Page 23 - Maharashtra Government

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

PIL in HC against Maha govt's move to grant Kunbi caste status to Marathas

A public interest litigation (PIL) has been filed in the Bombay High Court challenging the Maharashtra government's move to grant Kunbi caste certificates to the Maratha community members in the state. The PIL, filed on Tuesday by one Mangesh Sasane, who claims to be the chairman of the 'OBC Welfare Foundation', said the state government by granting Kunbi certificates to the Maratha community was "eating into" the reservation of the Other Backward Classes (OBCs). The petition is likely to come up for hearing on February 6, as per the HC's website. The plea challenges five government resolutions issued from 2004 permitting the Marathas to seek Kunbi caste certificates. "Earlier, the process of granting Kunbi certificates to Marathas was difficult but with every agitation, the process was made easier. This was just to facilitate the Marathas (for reservation)," the petitioner's advocate Ashish Mishra claimed. The petition said that in 2021, the Supreme Court declared the Maharashtra

Shiv Sena MLA Anil Babar passes away; CM Shinde expresses condolence

Shiv Sena MLA Anil Babar has passed away, Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde said on Wednesday. He was 74. Babar was the legislator from Khanapur in Maharashtra's Sangli district. Shinde said with Babar's demise, he has lost a guide and a close associate and the state has lost a senior representative of the people. His cremation will take place with full state honours, the CM said.

NTPC arm, Maharashtra govt ink pact to develop green hydrogen projects

NTPC Green Energy Ltd (NGEL) on Tuesday said it has signed an MoU with the Maharashtra government to develop green hydrogen projects and its derivatives in Maharashtra. The memorandum of understanding (MoU) has been signed as a part of Green Investment Plan of the state government in the next five years and envisages a potential investment of Rs 80,000 crore, NGEL said in a statement. "NGEL has signed an MoU with Government of Maharashtra for development of green hydrogen and derivatives (green ammonia, green methanol) of up to 1 million tonne capacity per annum, including pump hydro projects of 2 GW and development of RE projects with or without storage up to 5 GW in the state," it said. The MoU was exchanged between Mohit Bhargava, Chief Executive Officer, NGEL and Narayan Karad, Deputy Secretary (Energy), Maharashtra government in the presence of state chief minister, deputy CM and other senior officials in Mumbai on Monday, the company said. NGEL is a wholly-owned subsidiary of

Maharashtra govt signs MOUs with 7 companies for green hydrogen production

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde signed Green Hydrogen Policy MoUs with seven companies. A move that has now made Maharashtra the first state to promote green hydrogen, he said.Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde said, "Green Hydrogen Policy- MoUs have been signed with seven companies. This is a big achievement. Ours is the first state to promote Green Hydrogen. In this investment worth Rs 2.76 lakh crore is being made. Seven big companies are working on it. It is a flexible & liberal policy. 60,000-70,000 people will get employment through it."He further said that this was the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi."This is a huge step by the state government. Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis has also attended several meetings. ArcelorMittal and Nippon has today signed MOUs worth an investment of 40,000 crores today. More than 20,000 people will get jobs. Maharashtra is industrial-friendly state. When I went to Davos, MOUs worth 3.53 lakh crores were signed," the CM said.He further

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 activist Jarange calls off his protest over reservation issue

Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange on Saturday said he has called off his protest over the reservation issue, saying the Maharashtra government has accepted all the demands. He expressed satisfaction that the government has issued a notification to issue Kunbi caste certificates to all relatives of the Marathas whose records (linked to Kunbi caste) have been found. He made the announcement at Vashi in neighbouring Navi Mumbai, where he camped overnight with thousands of supporters after reaching the place on Friday morning. Chief Minister Eknath Shinde is set to meet Jarange. Both of them are likely to address the people present there. Jarange on Friday made a fresh demand that the government amend its free education policy to include all Marathas until the benefit of reservation becomes available for the entire community. He has sought data of the 37 lakh Kunbi certificates issued by the state government. Kunbi, an agrarian community, falls in the Other Backward Classes (OBC) .

Maharashtra CM Shinde to meet Maratha quota activist Jarange today

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde will meet Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange on Saturday at Vashi in neighbouring Navi Mumbai, where the latter has been camping with thousands of protesters over the demand for reservation to his community, officials said. CM Shinde's meeting with Jarange assumes significance after the state government on Friday night came out with a draft ordinance regarding the reservation demands of Marathas. The government came out with the ordinance as per Jarange's demand, and a team of government officials visited him last night at the camp site. During his speech on Friday, Jarange had warned that he and his supporters would enter Mumbai on Saturday for their planned protest at Azad Maidan ground if their demands were not met by Friday night. He also made a fresh demand that the government amend its free education policy to include all Marathas until the benefit of reservation becomes available for the entire community. He has sought data of the

R-Day parade: 1500 dancers performed folk dances at Kartavya Path

A group consisting of 1500 dancers delivered a powerful message of unity in diversity through their mesmerizing acts