.
She appealed to the media and the public not to give a misleading interpretation to an otherwise light-hearted interaction.
She also questioned why attention was being diverted towards the video when the Congress protest in Delhi involved much larger political issues.
Her clarification comes amid growing discussion on social media over the viral clip involving the two Maharashtra Congress MPs.
