Page 28 - Devendra Fadnavis

Fadnavis assures probe on why 'no action was taken' on Walkar's complaint

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Wednesday said an inquiry will be initiated into why "no action" was taken by the police on the complaint it received from Shhradha Walkar in 2020, and added that she could have been saved had they acted in time. Walkar, a 27-year-old call centre employee, was allegedly murdered by her live-in partner Aaftab Poonawala in Delhi in May this year. Poonawala (28) allegedly strangled Walkar and sawed her body into 35 pieces which he kept in a fridge for almost three weeks at his residence in South Delhi's Mehrauli area before dumping them across the city over several days past midnight. Walkar had two years ago complained to the police in Maharashtra's Palghar district that Poonawala tried to kill her in 2020 and she feared he would cut her into pieces, an official said here on Wednesday. In her complaint letter dated November 23, 2020 written to Tulinj police in Palghar, Walkar also alleged that Poonawala used to beat her up and his

Farmers hit by heavy rains shouldn't be forced to pay power bills: Fadnavis

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Monday said the state power utility has been directed not to force those farmers who had lost their crops due to excess rains in the last two months to pay bills. Speaking to reporters here, Fadnavis said the farmers who could repay the power bills can do it. I have given orders to officials of the state power distribution company (MSEDCL) not to force farmers to repay the electricity bills, especially those who lost their crop due to excess rains. However, officials have been asked to collect the electricity bills from farmers for the current season only, said Fadnavis, who also holds the Power portfolio. If farmers pay the bills for the current season their connections should not be snapped. Those who can repay bills, they should pay it, he added.

Shivaji an idol, says Fadnavis amid row over statements on warrior king

Amid a row caused by remarks of Maharashtra Governor B S Koshyari and BJP spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi regarding Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Sunday said the warrior king will remain a hero and idol for the state and country as long as the sun and moon exist. A major row erupted a day after Koshyari called Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj an idol of "olden times" at a function in Aurangabad. The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) has accused Bharatiya Janata Party national spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi of claiming the founder of the Maratha empire apologised to Mughal king Aurangzeb five times. "One thing is clear that Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj will remain a hero and idol of Maharashtra and our country till the Sun and the Moon exist," Fadnavis, who is attending the closing ceremony of the 71st All India Police Wrestling Cluster Championship in Pune, told reporters. "Even Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari had no doubts about this in his mind. ..

Derogatory remarks by Sattar can't be defended, says Devendra Fadnavis

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday said the alleged derogatory word used by his cabinet colleague and state agriculture minister Abdul Sattar was wrong and it cannot be defended even as protests against Sattar continued on the second consecutive day. He also said a "code of conduct" should be followed by "both sides", apparently referring to the Opposition, which has been criticising leaders of the Eknath Shinde-BJP government in the state on various issues. What Abdul Sattar said was wrong and cannot be defended at all. We will always oppose the use of such language. But there should also be a code of conduct which will be applicable to both sides. I do not want to go into details, he told reporters. Fadnavis said the use of words like "Khokhe" and other terms used (against the Shinde-BJP govt) is also wrong. "The decorum of political discourse should be maintained at a higher level. The level of politics is falling in the state. Seniors in all the part

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Fadnavis directs GST officials to work with cyber dept to curb frauds

Maharashtra deputy chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on Monday asked state GST (Goods and Services Tax) department officials to work closely with the cyber security department of the home ministry to curb increasing cases of financial frauds and cyber crimes. Fadnavis, who also holds home and finance portfolios, issued the instruction after holding a meeting with GST officials as well as those of the state finance department. The review meeting was regarding the current functioning of the GST department, its achievements, growth in collection and intelligence network, among other issues. The deputy CM also held a meeting with officials of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) in Mumbai and sought support of the Philippines-based multilateral agency in various sectors. After the meeting, he said, We need more support from the ADB not only in funding but also in sharing best financial practices across the globe. The state is working to shift its entire public transport system on green ...

Mumbai pre-polls sting: Shinde-Fadnavis order CAG probe into BMC affairs

In a significant move ahead of the upcoming BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections, the Maharashtra government on Monday ordered the Comptroller & Auditor General (CAG) to inquire the civic body's affairs and certain decisions taken in the past couple of years, here on Monday.

MVA cries foul as Shinde-Fadnavis govt slashes security of 25 oppn leaders

Amid stinging criticism over the state losing out mega-projects to Gujarat, the ruling govt of CM Eknath Shinde and Dy CM Devendra Fadnavis has slashed the protection accorded to 25 MVA leaders

BJP-Shinde to contest some civic polls separately, others jointly: Fadnavis

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Wednesday said the ruling BJP and Shiv Sena faction led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde will contest some of the civic polls separately and others in alliance. Notably, CM Shinde had in August said the "original" Shiv Sena and the BJP will contest the forthcoming elections to civic bodies in Maharashtra together. He had claimed that the led by him represents the "original" Shiv Sena. The elections are due in various civic bodies in the state, including the cash-rich Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). The Shinde-BJP coalition came to power in Maharashtra on June 30 this year after a rebellion led by Shinde led to the collapse of the Maha Vikas Aghadi government headed by Uddhav Thackeray. Speaking to reporters in Nagpur on Wednesday, Fadnavis said, The BJP and the Shiv Sena faction led by Chief Minister Eknath Shide will contest some civic polls separately, while there will be an alliance in other civic polls. We will ...

Cabinet expansion soon in Maharashtra, most of entrants will be MoS: Dy CM

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday said the state cabinet would be expanded soon. Talking to reporters at his official residence here, he also said that most of the new members will be Ministers of State. ''The expansion would be carried out soon," he said. The state Council of Ministers at present has 18 cabinet ministers including Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. There are nine ministers each from the Shinde-led faction of the Shiv Sena and his ally Bharatiya Janata Party. The present government took over on June 30 this year after the Uddhav Thackeray-led coalition government of the Shiv Sena, NCP and Congress collapsed following Shinde's rebellion. While on June 30 only Shinde and Fadnavis took oath, the first cabinet expansion took place on August 9. The Council of Ministers can have up to 43 members in Maharashtra. Asked when the long-awaited elections to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation would take place, Fadnavis said it was for the courts

Maharashtra govt to provide 75,000 jobs to youth in a year: Dy CM Fadnavis

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Saturday said the Eknath Shinde-led government will provide 75,000 government jobs to youth in the state in the next one year. Speaking to reporters at Nagpur airport, Fadnavis praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi's initiative of providing 10 lakh jobs to youth. The prime minister had asked various government departments and ministries in June to recruit 10 lakh people on a "mission mode" in the next year and a half. Modi on Saturday distributed 75,000 appointment letters among government job aspirants and said the Centre is also working on multiple fronts to create maximum job opportunities for youngsters. "Along with this initiative started by the prime minister, our government in Maharashtra under the leadership of Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has decided to give government jobs to 75,000 youth in the state," Fadnavis said. Of the 75,000 jobs, 18,000 vacancies will be in the police department and an advertisement for the sa

Andheri East bypoll:MNS chief thanks Fadnavis after BJP withdraws candidate

Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray on Monday thanked Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis for the BJP's decision to withdraw its candidate from the bypoll to Andheri East Assembly seat in Mumbai. In a letter written to Fadnavis, Thackeray referred to the senior BJP leader as his dear friend and said it is essential to have a positive political culture. He said the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) is always in favour of proliferation of such a positive culture. I am thankful that you responded to this (appeal), Thackeray said. Thackeray had on Sunday written another letter to Fadnavis, asking the ruling BJP to pull out of the bypoll race to show reverence to late Shiv Sena MLA Ramesh Latke, whose death necessitated the byelection. Latke died of cardiac arrest in May this year. BJP's Murji Patel, who withdrew his nomination papers on Monday, was pitted against the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena faction's candidate Rutuja Latke, the wife of Ramesh Latke. NCP chief Sh

Andheri East assembly bypoll: Raj Thackeray asks BJP not to field nominee

NCP chief Sharad Pawar on Sunday sought the unopposed election of Rutuja Latke, the candidate of the Uddhav Thackeray faction of Shiv Sena, in the November 3 Andheri East Assembly bypoll while MNS president Raj Thackeray appealed to Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis not to field BJP's nominee to show reverence to the late MLA Ramesh Latke. The MNS' appeal to Fadnavis and its decision to not contest the bypoll has generated intense political discussion given Raj Thackeray's political rivalry with his cousin Uddhav Thackeray. The late Latke belonged to Shiv Sena. Notably, the last date for withdrawal of the nominations for the bypoll is October 17. Fadnavis said the proposition of Raj Thackeray will be discussed seriously with BJP leaders and Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and the final decision will be taken only after a discussion with senior leaders in BJP. He also said whenever there was a proper communication or appeal made to BJP, it was responded to ...

Fadnavis welcomes SC decision to suspend HC order on Saibaba's acquittal

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Saturday welcomed the decision of the Supreme Court to suspend the Bombay High Court's order of acquitting former Delhi University professor G N Saibaba and others in a Maoist links case. The top court on Saturday rejected Saibaba's request to order his release from jail due to his disability and health conditions and put him under house arrest after the Maharashtra government opposed the prayer, saying that nowadays, there is a new tendency of "urban naxals" to seek house arrest. The high court had acquitted Saibaba and others in the case on Friday. Speaking to reporters at the Nagpur airport, Fadnavis said, "I am satisfied with the apex court's decision to suspend the high court order on professor G N Saibaba. Yesterday, I had said that the high court decision was surprising and shocking for us, because releasing a person on technical grounds, against whom there was ample evidence of directly helping Maoists, was wrong. Hence,

Shinde govt taking decisions beneficial to people: Chandrakant Patil

Maharashtra Minister Chandrakant Patil on Saturday said not a single MLA is unhappy and the state government is taking decisions that will benefit people. Speaking to reporters here, Patil said the Eknath Shinde-Devendra Fadnavis government had completed 100 days and no legislator was unhappy. The minister of higher and technical education was the chief guest at 'Mukt Sanvad' programme conducted by Savitribai Phule Pune University. "From day one, NCP leaders Ajit Pawar, Jayant Patil and Congress' Nana Patole had claimed that this government will fail, but that has not happened. The state government is taking new decisions every other day for the betterment of people," Patil said. Patil, who is also the guardian minister of Pune, said heavy rains that lashed the city in a short spell on Friday caused water logging in some places and an inquiry will be conducted into this, he said. "Pune district has suffered damages due to heavy rains. I will hold talks with the district collector

There was evidence against Saibaba, acquittal is disappointing: Fadnavis

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Friday said the acquittal of former Delhi University professor G N Saibaba in a case of alleged Maoist links was "unfortunate and disappointing". There was a lot of evidence against him but he was acquitted on technical grounds which was unfortunate, Fadnavis, who also holds the home portfolio, told reporters here. "I am thinking what must be the families of our policemen who were martyred in attacks by Naxalites going through after hearing about this. We have approached the Supreme Court against the acquittal and I believe we will get justice," he added. More than eight years after his arrest, the Bombay High Court on Friday acquitted Saibaba, 52, for want of valid sanction for prosecution under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.

Maharashtra to come out with a policy for data centres in a month: Official

The Maharashtra government will come out with a policy on the data centre business in a month's time, a senior official said on Thursday. The official said the state already has a comprehensive policy governing the information technology sector under which data centres currently operate, but given the very high growth in data centres and the policy lagging behind the industry, a need was felt to have a separate policy exclusively for the data centres business. When asked about the timeline for the launch of such a policy, the official said the industries department under Uday Samant is taking the lead in the formulation of the policy and added that the document will come out in 30 days. Speaking at an event hosted by industry lobby grouping CII, Kaustubh Dhavse, a joint secretary to the government, who also serves as the official on special duty for deputy chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, said such a policy will be very helpful for an orderly growth of the industry. "This governme

Tussle over 'real' Shiv Sena: Fadnavis says Shinde camp will succeed

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Sunday said the Shiv Sena faction led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde will "succeed" when the Election Commission of India takes a final decision on proprietary over the party name and election symbol. Speaking to reporters here, Fadnavis said he was not surprised at the Election Commission's interim decision on Saturday barring the Shiv Sena factions led by Uddhav Thackeray and Eknath Shinde from using the party name and its election symbol 'bow and arrow' in the bypoll to Andheri East Assembly seat in Mumbai scheduled on November 3. The ECI has taken the decision as per its laid down procedure, the senior BJP leader said. "I think when the ECI takes the final decision on the claims made by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Uddhav Thackeray on proprietary over the Shiv Sena name and symbol, CM Shinde will succeed," he added. Maharashtra minister Deepak Kesarkar said, "We have the majority as maximum MLAs and MPs are with the c

Fadnavis slams Rahul on Savarkar remark; asks whether Uddhav backs it

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Saturday slammed Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for his remarks on freedom fighter V D Savarkar and asked whether Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray supports such a statement. Talking to reporters, Fadnavis said Rahul Gandhi didn't know the history of India and the Congress. In a media interaction on Saturday, Rahul Gandhi said Savarkar used to get a stipend from the British and these are historical facts. Rahul Gandhi has again insulted Swatyantraveer Savarkarhe has been constantly saying that he was an agent and took the money. I condemn his statement," Fadnavis said. He said the Congress has often insulted Savarkar because he had the backing of a large number of people. "After Independence, Congress has purposely insulted Savarkar several times, the BJP leader alleged. Latching on to Rahul's remarks, Fadnavis asked whether Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray would condemn his statement. The Congress and the Shiv Sena are partner

Crowd at Shinde's rally showed which is real Shiv Sena, says Fadnavis

The "huge" crowd at Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde's Dussehra rally in Mumbai showed who leads the real Shiv Sena, Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said here on Thursday. He also dubbed the other rally held by Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray on Wednesday as "Shimga", a pejorative term used to describe abusive rhetoric. He himself did not listen to the speeches of both Thackeray and Shinde when they were underway, the BJP leader said. He was busy with the Dhammachara Pravartan Din celebration in Nagpur but got the gist of the two speeches and listened to Shinde's speech on YouTube later, Fadnavis said. "I will not give any reaction on Uddhav Thackeray's speech. No need to give reaction on 'Shimga', he told reporters. The Shimga celebration in parts of Maharashtra ahead of the Holi festival involves lighting of bonfires, but revellers using cuss words or obscene language in a light-hearted way was also customary during the festival once. "There was nothing in