Page 23 - Devendra Fadnavis

Minister Chhagan Bhujbal's resignation not accepted: Deputy CM Fadnavis

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has said the resignation of senior OBC leader and state cabinet minister Chhagan Bhujbal has not been accepted. Chief Minister Eknath Shinde will be able to clarify on this, Fadnavis told reporters late Saturday night. Bhujbal, who has accused the Maharashtra government of facilitating "backdoor entry" of the Maratha community into the quota for the Other Backward Classes (OBCs), on Saturday said he resigned from the state cabinet on November 16 last year. He further said that he kept quiet for more than two months because the chief minister and the deputy CM asked him not to speak about it. Talking to reporters, Fadnavis said, "The chief minister will be able to clarify on this, but I can only say as of now that Bhujbal's resignation has not been accepted by the chief minister or me." Bhujbal, who belongs to the Ajit Pawar-led faction of the NCP, on Saturday reiterated that he is not opposed to Marathas getting the reservation b

No injustice to any community, says Dy CM Fadnavis on Maratha reservation

Maharastra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Sunday clarified that there will be no injustice done to any community

Maharashtra Dy CM Fadnavis vows to support, promote Marathi language

Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Sunday reaffirmed the state government's commitment to promoting and preserving the Marathi language. He was speaking at the Vishwa Marathi Sammelan in Navi Mumbai. Highlighting the rich heritage and unique qualities of Marathi, Fadnavis emphasized the need for collective efforts to achieve its universality, an official release said. He called upon institutions working in the field to collaborate with the newly established Marathi Language University. Recognising the importance of education in the mother tongue, Fadnavis expressed support for the Centre's New Education Policy promoting vernacular languages, it said. He lauded Maharashtra's pioneering move to offer engineering courses in Marathi and pledged to provide district-level funding for language preservation initiatives, said the release. Fadnavis highlighted the contributions of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and Saint Dnyaneshwar, urging the audience to take pride in Marathi's glor

Maratha quota stir: Protest peacefully, says Maharashtra deputy CM Fadnavis

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Friday said everyone has the right to protest but it should be done peacefully, amid opposition allegations that the government is taking the Marathas for a ride. Talking to reporters on Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange's plan to march to Azad Maidan in south Mumbai to press for their demands, Fadnavis, who is also the state's home minister, said protests should be done in a peaceful manner without disturbing law and order. Deputy CM Ajit Pawar said he supports reservation for the Maratha community in government jobs and education. Chief Minister Eknath Shinde is trying to resolve the issue through talks, he said. State Congress president Nana Patole accused the government of disturbing social harmony and said the Maratha quota should be granted in a constitutional manner. The 50 per cent cap on reservation should be removed which will pave the way for the (Maratha) quota. Jarange should be given protection and if he is har

Mira Road clash: One held for provoking people; govt says 'zero tolerance'

Maharashtra Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis said that there will be zero tolerance against anyone who tries to take the law into their own hands and attempts to disturb the law & order situation

Resolve Maratha quota issue: Jarange urges Fadnavis a day before protest

Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange on Friday urged Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to wholeheartedly address the issue of reservation for the community. Speaking to reporters, the activist said he would leave his native Antarwali Sarati village in Jalna at 9 am on Saturday to embark on a protest march for Mumbai to press for the demand to provide reservation to his community. "The resolution of the Maratha reservation issue rests with Fadnavis, and he should come forward and resolve the matter with his heart and mind," he said. The activist reiterated his demand that Kunbi caste certificates be issued to 54 lakh Marathas and questioned the progress made by the committee set up by the state government to address the quota issue since it started its work on December 23 last year. Jarange further accused state minister Girish Mahajan of making false promises and deceiving the Maratha community. "Where is minister Girish Mahajan who had come with seven ministers

Hyundai Motor to spend $845 million fixing Talegaon plant bought from GM

Hyundai last year bought the General Motors factory in Talegaon, which has stood idle for years after the US company struggled to sell it off following its exit from the country

Hyundai Motor to spend $845 million fixing Talegaon plant bought from GM

Hyundai last year bought the General Motors factory in Talegaon, which has stood idle for years after the US company struggled to sell it off following its exit from the country

World Bank to give Rs 2,328 cr for project to divert flood water: Fadnavis

The World Bank has approved financial assistance of Rs 2,328 crore to develop infrastructure to divert flood water from western Maharashtra to Marathwada, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said on Monday. The state government will contribute Rs 998 crore for the plan, he added. "The World Bank has approved financial assistance of Rs 2,328 crore for the project that will help in diverting flood water from western Maharashtra to Marathwada, which faces water scarcity," he said in a statement. Sangli and Kolhapur districts had witnessed flooding in September 2018, and a World Bank team that visited these areas at the time decided to provide aid for the water diversion project, Fadnavis said.

BJP MLA slapping cop disrespectful, will write if he faces no action: Sule

NCP working president Supriya Sule on Sunday called the recent alleged incident of a BJP MLA slapping an on-duty cop most disrespectful and said she will write to Maharashtra home minister Devendra Fadnavis if no action is taken against the lawmaker. The MP from Baramati Lok Sabha constituency in Pune district said, I thought the BJP was a party that respected people. Are they compromising over this issue? Will they tolerate violence against their colleagues? BJP's Sunil Kamble, the legislator from Pune Cantonment constituency, on Friday allegedly hit an on-duty constable at the city's Sassoon General Hospital, where he had gone to attend an event. Later, a case was registered against Kamble on a complaint by the policeman. I request home minister Devendra Fadnavis to act upon it and if action isn't taken, I'll write a letter to him, said Sule. With parties gearing up for the Lok Sabha elections, Sule said she had no objection to Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge's remarks over

Gems, jewellery industry to help Maha become $1 trn economy by 2030: Dy CM

The growing gems and jewellery industry will help Maharashtra reach its target of becoming a USD 1 trillion economy by 2030, state deputy chief minister Devendra Fadnavis said on Friday. "The Gems and jewellery belong to Mumbai, and the city accounts for 72 per cent of the USD 37 billion annual exports. The Prime Minister has set a target of USD 75 billion for gem and jewellery exports by 2030. "This will be possible with the help of GJEPC instrumental in facilitating exports and making India one of the biggest international players," Fadnavis said while addressing India International Jewellery Show (IIJS) 2024 and the India Gem and Jewellery Machinery Expo (IGJME). The state government is providing the industry with hassle-free shipment, paperwork and ease of doing business, he said. "Soon, we shall have the new India Gems and Jewellery Park, a state government and industry collaboration, which will create a new ecosystem in the industry, and this will help us achieve our export .

BJP, Opposition trade barbs in council over Dawood 'relative' link claim

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Monday rejected NCP MLC Eknath Khadse's allegations that a BJP minister had attended a wedding in 2017-18 hosted by a family related to fugitive Underworld don Dawood Ibrahim. Demanding Khadse's apology to the legislative council for making a baseless claim, Fadnavis said perhaps the allegation was raised because Uddhav Thackeray is present in the House. Khadse, who belongs to the Sharad Pawar camp of NCP, showed photos of the cabinet minister attending a wedding and alleged that the family is related to Dawood Ibrahim, the prime accused in the 1993 Mumbai serial bomb blasts case. Council chairperson Neelam Gorhe directed that the name of the minister be removed from the proceeding. She also rejected the opposition's demand for a discussion. Fadnavis, also the Home Minister, said, "The concerned minister and many other political leaders and government officers had attended the wedding of a nephew of a renowned Muslim priest in

Rahul Gandhi is God's gift to BJP: Maharashtra Dy CM Fadnavis takes dig

Drawing a contrast with BJP's approach, Fadnavis shared an interaction with BJP leader Amit Shah

Drugs worth Rs 50,000 crore seized in Maharashtra in recent past: Fadnavis

The Maharashtra police have seized drugs worth about Rs 50,000 crore in the state in the recent past, said Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis in the legislative assembly on Friday. He was replying to a question by Shiv Sena (UBT) legislator Ravindra Waikar, who represents the Jogeshwari East constituency in Mumbai. In a major haul, the Mumbai police recently seized 151 kg of mephedrone worth Rs 300 crore and arrested more than a dozen persons from several cities in an operation that also included a raid in a factory in MIDC Shinde Gaon in Nashik district. The police have seized drugs worth Rs 50,000 crore in the recent past. The police discretely tracked 2,200 small shops (selling drugs) in Mumbai and removed them to curb the menace of drugs, said Fadnavis. The deputy CM, however, did not specify the exact period during which the drugs were seized. The state government is keeping a watch on chemicals being imported which could be used to make drugs. We have also found that cl

Centre to buy unsold onions: Maha Dy CM amid protests against export ban

The Centre is ready to purchase onions from farmers which remain unsold or cannot be auctioned even as attempts are being made to find a way out in view of the export ban, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis told the legislative council on Monday. He was replying to a query raised by the Leader of the Opposition, Ambadas Danve, who sought to know the measures being taken by the state government in view of the ban on the export of onions. Fadnavis' statement comes in the backdrop of his meeting with Union Minister for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Piyush Goyal in Mumbai on Saturday night regarding the issues faced by cultivators in the state. "Farmers are badly affected by unseasonal rains. The ban on export of onions by the Central government is not in the interest of farmers, who are forced to resort to protests in Maharashtra," said Danve, who belongs to Shiv Sena (UBT). He questioned whether the state government would take up the onion export ban

Stop close people from speaking against Marathas: Jarange to Fadnavis

Quota activist Manoj Jarange has claimed there are some people close to Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis who speak against the Marathas and appealed to Fadnavis to restrain them from doing so. Speaking to reporters in Latur on Sunday night, Jarange also said he has faith in Chief Minister Eknath Shinde that he would give reservation to the Maratha community and reiterated his demand for the quota by December 24. The activist is currently touring parts of Maharashtra to raise awareness about his demand of reservation for the Maratha community. He was in Latur on Sunday night where he spoke to reporters. "This is my last request you can say. They (leaders in Maharashtra) should see that there should be no disgruntlement among people. There are five-seven people who speak about Maratha (community) and are close to Devendra Fadnavis," Jarange claimed without taking any name. "Fadnavis needs to understand that there should be peace in the state," he said. The Marath

Will demand to withdraw FIRs against Maratha protesters: Fadnavis

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Friday told the legislative assembly that the state government was taking necessary action on the demand to withdraw cases filed against pro-Maratha reservation protesters in Jalna district. The police had used mild force against the Maratha protesters in Jalna, he said, adding that 79 police personnel and 50 persons were injured during the face-off. Fadnavis, who also holds the home portfolio, said this in his written reply to questions asked by more than 20 legislators on the Maratha quota issue. "The state government will review the cases filed against the protesters involved in the Maratha quota agitation and take appropriate action. The government has also sent some of the police officials on compulsory leave and later transferred them out of the district," he said. Activist Manoj Jarange had sat on an indefinite fast in the last week of August at his native Antarwali Sarati village in Jalna district. However, the agitatio

Row in Maharashtra assembly over Nawab Malik's induction in ruling alliance

Malik is out on medical bail after the ED arrested him in February 2022 in a money-laundering probe linked to the activities of fugitive gangster Dawood Ibrahim and his aides

Govt positive towards demands for Maratha reservation: Devendra Fadnavis

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Thursday said the government is positive towards addressing demands raised by Marathas and efforts are underway to give reservation to the community. A delegation of the Maratha community met Fadnavis in Pandharpur town of Solapur district where the deputy CM and his wife performed puja at the temple of Lord Vitthal and Goddess Rukmini on the occasion of Kartiki Ekadashi on Thursday. The community has been demanding reservation in government jobs and education. In a post on X, Fadnavis said, I have assured the Maratha community that the state government is positive towards their demands. Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has assured to give reservation to the community. We are standing behind him with full support. The issue will be solved for sure. Efforts are underway to give reservation to the Maratha community, he said. The delegation also demanded that the state government provide a piece of land for the construction of Marath

KCR works for his family, while PM Modi works for people: Devendra Fadnavis

Only BJP can change the face of the politics in Telangana, Telangana BJP President, Kishan Reddy said