Dy CM Eknath Shinde congratulates Colonel Purohit on his promotion to rank of Brigadier, hails him as “true patriot”

Kolhapur: Deputy chief minister Eknath Shinde took to social media on Saturday to congratulate Colonel Prasad Purohit on his promotion to the rank of Brigadier, hailing him as a "true patriot."The promotion follows Colonel Purohit's acquittal in the 2008 Malegaon blast case by a Special NIA Court on July 31, 2025. Brigadier Purohit's legal battle began with his arrest in 2008. He was granted bail by the Supreme Court in Aug 2017 and subsequently permitted to resume his military duties while the trial continued. The Mumbai court recently cleared him of all charges, citing a lack of evidence.In a post on X (formerly Twitter), deputy CM Shinde wrote: "Heartfelt congratulations to Colonel Purohit on receiving his promotion. He was implicated in the Malegaon blast case during the Congress era through doctored evidence. Colonel Purohit is a true patriot, and the court has acquitted him. This promotion serves as some measure of solace for the mental agony he has endured."During a visit to his native Dare village, Shinde also addressed criticism from opposition parties regarding his use of a helicopter to reach his farmland for agricultural activities."I am the son of a farmer and I love to farm," Shinde told the media. "A few people have a 'stomach ache' over my visits; what can I say to them? My time is important, so I travel by the mode that saves time. Soon, I am going to plant trees that are good for curing stomach aches," he added, taking a jibe at his critics.The deputy chief minister spent several hours on his land on Saturday planting saplings of various exotic and traditional crops. "Today I planted apricot, avocado, and plum. The avocado will yield fruit in three years, and our apple plants are already in the flowering stage. We are also implementing large-scale coffee plantations in this area," he said.Shinde emphasised that modernising agriculture is essential to prevent rural migration to cities. He noted that tourism-related projects are also being developed in the Koyna region to provide farmers with additional income streams."In an era of climate change and global warming, planting more trees is the need of the hour. Whenever I visit, I make sure as many trees are planted as possible," Shinde said. He urged farmers to experiment with cash crops, organic farming, and community-led agriculture to move beyond traditional methods.