News Analysis India

Tag: Ajit Pawar

  • Maharashtra government to import coal to tide over load shedding crisis: Deputy CM Ajit Pawar​

    By PTI

    PUNE: Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar on Friday said that in order to tide over the current load shedding crisis in the state, the government has decided to import coal to some extent from outside the country for power generation.

    He also said that efforts were on to get one coal mine in Chhattisgarh allocated to the power department in Maharashtra.

    Speaking to reporters here, Pawar said the supply of coal was not being done in the country the way it should be.

    “Load shedding is going on in the state. A meeting was held on this issue by Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray. I will take a review of the power department every week on the issue of load shedding and the cabinet has given its approval to check whether there is any availability of power in the country,” he said.

    Efforts are being made to do away with load shedding and to ensure smooth power supply in the state, the senior NCP leader said.

    “Coal supply to several states is insufficient. Maharashtra is also not getting enough supply and that is why we have taken a decision to import coal to some extent from outside the country. Besides that, efforts are being made to get one coal mine allocated for Maharashtra State Power Generation Company Limited (Mahagenco)…Energy Minister Nitin Raut is working on it,” Pawar added.

    Congress president Sonia Gandhi has also asked the Chattishgarh government which is of a similar ideology, to allocate one coal mine to Maharashtra, he said.

    Replying to a question whether the BJP-led Centre was indulging in vendetta politics by not providing coal to Maharashtra, Pawar said the supply of coal to various states was not happening the way it should be done.

    “There are issues of railway wagons. Today, railway wagons are needed to transport coal, sugar, wheat and other essential commodities, which need to be taken to the ports. I do not want to bring any politics into it. I do not want to make that kind of allegation, but it is a fact that there is a shortage of coal,” the deputy chief minister said.

    Last week, minister Nitin Raut had said that load shedding in the state was a result of increase in electricity demand relaxation of the COVID-19 curbs, and blamed the Centre for poor management of coal supply.

  • Police dept failed to get information about MSRTC workers’ protest outside NCP chief’s house: Ajit 

    The protest came a day after the Bombay High Court asked the workers to resume duty by April 22.

  • Sugar mills sold as per court orders during Congress-NCP rule in Maharashtra: Ajit Pawar

    By PTI

    MUMBAI: Refuting the allegations of Opposition that the erstwhile NCP-Congress government in Maharashtra had sold sugar mills at undervalued rates, deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar on Thursday claimed in the Legislative Council that their auctions were carried out as per court orders and there were no irregularities in the entire process.

    Pawar, who also holds the finance portfolio, countered the allegations in this regard levelled by Leader of Opposition in the Council Pravin Darekar of the BJP on Wednesday.

    “The earlier state government auctioned sugar mills after court orders. Jarandeshwar sugar mill was sold for Rs 65 crore when its actual valuation was Rs 39 crore. The state even refused to stand as a guarantor as it wanted the mills to sustain on their own. Multiple people tried to revive the mill but they could not do so,” he said.

    The NCP-Congress coalition was in power in the state from 1999 to 2014.

    “When Harshwardhan Patil was the cooperation minister, a factory was sold for Rs 3 crore and a mill in Barshiv was sold for Rs 28 crore, but no one is talking about them,” taunted Pawar.

    Patil was a senior Congress leader who joined the BJP in 2019.

  • Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar takes dig at Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari in presence of PM Narendra Modi

    PUNE: Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar on Sunday took an indirect dig at Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Pune, saying some people holding high posts were making unnecessary comments and this was not acceptable to the people of the state.

    NCP leader Ajit Pawar made the comments, apparently aimed at Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari, at Pune’s MIT College ground, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the governor were present during the inauguration of various development projects.

    Maha Vikas Aghadi in Maharashtra as well as the BJP recently objected to Governor Koshyari’s remark that Samarth Ramdas was the guru of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and without Ramdas, Shivaji Maharaj would not be anything.

    Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshari’s laughing gesture and remarks about Mahatma Phule and Savitri Bhai Phule’s marriage age did not go well with the masses.

    On Sunday, before PM Modi’s public address, Mr Pawar said, “I want to bring one thing to the prime minister’s notice. Of late, some people holding important positions are making unnecessary comments which are not acceptable to Maharashtra and its citizens.”

    “Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and his mother Rajmata Jijau formed Swarajya. Mahatma Jyotiba Phule and Krantijyoti Savitribai Phule (both social reformers from Maharashtra) laid the foundation for women’s education. We need to carry forward their legacy without holding grudges against anyone and without bringing politics into the development works,” said Ajit Pawar.

    NCP Lok Sabha MP Dr Amol Kohle said that it was necessary to speak out against the people who are insulting Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and Mahatma and Savitri Bhai Phule.

    Referring to Ajit Pawar’s comment in presence of PM Narendra Modi, Kohle said that the Ajit Dada can only do this. On social media, Ajit Pawar’s boldness was lauded for speaking against the Governor in front of PM Narendra Modi.

    Maha Vikas Aghadi workers are protesting against the Bhagat Singh Koshyari’s statement across Maharashtra and demanding an apology for insulting national icons.

    However, Governor clarified that he in his school days read history where Samarth Ramdas was Shivaji Guru, however, experts have brought new historical references that he will check out.

    Leader of Opposition and BJP MLA Devendra Fadnavis said that this is very unfortunate that Maha Vikas Aghadi is targeting Governor.

    Pravind Darekar, BJP MLC and Leader of Opposition, state council said that Ajit Pawar set a good precedent by participating in the development program arranged by the BJP ruled Pune Municipal Corporation but his statement against Maharashtra governor is not acceptable.

  • Unnecessary comments made by some people holding high posts, says Ajit Pawar in presence of PM Modi, Maha Guv

    By PTI

    PUNE: Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar on Sunday said some people holding high posts were making unnecessary comments and this was not acceptable to the people of the state.

    NCP leader Pawar made the comments, apparently aimed at Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari, at Pune’s MIT College ground, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the governor were present during the inauguration of various development projects.

    Notably, some leaders of the ruling Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA-comprising the Shiv Sena, NCP and Congress) in Maharashtra as well as the BJP recently objected to Governor Koshyari’s remark that Samarth Ramdas was the guru of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.

    On Sunday, before Modi’s public address, Pawar said, “I want to bring one thing to the prime minister’s notice. Of late, some people holding important positions are making unnecessary comments which are not acceptable to Maharashtra and its citizens.

    Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and his mother Rajmata Jijau formed Swarajya. Mahatma Jyotiba Phule and Krantijyoti Savitribai Phule (both social reformers from Maharashtra) laid the foundation for women’s education. We need to carry forward their legacy without holding grudges against anyone and without bringing politics into the development works,” the NCP leader said.

    Koshyari, during a programme in Aurangabad last Sunday, underlined the role of the guru (teacher) while citing the examples of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and Chandragupta Maurya.

    “Many chakravartis (emperors), maharajas took birth on this land. But, who would have asked about Chandragupta had there not been Chanakya? Who would have asked about Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj had there not been Samarth (Ramdas),” he said.

    “I am not questioning the calibre of Chandragupta and Shivaji Maharaj.

    Like a mother who plays a key role in shaping her child, similarly, the role of guru (teacher) has a big place in our society,” the governor had said.

    In the past, the MVA government and Koshyari have been engaged in a war of words over various issues.

  • NCP ministers meet after Malik’s arrest; Pawar to call on Maharashtra CM

    By PTI

    MUMBAI: Some NCP ministers in Maharashtra met at the residence of party president Sharad Pawar here on Wednesday evening to discuss the situation arising out of the arrest of their cabinet and party colleague Nawab Malik by the ED in connection with a money laundering case.

    Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, ministers Chhagan Bhujbal, Hasan Mushrif and Rajesh Tope were present at Sharad Pawar’s residence ‘Silver Oak’ in South Mumbai for the meeting, party sources said.

    “The meeting was called to discuss the current situation that has arisen post Malik’s arrest and the party’s future course of action,” the sources said.

    They said Malik’s portfolios could be shared with his party colleagues in the cabinet in case he resigns.

    Malik, a senior NCP leader, holds the skill development portfolio besides the minority affairs department in the Uddhav Thackeray-led Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government.

    The NCP president is likely to meet chief minister Uddhav Thackeray at the latter’s official residence ‘Varsha’ in south Mumbai later in the evening in the wake of the sudden development.

    Meanwhile, senior Congress leaders and MVA Ministers Balasaheb Thorat and Ashok Chavan called on Sharad Pawar and discussed the fallout of Malik’s arrest.

    Another Congress minister Sunil Kedar also joined the meeting.

    The NCP and the Congress are constituents of the Shiv Sena-led MVA government.

    Criticism continued to pour in from NCP leaders over Malik’s arrest.

    Maharashtra NCP president and minister Jayant Patil said the state never saw such political vendetta in the past and claimed efforts were being made to pull down the MVA government.

    Speaking during the party’s on-going mass outreach programme in Solapur in western Maharashtra, Patil said Malik has been arrested “without any reason”.

    “People are seeing such politics right now, but they will express their opinion at the right time,” Patil said.

    Without naming anyone, the NCP leader alleged “some people” want to topple the MVA government “anyhow”.

    “Arrests are being made for no reason with the help of central agencies. This is not right,” Patil added.

    The state water resources minister alleged he, too, was pressurised to join the BJP in 2019, but he resisted pressures and didn’t leave the NCP.

  • Schools, colleges in Pune to reopen from February 1: Maharashtra deputy CM Ajit Pawar

    By PTI

    PUNE: Schools and colleges in Maharashtra’s Pune will reopen for physical classes from February 1, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar said on Saturday.

    Speaking to reporters after attending a meeting to review the COVID-19 situation, Pawar said school timings for Classes 1 to 8 will be for half day so that the lunch hour gets excluded and students eat their meals at home. “The final decision to send children to schools and colleges will be on the parents. But the administration will reopen schools,” said Pawar, who is also the guardian minister of the district.

    Colleges and schools for Classes 9 and up will be full-time, while schools for Classes 1 to 8 will be for half day so that lunch time gets excluded and students won’t have to take off their masks to eat, he said.

    Talking about COVID-19 vaccination for children in the 15-18 age group, the minister said, “College students should get both doses of vaccines. We plan to have mobile vans and make other arrangements so that vaccines can be administered in schools and colleges.”

    At least 86 per cent of eligible children have taken the vaccine in the rural areas, while in Pune city and Pimpri Chinchwad, the number is less, he said. The number of infections has come down in Pune in the last three days, Pawar said, refuting rumours about relaxation in mask rule.

    Pune on Friday recorded 7,166 new COVID-19 cases and 12 casualties that raised the tally of infections to 13,88,687 and toll to 19,429. The district currently has 2,261 active cases.

  • India records 22,775 fresh Covid-19 cases and 406 deaths, up from Friday’s 220

    By Online Desk

    CHENNAI: India on Saturday recorded 22,775 new Covid-19 cases and 406 deaths, up from Friday’s 220,  in the last 24 hours. Mumbai reported 6,347 cases, Delhi, 2,716, and Kolkata, 810.

    Maharashtra has recorded the highest number of Omicron variant cases with 454, followed by Delhi with 351 cases, Tamil Nadu with 118 cases, Gujarat with, 115 and Kerala, 109.

    According to the latest data available, Maharashtra leads in fatalities with 1.42 lakh people succumbing to the virus which was followed by Kerala with 47,794 deaths.

    A report quoting Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar said that as many as 10 ministers and over 20 MLAs have tested positive for COVID-19 in Maharashtra.

    According to a report, Maharashtra’s additional chief secretary (health) Dr Pradeep Vyas has recently predicted that Maharashtra may report a total of two lakh active COVID-19 cases by the third week of January. “Based on the current trend of rising Covid cases in the state, it is expected that we will have about two lakh active cases by the third week of January 2022,” he told ANI.

    Dr Vyas said the narrative that Omicron is mild and not fatal might be misleading. “It’s equally fatal for those who are not vaccinated and have comorbidities,” he said.

    IIT-Kanpur professor Manindra Agrawal, according to The Hindustan Times, has said the peak will be in early March with around 1.8 lakh cases per day. One in 10 cases will require hospitalisation, he said. Another IIT-Kanpur study Statistical Forecasting : Third Wave of COVID-19-With an Application to India said India’s third wave of Covid-19 was about to start around mid-December, 2021 and the peak will be at the beginning of February 2022, the report noted.

    Meanwhile, the Centre has advised all states and Union territories to initiate the process of setting up makeshift hospitals and to constitute special teams to monitor patients in home isolation in the wake of a surge in cases.

  • If COVID-19 cases keep rising there will be strict restrictions: Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar

    By PTI

    PUNE: More than ten ministers and at least 20 MLAs in Maharashtra have tested positive for coronavirus so far, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar said on Saturday and added that strict restrictions might be clamped if the new COVID-19 cases continue to rise in the state.

    Pawar’s warning came a day after Maharashtra reported 8,067 fresh coronavirus positive cases, as much as 50 per cent more than Thursday.

    “We cut short the Assembly session recently. So far, over 10 ministers and over 20 MLAs have tested positive for coronavirus. Everybody wants to be part of the celebrations of New Year, birthdays and other occasions. Keep in mind that the new variant (Omicron) spreads fast and hence caution is needed.  PM Narendra Modi has appealed and some states have announced a night curfew. In Maharashtra, cases are increasing in Mumbai and Pune,” he told reporters after visiting the Jaystambh military monument in Perne village on the occasion of the 204th anniversary of the Battle of Koregaon Bhima.

    Queried on the possibility of imposition of more curbs, Pawar said the state government is keeping a tab on the increasing number of patients.

    “If the number of patients continues to rise then there will be strict restrictions. To avoid strict restriction everybody should follow norms,” he said.

    Maharashtra has seen a sharp rise in new daily coronavirus cases in the last 12 days of 2021.

    The state government, in fresh guidelines issued on Thursday night, capped the attendance at gatherings in open or closed spaces at 50.

    Mumbai on Friday reported 5,631 new COVID-19 cases, almost 2,000 more than Thursday, which took the caseload in the city on the last day of the year to 7,85,110, a civic official had said.

    This was a rise of 53 per cent over 3,671 cases recorded on Thursday.

    The COVID-19 positivity rate in Pune city touched 5.9 per cent on Friday after 412 cases were detected, raising the tally within civic limits to 5,10,218, as per officials.

    Pawar said the government recently told the state legislature that land may be acquired for the redevelopment of the monument (Jaystambh) for the convenience of lakhs of people who visit the spot every year to pay tributes on the anniversary of the Koregaon Bhima battle.

    He said a committee has been formed to take further action.

    When asked about the Maharashtra government denying permission for organising a bullock cart race and former MP Shivaji Adhalrao Patil announcing to go ahead with the event, Pawar said, “After the meeting (of the COVID-19 task force), chief minister Uddhav Thackeray directed the state chief secretary to issue orders to all collectors to avoid public gatherings to (stop) another wave of the pandemic.

    Based on this, the permission might have been denied in the larger interest.

    Not only Shivaji Adhalrao Patil but those who want to hold the bullock cart race should also consider the looming threat (of the third COVID-19 wave)”.

  • Mumbai Diary: All that is happening in the country’s financial capital

    Express News Service

    ‘Secret ops’ reason for I-T raids on Ajit Pawar’s sister

    The Income Tax department’s search at the residence of Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar’s sister has taken the state’s political circles by surprise. It was unexpected that the I-T sleuths would raid Ajit Pawar’s family members. A major political reason attributed to the development is the move by 20 BJP MLAs to jump ship to the NCP.

    The deputy CM has been handling this highly confidential political operation which has sent alarms across the BJP state camp. The I-T raid comes as a message to Pawar that if he dares to welcome BJP MLAs, he and his family members will have to face the music.

    Sonia Gandhi to meet party’s state general secretary Rajesh Sharma on plaint against minister

    Congress national president Sonia Gandhi will soon meet party state general secretary Rajesh Sharma to discuss his complaint against Maharashtra School Education Minister Varsha Gaikwad after he raised questions over the latter’s conduct.

    Earlier, Sharma had written to Sonia Gandhi stating that Gaikwad had not been effective in ensuring the education of poor students. The minister’s move in okaying the acquisition of two colleges by private players has been flagged by the general secretary.

    Sharma had said that he met several Congress leaders and ministers but none bat an eye. Following this,  he addressed the complaint against Varsha Gaikwad to the party national president. Now, she has agreed to meet the general secretary in Delhi. 

    Aaditya Thackeray receives climate action award 

    Maharashtra environment minister Aaditya Thackeray has received the Inspiring Regional Leadership Award from Under2 Coalition for Climate Action – a global network of states and provinces on climate action – on the sidelines of COP26 in Glasgow, the UK, on Sunday.

    However, another controversy is brewing over a few bureaucrats without the Centre’s approval having travelled to Glasgow as part of the state delegation. These officials include Ashish Singh, who is personal assistant to Maharashtra chief minister, and his wife Valsa Nair Singh.  

    Youth Congress president, Mumbai unit chief tussle deepens further

    Infighting within the Congress is not new. The tussle between Mumbai Congress president Bhai Jagtap with Youth Congress president and MLA Zeeshan Siddique has hit a new low with the former directing derogatory comments against the latter.

    They literally fought during a Congress rally in Mumbai. Siddiqui was not happy with Bhai Jagtap because Jagtap spent his MLC fund in Siddiqui’s constituency. It was said that it was a deliberate attempt by Jagtap to interfere in the affairs of Siddiqui’s constituency and make him look bad.