Maharashtra CM (Chief Minister) News

Five paddy-growing districts in Maharashtra’s Vidarbha to get 12 hours’ power supply
The Indian Express | 3 hours ago | |
The Indian Express
3 hours ago | |

The Maharashtra government has decided to provide 12 hours of uninterrupted electricity to farmers for agricultural pumps in five districts in the Vidarbha region, officials said. The demand for increased electricity for agricultural pumps came from paddy-growing districts such as Chandrapur, Gadchiroli, Bhandara, Gondia and Nagpur. Farmers cultivating paddy were facing hardships due to the short supply of electricity.Senior BJP minister for forests Sudhir Mungantiwar, who hails from Chandrapur, raised the issue with Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis two days ago. During the discussions, Mungantiwar apprised the two leaders of the problems faced by paddy farmers in the five Vidarbha districts. Reduced power supply meant that farmers in these districts were forced to do farming activities during the night when the electricity supply was more steady. However, it also made them prone to attacks from animals, officials added. After considering the farmers’ plight, the state government directed the energy department to increase supply from eight hours to 12 hours to farmers using agriculture pumps in five eastern Vidarbha districts. In its order, the government has also stated that instead of night, farmers should be provided electricity during the day.

Five paddy-growing districts in Maharashtra’s Vidarbha to get 12 hours’ power supply
Maha, K’taka CMs to meet Modi, Shah soon to resolve border issues, says Mane
Times of India | 9 hours ago | |
Times of India
9 hours ago | |

Kolhapur: Hatkanangle MP Dhairyashil Mane on Thursday said that arrangements are being made to organise a meeting of the chief ministers of Maharashtra and Karnataka with prime minister Narendra Modi and home minister Amit Shah to resolve Maharashtra-Karnataka border disputes and provide relief to the residents of the border areas from both sides. Mane is heading the panel of experts guiding the legal team on the border dispute in Supreme Court.The inter-state border has become tense due to the debate started following Karnataka chief minister Basavaraj Bommai’s claim over 40 odd villages of Jat tehsil. Also, the Supreme Court had scheduled a hearing on Wednesday, which got postponed. The Maharashtra government led by chief minister Eknath Shinde is being criticised by the opposition for not taking a strong stand against Karnataka, where the elections are due early next year.Mane said, “I come from the border area. I know the concerns of the people. I have been appointed as the head of experts' team. A meeting of both the chief ministers with the prime minister and home minister is being arranged, which will be attended by the cabinet ministers of both the states.”Mane further said he will join ministers Chandrakant Patil and Shambhuraj Desai, who are meeting Marathi-speaking residents of Belagavi, the second capital of Karnataka. He said the visit would take place either on December 3 or 6.Meanwhile, on Thursday, Karnataka released water from the Tubachi-Babaleshwar lift irrigation project to Jat tehsil. The Karnataka authorities claimed that the water from the storage tanks overflowed and reached Jat through canals. However, the local residentrs maintained that Karnataka does not release water when actually needed, and the current move is to show Maharashtra in poor light. A delegation of local residents met Eknath Shinde recently. The CM ordered the authorities to initiate the work to lift water and provide it in Jat’s parched areas. On Shinde’s directions, Sangli collector Raja Dayanidhi visited Jat and spoke to the locals about their concerns on Thursday.

Maha, K’taka CMs to meet Modi, Shah soon to resolve border issues, says Mane
  • Maharashtra, Karnataka CMs to meet PM Narendra Modi, Shah soon to resolve border issues, says Mane

    • Times of India

    KOLHAPUR: Hatkanangle MP Dhairyashil Mane on Thursday said that arrangements are being made to organise a meeting of the chief ministers of Maharashtra and Karnataka with prime minister Narendra Modi and home minister Amit Shah to resolve Maharashtra-Karnataka border disputes and provide relief to the residents of the border areas from both sides. Mane is heading the panel of experts guiding the legal team on the border dispute in Supreme Court. The inter-state border has become tense due to the debate started following Karnataka chief minister Basavaraj Bommai's claim over 40 odd villages of Jat tehsil. Also, the Supreme Court had scheduled a hearing on Wednesday, which got postponed. The Maharashtra government led by chief minister Eknath Shinde is being criticised by the opposition for not taking a strong stand against Karnataka, where the elections are due early next year. Mane said, "I come from the border area. I know the concerns of the people. I have been appointed as the head of experts' team. A meeting of both the chief ministers with the prime minister and home minister is being arranged, which will be attended by the cabinet ministers of both the states." Mane further said he will join ministers Chandrakant Patil and Shambhuraj Desai, who are meeting Marathi-speaking residents of Belagavi, the second capital of Karnataka. He said the visit would take place either on December 3 or 6. Meanwhile, on Thursday, Karnataka released water from the Tubachi-Babaleshwar lift irrigation project to Jat tehsil. The Karnataka authorities claimed that the water from the storage tanks overflowed and reached Jat through canals. However, the local residentrs maintained that Karnataka does not release water when actually needed, and the current move is to show Maharashtra in poor light. A delegation of local residents met Eknath Shinde recently. The CM ordered the authorities to initiate the work to lift water and provide it in Jat's parched areas. On Shinde's directions, Sangli collector Raja Dayanidhi visited Jat and spoke to the locals about their concerns on Thursday.

All govt offices in Maharashtra to be paperless: E-system to start from April 1
Times of India | 12 hours ago | |
Times of India
12 hours ago | |

MUMBAI: An e-office system will be started in all government offices from April 1, 2023 in a push towards them going paperless, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde announced on Thursday. Once the e-office system is in place, officials will be able to look at government files and documents on their mobile phones, a statement from the Chief Minister's office said. Currently, files going to the Chief Minister go through eight stages of clearances which results in delays in decision making. This will now be reduced to four stages. This is in keeping with the Centre's efforts in this direction. An official from the central office of administrative reforms V Srinivas met Shinde at Varsha on Thursday to discuss such reforms. He also appreciated the state's efforts in this area. The state will also increase the number of online services. Currently around 450 services are being offered online. Shinde also said that an online system will be set up to redress the public grievances received by the Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister. The progress will be tracked digitally. The state has also decided that different government departments and districts will compete for good governance rankings. Currently, the rankings are only being done at the state level. This aims to increase the competition between departments and improve the quality of services being offered to the public.

All govt offices in Maharashtra to be paperless: E-system to start from April 1
  • To go paperless, all state govt offices to implement ‘e-office’ system from April 1

    • The Indian Express

    Aiming at “paperless” administrative work, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Thursday announced that all government offices across the state will implement the ‘e-office’ system from April 1, next year. He instructed the administration to ensure that all government-related files should come to him for a final decision after going through four levels of deliberation, instead of the current eight.The announcement was made after Shinde held a meeting with the central administrative reforms and public grievances department Secretary V Srinivas in Mumbai.While directing officials to cooperate with the administration in preparing a good governance manual, Shinde said in a statement released by the CMO that Maharashtra, which currently holds the second position in the good governance index, should aim at bagging the first rank.Officials said once the e-office system is implemented, files and documents can be viewed and approved on cellphones as well, making the process papaerless and fast.Shinde also instructed the administration to increase the number of online services to make Maharashtra number one in the e-seva index across the country. At present, 450 services in the state are provided online.“An online system for citizens’ complaint redressal will be set up and these complaints will be tracked digitally. A separate dashboard will be created to provide information about the action taken by the departments on these complaints,” Shinde said, adding that he will personally review the action taken on these complaints.Shinde further said that from now on, each department and district will be given a ‘Good Governance Ranking’.

Govt partially rolls back ban on single-use plastic items
The Indian Express | 12 hours ago | |
The Indian Express
12 hours ago | |

Partially rolling back the ban on plastic items imposed across Maharashtra in 2018, the state government on Thursday allowed use of single-use disposable plastic items such as straw, plates, cups, glasses, forks and containers like bowls, among other things, made of compostable material. This brings relief to plastic manufacturers, traders and users of plastic such as restaurants, shops and businesses across the state. The notification was issued by the environment department on Wednesday.The government has also allowed non-woven polypropylene carry-bags, specifically which are not more than 60 grams per square mere with a thickness of less then 50 microns.The Maharashtra government’s allows use, storage, sale, distribution and transportation of such plastic items. The notification also allows plastic items less than 50 microns and items less then 60 grams per square metre for packaging purposes. “The packaging material shall be more than 50 microns thickness. In case of thickness of plastic sheets impairs the functionality of the product, the packaging material shall be of less than 50 micron,” it says.The state had banned use of all single-use disposal plastic items such as plates, spoons, bowls, forks and containers that are used by the restaurant industry for packaging.The notification comes with a rider that manufacturers will have to secure certificates from Plastic Engineering and Technology (CIPET) and Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) for manufacture and trade of such items.Presently, the plastic ban in Maharashtra allowed compostable plastic carriers for industries such as Solid Waste Management (SWM).On Monday, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis chaired a meeting with the environment department, where the decision was taken by the government.

Govt partially rolls back ban on single-use plastic items
Eknath Shinde’s meeting with MPs cancelled, CMO cites busy schedule
The Indian Express | 12 hours ago | |
The Indian Express
12 hours ago | |

A meeting of Chief Minister Eknath Shinde with MPs from Maharashtra to discuss issues related to the state in the upcoming Union budget was cancelled on Wednesday because of his busy schedule. This is the second time in two weeks when a key meeting was cancelled at the last moment. Last Wednesday, the state cabinet meeting was cancelled after Shinde made an impromptu visit to Shirdi and Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis flew back to Nagpur after election campaigning in Gujarat.“The schedule was so heavy that the meeting had to be postponed. It will be held soon,” an official from the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) said. Shinde on Wednesday morning attended an investors’ conclave on commercial coal mines auction and opportunities in the mining sector. Later, he had a meeting with officials from the central government’s Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances.In the evening, the CM attended the fifth anniversary of Balasaheb Thackeray Shiv Sena Medical Aid Centre and later a programme where he handed over appointment letters to candidates appointed through the Maharashtra Public Service Commission (MPSC).A query to Fadnavis on the cancellation of the meeting of MPs went unanswered.Sources said messages to the MPs on the cancellation of the meeting were sent on Tuesday night. “We were informed at the last minute that the meeting will be rescheduled. This is an important meeting where issues related to the state are presented and it should have happened by cancelling other programmes,” an MP said.As per norms, every CM holds a meeting with MPs from the state a month or two prior to the presentation of the Union Budget. The Parliament session is set to begin in the last week of January.

Eknath Shinde’s meeting with MPs cancelled, CMO cites busy schedule
Not aware of Waqf Board plan on educational institutes for girls, says Karnataka CM Basavaraj Bommai
The Indian Express | 1 day ago | |
The Indian Express
1 day ago | |

Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai said on Thursday that he was not aware of any Karnataka State Board of Auqaf or Waqf Board proposal to construct schools and colleges, exclusively for girls, in 10 districts.“It might be his personal view. This is not discussed at the government level and it is not the stand of my government,” Bommai said, referring to Waqf Board chairman Shafi Saadi’s statement on Wednesday that the Board was planning to set up schools and colleges, exclusively for girls.The institutions, when set up, would allow girls to wear hijab and admissions would be open to students from all communities, Saadi had said.On Thursday, Bommai said that if there was any such proposal, the Board chairman should talk to him about the same.To a query on rowdy-sheeter Wilson Garden Naga meeting housing minister V Somanna, Bommai said that the BJP will not entertain any rowdies in the party. “We will not give them any opportunity and there is no change in our stance,” he said. The BJP was recently left red-faced after rowdy-sheeter ‘Silent Sunil’ and criminal ‘Fighter Ravi’ shared the stage with BJP MPs Tejasvi Surya and PC Mohan, and expressed their desire to join the BJP.On the Supreme Court hearing the maintainability of a petition seeking the inclusion of 800-plus villages and towns of Karnataka to Maharashtra, the chief minister said that the stand of the state was very clear. “Our argument is that the petition by Maharashtra is not maintainable. Our stand is constitutional and legal,” Bommai said.

Not aware of Waqf Board plan on educational institutes for girls, says Karnataka CM Basavaraj Bommai
All for show in the show-for-all? Mamata Banerjee public outbursts not new, Oppn flays ‘gimmick’
The Indian Express | 1 day ago | |
The Indian Express
1 day ago | |

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday came down heavily on the North 24 Parganas District Magistrate Sharad Kumar Dwivedi and other officials, after she found that winter garments meant to be distributed by her at a public meeting in Hingalganj, were not brought to the event site.It was not the first time that the Chief Minister had openly reprimanded officials or political leaders at administrative meetings. During an administrative review meeting in Purulia in May this year, Banerjee had come down heavily on the local District Magistrate Rahul Majumdar, after a Trinamool Congress leader had informed her that revenues from brick kilns were going into the “pockets of a few officials”.“Are you listening, DM?” the CM had asked Majumdar point blank, after the local Trinamool leader had complained about the alleged corruption by some officials. “How are you running the district? You have been here for so many days. My idea (about you) has changed today… I am trying to give everything to the people, but why are people here greedy? How much more do you want?” Banerjee had said, making it clear that she would not allow corruption in the administration.Senior officials including the DM, and Trinamool leaders, were present at the review meeting in Purulia. “Mind it, these are not Trinamool people… Had they been from my party, I would have slapped them,” Banerjee told mediapersons present.Like in Purulia, on Tuesday, she reprimanded the DM of North 24 Parganas. Banerjee stalled the programme and refused to talk to officials until the garments were brought for distribution. “When I give things and it doesn’t reach the people, it angers me. When you visit a guest, you bring a gift. I bought winterwear, blankets and sweaters for the people here,” said Banerjee, as she glared at local administrative officials present on stage.She turned towards DM Sharad Kumar Dwivedi, who was standing on the dais behind her, and asked him where the winter garments were kept. “I have brought 15,000 winter garments and blankets. Where have you kept them? Bring them to me immediately. I told you that we will distribute these directly, not through anyone,” Banerjee said, to the applause of the gathering.Such public admonition is not only reserved for administrative officials. Leaders of her party have also faced her wrath. That’s what had happened at Ranaghat in December last year. The TMC supremo had pulled up her party MP Mahua Moitra at a public meeting in Krishnanagar, while expressing displeasure at growing factionalism within the party ranks in Nadia district. “Mahua, let me give you a clear message here. I don’t need to see who is against whom, but when there is an election, the party will decide who will fight and who won’t. So, there should be no disagreement here,” she had said.“There is no reason to imagine that the same person will be in the same position forever,” she had added. Moitra, who had just been removed as the party’s Nadia district president, was seated on stage just behind Banerjee. She referred to posters being put up that accused a faction of the TMC leadership of corruption. Hinting at an inside job, Banerjee said a police investigation had revealed that the allegations were fake. “It is not what had happened. It was edited and planted in the media. I have had it cross checked by the CID,” she said. Her stern message comes ahead of impending civic polls in the state.Last November, another TMC MLA, Bimalendu Singha of Karimpur in Nadia district, was left red faced when he complained to Banerjee that the BDO was not carrying out his order. He also urged that the BDO be transferred, as he had been posted at Karimpur-1 block for many years. The CM openly criticised the MLA, saying, “BDO is not bound to obey your order. An MLA cann’t advice a BDO’s transfer.”TMC leaders expressed mixed reactions to this behaviour of the Chief Minister. A senior TMC leader said, “Sometimes, this attitude of the CM has helped us run the party at the grassroots level. At other times, it’s of no help. However, as a whole, this helps Banerjee maintain her (clean) image among the people.”Leaders of Opposition parties the CPI(M) and the BJP however maintained this was nothing but eyewash. The CPI(M)’s Sujan Chakraborty said, “Why is she bullying others for her own fault? The main thing is that her failures have been exposed. She’s playacting to divert attention from that. She also wants to reduce all officials and party leaders to servitude.”The BJP’s Samik Bhattacharya said, “I have never seen a CM distributing winter clothes. She may distribute this as a party leader or a BDO or SDO. And where did she go for that? To Hingalganj, from where people go to Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Maharashtra for work. People have no money or work in Hingalganj. The CM knows that.”Banerjee has a long history of diverting attention from uncomfortable questions asked in public. In 2012, when she was still new to power in the state, at a rally at Belpahari, when a man named Shiladitya Chowdhury, a resident of Binpur, told Banerjee that the government was not doing enough, with farmers dying while the price of fertilisers kept rising, Banerjee labelled him a “Maoist” and had police arrest him under non-bailable sections soon after.Earlier in 2012, during a TV show hosted by a private channel, Banerjee had called students in the audience “Maoists” and “supporters of the Communist Party of India (Marxist)”, after some of them asked her “uncomfortable” questions.

All for show in the show-for-all? Mamata Banerjee public outbursts not new, Oppn flays ‘gimmick’
Get Harish Salve for Karnataka border dispute in SC, Ajit Pawar tells Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde
Times of India | 1 day ago | |
Times of India
1 day ago | |

MUMBAI: Leader of opposition Ajit Pawar on Wednesday asked chief minister Eknath Shinde and deputy chief minister Devendra Fadnavis to engage the services of Nagpur-based lawyer Harish Salve to represent Maharashtra in the litigation before the Supreme Court on the Maharashtra-Karnataka boundary dispute. "Salve belongs to Maharashtra, and he has dealt with the case in the past too. He will be the best choice for securing justice," Pawar said. Pawar said in the past, when Vilasrao Deshmukh was the CM, he had stepped in to secure the appearance of Salve to protect the interests of the state in the matter. "I am told that currently, the state government has hired the services of leading lawyer Vaidyanathan. In my opinion, while the Karnataka CM is personally camping in New Delhi and has hired the services of former attorney general Mukul Rohatgi, it will be most appropriate if we engage Salve," he said. Pawar strongly criticized Karnataka CM Basavaraj Bommai for raking up new issues like claiming that villagers of Jat and Solapur had expressed their desire to merge with Karnataka. "His contention is baseless, there is absolutely no substance in it," he said. Ajit Pawar presided over a meeting of the Maha Vikas Aghadi on Wednesday in view of the upcoming winter session of the state legislature in Nagpur which begins on December 19. The meeting was attended by former CMs Ashok Chavan and Prithviraj Chavan, Congress legislature party leader Balasaheb Thorat, Shiv Sena's (UBT) Aaditya Thackeray and Anil Parab, SP's Abu Azmi and Rais Shaikh, and former ministers Eknath Khadse, Chhagan Bhujbal and Dilip Walse Patil of NCP. Pawar said the MVA will provide a united front during the winter session and expose the Shinde-led government for its "failure on all fronts." "We are surprised as to why the meeting of the business advisory committee, scheduled for Wednesday, was suddenly postponed to December 5 without assigning any reasons," he noted. He said MVA will insist on at least a three-week session. "Our emphasis will be to discuss problems of Vidarbha region as priority, because after a gap of three years, the session is being held in Nagpur. Owing to the pandemic, no session was held for three years," he said. He said it appeared that while a plan for a two-week session had been drafted by the legislature secretariat, in all probably it could be wound up after the first week itself.

Get Harish Salve for Karnataka border dispute in SC, Ajit Pawar tells Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde
Maharashtra governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari will have to go after Gujarat poll results: Congress
Times of India | 1 day ago | |
Times of India
1 day ago | |

MUMBAI: Senior Congress leaders believe that governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari will be relieved or shifted after the Gujarat assembly election results are out on December 8. Congress, NCP and Shiv Sena have already demanded immediate dismissal of Koshyari for his recent remarks that while Shivaji was an icon for earlier generations, Dr B R Ambedkar and union minister Nitin Gadkari were icons of the new generation. "Massive damage has been caused to the image of the BJP leadership in view of a series of controversial statements made by Koshyari. In fact, after his latest statement on Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, it has become difficult for BJP to defend him. Most of the senior BJP leaders are speechless. For the BJP leadership, the only option for controlling the damage is to relieve Koshyari as early as possible," a former chief minister said. Meanwhile, leader of opposition Ajit Pawar said it was high time that the BJP leadership, chief minister Eknath Shinde and deputy chief minister Devendra Fadnavis take on the "motormouths" to avoid further damage to the state of Maharashtra. "One after the other, cabinet members and politicians are making irresponsible statements," he said.

Maharashtra governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari will have to go after Gujarat poll results: Congress
17th International Metal Ions Symposium 2022 inaugurated
The Indian Express | 1 day ago | |
The Indian Express
1 day ago | |

The 17th International Metal Ions Symposium 2022 – Recent advances in Oral Medicine and Radiology, Environmental and Public Health was inaugurated at Mumbai’s Nehru Science Centre (NSC) on Wednesday, along with a message from Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari.Mumbai News14 foreign nationals held in Mumbai for impersonating as US Embassy officials, duping woman of Rs 26 lakh2MMRC completes 100% tunnelling of Colaba-Bandra-SEEPZ line3Mumbai police recover Rs 1 crore of cybercrime victims in six monthsMore from MumbaiProfessor (Dr) Reinhilde Jacobs, President of the International Association of Dento Maxillo Facial Radiology, addressed the forum on behalf of the International Advisory Board. Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has congratulated NSC Chairperson Dr Sunali Khanna for the initiative to organise the symposium. Professor (Dr) Reinhilde Jacobs, President of the International Association of Dento Maxillo Facial Radiology, addressed the forum on behalf of the International Advisory Board. Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has congratulated NSC Chairperson Dr Sunali Khanna for the initiative to organise the symposium.

17th International Metal Ions Symposium 2022 inaugurated
Maharashtra Cabinet approves new dedicated department for Divyangs
The Indian Express | 2 days ago | |
The Indian Express
2 days ago | |

The Maharashtra Cabinet on Tuesday cleared the proposal for setting up a new dedicated department for Divyangs, which will be functional from December 3 this year.The move came two weeks after Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde sought an independent Divyang welfare department in the state.At present, schemes for Divyangs are implemented through the Social Justice and Special Assistance Department’s Commissioner, according to sources in the know of the matter.The new entity will have a Divyang Financial Development Corporation.The Commissioner runs education, training and rehabilitation schemes for more than 30 lakh people with disabilities in Maharashtra.There is also a Social Welfare Officer at the district level for smooth functioning of these schemes.“An expenditure of Rs 118 crore has been approved for the creation of a total of 2,063 new posts,” according to state deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.According to the state government, the new department will effectively implement financial, social and educational development schemes among others by the Social Justice and Special Assistance Department; and also Centre-approved schemes for Divyangs.Independent MLA Bachchu Kadu announced three weeks ago that the Maharashtra government had approved the formation of the new Divyang welfare department following his demands for the same.He and his workers had even distributed sweets outside Mantralaya to celebrate the move. Kadu has been known for his work for people with disabilities.

Maharashtra Cabinet approves new dedicated department for Divyangs
Maharashtra govt wrote to Vedanta chairman about signing MoU days before Gujarat location announced: Aaditya
The Indian Express | 2 days ago | |
The Indian Express
2 days ago | |

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray on Tuesday claimed that the Maharashtra government had written to Vedanta chairman Anil Agarwal in September, inviting him to sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for setting up Vedanta-Foxconn semiconductor plant in the state, days before the firm disclosed Gujarat is its pick for the project.Addressing the media, Aaditya referred to the letter written to Agarwal on September 5 by Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) chief executive officer P Anbalagan, inviting Vedanta, Foxconn and Avanstrate to indicate a convenient time and date for signing a MoU. On September 11, Agawarl had tweeted announcing that the project will come up in Gujarat. This was the second letter sent to Agarwal by the Maharashtra government, inviting him to sign the MoU. On July 26, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde had also written to Agarwal, inviting him for the same.Alleging that the Eknath Shinde-BJP government is lying, Aaditya reiterated his challenge for an open debate with the CM on projects such as Vedanta-Foxconn picking other states over Maharashtra.“The letter proves that a stage when the MoU could have been signed had come and all talks were finalised… the next step was to sign the MoU. This government keeps lying that the project went out of the state owing to the failure of the MVA (Maha Vikas Aghadi) government,”Aaditya said.“If this project was not going to come up in Maharashtra, then why was this letter sent for MoU signing?” Aaditya asked. “So who is lying? Is the deputy chief minister or the industries minister lying? The unconstitutional chief minister does not speak, as if he does not know anything,” he said.Rejecting Aaditya’s allegations, state Industries Minister Uday Samant said the MoU was never signed. The state government, the CM and his deputy had requested Agarwal to sign an MoU, but he tweeted a decision about Gujarat had already been taken, the minister claimed.“To sign the MoU, a high-power committee meeting should have taken place. It happened on July 15 after directions from the chief minister Shinde. For eight months during the MVA tenure, the high-power committee meeting did not take place,” Samant said.

Maharashtra govt wrote to Vedanta chairman about signing MoU days before Gujarat location announced: Aaditya
For Rs 20,000-cr investment in Raigad, Indonesian company gets land allotment letter from govt
The Indian Express | 2 days ago | |
The Indian Express
2 days ago | |

The Maharashtra government on Tuesday handed over a land allotment letter to Sinar Mas Pulp and Paper Pvt Ltd, an Indonesian company that will make an investment of Rs 20,000 crore in Maharashtra by setting up a paper manufacturing plant in Raigad’s Dherand village. An allotment letter for 287 hectares at Dherand was handed over to the company by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday. According to an official, in the first phase, the company will make an investment of Rs 10,500 crore in Maharashtra. The official said 287 hectare land for phase 1 and 600 hectare for phase 2 in Raigad district had been earmarked for the company to set up their paper manufacturing plant, which will generate employment for 7,000 people.The Sinar Mas Pulp and Paper Pvt Ltd (Asia Paper and Pulp), the largest paper manufacturing company in Asia, will be making an investment of Rs 20,000 crore for the first time in India. The company has paid nearly Rs 37 crore as 5 per cent reservation fee on August 1, 2022. During the meeting, CM Shinde assured that there was a favourable environment for industries in Maharashtra and all the necessary facilities will be provided by the state. “Industries need not worry while expanding and investing in Maharashtra, all necessary facilities will be provided. After setting up the industry, infrastructure facilities like roads and water will also be provided in that area,” said Shinde.“We are clearing all the proposals pending since the last two-and-a-half years. We assure all support to investors coming to Maharashtra and all the necessary facilities will be provided to them,” said Fadnavis.Meanwhile, the Maharashtra Cabinet on Tuesday attended a presentation of 14 departments about their proposed recruitment processes. All administrative departments were instructed to speed up recruitment processes.Marking the completion of 75 years of Indian independence, the state government has announced that it will make recruitment for 75,000 posts during the year. The Maharashtra Cabinet directed the departments to convey the vacancies to the Maharashtra Public Service Commission till December 15 as the commission will be holding exams for clerks’ posts.

For Rs 20,000-cr investment in Raigad, Indonesian company gets land allotment letter from govt
Police recruitment drive: Aspirants face website glitches while applying, deadline extended by 15 days
The Indian Express | 2 days ago | |
The Indian Express
2 days ago | |

A day after aspirants for police department jobs complained about glitches in the website while submitting online applications, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday announced that the deadline for submitting online applications has been extended by 15 days.Earlier, the last day for submitting online applications was Wednesday.The deputy chief minister’s office tweeted on Tuesday, “The deadline for submission of application for police recruitment in the state has been extended till December 15, 2022. So far, 11.8 lakh applications have been received. The decision to extend the deadline was taken as aspirants were facing difficulties in submitting applications, and to allow time to candidates from earthquake-affected areas.”Meanwhile, sources in Maharashtra Police confirmed that the number of online applications has exceeded 12 lakh by the end of Tuesday, and authorities expect the number to rise significantly in the coming days. On Sunday, NCP leader Dhananjay Munde had tweeted about how candidates are facing problems in uploading the applications as the website was hanging continuously and the server was often down.“Confusion about non-creamy layer certificates and some documents has already wasted a lot of time of candidates. So, candidates should be given at least 15 days’ extension to apply,” Munde stated in his tweet.Maharashtra Police, however, clarified on its website that the non-creamy layer certificate, issued by the competent authority on the basis of their income, should be of the financial year 2021-2022.Officials also said the server slowed down because the number of applicants on the website was higher compared to the capacity of the server.However, the issue has been rectified, said a senior police official.“Applicants are facing problems at the payment gateway, so we have created an option that after filling the form, if the applicant is facing any problem in making the payment, then they will submit the form and pay later. Subsequently, after making the payment, they should then mention the token number on their form, following which their IDs will be issued,” said an official.

Police recruitment drive: Aspirants face website glitches while applying, deadline extended by 15 days
Sachin Pilot is a ‘kaddawar’: No let-up in Rajasthan Congress strife
The Indian Express | 3 days ago | |
The Indian Express
3 days ago | |

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi tried to defuse the tension in the party’s Rajasthan unit on Monday, saying that Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and Tonk MLA Sachin Pilot were assets for the party. The comments came even as the protracted war of words between the two rival factions showed no signs of stopping.Speaking to reporters in Indore during the Bharat Jodo Yatra’s Madhya Pradesh leg, Gandhi called both the leaders “assets to the party”. The statement came on the heels of the explosive NDTV interview last week where Gehlot called Pilot a “gaddar (traitor)”, claiming that “he had proof that Pilot colluded with the BJP” during the 2020 political crisis in the state.Following disagreements between the two leaders at the time, Pilot and a group of rebel MLAs camped in Manesar in Haryana. They were accused of trying to topple the Gehlot government. After a month of political uncertainty — it included MLAs loyal to the CM also huddling together — the Gandhi family stepped in and the rebels returned to the Congress fold. Gehlot won the subsequent trust vote in the Assembly. Pilot has denied the allegations surrounding the 2020 crisis and termed them “baseless”.“Whatever Ashok ji has said must be right,” state Health Minister Parsadi Lal Meena told reporters recently. “Had these 102 MLAs (Gehlot loyalists) not been there, our government would have sunk just like Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, and Maharashtra. There are ministers and a CM because of those 102 MLAs. Pilot sahab should clarify and tell the public why he and his loyalist MLAs stayed at Manesar for 35 days and why we had to stay at hotels during this period. If this was the party’s internal matter, it should have been sorted within the party itself.”The health minister added, “Gehlot has said whatever he has said on the basis of information and evidence.”Hitting back at him, state minister Murari Lal Meena, a Pilot loyalist and one of the 18 MLAs who were in Manesar, dared the Gehlot faction to arrest the MLAs from the Pilot faction.“We had told the Congress high command, Rahul Gandhi ji, Sonia Gandhi ji, Priyanka Gandhi ji, why we went to Manesar. If you have evidence, then arrest us. Sachin Pilot is a kaddawar (heavyweight) leader. He is young and hard-working and the party is at an advantage because of him,” Murari said on Sunday.He called on the high command to take a decision soon to allay the confusion among Congress workers. “We went to Manesar and went on to abide by what the high command said. We returned. Who didn’t follow what the high command said? There is a need to self-introspect as to who is a gaddar. The high command had convened a meeting in Jaipur, you know who didn’t attend it.”Murari was referring to the events on September 25 when MLAs loyal to Gehlot skipped a meeting called by the party’s central leadership and submitted their resignations to stop any attempt to make Pilot the Chief Minister. Gehlot was in the running for the post of the Congress president at the time and the party, which has a one-member one-post rule, wanted to announce Pilot as the CM.

Sachin Pilot is a ‘kaddawar’: No let-up in Rajasthan Congress strife
  • ‘Both Ashok Gehlot and Sachin Pilot are Congress assets’: Rahul Gandhi’s balancing act as Yatra nears Rajasthan

    • The Indian Express

    As the tussle over leadership between Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and rival Sachin Pilot kept the Rajasthan Congress pot simmering, senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday tried to strike a balance, calling both leaders “assets” to the party.His remarks came a day after the party said Gehlot should not have used “certain words” against Pilot.“I don’t want to get into who said what. Both these leaders are assets to the Congress. But I can say one thing with guarantee that this (feud) will have no impact on the Bharat Jodo Yatra,” Rahul said at a press conference in Indore.With just days left for the Bharat Jodo Yatra to enter Rajasthan, AICC general secretary in charge of organisation, K C Venugopal, on Saturday reached Jaipur to review the preparations and ensure that the warring leaders remain on the same page so that their tussle does not overshadow or derail the yatra.One senior leader considered close to Rahul said that replacing Gehlot is easier said than done given his heft and the number of MLAs backing him. He asserted that Pilot had joined the yatra on November 24 on his own and that Rahul had not called him.The mixed signals indicate the party is keen to keep both Rajasthan leaders in good humour until the yatra leaves the state.The party leadership does not want differences between Gehlot and Pilot to play out in the open, when the yatra is in the state. Rahul’s balancing act is seen in that context. He refrained from commenting on the war of words between the Rajasthan CM and his former deputy.His remarks came days after Gehlot said that Pilot cannot be made the chief minister, as party MLAs will not accept a “gaddar” (traitor) who had colluded with the BJP to topple the government in 2020. Gehlot had also alleged that the BJP had given Rs 10 crore to bring down his government.On Sunday, party general secretary in charge of communication, Jairam Ramesh, had said that “some words used by the chief minister were unexpected” and that he “should not have certain words.”To a separate question on whether the doors are open for those who had left the party in Madhya Pradesh, thereby bringing down the Kamal Nath government, Rahul indicated that he is not in favour of re-inducting those who had taken money to join the BJP.“This question should be asked to the Congress president and the party leadership in Madhya Pradesh. My opinion is that if they were bought over with money, then they should not be trusted,” Rahul said.Jyotiraditya Scindia, who was once close to Rahul, and over two dozen MLAs had left the Congress and joined the BJP in 2020, bringing down the Congress government in MP.

Both leaders assets to Congress: Rahul Gandhi on Ashok Gehlot and Sachin Pilot power tussle
The Indian Express | 4 days ago | |
The Indian Express
4 days ago | |

Amid the tussle in Rajasthan between Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and his former deputy Sachin Pilot, senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, at a press conference near Indore, said Monday that both the leaders are assets to the party.“The ongoing row between the two will not affect the Maharashtra leg of Bharat Jodo Yatra,” the Congress leader added.On Thursday, Gehlot made the Congress high command upset with his sharp offensive against Pilot, calling him a “traitor (gaddar)” who colluded with the BJP. Saying Pilot doesn’t have the support of even 10 MLAs, Gehlot said he could never be named the CM of Rajasthan.The chief minister’s attack came on a day when Pilot joined Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on the Bharat Jodo Yatra in Madhya Pradesh.Responding to Gehlot’s statement on Pilot, the Congress said on Sunday that the veteran leader should not have used “certain words” against the young leader. While saying that the party needs both Gehlot and Pilot, the Congress also made it clear that it would not shy away from taking “tough decisions” in the interest of the party.To a query on different statements being given by Rajasthan leaders Gehlot and Pilot amid their power tussle, Gandhi said in his press meet, “It will not affect the yatra and both the leaders are assets to the Congress party.”Gandhi, the Lok Sabha member from Wayanad in Kerala, also said the decision to contest again from Amethi would be taken after one or one-and-a-half years. “At present, my focus is on the Bharat Jodo Yatra,” he said.Union minister Smriti Irani had defeated Rahul Gandhi in his family’s bastion Amethi in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.Asked about his plans for solving the country’s unemployment issue, Gandhi said the main problem at present is that the entire wealth of the nation is confined in the hands of three-four industrialists.The Congress will focus on creating small-scale enterprises to generate more employment opportunities in the country, he added.Gandhi also said his ongoing Bharat Jodo Yatra, a mass contact initiative, was helping raise the voice of the nation.

Both leaders assets to Congress: Rahul Gandhi on Ashok Gehlot and Sachin Pilot power tussle
B Bommai To Meet J P Nadda, Mukul Rohatgi Amid Maharashtra Border Row
Ndtv | 4 days ago | |
Ndtv
4 days ago | |

The Karnataka Chief Minister is expected to travel to the national capital on Tuesday. (File)Bengaluru: Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Monday said he will be visiting New Delhi to meet BJP national President J P Nadda, and also will have discussions with a senior advocate in the Supreme Court regarding the legal battle with Maharashtra over the border dispute.The Chief Minister is expected to travel to the national capital on Tuesday.The meeting with Nadda, gains significance, as he had recently indicated that the much awaited expansion or reshuffle of his Cabinet is likely after the Gujarat Assembly polls."I'm going to Delhi, where I expect to meet Nadda, I'm yet to get his appointment, I'm hopeful of getting it," Bommai said.Speaking to reporters here, he said, he will also have a meeting with senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi regarding the border issue, and will also be meeting Union Minister for Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal.Bommai has been under intense pressure for some time now, over the expansion and reshuffle of the Cabinet not taking place, to make way for the fresh faces, ahead of the Assembly elections next year.There have been some reports of possible cabinet expansion by filling in six vacant posts or a kind of a reshuffle by dropping a few and inducting an equal number of new faces.There were also talks in some quarters that a Gujarat-like complete top to bottom overhaul of the state ministry may take place. However, many aspirants feel it is "too late now" with polls fast approaching.As the state is all set for a legal battle with neighbouring Maharashtra over the border dispute, the Chief Minister will be meeting senior advocate Rohatgi during the visit, to discuss it.Bommai on Sunday had chaired a meeting with senior advocates and officials here in the wake of the case coming up before the Supreme Court for hearing on November 30.PromotedListen to the latest songs, only on JioSaavn.comReacting to a question on Leader of the Opposition Siddaramaiah accusing the BJP of "distorting" the Constitution, Bommai said, "It is the Congress which did it, during the emergency by curtailing individual freedom and sending everyone to jail. We need not learn from them."(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)Featured Video Of The DayExtreme Ragging In Assam Sees Strong Reaction From Chief Minister HB Sarma

B Bommai To Meet J P Nadda, Mukul Rohatgi Amid Maharashtra Border Row
  • Maharashtra-Karnataka border row: Basavaraj Bommai to meet BJP Chief JP Nadda to discuss dispute

    • The Economic Times

  • Karnataka-Maharashtra border row: CM Basavaraj Bommai schedules all-party meet next week

    • The Indian Express

    With the border dispute between Maharashtra and Karnataka simmering following remarks by chief ministers and leaders of both states, Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai said on Thursday that an all-party meeting will be held next week on the contentious issue.The all-party meeting will discuss in detail the Maharashtra government’s intentions to resolve the border row amicably through talks, Bommai added. “The border dispute is over but Maharashtra is raking up this row. The resolution of gram panchayat and other related issues are with us (in our favour). All these will be debated in the Supreme Court,” Bommai said.The border dispute related to the ‘ownership’ of several villages bordering the two states is being heard in the Supreme Court. All preparations have been made to present Karnataka’s arguments before the Supreme Court, Bommai said, adding that he had information that there was talk of resolving this imbroglio through talks.Bommai said that Maharashtra has filed a case in the Supreme Court. The Karnataka government, he said, will hold the all-party meeting and discuss the course of arguments in the Supreme Court as well as discussions with the Border Development Authority.Bommai’s decision to hold an all-party meeting comes after former chief minister and senior Congress leader Siddaramaiah demanded the same. He had also sought that the legal team representing Karnataka in the Supreme Court be strengthened.

KRV faction stages protests against K’taka-Maha border issue
Times of India | 4 days ago | |
Times of India
4 days ago | |

Belagavi: Activists of the Karnataka Rakshana Vedike Narayan Gowda faction held a protest on the Pune-Bengaluru National Highway in Mahantesh Nagar on Sunday in Belagavi, condemning the misbehaving of MES members (Maharashtra Ekikaran Samiti) over the border issue. The protest caused a traffic jam for one hour. The activists raised slogans against the Maharashtra government and the CM. Later, they burnt effigies of the Maharashtra CM in the middle of the highway and sat on a dharna. The Belagavi city police succeeded in convincing protesters to withdraw the agitation.Speaking to the media, KRV district president Deepak Gudagnatti said: “We, the Karnataka people, are very patient, but we cannot tolerance the misbehaviour of MES activists which are hurting us and Kannada Nadu. He further said that as the border case has been in court “we will not do any harm to Marathi people as they are our brothers. But MES members are blackening our state buses and hurting feelings of Kannadigas which can not be tolerable.”Hence, PM Modi should intervene and help make peace in both the states. “As some of our MLAs are not speaking about this, in the upcoming election we will teach them best lessons,” he said.

KRV faction stages protests against K’taka-Maha border issue
Maharashtra govt ends Central library building row, issues Rs 53 crore fresh tender
Times of India | 4 days ago | |
Times of India
4 days ago | |

MUMBAI: The government has issued a fresh tender worth Rs 53 crore for carrying out civil and electrical works in the state's Central library building in Kalina. The call for new works ends the much-controversial takeover of land from Mumbai University and its transfer to a private builder to commercially exploit it in return for building the library premises, a proposal mooted by the then public works department minister Chhagan Bhujbal. Interestingly, documents accessed by TOI show that the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government also paid the builder Rs 137.07 crore for cancelling the 12-year-old agreement and taking back the land, "despite the infrastructure company not fulfilling the agreement". The matter dates back to November 26, 1993, when a 4-acre plot was taken from the Mumbai University for a paltry sum of Rs 1.6 lakh to construct a Central library on lines with the Asiatic library. The then government decided to hand it over to a private firm which was to construct 23,423 sqm of the building for the Central Library, in lieu of which it could exploit the rest of the land and construct 18,421 sqm of private construction - residential housing and a commercial complex. The land was given for a 99-year lease at Re 1 per sqm. On July 6, 2010, the work order was issued and it was agreed to complete the construction in 36 months. The library building was to be built at a cost of Rs 82.5 crore. "However, despite the fact that time went by and construction did not complete, the government did not take any action against the developer. The state government must set up an inquiry against the ministers and the officers who let this pass and caused losses to the state exchequer," said RTI activist Anil Galgali. What was shocking was the turn of events after 2019. In September 2019, following disputes, the state government decided to scrap the project as there was no progress. The private builder demanded a compensation of Rs 229.6 crore, but after an audit, the state settled the matter and paid the former Rs 137.07 crore and budgeted for Rs 46.67 crore for completing the unfinished work, which ballooned to Rs 53 crore in 2022. Galgali said the government did not benefit from this contract, instead it incurred an additional loss of Rs 107 crore. "In fact, the infrastructure company which did not complete the contract benefited in the bargain. If the initial cost of construction was Rs 82.5 crore, on what basis was Rs 137.07 crore paid to the developer?" he asked. He has demanded an inquiry to be set up by the chief minister and deputy chief minister.

Maharashtra govt ends Central library building row, issues Rs 53 crore fresh tender
Mumbai Confidential: Under Fire
The Indian Express | 4 days ago | |
The Indian Express
4 days ago | |

As Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has been on an overdrive to meet visitors, the Chief Secretary’s Office in the state has received several verbal complaints against at least three senior IAS officers for allegedly refusing to attend visitors. Officials usually meet individuals without appointments, post 3 pm. The officials concerned have allegedly even removed display boards stating the same. The Chief Secretary’s Office, however, cannot seek a reply as no formal complaint has yet been filed yet.It has been more than three months since the formation of the state government, but the ministers in the Shinde-Fadnavis government barely work from their office in the Mantralaya. Ministers and their staff had opted to work from their bungalows and private residences for reasons best known to them; and it was only the Chief Minister and the Deputy Chief Minister who were regularly present at the Mantralaya, while the ministers only attended the state Cabinet meetings.Days before the major Indian Police Service (IPS) transfers, a common trend nowadays has been the lists of the new postings being circulated on social media. The same was the case in the past week as well when two separate lists were circulated on social media, ahead of the impending Deputy Inspector General (DIG) rank and above transfers. Generally, these lists do not have similarities with the eventual transfer orders. Many believe that it was done by the “well wishers” of officers who either try to portray themselves as front runners or stymie someone else’s chances by showing them in prominent postings.

Mumbai Confidential: Under Fire
Baba Ramdev’s comment on women ‘indecent and condemnable’: DCW chairperson Maliwal
The Indian Express | 4 days ago | |
The Indian Express
4 days ago | |

Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) chairperson, Swati Maliwal on Sunday condemned the objectionable statement by yoga guru and businessman, Baba Ramdev on women, calling his remarks “indecent.”Maliwal in a tweet said, “The remarks made by Swami Ramdev on women in front of the wife of the Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra are indecent and condemnable. All women have been hurt by this statement, Baba Ramdev ji should apologize to the country for this statement!”महाराष्ट्र के उपमुख्यमंत्री जी की पत्नी के सामने स्वामी रामदेव द्वारा महिलाओं पर की गई टिप्पणी अमर्यादित और निंदनीय है। इस बयान से सभी महिलाएँ आहत हुई हैं, बाबा रामदेव जी को इस बयान पर देश से माफ़ी माँगनी चाहिए! pic.twitter.com/1jTvN1SnR7— Swati Maliwal (@SwatiJaiHind) November 26, 2022DCW Chair’s statement comes after Maharashtra State Women Commission on Saturday served a notice to Ramdev asking him to clarify his stand in three days.At a function in Thane on Friday, Ramdev said, “Women look good in sarees, women look good in salwar suits too, and in my eyes, they look good even if they wear nothing.”Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis’s wife Amruta and Chief Minister Eknath Shinde’s son and Lok Sabha MP Shrikant Shinde were present at the function.Opposition Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) on Saturday protested against the objectionable statement made against women by Ramdev. NCP’s women workers garlanded Ramdev’s photo with chappals.Slamming Baba Ramdev, Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP, Mahua Moitra reacted sharply over his comments calling his “views lop-sided.”“Now I know why Patanjali baba ran away from Ramlila Maidan in women’s clothes. He says he likes sarees, salwars and …… Clearly got a strabismus in his brain that makes his views so lop-sided,” she said in a tweet.Now I know why Patanjali baba ran away from Ramlila Maidan in women’s clothes. He says he likes sarees, salwars and ……Clearly got a strabismus in his brain that makes his views so lop-sided.— Mahua Moitra (@MahuaMoitra) November 26, 2022Ramdev hasn’t issued a statement yet, even after the comments have drawn flak from groups and individuals.

Baba Ramdev’s comment on women ‘indecent and condemnable’: DCW chairperson Maliwal
NCP asks Centre to take action against Karnataka CM over statements on border dispute
Times of India | 4 days ago | |
Times of India
4 days ago | |

MUMBAI: The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) on Sunday demanded that the Centre take immediate action against Karnataka chief minister Basavaraj Bommai for allegedly making statements that were disturbing peace in Maharashtra and Karnataka. Earlier this week, Bommai had claimed that 40 villages in Jat taluka of Sangli district in Maharashtra had passed a resolution in the past to merge with Karnataka, and said that Kannada-speaking areas of the state such as Solapur and Akkalkot should join Karnataka. Read AlsoMaharashtra's border dispute petition lacks legal sanctity, says Karnataka CM Basavaraj BommaiChief minister Basavaraj Bommai said the petition filed by Maharashtra regarding the border dispute with Karnataka does not have any legal provision, since it was filed on the basis of the State Reorganisation Act and Article 3 of the Constitution. "Karnataka is fully prepared for an effective legalBommai also condemned the alleged incidents of painting of Karnataka buses with pro-Maharashtra slogans and appealed to the Eknath Shinde government to take immediate steps to stop this. NCP national spokesperson Clyde Crasto said, "Yes, action should be taken against people who caused problems to the buses. But in that case, action should also be taken against Bommai because his unwanted statements on the Maharashtra-Karnataka border issue seem to have influenced the minds of some people who are taking law into their hands and causing disturbance." Crasto in a statement said the Karnataka chief minister should not have raked up a sub-judice matter and gone a step further by saying that he would claim other districts of Maharashtra as well. "His statements over the last few days are hurting the sentiments of people and making them express their feelings negatively," the NCP leader said. The Central government must take immediate action against Bommai for making statements that disturbed peace in both the states, he said. ''Why is the BJP's central leadership not asking Bommai to refrain from making such statements? Do they agree with what he said?" Crasto said. The Maharashtra government has appointed cabinet members Chandrakant Patil and Shambhuraj Desai as nodal ministers to coordinate with the legal team regarding the court case on the border dispute with Karnataka. Maharashtra, since its inception in 1960, has been locked in a dispute with Karnataka over the status of Belgaum (also called Belagavi) district and 80 other Marathi-speaking villages, which are part of the southern state. Maharashtra has staked claim over the Marathi-speaking areas and the matter is pending before the Supreme Court.

NCP asks Centre to take action against Karnataka CM over statements on border dispute
In BJP push to sweep Gujarat, UP lends a hand
The Indian Express | 5 days ago | |
The Indian Express
5 days ago | |

In December 2002, the Congress, which had governments in several states, had at least six state chief ministers and several national leaders flown into Gujarat to campaign for the Assembly polls.The elections were being held in the backdrop of the Godhra train burning and the riots, followed by the Akshardham terror attack which investigators had said was “revenge” for the riots. Narendra Modi, then the chief minister, had earned the sobriquet of “Hindu Hriday Samrat (ruler of Hindu hearts)”. He led a Gaurav Yatra across the length and breadth of the state, his speech largely targeting the minorities and the Congress’s president of “Italian origin”.The events of that election added up to a “Hindutva wave” leading the BJP to win 127 of 182 seats, its best performance so far. The Congress’s “carpet bombing” of netas — Rajasthan’s Ashok Gehlot, Maharashtra’s Vilasrao Deshmukh, Karnataka’s SM Krishna, Chhattisgarh’s Ajit Jogi, Madhya Pradesh’s Digvijaya Singh and Delhi’s Sheila Dikshit — created an atmosphere in the party’s favour, but did not help the party return to power. In the two-way contest, the Congress won 51 seats, two going to Independents, and two to the Janata Dal (United).While the BJP’s “carpet bombing” in Gujarat in the past two weeks may resemble the Congress’s 20 years ago, the former has many strategic layers. The new feature in 2022 being the huge number of campaigners brought in from Uttar Pradesh, a state that has had a deep link with Gujarat since the Ram Janmabhoomi movement, and where the BJP won the Assembly election in March riding on the slogan of “double-engine sarkar”.For the first time, an army of at least 160 BJP leaders and workers have landed from Uttar Pradesh to campaign in Gujarat, right from MPs to district-level leaders that UP leaders say is the biggest deployment so far. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath launched his campaign from Wankaner near Morbi on a stage flanked by JCB backhoes, banners describing him as “Hindu Hriday Samrat” and crowds hailing him as “bulldozer baba”. He has now conducted several rallies. While Adityanath aggressively argues in favour of the “Gujarat model” for the country in his speeches, on the ground in Gujarat, it is the UP model playing out. Apart from flower-bedecked backhoes being placed at Adityanath’s rally venues, and the campaign riding on the double-engine Sarkar slogan, the BJP manifesto now has also promised to enact the UP-like Recovery of Damages to Public and Private Properties Act that the state ratified last year.All-star campaigns have been carefully planned out. For instance, Adityanath has addressed rallies in constituencies that the BJP won or lost by narrow margins or seats with a sizable number of Muslim votes. He also did roadshows on seats such as the Patidar-dominated Varachha in Surat and Viramgam in support of candidate Hardik Patel. In Dwarka, where CM Bhupendra Patel and Minister of State for Home Harsh Sanghavi have earned adulations from Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah for the demolition of properties last month on Bet Dwarka island — mostly belonging to minorities and seen as a copy-paste of the UP model — Adityanath was almost deified by the BJP candidate Pabubha Manek during the rally. UP Deputy CM Keshav Prasad Maurya has also been holding meetings in areas of Gujarat where migrants from the Hindi heartland have been residing.An MP from Sitapur district who was part of the campaign pointed out how the campaign also covered communities such as house painters. “There are at least 500 families doing colour kaam in Ahmedabad who are from Sitapur,” said the leader. “We don’t want a new front to rise,” said a BJP leader from UP, referring to the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).According to Sitapur district president of the Bhajpa Pichhda Varg Morcha (BJP OBC cell), Ramjivan Jaiswal, “From UP, 162 BJP workers have been camping here since September and will be here till the election process concludes.”In 2014, the BJP sent a huge group from Gujarat to Varanasi, mostly Brahmin and Patidar leaders, to reach out to their respective communities and campaign for Modi who was the prime ministerial candidate at the time. Arvind Kejriwal, then having quit as Delhi chief minister after 49 days, contested from the seat but lost to Modi. Former Gujarat MoS (Home) Gordhan Zadaphia was made the party’s UP in-charge in 2018 for the Lok Sabha elections the following year.The MP from Uttar Pradesh recalled how the Gujaratis influenced the UP campaign. “It would be very difficult to cover women in door-to-door campaigns as the women would be in purdah and run indoors when our people came to their homes. But when Gujarati women came, they not only covered them in the campaign, but they also conducted a successful rally of women- which is unprecedented for UP.”Before the blitzkrieg of netas, Zadaphia, who is now the number two in the Gujarat BJP after its president CR Paatil, planned a Gujarat Gaurav Yatra across 144 constituencies across five routes. The one passing the tribal belt, which was also the longest, was called the “Adivasi Gaurav Yatra”. “This yatra was different from the others as it kept the city areas out and unlike the earlier yatra that was led by one leader, this had several national and state leaders,” said Zadaphia.Add to all this Modi’s back-to-back rallies, averaging three a day, with a roadshow weaved in. Modi’s rally on Sunday in Surat’s Patidar area of Varachha, where the AAP is giving a tough fight, will be preceded by a 15-km plus roadshow. Kejriwal is also pumping iron and will hold a townhall meeting in the diamond city the same day. The new fighter has also deployed every weapon in its armoury in Gujarat, as has the BJP its “Brahmastra” — a description Paatil used for Modi over a month ago in a media interaction.As a BJP minister said, “This election is a semi-final of 2024 even for the saamnewala (Opposition).”

In BJP push to sweep Gujarat, UP lends a hand
Uddhav Thackeray slams Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde for his ‘silence’ on Karnataka border row
Times of India | 5 days ago | |
Times of India
5 days ago | |

Shiv Sena leader Uddhav Thackeray on Saturday lambasted chief minister Eknath Shinde for his 'silence' on governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari's alleged insult to Chhattrapati Shivaji Maharaj and the border dispute with neighbouring Karnataka. Addressing a rally at Chikhli in Buldhana district, the former chief minister claimed that projects headed for Maharashtra were being diverted to Gujarat due to the assembly elections in that state. "I fear that Karnataka is going to the polls next year and chief minister Basavaraj Bommai has staked claim to Akkalkot and Solapur (in Maharashtra). Next year, these two places may be handed over to Karnataka," Thackeray said. The Sena leader further said, in a sarcastic tone, that the chief minister might conclude that as Prime Minister Narendra Modi has promised to get back Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), there is no harm in handing over 40 villages to Karnataka. Shinde was also silent on the governor's controversial remark about Shivaji Maharaj, he alleged. Claiming that nearly 1,000 farmers committed suicide in Vidarbha in recent months, Thackeray said if he were chief minister, he wouldn't have allowed such suicides to happen. The state government should waive electricity bills of farmers, he demanded, and said his party will stand by them so they get crop loan insurance money. Thackeray called Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) a "party of imports". "Is it a political party or chor bazaar (flea market)?" he asked. Thackeray also dared Shinde and other rebel MLAs who broke away from Shiv Sena in June and toppled his government to announce that they will never contest polls on BJP ticket. "These people want the names of (Bal) Thackeray and Shiv Sena along with Modi's blessings. What is your own merit?" he said, referring to the name of the Shinde-led faction, 'Balasahebanchi Shiv Sena'. PTI

Uddhav Thackeray slams Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde for his ‘silence’ on Karnataka border row
  • Uddhav Thackeray Slams Eknath Shinde For "Silence" On State Border Row

    • Ndtv

    Uddhav Thackeray termed the BJP as a "party of imports"Chikhli (Maharashtra): Shiv Sena leader Uddhav Thackeray on Saturday lambasted Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde for his "silence" on Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari's alleged insult to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and the border dispute with neighbouring Karnataka.Addressing a rally at Chikhli in Buldhana district, the former chief minister claimed that projects headed for Maharashtra were diverted to Gujarat due to the Assembly elections in that state.''I fear that Karnataka is going to the polls next year and Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai has staked claim to Akkalkot and Solapur (in Maharashtra). Next year, these two places may be handed over to Karnataka,'' Thackeray alleged.The Sena leader further said in a sarcastic tone that the Maharashtra chief minister might conclude that as Prime Minister Narendra Modi has promised to get back Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK), there is no harm in handing over 40 villages to Karnataka.Shinde was also silent on the governor's controversial remarks about Shivaji Maharaj, he alleged.Claiming that nearly 1,000 farmers had committed suicide in Vidarbha in recent months, Thackeray said if he had been chief minister, he would not have allowed such suicides to take place.The state government should waive electricity bills of farmers, he demanded, and said his party will stand by them to ensure that they get crop loan insurance money.Thackeray termed the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) as a "party of imports"."Is it a political party or a Chor Bazaar (flea market)?" he asked.Thackeray also dared Shinde and other rebel MLAs (who broke away from the Shiv Sena in June and toppled his government) to announce that they will never contest elections on the BJP ticket.''These people want the names of (Bal) Thackeray and Shiv Sena along with Modi's blessings. What is your own merit?" he said, referring to the name of the Shinde-led faction, 'Balasahebanchi Shiv Sena'.Thackeray expressed confidence about winning back the lost ground on the strength of the Shiv Sena cadre.''Will you tolerate the high-handedness and dictatorship of the party of imports?" he asked the gathering.Thackeray also said that insults to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and V D Savarkar will never be tolerated.He also appealed to people to support the bandh his party plans to call to protest against governor Koshyari.PromotedListen to the latest songs, only on JioSaavn.comKoshyari has faced flak over the last few days for calling Shivaji Maharaj an icon of olden times.(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)Featured Video Of The Day"Some Said Our Country Wouldn't Survive, But...": PM Modi At Constitution Day Event

  • Eknath Shinde does not dare speak against Karnataka CM: Uddhav Thackeray on border row

    • The Economic Times

    Amid rising political heat over the border dispute between Maharashtra and Karnataka, Shiv Sena (UBT) president Uddhav Thackeray has said Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has no courage to speak against his Karnataka counterpart. Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai's claim that several border villages in Maharashtra once sought to be become part of his state has triggered a row. "Have we lost our courage as Karnataka chief minister is easily making claims on Maharashtra villages?" Thackeray said on Thursday, taking a swipe at Shinde. "Is Karnataka CM having any blessings from Delhi? Does the Centre also want the same thing?" Thackeray, a former chief minister who heads the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray), asked while speaking to reporters. Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar, meanwhile, said that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) "cannot run away from Karnataka issue." "If Karnataka wants to return Nipani, Belgaum villages, then only some exchange can be worked out," he added. Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis countered the jibes by opposition on the Maharashtra-Karnataka dispute by saying that the the Congress was in power in Maharashtra for much longer than the BJP. "Still it did not solve the issue. The case is in the court. Not a single village of Maharashtra will go to Karnataka," he said.

Maharashtra governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari in fresh row for not taking off footwear at 26/11 memorial
Times of India | 5 days ago | |
Times of India
5 days ago | |

MUMBAI: Even as the row over his remarks on Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj is yet to subside, Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari on Saturday found himself embroiled in a fresh controversy for placing a floral wreath on the 26/11 police martyrs' memorial at the Mumbai police commissioner's office without removing his footwear. MPCC general secretary Sachin Sawant posted a video of the governor at the martyrs' memorial on Twitter, saying, "It appears Koshyari is in the habit of insulting social reformers and now he is seen insulting martyrs. Chief minister Eknath Shinde should have reminded him about the state's culture." While Shinde and deputy chief minister Devendra Fadnavis took off their footwear before placing wreaths at the memorial, state chief secretary Manukumar Srivastava and other bureaucrats and IPS officers too did not remove their footwear. A Raj Bhavan spokesperson described Sawant's tweet as mischievous. "Just before Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari proceeded to lay a wreath at the Police Martyrs Memorial at the CP office, earlier today a senior police official expressly told Koshyari that it is not necessary to remove footwear at such place. The same thing is followed even at the National War Memorial, which the Governor had visited recently," the spokesperson said. The spokesperson said it was " malicious" to state that the governor had insulted police martyrs when the chief secretary and other officials could be seen wearing their shoes while placing wreaths at the memorial. On Raj Bhavan's statement, Sawant said Koshyari must reveal the names of police officers who had advised him there was no need to remove his footwear. BJP spokesperson Keshav Upadhye too endorsed Raj Bhavan's statement, saying if one looks at last year's video footage, the then chief minister Uddhav Thackeray too could be seen wearing his footwear while placing a wreath. "It is as per convention," he said. A week ago, Koshyari was at the receiving end for stating that Shivaji Maharaj was the icon of an earlier generation and Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar and Nitin Gadkari were the new generation icons. At the same event, Koshyari conferred an honorary D.Litt on Sharad Pawar and Gadkari. Pawar commented on Koshyari's statement after almost a week. On Thursday, Pawar said it was high time Koshyari was recalled. On July 29, Koshyari had courted controversy by saying that if people belonging to Rajasthani and Gujarati communities decide to leave Mumbai, it would not remain the financial capital of India.

Maharashtra governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari in fresh row for not taking off footwear at 26/11 memorial
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