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Journalism of Courage
Maharashtra’s Transport Minister and Shiv Sena leader Pratap Sarnaik on Friday became the first Indian to buy Tesla’s Model Y from the company’s newly launched showroom in Mumbai’s Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC). Earlier, when the showroom was opened in July, Sarnaik had promised to be the first customer to get delivery of a Tesla car in India. The car costs around Rs 62 lakh.
“As the transport minister of Maharashtra, I feel fortunate and happy to have received the first Y model Tesla car in India, which is environment-friendly. As a representative of the state government, it has always been our mission to put as many EV cars on the road as possible. We have given toll concessions to EV cars and extended as many facilities as possible. It will bring a revolution in the state,” Sarnaik said.
“I have not taken any discount while buying the car and paid the full amount. I’m going to gift this car to my grandson,” he added.
Opposition Congress took a dig at Sarnaik for buying an imported car at a time when “Prime Minister Narendra Modi is giving a call for make in India”.
In July this year, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis inaugurated the Tesla showroom. A day later, during the Monsoon Session of the state Assembly, Tesla’s Model Y car was brought to the Assembly campus, which was inspected and test-driven by Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. Sarnaik had then said he will be the first in the country to buy Tesla’s Model Y.
Sarnaik was in news recently after the minister, in a widely publicised event, had “caught” a Rapido bike taxi near the Mantralaya junction in Mumbai. He had also booked a ride on the Rapido app using a random name to confirm public complaints about unauthorised bike taxi services. Sarnaik then announced action against Rapido for operating in Mumbai “without permission”. His department launched raids and confiscated 78 bike taxis operating for Rapido.
But the minister landed in a controversy after it emerged that Rapido was the main sponsor of his son’s Dahi handi event.
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