Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Friday told the state administration that development works shouldn’t be held up due to the ongoing political crisis in the state. Thackeray on Friday held a virtual review meeting attended by divisional commissioners, district collectors, municipal commissioners and secretaries of government departments at the state secretariat.Speaking to the bureaucrats, he said that when took over as the chief minister two-and-a-half years ago, he had no experience of administration and the bureaucrats guided him. He added that while he did not know how long this political deadlock would continue, but the bureaucrats were always welcome at either Matoshree or Varsha bungalows.“Don’t hold up important development works related to welfare of people. Get in touch with me directly,” Thackeray said. He added, “There is always uncertainty in politics… Political manoeuvres will go on but governance shouldn’t stop. The administration should ensure that people’s day-to-day issues are resolved immediately.”A statement from the Chief Minister’s Office said that at the meeting, Thackeray reviewed the current Covid-19 situation in the state, sowing operations for kharif crops, availability of urea, disaster management preparedness and facilities for warkaris (devotees) at Pandharpur temple town for the upcoming ‘Ashadhi Ekadashi’ festival.WITH inputs from PTI
Mumbai: On the lines of the special pilgrimage forecast for the Char Dham Yatra in Uttarakhand, the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has announced a special forecast for the annual ‘Waari’ pilgrimage in Maharashtra. IMD issues such a forecast for the duration of the pilgrimage, which is not only helpful for the pilgrims but also for the planners, administrators and disaster management personnel in view of the lakhs of people converging at a place over a short duration.Also Read - Triyuginarayan Temple in Uttarakhand: A Perfect Destination For Wedding in The HimalayasAnother recent example of special pilgrimage forecast by IMD was the one issued for Ambubachi Mela, the famous pilgrimage at Kamakhya temple in Guwahati, where thousands of devotees throng over a short duration from July 22 to 26 annually. Also Read - No Way We Will Go Back, Says Eknath Shinde As Shiv Sena Offers Olive Branch To Rebel MLAsWaari is a pilgrimage on foot wherein people walk with a ‘palkhi’ from Dehu and Alandi near Pune to Pandharpur – nearly 450 kms – in Solapur district, very near to the Karnataka border. Every year, thousands of devotees walk from the two places for the Waari to culminate at Pandharpur on Aashadhi Ekadashi that falls on July 10 this year. Over the years, people have started to travel in vehicles too, only adding to the crowds. On Aashadhi Ekadashi day, there are an estimated 12 lakh people in the small town of Pandharpur, that has a population of a little over one lakh. Also Read - Rhododendrons and Snow Leopards, Check Out These 5 Unexplored National Parks Of HimalayasThe presiding deity Viththal of Pandharpur has a wide fan following and hence, the Ashadhi Ekadashi waari witnesses participation from both Karnataka and border areas of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.“We started on Monday when the Tukaram Maharaj palkhi embarked from Dehu. Similarly, the Dnyaneshwar Maharaj palkhi embarked from Alandi on Tuesday. Both travel via Pune to reach together on July 10 at Pandharpur. We would be issuing a special forecast for this entire duration,” said K.S. Hosalikar, a senior meteorologist from IMD Pune.The forecast would be available on IMD Pune website for all to access. The IMD also works in tandem with the government agencies by providing direct inputs to them in view of the smooth management of Waari.
The three police jurisdictions of Pune district have geared up for the Sant Tukaram and Sant Dnyaneshwar Palkhi processions which are taking place on a full scale after a gap of two years.The Pimpri Chinchwad, Pune City and Pune Rural police jurisdictions have chalked out plans that comprise heavy police deployment for crowd control, traffic diversions and various security measures for the Pandharpur Wari, the pivotal annual event for Warkari sect and a celebration which is key to Maharashtra’s cultural identity.The Palkhis or the procession of the palanquins carrying the Paduka or revered symbolic footwear of Sant Tukaram Maharaj and Sant Dnyaneshwar Maharaj, will start their three-week-long journeys on June 20 and June 21 from the temple towns of Dehu and Alandi and are slated to reach Pandharpur on July 10.Sant Tukaram Maharaj Palkhi is slated to embark on its journey to the pilgrimage centre at Pandharpur from the temple town of Dehu in Pune district on Monday. As per the tradition, the Tukaram Maharaj Palkhi will be halting at Inamdar Wada in Dehu at night and reach Akurdi in Pimpri Chinchwad on Tuesday. The Palkhi of Sant Dnyaneshwar Maharaj will begin its journey from Alandi on Tuesday. It will halt at Gandhi Wada in Alandi for the night.🚨 Limited Time Offer | Express Premium with ad-lite for just Rs 2/ day 👉🏽 Click here to subscribe 🚨Both processions would arrive in Pune city on Wednesday afternoon. The two Palkhis will rest in Pune on Thursday — Sant Tukaram Maharaj Palkhi at Nivdunga Vitthal Mandir and Dnyaneshwar Maharaj Palkhi at the Palkhi Vithoba Mandir. On Friday morning, both processions will resume their journeys from Pune towards Pandharpur.These processions are accompanied by a large number of Warkaris and devotees from across Maharashtra and even outside who take this 21 day journey on foot, either in entirety or partially. The Warkaris have already flooded Alandi and Dehu. “This time, Warkaris, numbering over 3-5 lakhs, will head from Dehu to Pandharpur,” Nitin More, who heads the Sant Tukaram Maharaj Sansthan, Dehu, said.The Pune district administration and the police are also expecting a huge turnout as the Pandharpur Wari is happening without any restrictions for the first time after two years because of the pandemic.The two starting points of the Palkhis — Dehu and Alandi town — fall within the jurisdiction of Pimpri Chinchwad police. Ankush Shinde, police commissioner of Pimpri Chinchwad, said, “We have chalked out an elaborate plan for crowd control in and around the temples and on the routes of the Palkhis. Considering past incidents of theft and pickpocketing, dedicated teams have been deployed on these routes. As we have to close some roads for general traffic, arrangements have been made for traffic diversions through alternate routes. We are also deploying drone cameras for monitoring the passage of processions on their respective routes.”On Tuesday, the movement of heavy vehicles from Dehu Phata to Bhakti Shakti Chowk will be diverted via Dehu Phata to Katraj Bypass from 6 am. Traffic from Bhakti Shakti Chowk to Dehu Phata will be routed via Khandoba Mal, officials said.Joint Commissioner of Police for Pune City Police jurisdiction, Sandeep Karnik, said, “Around 4,000 officers and personnel will be deployed all along the routes and at places of halt for the Palkhis in Pune City. The Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad will be deployed for conducting checks. Quick response teams will also be on stand-by. Dedicated teams from the crime branch will be pressed into action to prevent cases of thefts, pickpocketing and chain snatching. Traffic diversions have been enforced in Pune City to ensure that the Palkhi routes are isolated from traffic and at same time commuters can use alternate routes.”
MUMBAI/AYODHYA: Maharashtra minister Aaditya Thackeray on Wednesday said CM Uddhav Thackeray will soon talk to Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath to seek land for constructing a Maharashtra Sadan in Ayodhya. Aaditya was in Ayodhya on Wednesday, where he took darshan of Ram Lalla on his first solo trip to the temple city. "We are here for darshan. This is our pilgrimage, not a political visit. I have not come here to do politics," Aaditya said. However, replying to a query on questioning of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi by the ED, he said Central agencies have become part of the election campaign. He said the Maharashtra government wanted to build a Sadan with over 100 rooms for devotees from Maharashtra. "CM Uddhav Thackeray has told me he is going to talk to CM Yogi Adityanath. Correspondence will be done asking for land for constructing Maharashtra Sadan in Ayodhya. Many devotees come here from Maharashtra. We want to make it a nice place for them," he said. Aaditya was accompanied by Shiv Sena leaders Sanjay Raut and Neelam Gorhe. He offered prayers at Ram Janmabhoomi, Hanumangarhi temple and met seers, including Hanumangarhi Mahant Gyan Das. His trip came ahead of his uncle, MNS chief Raj Thackeray's tour, which was deferred after BJP MP Brij Bhushan Singh opposed Raj's Ayodhya visit. Aaditya said the entire Sena family had come to Ayodhya. "The Sena's Hindutva is clean. Whatever we promise, we deliver, regardless of us winning or losing elections. We have come here for Lord Ram and Hanuman. I spoke to BJP MP Brij Bhushan Singh, he welcomed us in Ayodhya. Those who are welcoming us, we will take them along for construction of Maharashtra Sadan," he added. he said, "In 2018, I first came here with Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray. He then announced, 'pehle mandir phir sarkar' (first temple then government). Coincidentally, after the announcement, maybe something new happened; only after that, the court proceedings started, and within a year, the court ruling came."
LUCKNOW: Maharashtra minister Aaditya Thackeray arrived in Lucknow on Wednesday for his visit to Ram Janmabhoomi site in Ayodhya. "When we came for the first time in 2018, we said 'pehle mandir, phir sarkaar'," said Thackeray in Lucknow. Maharashtra minister #AadityaThackeray arrives in Ayodhya, UP https://t.co/NXkOyX463z— TOI Mumbai (@TOIMumbai) 1655273210000He added that he will offer prayers at the Ram Janmabhoomi site and receive blessings. "The land is not political, it's the land of 'Ram Rajya'," he said. (With inputs from ANI)
On his maiden visit to Ayodhya after becoming a minister in the Maharashtra government, Shiv Sena leader Aaditya Thackeray on Wednesday said his visit should not be linked to politics as he had come to seek Lord Ram’s blessings.Expressing his wish to establish “Ram Rajya in order to serve people better”, the 32-year-old son of Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray said his party has been associated with Ayodhya and Ram Temple movement with Shri Ram being in their hearts. “Ayodhya is the centre of faith in India. In 2018, we gave this slogan — first temple, then government. After Shiv Sena’s slogan, the way for the construction of the temple was cleared. Now, the Ram temple is being built on the orders of the Supreme Court… We are connected to this place, its people here, and Bhagwan Shri Ram is in our hearts… We have to establish Ram Rajya so that we could serve people better,” he said.“Our visit (to Ayodhya) is not related to any election. Also, it is not a political matter. For us, it is a matter of faith,” Thackeray, who was accompanied by party leaders Sanjay Raut and Eknath Shinde told mediapersons, before heading to Hanumangarhi to offer puja.The Thackeray scion’s visit to the temple town assumes significance as ally-turned-rival BJP has been accusing Shiv Sena of abandoning the Hindutva cause by joining hands with theCongress and NCP to form the government in Maharashtra. Also, Aaditya Thackeray’s visit comes days after Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief and his uncle, Raj Thackeray, cancelled his Ayodhya trip, citing health reasons. The MNS chief has also been accusing the Sena of abandoning the Hindutva cause.With the BJP taking credit for the construction of the Ram temple in Ayodhya, Aaditya said, “We (Shiv Sena) had demanded for a special law to build Ram temple but it did not happen in the Parliament. But after the Supreme Court’s decision, the temple is currently being built. We are happy and will take it ahead.”During his 2018 visit to Ayodhya, Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray had taken on the Narendra Modi government over the delay in building Ram temple at the disputed site and sought a legislation or ordinance to build the temple.Aaditya Thackeray, meanwhile, said that there was “absolute clarity” in Shiv Sena’s Hindutva. Reciting a chaupai, Thackeray said that whatever promises his party makes in the elections, it meets them.Refusing to comment on Shiv Sena’s stand on the ongoing legal proceedings in Gyanvapi and Mathura temple cases, Aaditya said rejected reports that a section of priests in Ayodhya were opposed to his visit. “All the saints, priests and public of Ayodhya welcomed me. I’m visiting Ayodhya as a devotee and not for politics,” he said.On the Enforcement Directorate questioning Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, Aaditya said, “All the central agencies have become prachar sahitya (advertisement literature).”Later, Aaditya Thackeray held a meeting with party functionaries and took part in an ‘aarti’ on the banks of the Sarayu river. He arrived in Lucknow at around 11 am from where he reached Ayodhya by road. According to party officials, over 1,000 Shiv Sainiks reached the temple town during his visit.
Aaditya Thackeray said: "We will pray to Lord Rama to give us the strength to serve the people better".Ayodhya: Maharashtra minister and Shiv Sena leader Aaditya Thackeray, who on Wednesday paid a visit to Ayodhya, said his arrival at the temple town is not associated with politics but he went there to seek the blessings of Lord Ram.Aaditya Thackeray, who tried to stay clear of politics, however said that central agencies have turned into an advertisement literature. He was responding to a question on the Enforcement Directorate quizzing Congress leader Rahul Gandhi.His visit comes at a time when the BJP, Shiv Sena's former ally, has been questioning the party's commitment to Hindutva. Earlier, head of Maharashtra Navnirman Sena Raj Thackeray had announced his visit to Ayodhya on June 5, but cancelled it later."My visit to Ayodhya is no politics. I have come here to seek the blessings of Lord Ram," Thackeray told the media."Ayodhya is the centre of faith in India. In 2018, we gave this slogan - first temple, then government. After Shiv Sena's slogan, the way for the construction of the temple was cleared. Now, Ram temple is being built on the orders of the Supreme Court," he said."We will pray to Lord Rama to give us the strength to serve the people better," he said.Aaditya Thackeray said talks will be held with the Uttar Pradesh government to seek land in Ayodhya for establishing Maharashtra Sadan.On his first visit to Ayodhya, Aaditya Thackeray will also hold a meeting with party functionaries besides participating in an 'aarti' at the banks of River Sarayu later in the day.Aaditya Thackeray, son of Shiv Sena president and Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, arrived in Lucknow at around 11 am from where he reached Ayodhya by road.According to party officials, over 1,000 Shiv Sainiks reached the temple town during Aaditya Thackeray's visit. Senior party leaders Sanjay Raut and Eknath Shinde had reached here on Tuesday to oversee the arrangements for Aaditya Thackeray's visit.PromotedListen to the latest songs, only on JioSaavn.comHe refrained from making any comment on political developments. However, on persistent queries by the media about the Enforcement Directorate grilling Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, Aaditya Thackeray said, "All the central agencies have become prachar sahitya (advertisement literature)."(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
Aaditya Thackeray’s Wednesday visit to Ayodhya to offer prayers at the Ram Temple is principally meant to convey a political message to the Shiv Sena leaders and its rank and file in the run-up to the crucial Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) polls.Aaditya, the 31-year-old son of the Maharashtra Chief Minister and Sena president Uddhav Thackeray, is the state environment, tourism and protocol minister as well as the chief of Yuva Sena, the party’s youth wing.There seems to be a two-fold political objective behind Aaditya’s Ayodhya visit. First, it clearly signals that he is going to spearhead the Sena’s campaign in the upcoming BMC polls. The electoral fight for the country’s richest civic body with a budget of over Rs 40,000 crore, BMC, which the Sena has been ruling for many years, will be a litmus test for the ruling party.Secondly, besides seeking to showcase the Sena’s Hindutva credentials, the party leadership has taken a decision to move beyond its “Marathi Manoos” agenda within Maharashtra to reach out to North Indians, who make up about 20 per cent population of Mumbai.Officially, however, the Sena has been trying to downplay the politics behind Aaditya’s Ayodhya visit, maintaining that the “sole objective of his day-long visit to the temple town is religious”.The Sena’s rival, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), headed by Uddhav’s estranged cousin Raj Thackeray, however asks “if Aaditya’s Ayodhya visit is not political why are Sena leaders hurling barbs and taunts at Raj”. MNS leader Sandeep Deshpande said, “Why are they (Sena) saying it requires courage to visit Ayodhya. And they are not backtracking from such remarks. If their purpose was religious it should have ended on a religious note.”The Sena finalised Aaditya’s Ayodhya tour after Raj announced his decision to visit Ayodhya’s Ram Temple on June 5. The Sena scheduled Aaditya’s trip to Ayodhya for June 10, which was later rescheduled for June 15.रामनगर अयोध्या से ढेर सारा आशीर्वाद मिला और कुछ अविस्मरणीय यादें मिली। आशा है कि बांके बिहारी जी मुझे जल्द ही वापस बुलाएँगे। हरे कृष्ण! 🙏 @india_iskcon pic.twitter.com/LZxID29Gpr— Aaditya Thackeray (@AUThackeray) June 15, 2022Subsequently, Raj, however, cancelled his Ayodhya visit on the ground that he would need a break for his medical treatment. This came days after the BJP’s UP strongman and MP, Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, threatened to stop him from entering Ayodhya, demanding that the MNS chief should first tender an unconditional apology for his remarks and his workers’ alleged atrocities against North Indians in the past.Raj’s recent bids to raise his pitch on Hindutva, seeking a ban on the use of loudspeakers for azaan at mosques, followed by announcement of his Ayodhya trip, led to alarm bells ringing in the Sena. Encouraged by the BJP, the MNS has been making attempts to emerge as an alternative to the Sena, as they have attacked the latter for having gone “soft” on Hindutva after joining hands with the NCP and the Congress for formation of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government in the sate.The Sena leadership clearly planned Aaditya’s Ayodhya tour to reaffirm the party’s Hindutva credentials and counter Raj’s Hindutva drive. Ahead of the BMC polls, it thereby sought to woo North Indians too, whose vote it considers to be critical in its bid to clinch it again.Going after the MNS, the Sena had recently also put up posters across Maharashtra to point to a “distinction between the Sena’s real Hindutva and MNS’s fake Hindutva”.Senior Sena MP Sanjay Raut, who had led a team of party leaders to Ayodhya earlier to oversee arrangements for Aaditya’s visit, has sought to brush aside the politics behind it, saying “Our faith in Lord Ram Temple in Ayodhya is unquestionable. It is a religious tour. Don’t read politics in it.”A senior Sena minister said, “Our core agendas remain unchanged. But when you are in government, priorities change. We are bound by a Common Minimum Programme (CMP) mutually agreed by the three MVA partners,” pointing out that any attempt to deviate from the CMP would cause trouble to their coalition government.The Sena has also been seeking to highlight its role in the Ram Janmabhoomi movement for the construction of a temple at the Babri Masjid site in Ayodhya. Last month, Uddhav Thackeray had taken potshots at the senior BJP leader and Leader of the Opposition, Devendra Fadnavis, over the latter’s claims that he was also part of the Ayodhya movement.Fadnavis, however, again projected his role in the Ayodhya movement at a conclave of North Indians in Mumbai later.On its part, the Sena plans to use the images of Aaditya worshipping at the under-construction Ram Temple and taking part in various rituals at the Sarayu river to sharpen its Hindutva pitch and boost its outreach to the people hailing from the Hindi heartland.Seizing on the Aaditya’s tour, the Sena members have been harping on the point that “We showed courage in visiting Ayodhya”.Hitting back, Deshpande asked, “What is so courageous about the Ayodhya visit?” He also alleged that the Sena along with the NCP had plotted to thwart Raj’s Ayodhya trip with the help of Brij Bhusan Sharan Singh.Ayodhya is not a new destination for Aaditya. He had earlier visited the temple town along with his father in November 2018 and March 2020. In November 2018, the Sena chief visited Ayodhya to reiterate the party’s commitment to the Ram Temple. Months after becoming the CM, in March 2020, Uddhav again visited Ayodhya, when he offered prayers and donated Rs one crore for construction of the temple.
The event is being seen as a passing of the baton to Aaditya ThackerayMumbai: Maharashtra Cabinet Minister and Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray's son Aaditya will be in Ayodhya today, where he will address a press conference.Aaditya Thackeray will offer prayers at the Ram temple in Ayodhya at 5:30 this evening. Later he will also perform the Saryu Aarti following which he will return to Lucknow and head back to Mumbai. Mr Thackeray will also visit the Hanuman Garhi temple and Laxman Killa in Ayodhya.Aaditya Thackeray's Ayodhya visit assumes significance as it is the first solo visit of the 32-year-old whom the Shiv Sena projects as its future leader.The event is being seen as a passing of the baton to Aaditya Thackeray who was brought into politics by Sena patriarch Bal Thackeray. Earlier, Aaditya had visited Ayodhya along with his father Uddhav Thackeray.The Shiv Sena has made this event a show of strength with several top leaders in Ayodhya drumming up support for him. Top Sena leaders like Sanjay Raut and Eknath Shinde have been in Ayodhya since yesterday.The Sena, which has been accused of moving away from Hindutva by the BJP, has hit back saying the BJP's Hindutva is fake. Mr Thackeray's visit to Ayodhya is being interpreted as the Shiv Sena's commitment to the Hindutva ideology as it accuses the BJP of double standards and using proxies like Raj Thackeray to target it.The announcement for this trip was made around the same time when Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) Chief Raj Thackeray proclaimed that he would visit Ayodhya amidst the Hanuman Chalisa and Azaan row in Maharashtra. Later, Raj Thackeray's trip was cancelled on 'health grounds' amidst opposition from Brijbhushan Singh, a BJP MP who had demanded an apology from Raj Thackeray for targeting migrants from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. However, Brijbhushan Singh has welcomed Aaditya Thackeray to Ayodhya.The Shiv Sena has arranged two trains from Mumbai for party members to travel to Ayodhya. About 8,000 Shiv Sainiks are expected to be in Ayodhya from Mumbai and Thane alone.Maharashtra over the past few months has seen a bitter battle over 'Hindutva' politics resulting in several parties announcing trips to Ayodhya.While the BJP has been targeting the Sena for dumping it and stitching together an alliance with ideological oppositesNationalist Congress Party and Congress, Raj Thackeray has also jumped onto the 'Hindutva' bandwagon with an aim to cut into the Sena's votes.PromotedListen to the latest songs, only on JioSaavn.comRaj Thackeray has emulated the style of Bal Thackeray in terms of speech for many years, but recently in his public rallies, he also emulated the Sena patriarch's attire.Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray has hit back at Raj Thackeray using a Bollywood reference. "Sanjay Dutt started seeing Gandhi and started doing Gandhigiri, today there is a fellow in Maharashtra who sees Balasaheb and thinks he is Balasaheb by wearing a shawl," said Mr Thackeray.
Shiv Sena Minister Aaditya Thackeray will visit Ayodhya in Uttar Pradesh on Wednesday. This will be his first solo visit to Ayodhya.Earlier, Aaditya had visited Ayodhya along with his father, Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray. This will be the first time he will be leading a visit to Ayodhya and the party is expecting a large mobilisation of its cadre.Sena MP Sanjay Raut reached Ayodhya on Tuesday to prepare for Aaditya’s visit.A senior Sena functionary said, “Sena workers have already gathered in Ayodhya ahead of Thackeray’s visit and there is a lot of enthusiasm among the cadre for the visit. There will be a grand show of strength. Thousands of party workers from all over Maharashtra have reached Ayodhya by buses, trains and fights…”.The visit comes when the Shiv Sena is being targeted by Opposition BJP and MNS, who have accused the party of not following the ideology of Hindutva.Aaditya’s visit was announced days after MNS chief Raj Thackeray announced that he will visit the city on June 5. Raj Thackeray’s visit, however, was cancelled after Brijbhushan Singh, the BJP MP from Gonda in Uttar Pradesh, opposed his visit and demanded an apology from him for allegedly humiliating North Indians in 2009.Earlier, Aaditya’s visit was scheduled on June 10, however, it was postponed due to the Rajya Sabha polls in Maharashtra.As per the itinerary of Aaditya’s visit, besides visiting the Ram temple, he will hold a press conference and perform aarti at the banks of Sarayu river. He will also visit the Hanuman Garhi temple and Laxman Killa before culminating his one-day trip.
Amid growing unrest across the country, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said that while open and healthy discussions on most difficult social topics has been a practice in India, it needs to be strengthened.Speaking at the Dwishatabdi Matohsav (200th anniversary) of Mumbai Samachar, a Gujarati daily, at Bandra-Kurla Complex in Mumbai, the PM, while lauding the role played by the media during the Covid-19 pandemic, said that while the media has the right to criticise and point out shortcomings of the government, it has an equal responsibility to report positive news.“For thousands of years, we have conducted healthy debate, healthy criticism and right reasoning as a part of the social system. We have open and healthy discussions on very difficult social topics. This has been the practice in India, which we have to strengthen. This country is a country of rich tradition that is carried forward through the medium of debates and discussions,” he added.On a day-long trip to Maharashtra, the PM also inaugurated the Jal Bhushan Building and Gallery of Revolutionaries at Raj Bhavan in Mumbai.Maintaining that indifference is shown towards the unsung heroes of the country, he added that this has continued for a very long time. He recited how freedom fighter Shyamji Krishna Varma’s ashes had to wait for a long time to reach India, till he brought them back.The function was attended by Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari and Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray among others.Amid ongoing bitter relation between the Shiv Sena and the BJP in Maharashtra, this is the first time in over four months that Thackeray shared the dais with Modi. The CM had skipped some of the PM’s previous visits to the city and the state.Addressing the inauguration function, the PM said that Maharashtra has inspired the country in many fields and there is a very rich legacy of social reformers from Sant Tukaram Maharaj to Babasaheb Ambedkar.He added that from Maharashtra, Dhyaneshawar Maharaj, Sant Namdev, Sant Ramdas and Sant Chokhamela have infused energy into the country. “If we talk of Swarajya, the lives of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and his son Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj strengthen the sense of patriotism in every Indian even today.”The PM noted the inclusion of ancient values and memories of freedom struggle in the architecture of Raj Bhavan and praised the spirit of turning Raj Bhavan into Lok Bhavan.“Knowingly or unknowingly, we limit India’s independence to a few incidents, whereas India’s independence involved the tapasya of countless people and the collective impact of many incidents at the local level was national. The means were different but the resolution was the same.”He noted that irrespective of social, family or ideological roles, the place of the movement, whether within the country or abroad, the goal was one – complete independence for India.The PM recalled the contribution of Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak, the Chapekar brothers, Vasudev Balwant Phadke and madam Bhikaji Cama. He also pointed out that the freedom struggle spanned locally as well globally. He cited the Gadar Party, Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose-led Azad Hind Fauj and India House of Shyamji Krishna Varma as examples of the global scale of the freedom struggle. “This spirit of from local to global is the basis of our Aatmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan,” he added.“The role of Veer Savarkar in India’s freedom movement was immense. One must go to Andaman and Nicobar Islands to see the struggle and atrocities inflicted in prison. Students should be taken to such places to draw inspiration from our freedom fighters,” the PM said.He added that while Mumbai is the city of dreams, there are many such cities in Maharashtra that are going to be the growth centres of the country in the 21st century. “With this thinking, on one hand, the infrastructure of Mumbai is being modernised and at the same time, modern facilities are being increased in other cities as well.”The PM released a stamp on the occasion. “While lending voice to pre and post freedom movement, Mumbai Samachar has always retained its credibility. The write-ups appeared were often referred and cited by even Mahatma Gandhi and Sardar Patel,” he said.Referring to the power of regional languages, the PM said, “Under the influence of foreigners, when the city became Bombay, even then Mumbai Samachar did not leave its local connect and connect with the roots. It retained its identity as Mumbai Samachar… It is not just a newspaper but a heritage, expression of India.”Praising the Parsi community for their contribution, the PM said, a 1,000-year-old civilisation has shown how Maa Bharati embraces whoever comes to this nation. “Everybody has opportunities to flourish in her lap. What better example than the Parsi community? The community’s contribution in freedom movement to Navnirman Bharat is huge. It is one of the smallest in terms of population – micro community. But in terms of contribution and service, it is huge.”He added that every institution has a particular role to play for the betterment of the society, be it the media or the legislature.Earlier in the day, inaugurating the shila (rock) temple at the existing Sant Tukaram Maharaj Temple at Dehu near Pune, the PM said that “wari” — the annual pilgrimage undertaken by ‘warkaris’ or devotees — has inspired the country’s forward march. He said his government was ensuring that India’s “vikas” (development) and “virasat” (heritage) move ahead together.“It is our responsibility to keep our ancient identity and traditions alive at a time when modern technology and infrastructure are becoming synonymous with the country’s development,” he added while addressing the gathering.Reciting abhangs of Sant Tukaram which drew thunderous applause from the ‘warkaris,’ the Prime Minister pointed out that even Veer Savarkar, while in jail, used his handcuffs as instrument and sang ‘abhangs’. “When Savarkar was jailed during the freedom struggle, he used his handcuffs as musical instrument and sang the devotional poetry of Sant Tukaram,” Modi said.“Through his devotional poetry, Sant Tukaram described class discrimination as the biggest sin. It is this message that the wari seeks to spread among the masses. The country is also drawing inspiration from the message sent out by wari by following the principle of ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas’,” he said.Stating that India was one of the oldest living civilizations in the world, the Prime Minister said, “If the credit for this goes to anyone, it is to the saint tradition and sages of India… India is eternal because it is the land of saints. In every era, some great soul has descended to give direction to our country and society.”
MUMBAI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said we need to strengthen the culture of healthy debates and open discussions that have been a hallmark of India over the years. Modi was on a day's visit to Maharashtra during which he inaugurated a shila (rock) temple at Dehu, Jal Bhushan building and Gallery of Revolutionaries at Mumbai's Raj Bhavan and attended the bicentennial celebrations of Gujarati newspaper Mumbai Samachar. Amid acrimonious relations between the Shiv Sena and BJP in Maharashtra, Modi and chief minister Uddhav Thackeray shared the dais at two of these events, after over four months. Over the last thousands of years, Indians have spoken openly about the most difficult of the topics and made correct logic an integral part of the society, he said, speaking at an event to mark the 200th anniversary of Mumbai Samachar in suburban Bandra. Modi said “debate and discussions” have helped the country over the years and we need to “strengthen” the culture. He said every institution has a particular role to play for the betterment of the society, be it the media or the legislature. The Indian media has both criticised the policies and also stood for national interest in a constructive manner, the Prime Minister said, expressing hope that the media will continue to play its role in the next 25 years which his government has called as the “Azadi ka Amrut Kaal”. Speaking after inaugurating an underground 'Gallery of Revolutionaries' museum dedicated to the luminaries of the freedom struggle at the Raj Bhavan, Modi said Maharashtra has inspired the country in many areas ranging from social revolutions to self-rule. The PM delved into history and highlighted the work done by a number of eminent personalities with roots in Maharashtra, from warrior king Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj to chief Constitution maker Babasaheb Ambedkar, and spoke effusively about their contributions. The gallery has come up in a British-era bunker, discovered in the Raj Bhavan campus in south Mumbai in August 2016 during the tenure of the then-Governor C Vidyasagar Rao. Remembering revolutionary Shyamji Krishna Varma, who founded the India House in London and stayed abroad, Modi said the freedom fighter's only wish was that his ashes be brought to an independent India. Modi said in 2003, after 73 years of Varma's death, he got the opportunity to bring his ashes to India. The PM also inaugurated Jal Bhushan, the renovated residence of the Maharashtra Governor. Jal Bhushan has been the official residence of the Governor of Maharashtra since 1885. Upon completing its lifespan, it was demolished and a new building was sanctioned in its place. Earlier in the day, Modi addressed a gathering of warkaris (devotees undertaking the pilgrimage to Lord Vitthal temple at Pandharpur), after inaugurating a shila (rock) temple at the Sant Tukaram Maharaj Mandir dedicated to the 17th-century saint at Dehu near Pune. Modi said Hindutva ideologue Veer Savarkar sang abhangs (devotional poetry in praise of Lord Vitthal) of Sant Tukaram while in jail during India's freedom struggle. “While in jail, Veer Savarkar used his handcuffs like the chipli (a musical instrument) of Sant Tukaram and sang his abhangs,” Modi said. Modi also interacted with the warkaris during his visit, which comes ahead of the annual 'wari' pilgrimage which will commence on June 20 from Dehu. The PM said Sant Tukaram used to say that discrimination among humans is a big sin. "This message is not only important for Bhagwat bhakti, but also rastra bhakti (patriotism) and samaj bhakti (service to society). With these messages, our 'warkari' brothers and sisters set on the journey to Pandharpur every year," he said referring to 'wari'. With this message, the country is moving forward with the concept of 'sabka sath, sabka vikas, sabka vishwas and sabka prayas', he said. The PM said that along the lines of 'warkaris', the country is also progressing with the empowerment of women. "The wari has been a symbol of equal opportunities as women warkaris also walk side by side with their male counterparts with the same zeal and zest. Similarly, the government is also providing the benefits of welfare schemes to everyone without discrimination," he said. Modi said a true saint's identity is that he strives for the welfare of the last person and this is the resolve of our 'antyoday' yojana. The PM said various yatras in the country are the sources of power for the social and spiritual progress. "With these yatras, we keep the concept of 'Ek Bharat Shresth Bharat' alive. These yatras connect the diversity of our country. To strengthen the unity of our country, we should keep our ancient identity alive," he added. The PM also said technology and infrastructure are becoming synonymous with India's progress, "we are ensuring that heritage and development go hand in hand". Referring to scriptures, he said 'satsang' of sants is the rarest privilege in human life.
TWO DAYS ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Dehu on June 14, the existing Sant Tukaram Maharaj temple is shining bright and is all decked up to offer a grand welcome to the PM. The Prime Minister will inaugurate a ‘shila’ (rock) temple dedicated to poet-saint Sant Tukaram around 1.30 pm on Tuesday and will also address a crowd in proximity to the temple. The ‘shila’ temple is located within the premises of the main temple.“The silver polishing work of the chariot, which will carry the palanquin to the temple town of Pandharpur, has been completed. And inside the temple premises, the sanctum sanctorum, walls and pillars which are covered in silver have also been polished thoroughly,” Nitin More, who heads the Shri Sant Tukaram Maharaj Sansthan, told The Indian Express on Sunday.And in the 10-member team which carried out the silver polishing work of the temple premises and the chariot included eight Muslims artisans in their early twenties. All of them have been born and brought up in Pune. And all of them seemed to have carried out the silver polishing as “something close to our heart” and “a matter of seva….” Kushal Varma, who owns Ghanshyam gold shop in Pimpri, has been given the contract for the silver polishing work of the temple premises besides the chariot and ‘palkhi.’🚨 Limited Time Offer | Express Premium with ad-lite for just Rs 2/ day 👉🏽 Click here to subscribe 🚨“We have been doing the work for the past 6-7 years. We don’t charge a single paisa for the silver polishing work. Our team includes eight Muslim artisans who are all skilled and hard working. They do the allotted work with lot of enthusiasm and with keen sense of interest,” he said.The silver polishing, said Varma, is carried out as the silver coating gets oxidised due to exposure to air, pollution and water. “We use chemicals, tamarind, lemon and brushes among other things to polish the silver, remove the dark spots and make it look bright and beautiful,” he said. The work was carried out over two days. “The artisans worked relentlessly for 12 hours each day and without complaining about being tired and exhausted,” Varma added.Kamar Attar (31), one of the artisans, said, “This is not the first time we have carried out the silver polishing work of the entire temple premises as well as the chariot and palanquins. There was a lull during Covid for two years but now we are back. For putting in the hard work, we don’t charge anything. But the temple provides us material required to carry out the polishing.”Attar said no one objected to them carrying out the polishing work. “No, there was no objection to us being Muslims. Everyone knows who we are. And we do it on our own as a ‘seva’ towards Sant Tukaram Maharaj. It gives us immense happiness. We believe the God is one no matter which religion you belong to,” he said.Umar Attar, another artisan, said, “Our grandparents are from Pandharpur, so you can understand how much the Dehu temple matters to us…We have carried out the silver polishing work not only in Dehu but also in Pandharpur and at Dutt Mandir in Pune, the famous Ranjangaon Mandir and several other temples in Maharashtra.”Umar said, “We don’t believe in caste or religion. We do the silver polishing work in temple as it comes from our heart. After a two year gap, we enjoyed doing the work in Dehu and in the end, it gave us a sense of satisfaction and joy. We will keep doing the ‘seva’ whenever we are called,” a view echoed by others.Meanwhile, the temple administration said they will present a special ‘headgear’ to the Prime Minister. “The Prime Minister will be honoured with a designer Tukaram pagdi and a shawl on the occasion,” said Nitin More.
On Tuesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the Sant Tukaram Shila Mandir in the temple town of Dehu in Pune district. Shila refers to a rock that is currently on the Dehu Sansthan temple premises, and that for centuries has been the starting point of Wari, the annual pilgrimage to Pandharpur.The Shila MandirThe Bhakti saint Sant Tukaram had sat on this piece of rock for 13 continuous days when challenged about the authenticity of the Abhyangs he had written. Nitin Maharaj More, president of the Jagatguru Sant Tukaram Maharaj Sansthan Dehu, said that prior to this, the saint had immersed his entire work in the Indrayani river; the work miraculously reappeared after 13 days, proving their authenticity. “The very rock where Sant Tukaram Maharaj sat for 13 days is pious and a place of pilgrimage for the Warkari sect,” More said.On the Dehu Sansthan temple premises, the rock used to be covered by a silver cast with an image of Sant Tukaram, and devotees would pay obesiance. In 2008, the silver mask was stolen, and found on the banks of the Indrayani after a few days. The Sansthan decided to replace the silver covering with an image of Sant Tukaram Maharaj on the Shila, with a temple housing both. “This is the temple the Prime Minister will inaugurate on Tuesday,” he said.The Warkari sectSant Tukaram and his work are central to the Warkari sect spread across Maharashtra. His message about a casteless society and his denial of rituals had led to a social movement. Sant Tukaram is credited with starting the Wari pilgrimage.The Wari sees lakhs of devotees congregating in the temple towns of Dehu and Alandi to accompany the padukas of Sant Tukaram and Sant Dyaneshwar respectively as they start for Pandharpur. Participants finish their sowing before they set off. The pilgrims reach Pandharpur on the day of Ekadashi with the Chief Minister performing the mahapuja.The pilgrimage is being resumed after a gap of two years.Significance of visitThis will be Modi’s first visit to the temple. Traditionally, the Warkari sect has been courted by all political parties. Various influential leaders of the sect had taken a stance on various issues but steered away from politics directly. Former President Prathibha Patil had visited the temple in 2009, and Modi would be the first PM to visit the temple in the current years.Modi’s visit comes ahead of elections to various local bodies this year. Ever since the NCP-Shiv-Sena-BJP came to power, the BJP has been trying to get back. Of the three bypolls held since 2019, BJP has won just one while the ruling alliance have won two.The newly created Dehu Nagar Panchayat is ruled by the NCP.
