News Analysis India

Tag: Ajit Pawar

  • Maharashtra government doing everything possible to grant quota to Marathas: Deputy CM Ajit Pawar

    By PTI
    PUNE: The Maharashtra government is making “all possible efforts” to grant reservation to Marathas, which was struck down by the Supreme Court, without disturbing the existing quotas of other communities, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar said on Sunday.

    Pawar’s comments came two days after a committee headed by high court judge justice Dilip Bhosale (retired) recommended in its report that the Maharashtra government file a review petition against the apex court’s decision.

    Pawar was speaking to reporters at the Pune Zilla Parishad office on the sidelines of “Shiv Swarajya Din” to mark the anniversary of the coronation of Shivaji Maharaj as “Chhatrapati” in 1674.

    The Maharashtra government has decided to celebrate the coronation day as “Shiv Swarajya Din” by installing ‘gudis’- a colourful silk scarf-like cloth tied at the top of a long bamboo- atop the offices of local bodies, schools, colleges, and houses in the state.

    “We, under the leadership of Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, are making all possible efforts to grant reservation to the Maratha community which was struck down by the Supreme Court,” Pawar said.

    He said the apex court had raised questions about the MC Gaikwad Commission’s report, which was the basis for the Maratha quota, but some people are still trying to incite the feelings of people.

    Pawar was replying to a question about former MLC Narendra Patil’s statement that a “true Maratha” like him will not remain silent, and if needed, he will strap a bomb to his body and detonate it for the quota cause.

    The Supreme Court had last month struck down the Maharashtra law granting quota to Marathas in admissions and government jobs, terming it “unconstitutional”, and held there were no exceptional circumstances to breach the 50 per cent reservation cap set by the 1992 Mandal verdict.

    A five-judge constitution bench headed by Justice Ashok Bhushan concurred on three major issues, framed during the hearing, and said the MC Gaikwad commission report which was the basis for the Maratha quota did not highlight any exceptional circumstances for grant of reservation to Marathas.

    “On this occasion, I would like to assure the people, especially those from the Maratha community, that the MVA government is making efforts to ensure that Marathas get reservation without disturbing quotas of other communities,” said Pawar.

    He said a delegation led by Chief minister Uddhav Thackeray met Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari on the Maratha quota issue.

    When asked about senior BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis’ statement that forming a government with Ajit Pawar was a mistake, the senior NCP leader said, “14 months have passed after that episode and we are now moving ahead”.

    Former Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on Friday described his teaming up with Ajit Pawar to form a short-lived 80-hour government in the state in 2019 as a mistake, adding he does not regret it.

    On November 23, 2019, amid hectic parleys between the Shiv Sena, NCP and Congress to form a non-BJP government in the state after the polls threw up a hung Assembly, Fadnavis and Pawar were sworn in at dawn in a ceremony at Raj Bhavan.

    Queried about Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut’s statement that if his party strikes an alliance with the NCP for the Pune civic polls, the Sena will contest at least 80 (out of total 162) seats, Pawar said everybody expresses his opinion to expand the base of the party he belongs to.

    Meanwhile, Pawar said it was his personal view that there should be a two-member ward system for civic polls.

    “There will be a ‘one member-one ward’ system in Mumbai (for 2022 civic polls). However, for other civic bodies, members of the Maha Vikas Aghadi will hold discussions. My personal view is that there should be a two- member ward,” he said.

    The NCP leader said a decision on the ward system will be taken after consulting the alliance partners- the Shiv Sena and the Congress.

  • We don’t even have stock for people aged 45 and above: Maharashtra Dy CM Ajit Pawar on COVID vaccine

    By ANI
    MUMBAI: Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar has said that the state had planned a big COVID-19 vaccination event for Saturday but has only received 3 lakh doses out of which 20,000 doses have been given to Pune district, adding that the state government does not even have the stock to vaccinate people aged 45 and above.

    Speaking to reporters, Pawar said, “We had planned a big event for today but we received only 3 lakh doses for today. Out of that 20,000 have been given to Pune district. Today, we don’t have vaccine stock to vaccinate people aged 45 and above hence vaccination centres in Pune district were closed.”

    The third phase of the vaccination drive for those in the 18-44 age bracket started from Saturday in the country despite some of the states flagging the shortage of vaccines and expressing their inability to start vaccination of people aged above 18 years.

    Pawar further said, “We had taken a decision in a cabinet meeting that people aged 18 to 44 years will start getting vaccinated from May 1. 5.71 crore people are there in this age category in Maharashtra and we have to vaccinate around 12 crore people. 6.5 crore vaccine doses were supposed to be purchased and we had approved that purchase. The state finance department is ready to clear the payment in one go.”

    He said that Serum Institute of India (SII) CEO Adar Poonawalla had told Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray that it was difficult for them to provide vaccines in such large amount, adding that to procure sufficient vaccine doses, the state government has also done bookings with Bharat Biotech.

    “Adar Poonawala told the CM that it is difficult to give the vaccines in large stock. We have done booking with Bharat Biotech as well. We are trying to conduct the vaccination as early as possible. We are also trying to get the central government’s permission for importing vaccines from other countries. The first lot of vaccines from Russia will be received today but its price is not yet clear,” said the Deputy CM.

    Responding to the state government’s action on fire incidents in hospitals, Pawar said, “Fire audit of the hospitals was ordered. Most of the government hospital’s audit had been completed as well, some are remaining and they too shall be covered soon. For private hospitals also an inspection has been ordered which will start very soon.”

    Further responding to a question on extended restrictions in Maharashtra amid rising cases, Pawar said, “Not only Maharashtra but many other states have imposed or extended lockdown.”

    The state government had on Friday extended the ongoing restrictions till May 15. The restrictions imposed to curb the infections were initially in place till May 1. Maharashtra recorded 66,159 new COVID-19 cases on Friday and the state currently has 6,64,683 active cases.

  • NCP supremo Sharad Pawar to be discharged from hospital in two days: Maharashtra Dy CM

    By PTI
    MUMBAI: NCP chief Sharad Pawar, who underwent gall bladder surgery at a hospital here on Monday, will be discharged in the next two days, his nephew and Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar said on Tuesday.

    Ajit Pawar and his wife met the Pawar senior at the Breach Candy hospital.

    “Sharad Pawarji is recuperating after the surgery. He will be discharged in the next two days,” he told reporters outside the hospital.

    On Monday, a laparoscopy surgery was conducted successfully on the gall bladder of Pawar, 80, NCP leader and state minister Nawab Malik had said.

    Laparoscopy is a minimally invasive surgical procedure.

    Earlier, the NCP president had undergone an emergency endoscopy for the removal of a stone from his bile duct at the hospital on March 30.

  • Security threat to Ambanis: Ajit Pawar refutes charges made against him by Waze; CBI seeks access to case papers

    By PTI
    PUNE: Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar on Thursday said the allegations made by suspended police officer Sachin Waze against him in a letter were completely false and he had neither met the cop nor spoken to him ever.

    Pawar called for an inquiry into the allegations to make things crystal clear.

    His remarks come a day after Waze claimed in his letter that he was approached by one Darshan Ghodawat, who introduced himself as a “very close circle person” of junior Pawar, and insisted him (Waze) to collect a monthly amount of Rs 100 crore from illegal gutka sellers.

    “I laughed when I saw my name in the letter. I never met him (Waze), nor I have spoken to him ever. Everyone knows my strict working style. So conduct an inquiry,” Pawar told reporters.

    “Let there be an inquiry and there will be ‘doodh ka dhoodh, pani ka pani’ (things will become crystal clear),” he said, adding that the allegations made in the letter were completely false.

    He was speaking on the sidelines of campaigning for the upcoming bypoll for the Pandharpur-Mangalvedha assembly constituency.

    Waze, who was reinstated in the police force last year, made the sensational claim in a letter which he tried to submit before a special NIA court in Mumbai on Wednesday.

    However, special judge PR Sitre refused to take his letter on record.

    Waze, an accused in the case of an explosives-laden car found near industrialist Mukesh Ambani’s residence in south Mumbai and the death of businessman Mansukh Hiran, is currently in the National Investigation Agency’s custody.

    Pawar added that an attempt to destabilise the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government was on.

    “For the last three days, it has been going on that another wicket will fall (another minister will resign). I do not understand how these people can know such things in advance,” he said.

    When asked about the blame game that is going on between Centre and the state over the supply of COVID-19 vaccines, Pawar said the state is not getting enough number of vaccines.

    “In haste, the Centre sent vaccines to other countries. I can understand that the neighbourly relations need to be maintained with other countries, but at the same time, the Centre should fulfil the states’ requirement,” he said.

    Meanwhile, the CBI on Thursday approached a special NIA court here seeking access to papers of the case related to bomb scare at Mukesh Ambani’s house for its preliminary enquiry into allegations of corruption against former Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh.

    The CBI’s latest plea came a day after special NIA judge PR Sitre allowed the central agency’s application to question Waze.

    Waze (49) was arrested on March 13 for his alleged role in the case of an explosives-laden SUV found near industrialist Mukesh Ambanis house, ‘Antilia’, in south Mumbai on February 25 and the subsequent death of Thane-based businessman Mansukh Hiran.

    The CBI claimed documents related to the explosives case will aid it in questioning Waze.

    The special court kept the matter for hearing on Friday.

    Following an order of the Bombay High Court, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) late Tuesday night registered a preliminary enquiry (PE) to probe corruption allegations levelled by former Mumbai police chief Param Bir Singh against Deshmukh.

    Singh was shifted from the post of Mumbai police commissioner to the Home Guards department on March 17.

    The IPS officer later filed a petition in the HC seeking a CBI probe against Deshmukh, alleging the NCP leader had asked Waze and other police officers to extort Rs 100 crore from restaurants and bars.

    Deshmukh, who has rejected allegations levelled against him, resigned from the cabinet on April 5 after the HC order.

  • Ajit Pawar addresses rally amid lockdown, BJP says COVID norms violated

    By PTI
    PUNE: Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar on Thursday addressed a large meeting in Pandharpur in Solapur district of Maharashtra ahead of an assembly by- poll there, with the opposition BJP alleging that COVID-19 norms were flouted during it.

    Pawar addressed the indoor gathering while campaigning for Bhagirath Bhalke, who has been fielded by the NCP in the bypolls to the Pandharpur-Mangalvedha assembly constituency.

    BJP’s state unit president Chandrakant Patil criticised Pawar and dared Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray to take action against him for the alleged violation of norms.

    “Pawar saheb (NCP chief Sharad Pawar) through Facebook live, appealed people to cooperated (in the fight against COVID-19). We are also cooperating. Now take action against Ajit Pawar. Can CM take action?” asked Patil.

    When contacted, additional superintendent of police Atul Zendesaid that the officials of the Election Commission have taken cognizance of the alleged violation.

    Gajanan Gurav, sub-divisional officer and returning officer for the by-poll, said that thefootages of the meeting will be verified and if there are violations, an offence will be registered.

    While addressing the gathering, someone in the audience passed a chit to Pawar, asking him to remove the mask while speaking but Pawar rebuked him.

    “Someone is asking me to remove the mask and speak as speech is unclear due to mask. But I will not remove it because i have been telling people to wear mask. and this over-smart person is asking me to remove the mask,” Pawar said while showing the chit during the address.

  • Despite curfew, Pandharpur bypoll to be held as per schedule: Maharashtra Deputy CM

    By PTI
    PUNE: Even as the Maharashtra government on Sunday announced a weekend lockdown and other restrictions to curb the surge in COVID-19 cases, the by-election to Pandharpur-Mangalvedha Assembly constituency will be held as per its schedule later this month, state Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar said.

    The bypoll, necessitated by NCP MLA Bharat Bhalke’s death last year, is scheduled to be held on April 17, which is a Saturday.

    On Sunday evening, the state government said that lockdown will come into effect from 8 pm on Friday to 7 am on Monday.

    Apart from that, strict restrictions will be in place from Monday 8 pm onwards.

    Talking to reporters here, Pawar said after the state cabinet meeting, “As COVID-19 cases are rising in Maharashtra, the state government has decided to impose strict restrictions. I know that people don’t like curfew. But we have to take hard decisions to stop the spread of the virus.”

    “The elections conducted by the state government authorities can be deferred. But the Pandharpur by-election schedule was announced by the Election Commission earlier. So it will be held as per its schedule,” he added.

  • Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar takes stock of Fashion Street fire in Pune

    By PTI
    PUNE: Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar on Monday interacted with traders at Fashion Street market in Camp area whose shops were gutted in a massive fire on Friday night.

    Pawar, accompanied by district collector Rajesh Deshmukh, visited the spot of the incident and took stock of the situation.

    “During his visit, Pawar interacted with traders who had stalls at the fashion street market,” Deshmukh said.

    Pawar, who is Guardian Minister of Pune district, also directed the collector to coordinate with the Pune Cantonment Board.

    “I will soon hold a meeting with PCB officials,” said Deshmukh.

    Around 500 shops were gutted in the massive fire that erupted around 11 pm on Friday.

    Nobody was injured in the incident.

  • Lockdown possible in Pune if situation remains same even after one week, Ajit Pawar hints

    By PTI
    PUNE: “Stringent decisions” would be taken if the COVID-19 situation in Pune district did not improve in one week, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar warned on Friday, hinting that fresh lockdown can be imposed.

    Pawar, who is guardian minister for Pune, told reporters the situation was becoming serious.

    “If the situation (in terms of rise in cases) remains the same, we will have to take more stringent decisions in the district by the first week of April,” he said.

    Asked why no fresh restrictions have been imposed yet though cases are increasing, Pawar said the previous experiences was that people complain about not getting enough notice before restrictions come into effect.

    “Suppose if we announce lockdown from today, many people would not be able to get food in the evening. By giving time, people will at least get some time to store groceries and vegetables. We want to make people mentally ready,” he said.

    The government also has to think of the poor who live from hand to mouth, Pawar said.

    If COVID-19 rules are not followed by people, the administration will have to take some strict decision by April 2, he warned.

    “For example, we have not imposed any new restrictions on hotels and restaurants. They are allowed to operate till 10 pm with 50 per cent capacity. But if the situation remains the same, we will have no option but to close hotels and only parcel service will be allowed,” he said.

    Pune Mayor Murlidhar Mohol who attended the review meeting held by Pawar, said some decision about lockdown can be taken if the things did not improve.

    Pawar also said that maximum 50 persons will be permitted at weddings and 20 persons at funerals.

    Social and political events have been banned.

    In view of the surge in infections, the state government has decided to take control of 50 per cent of beds in privatehospitals, he said.

    “We have already started a jumbo hospital in Pune and a jumbo facility in Pimpri Chinchwad will be operational fromApril,” said the deputy chief minister.

    The number of beds at the Sassoon General Hospital has been increased to 500, he said, adding that an officer has been appointed to ensure that oxygen supply in hospitals remains uninterrupted.

    “We are in talks with an oxygen plant in Raigad district in case we need additional supply,” he said.

    There are also plans to double the number of vaccination centres in the district, he said.

    “We had a discussion with Union Minister Prakash Javadekar and we have sought additional vaccine doses for thedistrict. He has agreed to look into the issue,” Pawar said.

  • Will meet Governor once he returns, says Maharashtra Dy CM Ajit Pawar

    By ANI
    MUMBAI: Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar on Thursday said he, along with a delegation of the state government, will meet Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari to inform him of the recent transfers in the state police department and phone tapping case.

    “Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray had asked for time from the Governor to meet him today but the Governor is out of the station. We will meet him whenever he is available,” Pawar said.

    “Yesterday, the Chief Minister ordered chief secretary Sitaram Kunte (then ACS Home department) to file a detail report by today afternoon on the phone tapping issue,” he added.

    Pawar also slammed the Opposition for trying to de-stabilise the government in the state.

    “From day one, the Opposition wanted our government to fall but we are in the full majority,” he added.

    On Tuesday, the Republican Party of India (RPI) delegation, led by former Maharashtra minister Avinash Mahatekar, met the Governor and requested him to recommend for President’s Rule in the state due to failure of law and order situation.

    On March 20, Devendra Fadnavis had demanded State Home Minister Anil Deshmukh’s resignation over former Maharashtra Police Commissioner Param Bir Singh’s allegations against Deshmukh. 

  • COVID-19 violation at event attended by Ajit Pawar, NCP man booked

    By PTI
    PUNE: An NCP functionary was booked for alleged COVID-19 violations while organising a political event in Solapur, which was attended by Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, police said on Monday.

    The event was held in Pandharpur on Sunday, and despite permission for just 50 attendees, the crowd for the event was much larger, an official said.

    A case was registered against Sandip Mandave, president of NCP’s Pandharpur-Mangalvedha Assembly seat, under section 188 of IPC, he added.

    The event was organised as Pandharpur is set to witness a bypoll after MLA Bharat Balke died in November last year.