News Analysis India

Tag: Maharashtra

  • 42 cattle die due to Lumpy Skin Disease in Maharashtra

    By ANI

    MAHARASHTRA: As many as 42 cows and buffaloes have died due to the onslaught of the Lumpy Skin Disease in Maharashtra, the state’s animal husbandry department said on Monday.

    A total of 42 infected cattle have died due to Lumpy Skin Disease in different districts of Maharashtra including 17 in Jalgaon, 13 in Ahmednagar, 1 in Dhule, 1 in Akola, 3 in Pune, 3 in Buldhana, 3 in Amravati and 1 in Washim till Sunday, according to the department.

    The first case of Lumpy Skin Disease was reported on August 4 in Chinawal village of Raver taluka of Jalgaon district.

    The virus has been found only in cows and buffaloes. There is no danger to humans in using milk of animals that do not have the symptoms of the disease. Animals can be cured of the disease, however, the milk of such animals may get affected due to the virus.

    The infected cattle with Lumpy Skin Disease have been noticed in a total of 280 villages of Jalgaon, Ahmednagar, Akola, Dhule, Pune, Latur, Aurangabad, Beed, Satara, Buldana, Amravati, Osmanabad, Kolhapur, Sangli, Yeotmal, Parbhani, Solapur, Washim, Nashik and Jalna till Sunday.

    As per reports, lumpy skin disease is a viral disease that affects cattle. It is transmitted by blood-feeding insects, such as certain species of flies and mosquitoes, or ticks. It causes fever and nodules on the skin and can lead to the death of the cattle.

    A vaccine has also been developed by the National Equine Research Center, Hisar (Haryana) in collaboration with the Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izzatnagar (Bareilly).

    MAHARASHTRA: As many as 42 cows and buffaloes have died due to the onslaught of the Lumpy Skin Disease in Maharashtra, the state’s animal husbandry department said on Monday.

    A total of 42 infected cattle have died due to Lumpy Skin Disease in different districts of Maharashtra including 17 in Jalgaon, 13 in Ahmednagar, 1 in Dhule, 1 in Akola, 3 in Pune, 3 in Buldhana, 3 in Amravati and 1 in Washim till Sunday, according to the department.

    The first case of Lumpy Skin Disease was reported on August 4 in Chinawal village of Raver taluka of Jalgaon district.

    The virus has been found only in cows and buffaloes. There is no danger to humans in using milk of animals that do not have the symptoms of the disease. Animals can be cured of the disease, however, the milk of such animals may get affected due to the virus.

    The infected cattle with Lumpy Skin Disease have been noticed in a total of 280 villages of Jalgaon, Ahmednagar, Akola, Dhule, Pune, Latur, Aurangabad, Beed, Satara, Buldana, Amravati, Osmanabad, Kolhapur, Sangli, Yeotmal, Parbhani, Solapur, Washim, Nashik and Jalna till Sunday.

    As per reports, lumpy skin disease is a viral disease that affects cattle. It is transmitted by blood-feeding insects, such as certain species of flies and mosquitoes, or ticks. It causes fever and nodules on the skin and can lead to the death of the cattle.

    A vaccine has also been developed by the National Equine Research Center, Hisar (Haryana) in collaboration with the Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izzatnagar (Bareilly).

  • ‘Quash cases on Navratri organisers’: BJP MP Gopal Shetty

    By Express News Service

    MUMBAI:  BJP Lok Sabha MP Gopal Shetty said that Maharashtra government should withdraw the cases filed against Navratri organisers over sound limit violations following the government recently withdrawing cases against Govinda and Ganesha festival organisers under similar circumstances.

    Gopal Shetty also appealed to the Shinde-Fadnavis led Maharashtra government to allow four days for Navratri festival in the current year till midnight. “Let the people celebrate the festival as per their wish. It’s a once in a year festival. For the last two years owing to Covid, Navratri could not be organised across the country publicly. But now that Navratri in public has been allowed by the administration,” he said. 

    MUMBAI:  BJP Lok Sabha MP Gopal Shetty said that Maharashtra government should withdraw the cases filed against Navratri organisers over sound limit violations following the government recently withdrawing cases against Govinda and Ganesha festival organisers under similar circumstances.

    Gopal Shetty also appealed to the Shinde-Fadnavis led Maharashtra government to allow four days for Navratri festival in the current year till midnight. “Let the people celebrate the festival as per their wish. It’s a once in a year festival. For the last two years owing to Covid, Navratri could not be organised across the country publicly. But now that Navratri in public has been allowed by the administration,” he said.
     

  • Maharashtra govt to bear education cost of college students who lost parents to COVID-19

    By PTI

    MUMBAI: Maharashtra Minister Chandrakant Patil on Monday said the state government will bear the education expenses of college students who have lost both their parents to the COVID-19 pandemic.

    The state higher and technical education minister made the announcement on the floor of the state Assembly while responding to a question by Congress legislator Shirish Chaudhary.

    “As many as 931 undergraduate and 228 postgraduate students of various government colleges have lost both their parents to the COVID-19 pandemic.

    The government will pay their fees of the entire course,” Patil said.

    The minister further said that the decision will cost the state exchequer more than Rs 2 crore annually, and there will be no need for the state government to pass similar decision every year.

    MUMBAI: Maharashtra Minister Chandrakant Patil on Monday said the state government will bear the education expenses of college students who have lost both their parents to the COVID-19 pandemic.

    The state higher and technical education minister made the announcement on the floor of the state Assembly while responding to a question by Congress legislator Shirish Chaudhary.

    “As many as 931 undergraduate and 228 postgraduate students of various government colleges have lost both their parents to the COVID-19 pandemic.

    The government will pay their fees of the entire course,” Patil said.

    The minister further said that the decision will cost the state exchequer more than Rs 2 crore annually, and there will be no need for the state government to pass similar decision every year.

  • Maharashtra Opposition boycotts Shinde government’s tea party

    Express News Service

    MUMBAI:  Opposition parties in Maharashtra boycotted the tea party organised by the incumbent Eknath Shinde government on the eve of the monsoon session of the Maharashtra state assembly citing the reason that the present government is unconstitutional and they are not following the democratic procedures at all.

    The Opposition called its party meeting at Vidhan Bhavan. The meeting was chaired by the Leader of Opposition and senior NCP leader Ajit Pawar. As per traditions, the Opposition parties were invited to the tea party on the eve of the monsoon session of the Maharashtra state assembly. All Opposition party leaders signed a seven-page letter which was also sent to former Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray.

    Ajit Pawar said that the opposition parties had decided to boycott the tea party. “The way the government came to power, it is our unanimous view that the Shinde government has not been formed according to stipulated constitutional regulations. The Supreme Court verdict on the petitions regarding it is pending. The government has been formed against all democratic values and rules.”

    In its scathing attack on the incumbent government, Pawar said that lawlessness will not be tolerated in Maharashtra after a video of Eknath Shinde’s faction MLA Sanjay Bangar abusing and slapping a mid-day meal employee went viral.

    Maharashtra deputy chief minister Devendra Fadnavis said that the Oppositions are like Gajani that are forgetting everything which was promised by them only. “We had invited the Opposition for a tea party but they boycotted it. When we were in Opposition, we had raised the same issues that Oppositions are raising through its letter,” he said.

    MUMBAI:  Opposition parties in Maharashtra boycotted the tea party organised by the incumbent Eknath Shinde government on the eve of the monsoon session of the Maharashtra state assembly citing the reason that the present government is unconstitutional and they are not following the democratic procedures at all.

    The Opposition called its party meeting at Vidhan Bhavan. The meeting was chaired by the Leader of Opposition and senior NCP leader Ajit Pawar. As per traditions, the Opposition parties were invited to the tea party on the eve of the monsoon session of the Maharashtra state assembly. All Opposition party leaders signed a seven-page letter which was also sent to former Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray.

    Ajit Pawar said that the opposition parties had decided to boycott the tea party. “The way the government came to power, it is our unanimous view that the Shinde government has not been formed according to stipulated constitutional regulations. The Supreme Court verdict on the petitions regarding it is pending. The government has been formed against all democratic values and rules.”

    In its scathing attack on the incumbent government, Pawar said that lawlessness will not be tolerated in Maharashtra after a video of Eknath Shinde’s faction MLA Sanjay Bangar abusing and slapping a mid-day meal employee went viral.

    Maharashtra deputy chief minister Devendra Fadnavis said that the Oppositions are like Gajani that are forgetting everything which was promised by them only. “We had invited the Opposition for a tea party but they boycotted it. When we were in Opposition, we had raised the same issues that Oppositions are raising through its letter,” he said.

  • No women in 20-member cabinet as Maharashtra CM Shinde expands 41-day-old ministry

    By PTI

    MUMBAI: Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Tuesday expanded his two-member ministry 41 days after taking oath as the Chief Minister by inducting 18 ministers, nine each from his rebel Shiv Sena group and the BJP.

    The list doesn’t include a woman, a move being panned by politicians and women’s rights activists.

    “Maharashtra was the first state in the country to give reservation for women. When 50 per cent of India’s population is of women, they are not represented in the state cabinet,” NCP MP Supriya Sule said. “This shows the BJP’s mindset,” she added.

    Eighteen MLAs, including state BJP president Chandrakant Patil, were sworn in as cabinet ministers at Raj Bhavan in south Mumbai on Tuesday. The strength of Maharashtra ministry has now gone up to 20, less than half the maximum allowed strength of 43.

    Governor B S Koshyari administered the oath of office to the ministers. On June 30, Shinde was sworn in as the chief minister and Devendra Fadnavis took oath as deputy CM.

    The new BJP ministers are Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil, Sudhir Mungantiwar, Chandrakant Patil, Vijaykumar Gavit, Girish Mahajan, Suresh Khade, Ravindra Chavan, Atul Save and Mangalprabhat Lodha.

    From the Shinde group, Gulabrao Patil, Dada Bhuse, Sanjay Rathod, Sandipan Bhumre, Uday Samant, Tanaji Sawant, Abdul Sattar, Deepak Kesarkar and Shambhuraj Desai were sworn in as ministers. No minister of state was sworn in today. There will be another ministry expansion later, an aide of Shinde said.

    While BJP has inducted Lodha, who hails from Mumbai, the Shinde group hasn’t included any legislator from the financial capital, where municipal corporation elections are slated later this year.

    The new ministers include Shinde group MLA Sanjay Rathod, who was the forest minister when Uddhav Thackeray was the Chief Minister, and was forced to resign after BJP leaders blamed him for a woman’s suicide.

    State BJP vice president Chitra Wagh protested Rathod’s induction into the Cabinet.

    “It is very unfortunate that former minister Sanjay Rathod, who caused the woman’s death, has been given the post of minister again. I will continue my fight against Rathod even though he has become a minister again,” she said.

    MUMBAI: Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Tuesday expanded his two-member ministry 41 days after taking oath as the Chief Minister by inducting 18 ministers, nine each from his rebel Shiv Sena group and the BJP.

    The list doesn’t include a woman, a move being panned by politicians and women’s rights activists.

    “Maharashtra was the first state in the country to give reservation for women. When 50 per cent of India’s population is of women, they are not represented in the state cabinet,” NCP MP Supriya Sule said. “This shows the BJP’s mindset,” she added.

    Eighteen MLAs, including state BJP president Chandrakant Patil, were sworn in as cabinet ministers at Raj Bhavan in south Mumbai on Tuesday. The strength of Maharashtra ministry has now gone up to 20, less than half the maximum allowed strength of 43.

    Governor B S Koshyari administered the oath of office to the ministers. On June 30, Shinde was sworn in as the chief minister and Devendra Fadnavis took oath as deputy CM.

    The new BJP ministers are Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil, Sudhir Mungantiwar, Chandrakant Patil, Vijaykumar Gavit, Girish Mahajan, Suresh Khade, Ravindra Chavan, Atul Save and Mangalprabhat Lodha.

    From the Shinde group, Gulabrao Patil, Dada Bhuse, Sanjay Rathod, Sandipan Bhumre, Uday Samant, Tanaji Sawant, Abdul Sattar, Deepak Kesarkar and Shambhuraj Desai were sworn in as ministers. No minister of state was sworn in today. There will be another ministry expansion later, an aide of Shinde said.

    While BJP has inducted Lodha, who hails from Mumbai, the Shinde group hasn’t included any legislator from the financial capital, where municipal corporation elections are slated later this year.

    The new ministers include Shinde group MLA Sanjay Rathod, who was the forest minister when Uddhav Thackeray was the Chief Minister, and was forced to resign after BJP leaders blamed him for a woman’s suicide.

    State BJP vice president Chitra Wagh protested Rathod’s induction into the Cabinet.

    “It is very unfortunate that former minister Sanjay Rathod, who caused the woman’s death, has been given the post of minister again. I will continue my fight against Rathod even though he has become a minister again,” she said.

  • Uddhav’s Dighe card to stem Shinde

    Express News Service

    MUMBAI:  Former Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray has appointed the nephew of late Thane strongman Anand Dighe, Kedar, as the head of the Shiv Sena’s district unit to counter Chief Minister Eknath Shinde’s influence and claim over the Dighe legacy.

    After parting ways with Uddhav, Shinde has claimed that he represents the real Shiv Sena. The CM has been using portraits of Balasaheb Thackeray and Anand Dighe in his office and on posters and banners.In his speeches too, Shinde seeks to convince people by saying he is the real heir to Balasaheb Thackeray and Dighe.

    By appointing 35-year-old Kedar Dighe as the Thane chief, Uddhav has shown that the real heir of Shinde’s mentor is with Shiv Sena. Dighe’s name carries a lot of political weight in Thane and its adjoining areas. Dighe died in a road accident in 2001. He had worked extensively to help Shiv Sena grow in the district. After his death, Shinde worked for the Sena in Thane and Palghar areas.

    Kedar Dighe (left) with Uddhav Thackeray (Photo | Twitter)Uddhav has also made Anita Birje as his deputy. She is a veteran Sainik and has not allowed Shinde to enter the Sena shakha in Thane. She has also worked with Anand Dighe. Kedar said his uncle always remained loyal to the Sena. “Shiv Sena has a long history of struggle. The Shiv Sainik is ready to bounce back with vigor. I will work hard and bring glorious days back to Sena. The exit of Shinde will not have much impact,” Kedar said.

    Anand Dighe was a charismatic leader in Thane. Shinde often invokes Dighe’s legacy to justify his revolt against Thackeray. By fielding Dighe’s nephew opposite Shinde on the latter’s home turf, Thackeray has tried to counter the narrative of the CM. Though Kedar is a political novice and has never played significant role in Shiv Sena so far, the Sena leadership wants to use him in the battle of perception with Shinde who is posing himself as a common worker fighting against Uddhav who is at the helm because of his relation to the founder.

    A skilled organiser, Dighe built the Shiv Sena organisation in Thane in 1980s and ’90s and dominated the politics of the district till he died. He encouraged a number of party workers from working-class or middle-class backgrounds, groomed them and built a strong second-rung leadership.

    Shinde was one of them. Dighe died in an accident as his vehicle crashed with a truck coming from another direction in 2001. His following among the Sena workers was such that when he passed away while being treated at Singhania Hospital in Thane, top Sena leaders including Uddhav had to be moved out of Thane to prevent any untoward incident as the irate workers went berserk. 

    The tussle for thane

    By appointing 35-year-old Kedar Dighe as Thane Shiv Sena chief, party president Uddhav Thackeray has tried to show that the real heir of Chief Minister Eknath Shinde’s mentor, Anand Dighe, is with the Sena. The Dighe surname carries a lot of political weight in Thane and its adjoining areas. Anand Dighe, who had died in a road accident in 2001, had worked extensively to help the party grow in Thane district. After his death, Shinde worked for the Sena in Thane district and Palghar area. The party faced a huge vacuum in the region after Shinde’s exit.

    MUMBAI:  Former Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray has appointed the nephew of late Thane strongman Anand Dighe, Kedar, as the head of the Shiv Sena’s district unit to counter Chief Minister Eknath Shinde’s influence and claim over the Dighe legacy.

    After parting ways with Uddhav, Shinde has claimed that he represents the real Shiv Sena. The CM has been using portraits of Balasaheb Thackeray and Anand Dighe in his office and on posters and banners.
    In his speeches too, Shinde seeks to convince people by saying he is the real heir to Balasaheb Thackeray and Dighe.

    By appointing 35-year-old Kedar Dighe as the Thane chief, Uddhav has shown that the real heir of Shinde’s mentor is with Shiv Sena. Dighe’s name carries a lot of political weight in Thane and its adjoining areas. Dighe died in a road accident in 2001. He had worked extensively to help Shiv Sena grow in the district. After his death, Shinde worked for the Sena in Thane and Palghar areas.

    Kedar Dighe (left) with Uddhav Thackeray (Photo | Twitter)Uddhav has also made Anita Birje as his deputy. She is a veteran Sainik and has not allowed Shinde to enter the Sena shakha in Thane. She has also worked with Anand Dighe. Kedar said his uncle always remained loyal to the Sena. “Shiv Sena has a long history of struggle. The Shiv Sainik is ready to bounce back with vigor. I will work hard and bring glorious days back to Sena. The exit of Shinde will not have much impact,” Kedar said.

    Anand Dighe was a charismatic leader in Thane. Shinde often invokes Dighe’s legacy to justify his revolt against Thackeray. By fielding Dighe’s nephew opposite Shinde on the latter’s home turf, Thackeray has tried to counter the narrative of the CM. Though Kedar is a political novice and has never played significant role in Shiv Sena so far, the Sena leadership wants to use him in the battle of perception with Shinde who is posing himself as a common worker fighting against Uddhav who is at the helm because of his relation to the founder.

    A skilled organiser, Dighe built the Shiv Sena organisation in Thane in 1980s and ’90s and dominated the politics of the district till he died. He encouraged a number of party workers from working-class or middle-class backgrounds, groomed them and built a strong second-rung leadership.

    Shinde was one of them. Dighe died in an accident as his vehicle crashed with a truck coming from another direction in 2001. His following among the Sena workers was such that when he passed away while being treated at Singhania Hospital in Thane, top Sena leaders including Uddhav had to be moved out of Thane to prevent any untoward incident as the irate workers went berserk. 

    The tussle for thane

    By appointing 35-year-old Kedar Dighe as Thane Shiv Sena chief, party president Uddhav Thackeray has tried to show that the real heir of Chief Minister Eknath Shinde’s mentor, Anand Dighe, is with the Sena. The Dighe surname carries a lot of political weight in Thane and its adjoining areas. Anand Dighe, who had died in a road accident in 2001, had worked extensively to help the party grow in Thane district. After his death, Shinde worked for the Sena in Thane district and Palghar area. The party faced a huge vacuum in the region after Shinde’s exit.

  • No one can insult Mumbai, Marathi folk: Shinde on Governor’s remark; Uddhav demands apology

    By PTI

    MUMBAI: Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari’s comments that “Mumbai will have no money” if the Gujaratis and Rajasthanis were to leave triggered a massive controversy on Saturday, forcing Chief Minister Eknath Shinde to state that he disagreed with the governor.

    As Opposition leaders slammed Koshyari and sought apology from him, the governor said his comments were misconstrued.

    Koshyari made the controversial comments during a function to name a chowk (intersection) in suburban Andheri on Friday evening.

    ”I tell people here that if Gujaratis and Rajasthanis are removed from Maharashtra, especially from Mumbai and Thane, you will be left with no money and Mumbai will not be a financial capital,” he said.

    As the comments drew widespread condemnation, Koshyari said on Saturday that the statement was misconstrued, and asked political parties not to create a controversy.

    There was no question of belittling the contribution of Marathi-speaking people and “lauding one community does not mean insulting another,” he said.

    Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray demanded an apology from Koshyari.

    The former chief minister, whose relations with Koshyari were often strained while in office, accused the governor of “dividing” Hindus living in Mumbai and Thane.

    Holding a press conference, Thackeray said, “The hatred that the governor harbours in his mind against the Marathi people has inadvertently come out.

    “Time has come to decide whether to send Koshyari back home or to jail. In the last three years, he has insulted Marathi-speaking people despite staying in Maharashtra. Now with these comments, he has brought disrespect to the governor’s post,” the Sena president said.

    Amid the backlash, Chief Minister Shinde, leader of the rebel Shiv Sena faction, said he disagreed with Koshyari’s remarks.

    Talking to reporters at Malegaon, Shinde said, “We don’t agree with Koshyari’s remarks. It’s his personal view. He has now issued a clarification. He occupies a constitutional post and should take care that his actions do not insult others. The Marathi community’s hard work has contributed to the development and progress of Mumbai. No one can insult Mumbai and Marathi people,” he added.

    Speaking in Dhule, Deputy Chief Minister and BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis said Marathi-speaking people played a major role in the development and growth of Maharashtra.

    “Even in the industrial sector, Marathi-speaking people have made global strides. We don’t agree with the governor’s remarks,” the former chief minister said.

    ALSO READ | Amid faction war with Uddhav, Eknath Shinde meets senior Shiv Sena leaders, triggers buzz

    State NCP president Jayant Patil said it was unfortunate that the governor has “scant respect for the Marathi-speaking working class due to whose hard work Mumbai progressed and developed.”

    Koshyari doubted Marathi people’s capability to create wealth and this was an insult to Maharashtra, he said.

    State Congress chief Nana Patole said Koshyari’s remarks were outrageous and he had always “insulted Maharashtra through his actions and words.”

    “The Centre should seek Koshyari’s resignation and send him to Gujarat or Rajasthan,” he said.

    Leader of Opposition in the Assembly Ajit Pawar said the governor shouldn’t create unnecessary controversies.

    ALSO READ | Supriya Sule criticises Governor Koshyari for ‘divisive’ remark

    Marathi-speaking people were instrumental in creating the state of Maharashtra with Mumbai as its capital and nation-building was not possible without Maharashtra, the NCP leader said.

    Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut tweeted that the governor wanted to imply that Marathi people and Maharashtra were “beggars.”

    Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray said Koshyari should not make such statements if he was not aware of Maharashtra’s history.

    Outsiders come to the state and start businesses here because Marathi speakers created a conducive atmosphere in the state, Raj said, adding that the governor should not provoke Marathi people.

    MUMBAI: Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari’s comments that “Mumbai will have no money” if the Gujaratis and Rajasthanis were to leave triggered a massive controversy on Saturday, forcing Chief Minister Eknath Shinde to state that he disagreed with the governor.

    As Opposition leaders slammed Koshyari and sought apology from him, the governor said his comments were misconstrued.

    Koshyari made the controversial comments during a function to name a chowk (intersection) in suburban Andheri on Friday evening.

    ”I tell people here that if Gujaratis and Rajasthanis are removed from Maharashtra, especially from Mumbai and Thane, you will be left with no money and Mumbai will not be a financial capital,” he said.

    As the comments drew widespread condemnation, Koshyari said on Saturday that the statement was misconstrued, and asked political parties not to create a controversy.

    There was no question of belittling the contribution of Marathi-speaking people and “lauding one community does not mean insulting another,” he said.

    Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray demanded an apology from Koshyari.

    The former chief minister, whose relations with Koshyari were often strained while in office, accused the governor of “dividing” Hindus living in Mumbai and Thane.

    Holding a press conference, Thackeray said, “The hatred that the governor harbours in his mind against the Marathi people has inadvertently come out.

    “Time has come to decide whether to send Koshyari back home or to jail. In the last three years, he has insulted Marathi-speaking people despite staying in Maharashtra. Now with these comments, he has brought disrespect to the governor’s post,” the Sena president said.

    Amid the backlash, Chief Minister Shinde, leader of the rebel Shiv Sena faction, said he disagreed with Koshyari’s remarks.

    Talking to reporters at Malegaon, Shinde said, “We don’t agree with Koshyari’s remarks. It’s his personal view. He has now issued a clarification. He occupies a constitutional post and should take care that his actions do not insult others. The Marathi community’s hard work has contributed to the development and progress of Mumbai. No one can insult Mumbai and Marathi people,” he added.

    Speaking in Dhule, Deputy Chief Minister and BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis said Marathi-speaking people played a major role in the development and growth of Maharashtra.

    “Even in the industrial sector, Marathi-speaking people have made global strides. We don’t agree with the governor’s remarks,” the former chief minister said.

    ALSO READ | Amid faction war with Uddhav, Eknath Shinde meets senior Shiv Sena leaders, triggers buzz

    State NCP president Jayant Patil said it was unfortunate that the governor has “scant respect for the Marathi-speaking working class due to whose hard work Mumbai progressed and developed.”

    Koshyari doubted Marathi people’s capability to create wealth and this was an insult to Maharashtra, he said.

    State Congress chief Nana Patole said Koshyari’s remarks were outrageous and he had always “insulted Maharashtra through his actions and words.”

    “The Centre should seek Koshyari’s resignation and send him to Gujarat or Rajasthan,” he said.

    Leader of Opposition in the Assembly Ajit Pawar said the governor shouldn’t create unnecessary controversies.

    ALSO READ | Supriya Sule criticises Governor Koshyari for ‘divisive’ remark

    Marathi-speaking people were instrumental in creating the state of Maharashtra with Mumbai as its capital and nation-building was not possible without Maharashtra, the NCP leader said.

    Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut tweeted that the governor wanted to imply that Marathi people and Maharashtra were “beggars.”

    Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray said Koshyari should not make such statements if he was not aware of Maharashtra’s history.

    Outsiders come to the state and start businesses here because Marathi speakers created a conducive atmosphere in the state, Raj said, adding that the governor should not provoke Marathi people.

  • Maharashtra Governor has insulted Marathis: Uddhav Thackeray

    By ANI

    MUMBAI: The former Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray slammed Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari and said that he has insulted the Marathis and their pride and that he is trying to divide the society on the basis of community.

    Uddhav Thackeray said, “I do not want to insult someone sitting on the post of Governor. I respect the chair but Bhagat Singh Koshyari insulted Marathis and there is anger among the people. Governor is trying to divide the society on the basis of religion, he is crossing every limit.”

    “The Governor is the messenger of the President, he takes the words of the President throughout the country. But if he does the same mistakes, then who will take action against him? He has insulted the Marathis and their pride,” Uddhav added.

    Shiv Sena Chief’s comment came as a reaction to the Maharashtra Governor Koshyari when he had created a controversy by stating that, if Gujaratis and Rajasthanis were removed from Maharashtra, then Mumbai will no longer remain the financial capital of the country.

    During a speech at an event held to name a chowk after the late Shantideva Champalalji Kothari in Mumbai’s Andheri on Friday, Koshyari said, “Sometimes I tell people in Maharashtra that if Gujarati and Rajasthani people are removed from here, then you will be left with no money. You call Mumbai the financial capital, but if these people of both these states are not here, then it won’t be called financial capital.”

    The statement, however, triggered a political storm with many claiming that the sentiments of the Marathi people were hurried and their contribution ignored. Many political leaders took to Twitter to oppose the governor’s statement. Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut claimed that Koshyari’s speech was an insult to the people of Maharashtra. He urged Chief Minister Eknath Shinde to condemn the statement.

    “The Marathi man gets insulted as soon as a BJP-sponsored Chief Minister is in power. CM Shinde should, at least, condemn the Governor. This is an insult to Marathi hard-working people,” Raut said in a tweet on Saturday.

    In another tweet, Raut said, “Chief Minister Shinde, are you listening? That your Maharashtra is different. If you have self-respect, then seek the resignation of the governor.”

    MUMBAI: The former Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray slammed Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari and said that he has insulted the Marathis and their pride and that he is trying to divide the society on the basis of community.

    Uddhav Thackeray said, “I do not want to insult someone sitting on the post of Governor. I respect the chair but Bhagat Singh Koshyari insulted Marathis and there is anger among the people. Governor is trying to divide the society on the basis of religion, he is crossing every limit.”

    “The Governor is the messenger of the President, he takes the words of the President throughout the country. But if he does the same mistakes, then who will take action against him? He has insulted the Marathis and their pride,” Uddhav added.

    Shiv Sena Chief’s comment came as a reaction to the Maharashtra Governor Koshyari when he had created a controversy by stating that, if Gujaratis and Rajasthanis were removed from Maharashtra, then Mumbai will no longer remain the financial capital of the country.

    During a speech at an event held to name a chowk after the late Shantideva Champalalji Kothari in Mumbai’s Andheri on Friday, Koshyari said, “Sometimes I tell people in Maharashtra that if Gujarati and Rajasthani people are removed from here, then you will be left with no money. You call Mumbai the financial capital, but if these people of both these states are not here, then it won’t be called financial capital.”

    The statement, however, triggered a political storm with many claiming that the sentiments of the Marathi people were hurried and their contribution ignored. Many political leaders took to Twitter to oppose the governor’s statement. Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut claimed that Koshyari’s speech was an insult to the people of Maharashtra. He urged Chief Minister Eknath Shinde to condemn the statement.

    “The Marathi man gets insulted as soon as a BJP-sponsored Chief Minister is in power. CM Shinde should, at least, condemn the Governor. This is an insult to Marathi hard-working people,” Raut said in a tweet on Saturday.

    In another tweet, Raut said, “Chief Minister Shinde, are you listening? That your Maharashtra is different. If you have self-respect, then seek the resignation of the governor.”

  • Shinde’s demand and BJP’s Gujarat pattern causing delay in Maharashtra cabinet expansion

    Express News Service

    MUMBAI: The deadlock continues over cabinet expansion in Maharashtra. Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde abruptly cancelled his scheduled Delhi visit on Wednesday evening.

    Shinde was expected to meet the top leadership of the BJP to discuss the cabinet expansion.

    According to sources, Shinde made several visits to Delhi and met the top leadership of the BJP, but there is an icebreaker between the two partners. Shinde might fly on Thursday to Delhi once he confirms the appointment of the BJP leadership in Delhi.

    “The problem is not only with Shinde’s demand but BJP is also having issues regarding the expansion of the cabinet, which is causing a delay in the expansion,” said a senior BJP leader who requested anonymity. 

    “After getting the Chief Minister post, Shinde wants to keep the key portfolios like Home and Finance with him so that he can give justice to his 41 rebelled Shiv Sena MLAs. Shinde had promised everyone either making cabinet minister or minister for the state. It will be difficult for him to fulfil this given promise, therefore if finance is with him, then at least he can impart sufficient funds to his camp MLAs and Lok Sabha MPs. And, with the home ministry, he can control the state and break the Sena further. The 12 Shiv Sena Lok Sabha MPs who joined Shinde also expecting some good pie in this new alliance. So, Shinde is surrounded by several issues and demands of his own people.”

    Source added, Shinde is a hard bargainer while BJP is also a tough bargainer. “BJP leadership is in no mood to sacrifice further after giving the Chief Minister post to Shinde, while Shinde will continue to remain on the pitch to get some or other things. This tough bargaining by both sides is causing an indefinite delay in the cabinet expansion. Shinde met the BJP’s leadership with the list but leadership is no more entertaining him now. They are not also giving him appointments. In his last Delhi visit, he spent his entire day at Maharashtra Sadan to fix the appointment with top BJP leaders but failed and returned back to Maharashtra without any concrete meeting,” said sources requesting anonymity.

    Deepak Kesarkar, Shinde camp spokesperson said that the media should not worry about the delay in cabinet expansions. He said there is a government in place and taking several decisions. “We are confident that there will be soon cabinet expansion in Maharashtra. A month’s delay is not much delay. It has happened earlier also. Uddhav Thackerays’ government had also delayed cabinet expansion despite 2/3 majority on his side,” he explained. 

    Sources in BJP said that the top leaders of Delhi leadership also want to give a second shock to Maharashtra BJP by giving all fresh faces like Gujarat patterns’ cabinet expansion. “Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis doing hard lobbying for his people while the BJP state president Chandrakant Patil, Ashish Shelar, Pankaja Munde and Vinod Tawade are also doing their own lobbying. This has made it difficult to come out with same-page solutions. The BJP not only struggling to resolve Shindes’ demands but within the party demand is also a major issue. All these things are incorporated for the delay in cabinet expansion,” said a BJP leader requesting anonymity.

    MUMBAI: The deadlock continues over cabinet expansion in Maharashtra. Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde abruptly cancelled his scheduled Delhi visit on Wednesday evening.

    Shinde was expected to meet the top leadership of the BJP to discuss the cabinet expansion.

    According to sources, Shinde made several visits to Delhi and met the top leadership of the BJP, but there is an icebreaker between the two partners. Shinde might fly on Thursday to Delhi once he confirms the appointment of the BJP leadership in Delhi.

    “The problem is not only with Shinde’s demand but BJP is also having issues regarding the expansion of the cabinet, which is causing a delay in the expansion,” said a senior BJP leader who requested anonymity. 

    “After getting the Chief Minister post, Shinde wants to keep the key portfolios like Home and Finance with him so that he can give justice to his 41 rebelled Shiv Sena MLAs. Shinde had promised everyone either making cabinet minister or minister for the state. It will be difficult for him to fulfil this given promise, therefore if finance is with him, then at least he can impart sufficient funds to his camp MLAs and Lok Sabha MPs. And, with the home ministry, he can control the state and break the Sena further. The 12 Shiv Sena Lok Sabha MPs who joined Shinde also expecting some good pie in this new alliance. So, Shinde is surrounded by several issues and demands of his own people.”

    Source added, Shinde is a hard bargainer while BJP is also a tough bargainer. “BJP leadership is in no mood to sacrifice further after giving the Chief Minister post to Shinde, while Shinde will continue to remain on the pitch to get some or other things. This tough bargaining by both sides is causing an indefinite delay in the cabinet expansion. Shinde met the BJP’s leadership with the list but leadership is no more entertaining him now. They are not also giving him appointments. In his last Delhi visit, he spent his entire day at Maharashtra Sadan to fix the appointment with top BJP leaders but failed and returned back to Maharashtra without any concrete meeting,” said sources requesting anonymity.

    Deepak Kesarkar, Shinde camp spokesperson said that the media should not worry about the delay in cabinet expansions. He said there is a government in place and taking several decisions. “We are confident that there will be soon cabinet expansion in Maharashtra. A month’s delay is not much delay. It has happened earlier also. Uddhav Thackerays’ government had also delayed cabinet expansion despite 2/3 majority on his side,” he explained. 

    Sources in BJP said that the top leaders of Delhi leadership also want to give a second shock to Maharashtra BJP by giving all fresh faces like Gujarat patterns’ cabinet expansion. “Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis doing hard lobbying for his people while the BJP state president Chandrakant Patil, Ashish Shelar, Pankaja Munde and Vinod Tawade are also doing their own lobbying. This has made it difficult to come out with same-page solutions. The BJP not only struggling to resolve Shindes’ demands but within the party demand is also a major issue. All these things are incorporated for the delay in cabinet expansion,” said a BJP leader requesting anonymity.

  • Shinde appoints secretaries, treasurer and spokespersons for his Shiv Sena faction

    By PTI

    MUMBAI: Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Wednesday made new appointments for the Shiv Sena faction led by him.

    Trade union leader Kiran Pawaskar and Sanjay more were appointed as party secretaries, while Deepak Kesarkar, Uday Samant, Gulabrao Patil and Sheetal Mhatre were appointed as spokespersons, a release from his office said.

    Balaji Kinikar was appointed as treasurer, it added.

    Shinde rebelled against Shiv Sena president and then Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray last month which led to the downfall of the Thackeray-led government.

    The Shinde-led faction has approached the Election Commission, seeking recognition as the real Shiv Sena.

    MUMBAI: Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Wednesday made new appointments for the Shiv Sena faction led by him.

    Trade union leader Kiran Pawaskar and Sanjay more were appointed as party secretaries, while Deepak Kesarkar, Uday Samant, Gulabrao Patil and Sheetal Mhatre were appointed as spokespersons, a release from his office said.

    Balaji Kinikar was appointed as treasurer, it added.

    Shinde rebelled against Shiv Sena president and then Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray last month which led to the downfall of the Thackeray-led government.

    The Shinde-led faction has approached the Election Commission, seeking recognition as the real Shiv Sena.