News Analysis India

Tag: Ajit Pawar

  • Serum Institute fire: Short circuit cause of mishap, confirms Maharashtra Dy CM Ajit Pawar

    By PTI
    PUNE: Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar on Friday said the fire that broke out at the Serum Institute of India (SII) here last month, in which five persons died, was caused due to short circuit.

    Five labourers had died in the fire that broke out in a five-storey building in the SII’s Manjari premises in Pune on January 21.

    However, the Covishield vaccine production was not impacted due to the blaze.

    Pawar, while addressing the media after the annual general meeting of districts under Pune division ahead of the state budget, said he had visited the institute after the fire in the presence of senior officials, including the collector.

    ALSO READ | Serum Institute fire caused damage worth Rs 1,000 crore: CEO Adar Poonawalla

    “The premises where the blaze erupted was empty and work was going on there. It is a private institute and they are carrying out their audit. The government is also investigating. There is no other cause behind the fire other than short circuit,” he said.

    Speaking about the vaccination drive against COVID-19, Pawar said Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan had initially given a statement that the Centre will be providing vaccination to all.

    “He later gave a statement that they will be providing vaccine to three crore people, including paramedical staff and security forces.

    And now, he has again given a statement that 30 crore people will be given the vaccine,” Pawar said.

    “The health minister has been giving different statements, but if you ask the state government’s opinion, every state feels that it is the Centre’s responsibility to provide the vaccine,” he added.

    If all states request the Centre, it will have to accept their demand, he said.

    Meanwhile, Pawar reiterated that Shiv Jayanti or the birth anniversary of Chhatrapati Shivaji should be celebrated in a simple manner in view of the pandemic.

    “Not more than 100 people should gather at one place for the celebrations,” he added.

  • Have faith in EVM, no return of ballot papers in Maharashtra, says Ajit Pawar

    By PTI
    MUMBAI: Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar on Thursday expressed complete faith in electronic voting machines (EVMs) and asserted the state government does not want the use of ballot papers in polls.

    In the past, several non-BJP parties, including the Congress and the NCP, have raised doubts over the reliability of EVMs, claiming they are prone to manipulation.

    Interacting with the media here, Pawar, a senior NCP leader, said EVMs work fine, but they become target of criticism from losing sides in elections.

    Before resigning recently as Maharashtra Assembly speaker, Nana Patole, now state Congress president, had asked the legislature to frame a law to give voters the option of using ballot papers besides EVMs in local governing bodies and Assembly polls.

    Patole, as the speaker, had issued the instruction during a meeting held earlier this month after complaints about alleged EVM tampering in polls.

    When asked about Patole’s instruction, Pawar said, “Each individual can have a different view.

    They think that way and I have said what I feel (about the use of EVMs).

    ” Speaking about the government’s official stand on the issue, Pawar said the MVA dispensation, in which the Shiv Sena and the Congress are the other two constituents, “absolutely does not” want the use of ballot papers.

    The senior NCP leader noted the Congress formed governments in Rajasthan (in 2018) and Punjab (2017) even when EVMs were used in the Assembly polls held in the two states.

    “Everything is fine with people in any party if they get majority. But they start alleging that EVMs were managed if they get routed. EVMs are working fine. Work becomes paperless. What I can say, I have complete faith in EVMs,” Pawar said.

    Asked about media reports of a recent forensic study by a US-based firm which claimed that key evidence was “planted” on computer of an activist arrested in the Elgar Parishad-Maoist links case, Pawar said he does not have information about it.

    The deputy chief minister, however, said the stance of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government is that no innocent person should be troubled in any case.

    Action will be taken against the guilty, if any, as per the law and the Constitution, he said.

    The chief minister and key people in the government will take a decision on whether an SIT needs to be formed to probe into the allegation of evidence planting, Pawar said.

    The deputy chief minister trashed speculation about the BJP and the NCP getting closer after Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s visit to the Konkan region, a Shiv Sena stronghold, on Sunday.

    “There is absolutely no truth in it,” Pawar added.

    “it is a new information that has come to me from the media. We will check if something of that sort has happened. We will take decisions after doing so (examining the information),” Pawar said sarcastically.

    The NCP leader said no one should pay attention to such discussions.

  • Maharashtra Budget may have shortfall of Rs 1 lakh crore: Deputy CM Ajit Pawar

    A shortfall of Rs 1 lakh crore is likely in the forthcoming Budget 2021-22 for Maharashtra, Deputy CM Ajit Pawar said.

  • No truth in report that Congress wants Deputy CM post: Ajit Pawar

    By PTI
    MUMBAI: Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar on Thursday dismissed a news report that claimed the Congress has sought the post he is holding, saying there is no substance in it.

    The NCP leader said the MVA government is implementing decisions taken by the chiefs of the three alliance partners through discussion and consensus.

    According to the media report, the Congress has expressed willingness to cede the Assembly Speakers post to ally Shiv Sena in case incumbent Nana Patole is appointed the MPCC president.

    The report has claimed the Congress has demanded the deputy chief ministers post and some other important portfolios.

    The Shiv Sena, the NCP and the Congress formed the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) in November 2019 under the leadership of Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray.

    As part of the understanding among the three parties, the chief ministers post is with the Shiv Sena.

    The NCP and the Congress got the deputy chief minister and Assembly speakers posts, respectively.

    There is no substance in the news. The MVA came into existence a year ago.

    “Chief Minister Uddhav ji Thackeray, myself, Eknathrao Shinde, Jayant Patil, Balasaheb Thorat, Chhagan Bhujbal and Ashokrao Chavan (all ministers from the ruling parties) are implementing the decisions taken by (Congress president) Sonia Gandhi ji, (NCP chief Sharad) Pawar saheb and Uddhav ji Thackeray sitting together,” Ajit Pawar told reporters here.

    Asked whether the issue of Congress replacing its state unit president will be discussed with the NCP, Ajit Pawar said it is an internal matter of that party and others have no reason to discuss it.

    The Congress is in the process of appointing a new state president after the incumbent Balasaheb Thorat expressed his desire to step down from the organisational post and continue as a minister.

  • Maharashtra security beefed up after explosion outside Israeli Embassy in New Delhi

    By PTI
    MUMBAI: Maharashtra deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar said the security situation in Maharashtra was reviewed in view of the low intensity improvised device blast near the Israeli Embassy in New Delhi on Friday.

    The blast did not cause injuries to anyone, though the panes of three vehicles nearby were damaged, Delhi police said.

    “Reviewed the situation in the state holding discussion with the state’s home minister and director general of police against the backdrop of the blast outside Israeli Embassy. Issued instruction to strengthen the security apparatus in the state along with Mumbai and Pune,” Pawar tweeted.

    ​ALSO READ | Low-intensity explosion near Israel Embassy in Delhi, all airports on high alert

    Deshmukh said instructions were issued to the police to strengthen security arrangements in Mumbai, Pune, Nagpur, Nashik and other big cities of the state.

    “The state government is committed to the security of the people. People too should remain alert and cooperate with the police,” Deshmukh tweeted.

    A Mumbai police official said an alert was issued in the metropolis and security had been beefed up following the blast.

    He said the security of the Israeli consulate here had been increased, with police patrolling intensified.

  • Facing rape charges, Dhananjay Munde to continue as minister in Uddhav Cabinet for now

    By PTI
    MUMBAI: In a relief for Maharashtra Minister Dhananjay Munde, who is facing rape allegation by a woman, his party NCP has decided to let him continue in the cabinet post for now, sources said on Friday.

    According to the sources, the decision was taken considering the complaints of harassment made against the woman by some leaders from the opposition BJP and the MNS.

    Top NCP leaders, including party president Sharad Pawar, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, Water Resources Minister Jayant Patil and senior leader Praful Patel, met here late Thursday night to discuss the issue.

    The meeting was held at Patel’s residence.

    Munde (45), the social justice minister in the Shiv Sena-led MVA government, has refuted the rape charges and dubbed them as blackmail attempt.

    BJP leader Krishna Hegde on Thursday claimed that the Mumbai-based woman had been harassing him for several years.

    An MNS politician, too, has made similar allegations against her.

    Munde had levelled blackmailing charges against the woman.

    Now other party politicians, too, have levelled such charges against the woman concerned.

    The allegation by BJP and MNS leaders somewhere seems to strengthen Mundes claims.

    A police probe is going on in a case relating to Munde.

    “We will need to wait for its conclusion. So, it was decided that Munde will continue in the post for now,” the sources said.

    On Thursday, NCP patriarch Sharad Pawar said that the allegation against Munde was serious and added the party will discuss the issue and decide on it “as soon as possible.

    Pawar told reporters that Munde met him on Wednesday and explained his side of the episode.

    State NCP president Jayant Patil said on Thursday that Munde would not resign just because someone has made allegations, but asserted the issue would be discussed inside the NCP and a decision would be taken based on facts.

    Patil had also said that any conclusion should be reached only based on police probe outcome into the matter.

    The NCP leader had also claimed that the state government was not interfering in the police probe.

    Munde, an NCP leader from Beed district, has denied the rape allegations, claiming he is being blackmailed by the woman and her sister.

    Munde, however, has acknowledged that he was in a relationship with the complainant woman’s sister and has two children with her.

    The BJP has demanded Munde’s resignation.

  • Bhandara fire: Ajit Pawar orders audit of all Maharashtra hospitals on urgent basis

    By ANI
    MUMBAI: After the fire at Maharashtra’s Bhandara district hospital that claimes lives of 10 newborns, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar on Saturday ordered an audit of all hospitals in the state on an urgent basis.

    In a series of tweets, Pawar said that the hospital has been directed to resume the services with due diligence and treat other children under a specialist’s supervision.

    ALSO READ | Three infants died of burns, seven suffocated to death: Maharashtra health minister on hospital fire

    “In consultation with the Health Minister Rajesh Tope and the district administration, the hospital has been directed to resume the services with due diligence, and to treat other children under the supervision of specialists,” the Minister wrote on Twitter (roughly translated from Marathi).

    In order to prevent such accidents from happening again, the child care units of other hospitals in the state have been directed to be audited immediately, Pawar said in another tweet.

    He further said that the death of children is “very unfortunate and tragic” and the government has taken serious note of it.

    ALSO READ | Maharashtra to give Rs 5 lakh ex gratia for kin of infants who died in hospital fire, govt orders inquiry

    Meanwhile, the Maharashtra government has directed an immediate inquiry into the incident and further announced a compensation of Rs 5 lakh for the kin of the deceased who died in the fire.

    As many as 10 children died in a fire that broke out SNCU of Bhandara District General Hospital at 2 am on Saturday.

  • Cops fleeing from thieves unfortunate: Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar on Pune incident

    By PTI
    PUNE: Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar on Friday called “unfortunate” a December 28 incident in Pune where a policeman was seen running away from thieves and his colleague unable to use his rifle to deter them.

    Speaking at a programme in Pimpri-Chinchwad, Pawar said the police force in the state had done a commendable job during the coronavirus outbreak and the subsequent lockdown.

    “But it is unfortunate to see our policemen run away from thieves. Such incidents well defame and bring down the morale of the force. Do whatever you can, but control the goons who disturb law and order,” he said.

    In the early hours of December 28, two policemen came across a group carrying out a theft in a housing society in Aundh area, but instead of stopping them, one of the personnel fled while the other did not use his rifle to stop them.

    Both constables were suspended at the time by Pune police commissioner Amitabh Gupta for unprofessional behaviour.

  • After ‘Go Corona Go’ slogan, Union Minister Ramdas Athawale tests positive for COVID-19

    Union Minister Ramdas Athawale tested positive for COVID-19. He has been admitted to Bombay Hospital as a precautionary measure, confirmed his office.

    Taking it to Twitter, Athawale informed about his health.Earlier, the 60-year-old Union minister was seen in a viral video chanting “go corona, go corona”. He can be credited with coining this slogan which was later mocked at on social media. On Monday, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, too, had tested positive for coronavirus and was admitted to Breach Candy hospital in South Mumbai on the advice of doctors where he is undergoing treatment for coronavirus infection.