Mumbai BJP chief says channel aired out-of-context clip of interaction with NCP (SP) MLA

Mumbai, Jul 7 (PTI) Mumbai BJP president Ameet Satam, facing flak from the Opposition for his comments on monsoon-related deaths, after a viral video showed him smiling while speaking about the tragedies, on Tuesday said a TV channel had aired an “out-of-context” clip of his interaction with NCP (SP) leader Jayant Patil. The video clip of his interaction with Patil on the steps of Vidhan Bhawan had gone viral, leading to a misleading impression, Satam informed the state assembly. Raising the issue in the House, Satam said he was speaking to the media and Patil was present nearby. Both were discussing an entirely different subject, he said. Satam said they merely exchanged pleasantries and friendly gestures before Patil left, but a small portion of the interaction went viral. "The context was completely changed. Only that small portion was taken out and aired by a television channel. Many members here may also have seen that clip," Satam said, maintaining that the video did not reflect the actual conversation between the two leaders. Satam said he had not laughed at the rain-related deaths in Mumbai, as claimed by the Opposition. In the video, Satam, who is also the party’s MLA from Mumbai, is seen with 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 last week. PTI MR VT VT