Page 22 - Maharashtra Government

Maharashtra lagging behind others in development under Shinde govt: Aaditya

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray on Sunday alleged Maharashtra is lagging behind other states in development under Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. He flagged the alleged lack of employment and the flight of industries to Gujarat to target the state government. Aaditya, son of Uddhav Thackeray, visited various shakhas (party branches) of Shiv Sena (UBT) in Thane city, the stronghold of CM Shinde. "Unemployment is rising but industries are being shifted to Gujarat. This government is neglecting common citizens while prioritizing self-interest," he said. Aaditya mocked Shinde for his "emotional response" to certain political developments and said the latter betrayed Uddhav. "Shinde is a failure as a Shiv Sainik as well as a human being. Under his leadership, Maharashtra is lagging behind in progress and development," the former cabinet minister said. He recalled the old association of Shiv Sainiks from Thane with his grandparents Bal Thackeray and Meenatai. "Betrayers have le

Reservation to Maratha's will be as per terms of law, says CM Eknath Shinde

He said that the (during the survey) backward commission also took the assistance of various other organisations

Maha to sell sand online on 'no profit no loss' under new scheme: Minister

The Maharashtra government has decided to sell sand online on a "no profit no loss" basis, a move that will enable people to buy the key construction material at a cheaper rate and curb illegal sand mining, revenue minister Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil said. During the state cabinet meeting on Wednesday, Vikhe Patil proposed changes in the sand mining policy in the state. Accordingly, it was decided to sell sand online on a "no profit no loss" basis, Vikhe Patil said after the cabinet meeting. The change in the policy will also help curb illegal mining of sand, its transportation and storage, he said. The minister said under the earlier policy, there were cases of irregularities and criminal activities, alluding the attacks by sand miners on government officials. Under the new scheme, tenders will be invited for management of mining of sand, its transportation and construction of sand mining depots. It will also enable setting up of a technical committee under tehsildar to monitor th

Maharashtra politics: Congress, MVA eye stronger comeback ahead of LS polls

Ashok Chavan on Tuesday announced his decision to join the Bharatiya Janata Party asserting to work for the "constructive development of Maharashtra"

Former Maharashtra CM Ashok Chavan joins BJP, pledges to bolster party

Former Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan on Tuesday made his political move by joining the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Mumbai, just a day after parting ways with the Congress. The 65-year-old Chavan was warmly welcomed into the BJP fold at the party's Mumbai office in the presence of key figures, including Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. Regarding his new phase in his political career, Chavan, who spent nearly four decades in Congress, said today signifies the commencement of his fresh political journey. Son of the former Maharashtra Chief Minister and Union Home Minister S B Chavan, his choice to align with the BJP emerges amidst speculation that he might be given the Rajya Sabha nomination. When asked about any communication from senior Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, Chavan chose to evade a direct response. Addressing concerns raised by Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut regarding the Adarsh scam, Chavan defended himself, ..

Return 50% of tax amount paid by Maharashtra: Uddhav Thackeray to Centre

Shiv Sena (UBT) president Uddhav Thackeray has said the Centre should return 50 per cent of the funds collected from Maharashtra as taxes for the development of the state. Speaking at a local event in Mumbai on Sunday, the former Maharashtra chief minister also referred to the recent protest rallies held in New Delhi by southern states like Karnataka and Kerala over similar demands. Thackeray claimed that when Maharashtra sends Re 1 to the Centre as tax, it gets back only seven paise (Re 1= 100 paise). "What happens to the remaining amount? What kind of revadis (freebies) you distribute?" he asked. "I am stating that when Maharashtra gives you Re 1, give us half of it back to develop the state. You are looting our state. When we (opposition INDIA bloc) come to power, I will assert on changing the current tax-sharing formula to increase Maharashtra's share," Thackeray said. The Shiv Sena (UBT) leader also took a dig at "Modi ki Guarantee" commitment of the central government, claim

BJP's CAA pitch is 'chunavi jumla' for Lok Sabha elections, says Congress

Maharashtra Congress in-charge Ramesh Chennithala on Sunday alleged the BJP's CAA pitch is a "jumla" (empty promise) with an eye on Lok Sabha elections. The Congress' reaction came a day after Union Home Minister Amit Shah said the rules for implementing the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) will be issued before the coming Lok Sabha poll, and the process to grant Indian nationality to the beneficiaries will start soon after. "The BJP is stoking the discussion on CAA only because the general elections are approaching. The party wants to influence voters. It is just another 'chunavi jumla'. The CAA was passed a long time ago, but its implementation has been brought up now for political reasons only," Chennithala told reporters in Mumbai. He alleged the BJP wants to drive the political discourse on religious lines. "A discussion on CAA is being pushed for this very reason. It is a fact that some BJP-ruled states are against the implementation of the CAA," the Congress leader ...

Maharashtra cabinet ministers to visit Ayodhya soon: Deputy CM Fadnavis

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Sunday said state cabinet ministers will soon visit Ayodhya in Uttar Pradesh, were the idol consecration of the Ram Temple took place on January 22. Fadnavis, however, did not share further details. Queried on similar temple disputes in Kashi and Mathura, Fadnavis told reporters an amicable solution within the legal framework would be found the way Prime Minister Narendra Modi ensured the Ram Temple was constructed in Ayodhya (following a Supreme Court verdict). Asserting that Mathura, Kashi and Ayodhya are all sacred places, Fadnavis said after the construction of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, it is natural for people to expect solution to the dispute in Mathura (Krishna Janmabhoomi) as well. "I believe just as the Ram Temple got constructed due to the efforts of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Shri Krishna Janmabhoomi will also be resolved with harmony and within the framework of the law," the senior BJP leader said. "A new corri

We've support of 225 MLAs: Ajit Pawar on Oppn's demand to dismiss Maha govt

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar has said the state government has the backing of 225 MLAs in the 288-member assembly, amid the opposition's demand to dismiss the Eknath Shinde-led government over the law and order situation. Speaking at an event on Saturday in Mumbai where Congress leader Baba Siddique joined the Nationalist Congress Party led by him, Pawar said no such demand was made after the 26/11 terrorist attacks here, when a Congress-led coalition was in power in Maharashtra. "The opposition today demanded dismissal of the government. Our Mahayuti (BJP-Shiv Sena-NCP alliance) has the support of 225 MLAs," he said. "Attempts are being made by some people to create an atmosphere of fear that there is a breakdown of law and order in the state....when the 26/11 terrorist attacks took place, no such demand was made," Pawar said. He, however, also said that he was not defending or justifying the recent incidents of violence over which the opposition has trained its gu

Dismiss Maharashtra govt, impose President's rule: Uddhav Thackerey

Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray on Saturday demanded the dismissal of the Eknath Shinde-led Maharashtra government, targeting it over the law and order situation in the state. Addressing a press conference here, he also demanded that President's rule be imposed in the state and fresh polls be conducted. "We demand dismissal of the Maharashtra government," Thackeray said, citing law and order situation in the state after a leader of his party was shot dead in Dahisar on Thursday evening. The former chief minister also accused the state government of protecting mobsters. Former corporator Abhishek Ghosalkar (40), son of Sena (UBT) leader Vinod Ghosalkar, was shot dead during a Facebook Live by local businessman and social activist Mauris Noronha on Thursday evening. Noronha later killed himself, police said. Earlier, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA Ganpat Gaikwad shot and injured a local leader of the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena at a police station in Ulhasnagar near Mumbai

Detailed probe to be conducted into murder of Sena (UBT) leader: Ajit Pawar

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar on Friday described the murder of Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Abhishek Ghosalkar during a Facebook Live' as wrong and unfortunate and assured that a detailed probe will be conducted to find out what led to the crime. A viral video of the incident, which took place at assailant Mauris Noronha's office in IC Colony in the northern suburb of Borivali (West) on Thursday evening, showed Ghosalkar being shot in the abdomen and shoulder. Within moments, Noronha also killed himself. The probe has been handed over to the Mumbai Crime Branch. It was wrong and unfortunate. Such incidents should not happen in the state. The conversation between the two during the live-streaming seemed friendly. Looking at the conversation, their relationship also looked cordial, Pawar told reporters in Pune. A detailed investigation needs to be done about what exactly had happened between them, he said. Abhishek (40), son of former MLA Vinod Ghosalkar, a loyalist of the

Google partners with Maharashtra govt to provide AI-led services

As a part of the collaboration, Google will leverage its AI capabilities to provide solutions in sectors like agriculture, healthcare, sustainability, education, and startups

BJP failed to tackle inflation, jobs & farmers' issues: Maha Congress chief

The BJP-led government has failed to address issues like inflation, jobs and farmers' woes, said Maharashtra Congress chief Nana Patole on Wednesday and asserted that the credit for the Ram temple goes to crores of people who contributed to it. Addressing a press conference, he said people are fed up with the false promises made to them by the prime minister and there is a lot of resentment against the BJP. It will reflect in the upcoming elections, he claimed. Patole accused the government of looting money from the common people in the name of GST (Goods and Services Tax) and distributing it among its favourite businessmen. The government is promoting unemployment in the name of privatisation. It has allowed 100 percent FDI (foreign direct investment) in the defence sector and that has raised serious questions over national security, he said. China has breached the borders and captured Indian land, but the government remains mum over it, he alleged. The BJP is working on a system

EC's declaration of 'real' NCP shows power of democracy: Fadnavis

The Commission provided the Sharad Pawar faction with a one-time option to claim a name for its new political formation and provide three preferences

Decision based on merit, says CM Shinde on EC decision over NCP symbol

The Commission has provided the Sharad Pawar faction with a one-time option to claim a name for its new political formation and provide three preferences to the Commission

Sena vs Sena: SC to consider listing plea of Uddhav Thackeray faction

The Supreme Court on Monday agreed to consider listing a plea of the Uddhav Thackeray faction challenging Maharashtra Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar's order declaring the Shiv Sena bloc led by Eknath Shinde as the "real political party" after its split in June 2022. A bench comprising Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud and Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra took note of the submissions of senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for the Thackeray faction, that the plea, which was to be listed on Monday, has not come up. We will see it, the CJI said. The top court on January 22 had issued notices to Chief Minister Shinde and other lawmakers of his group on the plea of the Thackeray faction challenging the speaker's order. The court had then ordered a listing of plea after two weeks. The Thackeray faction has alleged that Shinde "unconstitutionally usurped power" and is heading an "unconstitutional government". In his order passed on January 10, Speaker Narwekar had also rejected the

Shiv Sena's Shinde writes to Kovind in support of simultaneous elections

Shiv Sena leader and Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has supported the concept of simultaneous polls, saying frequent elections are not good for the economy and hamper growth. In a letter to chairman of the high-level committee on 'one nation one election' Ram Nath Kovind, Shinde said simultaneous polls are one of the "most critical reforms" proposed by the NDA government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. "We strongly believe that 'one nation, one election' will lead to focused and smooth governance. With elections going on in some part or other of the country it becomes very difficult to concentrate on governance as the entire attention is focused in winning these elections," he wrote. In his January 24 letter, he said "everyone from the PM to ministers to CMs to MPs, MLAs and all leaders get involved with these elections. This causes virtual paralysis of administration at various levels". He noted that assembly polls in Madhya Pradesh, Chattisgarh, Rajasthan, Telangan

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

Mumbai to get Central Park on lines of New York on Racecourse land

A Central Park on the lines of one in New York will be developed on land surrendered by Mahalaxmi Racecourse in south Mumbai, municipal commissioner Iqbal Singh Chahal said on Friday. He was talking to reporters after presenting the annual budget of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation. A 300-acer 'Mumbai Central Park' on the lines of Central Park in New York and Hyde park in London will be created by connecting the 175-acre Costal Road garden and 120-acre land of the racecourse by a subway, he said. Earlier there were reports that a theme park or an amusement park will come up on the land. "Every citizen will get free entry (to the proposed Central Park)," Chahal said, dismissing speculation that the land will be given to real estate developers.

Maha backward class panel's survey to end just before midnight on Friday

The survey being carried out by the Maharashtra State Backward Class Commission in connection with the Maratha quota will end just before midnight on Friday and it will not be extended, MSBCC has said. In a letter to all district collectors and municipal commissioners on Thursday, the MSBCC said, The software (APK) used for this survey will be shut at 2359 hours (11:59 pm) on Friday. There will not be any extension given to the survey. Thus, no such demand should be made. The officials concerned should inform all the enumerators to complete their survey tomorrow within the stipulated time. The commission should be informed about the completion of the report by 10 am on February 3 by submitting a certificate, the MSBCC added in the letter. The survey is being carried out to support the state government's curative petition filed in the Supreme Court in connection with the Maratha quota, which has been revived by activist Manoj Jarange. The SC had on May 5, 2021, struck down reservati