News Analysis India

Tag: Maharashtra government

  • NCP chief Sharad Pawar slams Maharashtra govt over women security, hospital deaths

    Express News Service

    Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) president Sharad Pawar on Friday criticised the Maharashtra government over the issues related to the 19533 girls missing in the state as well as the “security” of women. This is the second time within a week that Pawar has criticised the home department, which is under the purview of Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, regarding this matter.

    Addressing a press conference in Mumbai, Pawar claimed that between January 1 and May 31 of this year, a total of 19,553 women were reported as “missing” from the state. “The government is not serious about the law and order situation in the state,” he alleged. 

    Pawar also slammed the government over the “contractual hiring” of personnel in Mumbai police. He said the state has taken the decision to conduct government recruitments on contract.

    Earlier this week, the Maharashtra government issued an order to hire 3,000 personnel from its own security corporation who will work under the Mumbai police.

    “On one hand a huge numbers of girls are missing while on the other hand, the state government has decided to hire the 11,203 police on contractual basis. The contract period will be for 11 months and after that what will happen with these youths, no one knows. Once the youth are hired as police, then what about their training and other facilities. We oppose this move. Those hired on contract should subsume government service,” said Pawar.

    He also expressed his concerns over the recent deaths in state-run hospitals and emphasised the need for permanent recruitment in the health department rather than relying on contractual hiring. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp

    Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) president Sharad Pawar on Friday criticised the Maharashtra government over the issues related to the 19533 girls missing in the state as well as the “security” of women. This is the second time within a week that Pawar has criticised the home department, which is under the purview of Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, regarding this matter.

    Addressing a press conference in Mumbai, Pawar claimed that between January 1 and May 31 of this year, a total of 19,553 women were reported as “missing” from the state. “The government is not serious about the law and order situation in the state,” he alleged. 

    Pawar also slammed the government over the “contractual hiring” of personnel in Mumbai police. He said the state has taken the decision to conduct government recruitments on contract.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    Earlier this week, the Maharashtra government issued an order to hire 3,000 personnel from its own security corporation who will work under the Mumbai police.

    “On one hand a huge numbers of girls are missing while on the other hand, the state government has decided to hire the 11,203 police on contractual basis. The contract period will be for 11 months and after that what will happen with these youths, no one knows. Once the youth are hired as police, then what about their training and other facilities. We oppose this move. Those hired on contract should subsume government service,” said Pawar.

    He also expressed his concerns over the recent deaths in state-run hospitals and emphasised the need for permanent recruitment in the health department rather than relying on contractual hiring. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp

  • Davos 2023: Maharashtra govt inks investment proposals worth Rs 88,500 cr

    Express News Service

    MUMBAI: The Maharashtra government has signed MoUs worth  Rs 88,500 crore for various projects with the potential to generate over 55,000 jobs in the state. 

    The MoUs pertain to greenfield projects like data centres, pharmaceuticals, logistics, chemicals, automobiles, electric vehicles, renewable energy and ESDM.

    Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, industrial Minister Uday Samat and a team of state government officials are at the World Economic Forum 2023 in Davos to seek investment opportunities for the state. Dignitaries from across the world have visited the Maharashtra government’s pavilion at the summit to inquire about a potential investment in the state.

    According to the Maharashtra government, US-based New Era Technical Solutions firm will invest Rs 20,000 to set up a coal gasification project at Bhadravati in Chandrapur district and will be provided 1000 acres of land by the state government.

    The UK-based Varad Ferro Alloys Pvt Ltd will invest Rs 1,520 crore to develop the steel plant on 100 acres of land at Konsari in the Gadchiroli district.

    The Japan-based Nippon Telegraph and Telephone (NITT) has inked an MoU worth Rs 20,414 crore to develop data centres in Mumbai, Thane, Pune and Nagpur. The project is expected to generate over 1,500 jobs. Besides, GoGoRO Engineering has also signed an MoU worth Rs 20,000 to set up an automobile company at multiple locations in Maharashtra. This investment will generate 30,000 jobs for the youth of the state.

    Mahindra Electric Vehicle Automobile Ltd has also inked an MoU with the plan to invest Rs 10,000 crore for setting up an electrical vehicle (EV) manufacturing hub at Chakan in the Pune district and aims to generate 3,000 jobs.

    Meanwhile, UK-based Rcube-Ark Data centre Ltd will also develop a data centre at Pimpri Chinchwad with a total investment of Rs 12,000 crore and is expected to generate 1200 jobs. Portugal-based Elite Plast AutoSystems Pvt Ltd has signed an MoU worth Rs 400 core to develop a plastic automotive mould in Pune that will generate 2000 jobs.

    These MoU were signed in presence of Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde in Davos. Shinde said several international firms are eager to ink MoUs as “there is a conducive atmosphere for the investment and setting up of the industry in Maharashtra.”

    “On the first day of the Summit, we signed over Rs 88,500 crore MoU. Now, the major challenge is to pursue these MoU and bring in reality so that as many as youths will get the jobs,” Shinde added.

    Leader of Opposition Ajit Pawar said signing the MoU and bringing them, in reality, are two different things. “In the past, we have seen, many firms do sign the MoUs, but the percentage of bringing them, in reality, is tough. In our government, we too signed several MoUs. We hope that this government also focuses on retaining the existing businesses,” Pawar said.

    MUMBAI: The Maharashtra government has signed MoUs worth  Rs 88,500 crore for various projects with the potential to generate over 55,000 jobs in the state. 

    The MoUs pertain to greenfield projects like data centres, pharmaceuticals, logistics, chemicals, automobiles, electric vehicles, renewable energy and ESDM.

    Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, industrial Minister Uday Samat and a team of state government officials are at the World Economic Forum 2023 in Davos to seek investment opportunities for the state. Dignitaries from across the world have visited the Maharashtra government’s pavilion at the summit to inquire about a potential investment in the state.

    According to the Maharashtra government, US-based New Era Technical Solutions firm will invest Rs 20,000 to set up a coal gasification project at Bhadravati in Chandrapur district and will be provided 1000 acres of land by the state government.

    The UK-based Varad Ferro Alloys Pvt Ltd will invest Rs 1,520 crore to develop the steel plant on 100 acres of land at Konsari in the Gadchiroli district.

    The Japan-based Nippon Telegraph and Telephone (NITT) has inked an MoU worth Rs 20,414 crore to develop data centres in Mumbai, Thane, Pune and Nagpur. The project is expected to generate over 1,500 jobs. Besides, GoGoRO Engineering has also signed an MoU worth Rs 20,000 to set up an automobile company at multiple locations in Maharashtra. This investment will generate 30,000 jobs for the youth of the state.

    Mahindra Electric Vehicle Automobile Ltd has also inked an MoU with the plan to invest Rs 10,000 crore for setting up an electrical vehicle (EV) manufacturing hub at Chakan in the Pune district and aims to generate 3,000 jobs.

    Meanwhile, UK-based Rcube-Ark Data centre Ltd will also develop a data centre at Pimpri Chinchwad with a total investment of Rs 12,000 crore and is expected to generate 1200 jobs. Portugal-based Elite Plast AutoSystems Pvt Ltd has signed an MoU worth Rs 400 core to develop a plastic automotive mould in Pune that will generate 2000 jobs.

    These MoU were signed in presence of Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde in Davos. Shinde said several international firms are eager to ink MoUs as “there is a conducive atmosphere for the investment and setting up of the industry in Maharashtra.”

    “On the first day of the Summit, we signed over Rs 88,500 crore MoU. Now, the major challenge is to pursue these MoU and bring in reality so that as many as youths will get the jobs,” Shinde added.

    Leader of Opposition Ajit Pawar said signing the MoU and bringing them, in reality, are two different things. “In the past, we have seen, many firms do sign the MoUs, but the percentage of bringing them, in reality, is tough. In our government, we too signed several MoUs. We hope that this government also focuses on retaining the existing businesses,” Pawar said.

  • Maharashtra districts suffer for want of guardian ministers

    Express News Service

    MUMBAI: Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde expanded his cabinet 40 days after the government was formed, but a month after the portfolios were allocated, no guardian ministers were appointed for districts.

    Maharashtra Congress leader Atul Londe said it has never happened in the history of the state that the districts have no guardian ministers. “The unconstitutional Shinde-Fadnavis government has hampered development in the state. We have never witnessed such a delay in cabinet expansion or appointment of guardian ministers. The District Planning Development Committee is chaired by the guardian minister and all local body presidents are its members. It has not been in operation for one month. Besides, the Shinde government stopped release of funds for all the sanctioned work from April. There is huge chaos at ground level,” Londe said.

    NCP spokesperson Sanjay Tatkare said DPDC is a crucial body for the development of rural areas. “Contractors are waiting for funds to be released while  infrastructure works, and health and education projects are also getting hampered due to absence of DPDC,” he added.

    MUMBAI: Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde expanded his cabinet 40 days after the government was formed, but a month after the portfolios were allocated, no guardian ministers were appointed for districts.

    Maharashtra Congress leader Atul Londe said it has never happened in the history of the state that the districts have no guardian ministers. “The unconstitutional Shinde-Fadnavis government has hampered development in the state. We have never witnessed such a delay in cabinet expansion or appointment of guardian ministers. The District Planning Development Committee is chaired by the guardian minister and all local body presidents are its members. It has not been in operation for one month. Besides, the Shinde government stopped release of funds for all the sanctioned work from April. There is huge chaos at ground level,” Londe said.

    NCP spokesperson Sanjay Tatkare said DPDC is a crucial body for the development of rural areas. “Contractors are waiting for funds to be released while  infrastructure works, and health and education projects are also getting hampered due to absence of DPDC,” he added.

  • ‘We are Hindutvawadi, but we are not the BJP’s slave’, says Shiv Sena in editorial

    By PTI

    PUNE: The Shiv Sena on Tuesday said Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis’s claim of working to fulfil the “dream” of Sena founder Balasaheb Thackeray was a ploy to break the Marathi unity in Mumbai where civic polls are due.

    “Why are you seeking votes in the name of Balasaheb? Has your Modi era, Modi wave started receding?” an editorial in the Sena mouthpiece ‘Saamana’ asked.

    In June this year, Sena MLA Eknath Shinde and 39 other legislators rebelled against the party leadership, leading to the collapse of the Uddhav Thackeray-led Maharashtra government.

    Shinde was then sworn in as the chief minister on June 30 along with BJP leader Fadnavis as his deputy.

    The editorial said leaders like Devendra Fadnavis of the BJP are now embracing the “dream of Balasaheb”, but they did not remember the late Sena supremo while snapping ties with the party in 2014.

    They did not remember the dreams of Balasaheb while going back on the word of chief ministerial post to the Shiv Sena in 2019, it said.

    “Fadnavis’s words are akin to the deceitful invitation of a fox, and people of Mumbai and Thane should be cautious,” the Marathi daily said.

    “The language of ‘dream of Balasaheb’ used by the BJP is nothing but a ploy to break the Marathi unity in Mumbai and for that they are injuring the Shiv Sena,” it claimed.

    The people who forgot (BJP veterans) Lal Krishna Advani, Atal Bihar Vajpayee, will they fulfil the dreams of Balasaheb? it asked.

    Today’s Bharatiya Janata Party is “not the real BJP”, the editorial claimed and asked if the party, which belonged to Vajpayee and Advani, really exists.

    “The BJP of Vajpayee was all about keeping the promise but it is not there now and that is why we left such BJP (alliance) and set out on a different path of “Hindutva”.

    “Our political stand is still the same. We are Hindutvawadi, but we are not the BJP’s slave. We are honest servants of Maharashtra, not the ‘charandas’ (servant) of Delhi,” the Sena said.

    ALSO READ | Uddhav vs Shinde: SC refers petitions filed by rival Shiv Sena factions to constitution bench

    Further hitting out at Fadnavis, it said he is continuously chanting the name of Balasaheb.

    “He is saying give us votes in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation elections and we (BJP) will fulfil Balasaheb’s dreams. What is this sham? Which dream of Balsaheb are you going to fulfil?” it asked.

    “Your dream of creating a split in the Shiv Sena, was it the dream of Balasaheb?”, it asked.

    Fadnavis was “wise and profound” but that status is now denigrated in the company of the Eknath Shinde faction, it claimed.

    He (Fadnavis) does not speak on the issue of the state, he only speaks on the Shiv Sena.

    “When Fadnavis was going and breaking Dahi Handis in Mumbai, thus competing with the Shiv Sena, at the same time threat messages were received from terrorists that they would launch an attack like 26/11,” the editorial said.

    Who does not want festivals like Dahi Handi, but if life is there, anything can be achieved, it said.

    In the last two years, restrictions were imposed on festivals by Prime Minister Narendra Modi because of COVID-19, the editorial said.

    “Today you say there are no restrictions on festivals. We improved the health of Maharashtra by making it COVID-free and gave the state to you,” it said.

    On the day of Dahi Handi, 1,500 COVID-19 cases were reported, the editorial said, but did not specify where those infections were recorded.

    PUNE: The Shiv Sena on Tuesday said Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis’s claim of working to fulfil the “dream” of Sena founder Balasaheb Thackeray was a ploy to break the Marathi unity in Mumbai where civic polls are due.

    “Why are you seeking votes in the name of Balasaheb? Has your Modi era, Modi wave started receding?” an editorial in the Sena mouthpiece ‘Saamana’ asked.

    In June this year, Sena MLA Eknath Shinde and 39 other legislators rebelled against the party leadership, leading to the collapse of the Uddhav Thackeray-led Maharashtra government.

    Shinde was then sworn in as the chief minister on June 30 along with BJP leader Fadnavis as his deputy.

    The editorial said leaders like Devendra Fadnavis of the BJP are now embracing the “dream of Balasaheb”, but they did not remember the late Sena supremo while snapping ties with the party in 2014.

    They did not remember the dreams of Balasaheb while going back on the word of chief ministerial post to the Shiv Sena in 2019, it said.

    “Fadnavis’s words are akin to the deceitful invitation of a fox, and people of Mumbai and Thane should be cautious,” the Marathi daily said.

    “The language of ‘dream of Balasaheb’ used by the BJP is nothing but a ploy to break the Marathi unity in Mumbai and for that they are injuring the Shiv Sena,” it claimed.

    The people who forgot (BJP veterans) Lal Krishna Advani, Atal Bihar Vajpayee, will they fulfil the dreams of Balasaheb? it asked.

    Today’s Bharatiya Janata Party is “not the real BJP”, the editorial claimed and asked if the party, which belonged to Vajpayee and Advani, really exists.

    “The BJP of Vajpayee was all about keeping the promise but it is not there now and that is why we left such BJP (alliance) and set out on a different path of “Hindutva”.

    “Our political stand is still the same. We are Hindutvawadi, but we are not the BJP’s slave. We are honest servants of Maharashtra, not the ‘charandas’ (servant) of Delhi,” the Sena said.

    ALSO READ | Uddhav vs Shinde: SC refers petitions filed by rival Shiv Sena factions to constitution bench

    Further hitting out at Fadnavis, it said he is continuously chanting the name of Balasaheb.

    “He is saying give us votes in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation elections and we (BJP) will fulfil Balasaheb’s dreams. What is this sham? Which dream of Balsaheb are you going to fulfil?” it asked.

    “Your dream of creating a split in the Shiv Sena, was it the dream of Balasaheb?”, it asked.

    Fadnavis was “wise and profound” but that status is now denigrated in the company of the Eknath Shinde faction, it claimed.

    He (Fadnavis) does not speak on the issue of the state, he only speaks on the Shiv Sena.

    “When Fadnavis was going and breaking Dahi Handis in Mumbai, thus competing with the Shiv Sena, at the same time threat messages were received from terrorists that they would launch an attack like 26/11,” the editorial said.

    Who does not want festivals like Dahi Handi, but if life is there, anything can be achieved, it said.

    In the last two years, restrictions were imposed on festivals by Prime Minister Narendra Modi because of COVID-19, the editorial said.

    “Today you say there are no restrictions on festivals. We improved the health of Maharashtra by making it COVID-free and gave the state to you,” it said.

    On the day of Dahi Handi, 1,500 COVID-19 cases were reported, the editorial said, but did not specify where those infections were recorded.

  • Shiv Sena didn’t betray anyone, but since BJP didn’t keep its word Maharashtra got good government in MVA: Sanjay Raut

    By PTI

    MUMBAI: Maintaining that Shiv Sena never betrayed anyone, party leader Sanjay Raut on Sunday said that since the BJP did not honour its commitment made to the Sena, Maharashtra got a “good government” in the form of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA).

    Addressing party workers in Kolhapur district of western Maharashtra, Raut also said that the BJP can never return to power in the state.

    “Shiv Sena has never betrayed anyone. But since BJP did not honour the commitment made to our party, the state could get a good government in the form of MVA. Now, BJP will never come back to power in Maharashtra,” he said.

    The Shiv Sena and BJP, which shared power in the state during 2014-19, had snapped ties after the 2019 Assembly poll results following differences over sharing the chief minister’s post.

    The Sena then joined hands with the NCP and Congress, an unlikely alliance of parties with divergent views, to form the MVA government.

  • Maharashtra government capable of dealing with those who disturb social harmony: Balasaheb Thorat on loudspeaker row

    By PTI

    MUMBAI: Amid a call given by MNS chief Raj Thackeray to play Hanuman Chalisa outside mosques if ‘azaans’ are played on loudspeakers, senior Congress leader and Maharashtra minister Balasaheb Thorat on Wednesday said the government was capable of dealing with those who disturb social harmony.

    Replying to a question on Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) president’s defiant stand on the issue of loudspeakers, Thorat told reporters that nobody can give an ultimatum to the government.

    He said the ruling MVA works to maintain law and order and the rule of the law.

    “For some people, it is not loudspeakers but politics over it is important. The government is not on the back-foot. We are capable of dealing with those who want to disturb social harmony,” the Congress leader said.

    In his Aurangabad rally held on Sunday, Raj Thackeray had reiterated that if mosques use loudspeakers for ‘azaan’ (prayer call), then Hanuman Chalisa will be played outside them at a higher volume.

  • Mosque loudspeakers: Onus on Maharashtra government, police now, says AIMIM MP on Raj Thackeray’s aggressive language

    By PTI

    AURANGABAD: All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen Lok Sabha MP from Aurangabad Imitiaz Jaleel on Sunday said the Maharashtra government and the police must take full cognizance of the aggressive language and tone used by MNS chief Raj Thackeray at his rally here.

    Thackeray, who has sought the removal of loudspeakers atop mosques by May 3 and has threatened to play Hanuman Chalisa to drown out azaan, had said during his speech here that the the Muslim community would see the “power of Maharashtra” if they did not understand the request on loudspeakers “nicely”.

    Speaking to reporters, Jaleel, also the AIMIM’s Maharashtra unit chief, said he and his party could reply to Thackeray in equal measure but would desist from doing so as “we have to stay in Maharashtra and there will no end to problems then (if the community took an aggressive stand)”.

    “I won’t be responsible for what all happens after the May 3 deadline to remove loudspeakers from mosques,” Thackeray had said in his speech.

    “We will observe the stand of the Maharashtra government now. The ultimatum given (by Thackeray) is not to the Muslim community but to the Maharashtra government. Let us see how the government handles this, especially the NCP, which has the Home portfolio,” Jaleel said.

    Aurangabad police commissioner Nikhil Gupta told reporters his force was busy with security arrangements during the day and would delve into the issue after going through all relevant reports.

  • 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.

  • SSS chief Raju Shetti announces snapping of ties with MVA, accuses Maharashtra ​government of ignoring farmers

    By PTI

    PUNE: Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghtana chief Raju Shetti on Tuesday said his outfit was snapping ties with the ruling Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi over various farm issues.

    He said the decision was taken in the party’s executive meeting in Kolhapur, which also endorsed the move to remove its lone MLA Devendra Bhoyar from the party.

    While addressing a gathering in Kolhapur, Shetti announced the snapping of ties with MVA over the ruling dispensation’s apathy towards farmers and agricultural distress.

    “The Swabhimani Shetkari Paksh was formed to safeguard the interests of farmers and restore their respect. Today, farmers are committing suicide but no one is bothered about it. We want to restore their respect and make them stand on their feet and that is why Swambhimani Shetkari Sanghtana was formed,” said Shetti.

    He said the outfit plunged into electoral politics to strengthen the farmers’ movement, and alliances were made with parties just to ensure benefits for farmers.

    Speaking to PTI, Shetti said, “We have taken the decision to snap all ties with MVA. The decision to amend the Land Acquisition Act has caused losses to farmers. As per the amended Act, the farmers will now get only 30 per cent compensation,” he said.

    Shetti said he wanted the state government to roll back the decision to pay fair and remunerative price (FRP) in two instalments.

    Shetti said he will meet Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari to get his name dropped from the proposed MLC list in case it is there.

  • Ola, Uber, 10 other cab aggregators granted provisional license, Maharashtra government tells Bombay HC

    By PTI

    MUMBAI: The Maharashtra government on Monday told Bombay High Court it has granted provisional license to 12 cab aggregators, including Ola and Uber, for a period of one month.

    The state government submitted a report to a division bench of Chief Justice Dipankar Datta and Justice M S Karnik, which is hearing a petition filed by advocate Savina Crasto against transport aggregators alleging lack of a consumer grievance redressal mechanism to resolve complaints against Uber.

    As per the report submitted by the government, the Regional Transport Authority (RTA) has been empowered to act as Licensing Authority to grant license to aggregators.

    The RTA, till date, has received 29 applications from cab aggregators across the state, of which 12, including Ola and Uber, have been granted provisional license, while the rest of the applications are under scrutiny, the report said.

    The HC said it would peruse the report and hear the matter further on Tuesday.

    It had, last month, noted that cab aggregator companies cannot be allowed to ply without license and had directed them to apply for it with the Maharashtra government.