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Tag: Nana Patole

  • Those targeting Rahul should explain why Savarkar got pension from British, says Maha Cong chief

    By PTI

    BULDHANA: Maharashtra Congress president Nana Patole on Saturday said those criticising party leader Rahul Gandhi for his remarks on VD Savarkar, should first explain why the Hindutva ideologue was getting Rs 60 pension from the British.

    Gandhi has kicked up a row with his remarks on Savarkar made earlier this week during the Maharashtra leg of his Bharat Jodo Yatra.

    He has claimed that Savarkar had helped the British and wrote a mercy petition to him out of fear.

    “Those who criticised Rahul Gandhi for his comments on Savarkar should first reply why the latter was getting a pension of Rs 60 from the British,” Patole said in response to a query about criticism of Gandhi for his remarks against Savarkar and Shiv Sena’s stand that such comments will hamper MVA alliance.

    He said the Bharat Jodo Yatra received an overwhelming response in Maharashtra and the Congress was united and energised.

    Patole said his party wants an ideological debate and it wants to unite people. The Congress believed in non-violence, he said.

    Congress general secretary in-charge of the party’s communication and publicity wing, Jairam Ramesh, said the grand old party was celebrating November 19 as ‘Kisan Vijay Diwas’ as it was on this day last year that the three farm laws were withdrawn by Prime Minister Narendra Modi after protests.

    ”November 19 is a historic day and we are celebrating it as Kisan Vijay diwas.

    The only long-term solution for the welfare of farmers is upgrading irrigation facilities in the Vidarbha region of Maharashtra, where farmers are committing suicide,” he said.

    Women elected representatives and members of self-help groups (SHGs) joined the yatra with Rahul Gandhi to mark the birth anniversary of late prime minister Indira Gandhi, he added.

    BULDHANA: Maharashtra Congress president Nana Patole on Saturday said those criticising party leader Rahul Gandhi for his remarks on VD Savarkar, should first explain why the Hindutva ideologue was getting Rs 60 pension from the British.

    Gandhi has kicked up a row with his remarks on Savarkar made earlier this week during the Maharashtra leg of his Bharat Jodo Yatra.

    He has claimed that Savarkar had helped the British and wrote a mercy petition to him out of fear.

    “Those who criticised Rahul Gandhi for his comments on Savarkar should first reply why the latter was getting a pension of Rs 60 from the British,” Patole said in response to a query about criticism of Gandhi for his remarks against Savarkar and Shiv Sena’s stand that such comments will hamper MVA alliance.

    He said the Bharat Jodo Yatra received an overwhelming response in Maharashtra and the Congress was united and energised.

    Patole said his party wants an ideological debate and it wants to unite people. The Congress believed in non-violence, he said.

    Congress general secretary in-charge of the party’s communication and publicity wing, Jairam Ramesh, said the grand old party was celebrating November 19 as ‘Kisan Vijay Diwas’ as it was on this day last year that the three farm laws were withdrawn by Prime Minister Narendra Modi after protests.

    ”November 19 is a historic day and we are celebrating it as Kisan Vijay diwas.

    The only long-term solution for the welfare of farmers is upgrading irrigation facilities in the Vidarbha region of Maharashtra, where farmers are committing suicide,” he said.

    Women elected representatives and members of self-help groups (SHGs) joined the yatra with Rahul Gandhi to mark the birth anniversary of late prime minister Indira Gandhi, he added.

  • Shinde govt came into being due to corruption and fear, alleges Maharashtra Congress chief Patole

    By PTI

    NANDED: Maharashtra Congress president Nana Patole on Sunday alleged that the Eknath Shinde-led government in the state came into existence due to corruption and out of fear.

    Addressing a press conference here, Patole also claimed that the expansion of the state cabinet was not being done because the government can collapse.

    “Why is the chief minister not going for cabinet expansion? It is because this government can collapse. This regime came into existence due to corruption and fear. One cabinet minister is in charge of six districts. What is happening in Maharashtra?” he asked.

    Patole said CM Shinde keeps blaming the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) all the time.

    READ MORE | Bonhomie between BJP, Shinde faction, and MNS increases, will it translate into new political alignment in Maha?

    “But he along with many of the existing ministers were part of the MVA,” the Congress leader added.

    The Uddhav Thackeray-led MVA government collapsed on June 29 this year following a revolt by 40 Shiv Sena MLAs, led by Shinde, against the party leadership.

    The next day, Shinde took oath as the chief minister with senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Devendra Fadnavis becoming his deputy.

    The first cabinet expansion of this government took place on August 9, forty days after Shinde became the CM.

    The state council of ministers at present has 18 cabinet ministers, including Shinde. There are nine ministers each from the Shinde-led faction of the Shiv Sena and its ally BJP. The council of ministers can have up to 43 members in Maharashtra.

    NANDED: Maharashtra Congress president Nana Patole on Sunday alleged that the Eknath Shinde-led government in the state came into existence due to corruption and out of fear.

    Addressing a press conference here, Patole also claimed that the expansion of the state cabinet was not being done because the government can collapse.

    “Why is the chief minister not going for cabinet expansion? It is because this government can collapse. This regime came into existence due to corruption and fear. One cabinet minister is in charge of six districts. What is happening in Maharashtra?” he asked.

    Patole said CM Shinde keeps blaming the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) all the time.

    READ MORE | Bonhomie between BJP, Shinde faction, and MNS increases, will it translate into new political alignment in Maha?

    “But he along with many of the existing ministers were part of the MVA,” the Congress leader added.

    The Uddhav Thackeray-led MVA government collapsed on June 29 this year following a revolt by 40 Shiv Sena MLAs, led by Shinde, against the party leadership.

    The next day, Shinde took oath as the chief minister with senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Devendra Fadnavis becoming his deputy.

    The first cabinet expansion of this government took place on August 9, forty days after Shinde became the CM.

    The state council of ministers at present has 18 cabinet ministers, including Shinde. There are nine ministers each from the Shinde-led faction of the Shiv Sena and its ally BJP. The council of ministers can have up to 43 members in Maharashtra.

  • Flags being imported from China for ‘Har Ghar Tiranga’ initiative, alleges Maharashtra Congress chief

    By PTI

    MUMBAI: Maharashtra Congress president Nana Patole on Wednesday claimed that tricolours were being imported from China for the ‘Har Ghar Tiranga’ initiative launched by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led central government.

    He was speaking in Buldhana district as part of the Azadi Gaurav Padyatra of the Congress.

    “A long struggle had to be waged to oust the tyrannical British rule. The country was united under the Congress flag and Congress’s idea of taking everyone together brought independence to this country. People who have not contributed anything in this freedom struggle are today running events in the name of ‘Har Ghar Tiranga’ campaign,” Patole charged.

    Tricolours are being imported from China for this event, which is an insult to the freedom fighters and the national flag, the Congress leader claimed.

    Patole further said that when the country became independent, not even a needle was manufactured in the country, but under the visionary leadership of Jawaharlal Nehru, India reached the pinnacle of progress.

    Former prime ministers Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi also successfully took India forward by driving development.

    After them, PV Narasimha Rao, Manmohan Singh also implemented various development schemes in the country, he said.

    “Indiraji and Rajivji sacrificed (their lives) for the country. But today’s BJP government is selling the public companies that were created by the Congress and were the glory of the country. Schemes like ‘Agnipath’ are like rubbing salt into the wounds of the youth. Inflation, and unemployment have increased tremendously. People are being looted by imposing GST on grocery items as well,” the former MP added.

    “China is encroaching on our borders, but the prime minister is not talking about it. On the contrary, attention is being paid to how they get financial benefits by importing tricolour flags from China,” he said.

    Patole alleged that the BJP came to power through lies and it cheated the people of the country and forgotten the promises made to the people.

    Work will be done to expose the falsehood of the BJP by creating public awareness through this padayatra, he charged.

    Legislature party leader and former minister Balasaheb Thorat participated in the Azadi Gaurav Padayatra in Dhule and Jalgaon districts.

    He met the families of freedom fighters at Krantibhumi Kapadne in Dhule district.

    MUMBAI: Maharashtra Congress president Nana Patole on Wednesday claimed that tricolours were being imported from China for the ‘Har Ghar Tiranga’ initiative launched by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led central government.

    He was speaking in Buldhana district as part of the Azadi Gaurav Padyatra of the Congress.

    “A long struggle had to be waged to oust the tyrannical British rule. The country was united under the Congress flag and Congress’s idea of taking everyone together brought independence to this country. People who have not contributed anything in this freedom struggle are today running events in the name of ‘Har Ghar Tiranga’ campaign,” Patole charged.

    Tricolours are being imported from China for this event, which is an insult to the freedom fighters and the national flag, the Congress leader claimed.

    Patole further said that when the country became independent, not even a needle was manufactured in the country, but under the visionary leadership of Jawaharlal Nehru, India reached the pinnacle of progress.

    Former prime ministers Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi also successfully took India forward by driving development.

    After them, PV Narasimha Rao, Manmohan Singh also implemented various development schemes in the country, he said.

    “Indiraji and Rajivji sacrificed (their lives) for the country. But today’s BJP government is selling the public companies that were created by the Congress and were the glory of the country. Schemes like ‘Agnipath’ are like rubbing salt into the wounds of the youth. Inflation, and unemployment have increased tremendously. People are being looted by imposing GST on grocery items as well,” the former MP added.

    “China is encroaching on our borders, but the prime minister is not talking about it. On the contrary, attention is being paid to how they get financial benefits by importing tricolour flags from China,” he said.

    Patole alleged that the BJP came to power through lies and it cheated the people of the country and forgotten the promises made to the people.

    Work will be done to expose the falsehood of the BJP by creating public awareness through this padayatra, he charged.

    Legislature party leader and former minister Balasaheb Thorat participated in the Azadi Gaurav Padayatra in Dhule and Jalgaon districts.

    He met the families of freedom fighters at Krantibhumi Kapadne in Dhule district.

  • Fuel excise duty reduction mere eyewash: Maharashtra Congress chief slams Centre 

    By PTI

    MUMBAI: Maharashtra Congress president Nana Patole on Sunday described the central government’s move of slashing excise duty on fuel as a mere “eyewash” and said if it really wanted to provide relief to people, then it should reduce the price of LPG cylinder to Rs 400 and also restore subsidy on it.

    The Centre on Saturday announced a record Rs 8 per litre cut in excise duty on petrol and Rs 6 reduction on diesel.

    “If the Modi government is honest, then the unjust increase in excise duty imposed since 2014 should be withdrawn,” Patole said.

    He accused the Centre of fooling people by first increasing the LPG prices by Rs 700 and then reducing them by Rs 200.

    “If the Modi government has a sincere desire to save the common man from inflation, then the price of a gas cylinder should be reduced to Rs 400 and subsidy on it should be restored. If it is really sincere and wants to give relief to people, then the unjust increase in fuel tax imposed since 2014 should be reduced,” he added.

    BJP leaders in Maharashtra are making “wrong and misleading” statements by demanding that the state government reduce its share of taxes on the fuel, he alleged.

    “The states’ share is Value Added Tax (VAT) and as soon as the central government reduces prices, the VAT automatically decreases. For every one rupee reduced by the Centre, 41 paise belongs to the state. That means about Rs 4 on the Rs 9.5 relief on petrol belongs to the state. About Rs 3 of the Rs 7 per litre cut in diesel belongs to the state government,” he claimed.

    The Congress leader accused the Modi government of looting the public by imposing various cess, like road development cess, agricultural development cess.

    The state gets its share of excise duty, but does not get its share of cess, he said.

    “On the one hand, by reducing the excise duty, the central government is trying to create financial difficulties for the state, while on the other hand, it is robbing the people by imposing cess. This dual taxation should be stopped immediately,” Patole demanded. 

  • Congress blames Centre for coal crunch, power crisis in Maharashtra

    By PTI

    MUMBAI: Maharashtra Congress president Nana Patole on Friday said the power crisis in the state has been caused due to lack of coal supply by the Central government.

    Talking to reporters here, Patole claimed that though the Union coal minister has advised states to import coal, the imports will only benefit some of the BJP’s industrialist friends and will make electricity expensive.

    “The Union coal minister has advised states to import coal. However, when coal is imported, it will only benefit some of the BJP’s industrialist friends and it will make electricity more expensive and ordinary consumers will have to bear the brunt of it,” he alleged.

    The Congress leader further said that the allegations of corruption in the allocation of coal mines, which were made during the UPA regime, were later found to be false. The then PM Manmohan Singh had a vision, he was ready to empower the energy department.

    But under the Modi government, no new coal mine has been created, this is a ploy of privatisation, he claimed.

    When asked about the use of loudspeakers on mosques, Patole charged that some parties were trying to further their political interests by raising the issue of loudspeakers on mosques.

    “Why is one particular religion being targeted, when loudspeakers are being used in places of worship across all faiths? The Constitution does not teach you to hate any religion,” the former speaker said.

    Communal forces should not try to instigate one religion against another, he said, adding that efforts are being made to create a religious rift in Maharashtra and action should be taken against such people.

    Speaking about Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s visit to Mumbai, Patole said the date for the same has not been fixed yet.

    During his visit to Mumbai, Gandhi will meet Congress MLAs, ministers and party office bearers. The visit will be important for coordination among the MVA constituents and implementation of the common minimum programme drafted by the parties, Patole said.

  • Need to unitedly fight against tactics to silence opponents: Maharashtra Congress as ED questions Nawab Malik

    By PTI

    MUMBAI: Maharashtra Congress president Nana Patole on Wednesday claimed that state minister and NCP leader Nawab Malik’s questioning by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) was an act of “revenge” and the need of the hour was to unitedly fight against the tactics to silence political opponents.

    Talking to reporters here, Patole, whose party shares power with the Shiv Sena and NCP in Maharashtra, said the Congress stood firmly with Malik, who has been raising his voice against the BJP’s “anti-people” policies and “arrogance of power”.

    “We will discuss such actions by central probe agencies and unitedly fight against the tactics to silence political. opponents,” the Congress leader said.

    He also accused the BJP of maligning Maharashtra for the sake of power.

    The Shiv Sena, NCP and Congress had in 2019 joined hands to form the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government led by Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray in the state.

    The ED on Wednesday questioned Maharashtra Minority Affairs Minister and NCP’s chief spokesperson Malik in a money laundering probe linked to the activities of the Mumbai underworld, fugitive gangster Dawood Ibrahim and his aides, officials said.

    Meanwhile, BJP state president Chandrakant Patil told reporters in Pune that if leaders of the NCP and other MVA constituents think that the ED’s action against Nawab Malik is misuse of power, they can approach court to seek justice.

    “We (BJP) have been subjected to injustice for the last 27 months (by the state government), but when our 12 MLAs were suspended, we went to court and got justice. Similarly, if they think that victimisation is happening, they should approach the court,” he said.

    Patil said when former state home minister and NCP leader Anil Deshmukh was arrested (by the ED in a money laundering case), there was a similar outcry, but it later died down.

    The BJP leader also claimed that Deshmukh had said “if he (Deshmukh) opens his mouth, it will cost (MVA) dearly.”

    Earlier in the day, NCP chief Sharad Pawar said Malik is being troubled because he spoke against the Union government and “misuse” of central probe agencies.

    “Which case have they dug up? It is simple. They take the name of Dawood, especially if there is a Muslim activist (against whom a case is dug up)…There is no relation (between the activist concerned and underworld), but it is done,” Pawar said.

    Reacting to Pawar’s comments, Patil accused the NCP chief of fanning casteism.

    “Sometimes he does that between Marathas and non-Marathas, sometimes he does that between minorities and non-minorities. But, people know this kind of (Pawar’s) politics which is going on for the last 50 years. The non-Muslim communities know this and they will not take it seriously,” he said.

  • Patole should reveal name of ‘goon’ he was referring to: Nilangekar on ‘will beat Modi’ row

    By PTI

    AURANGABAD: BJP MLA and former Maharashtra minister Sambhaji Patil-Nilangekar on Tuesday demanded that state Congress chief Nana Patole disclose the identity of the person he was referring to in his controversial `Modi’ remarks.

    BJP workers also staged protests against Patole in Aurangabad, Nanded and other districts of Marathwada region of central Maharashtra during the day.

    Patole should declare “details with a photograph of the ‘goon’ about whom he was talking,” Nilangekar said in a statement.

    Congress was promoting violence in politics, he alleged.

    Patole has kicked up a controversy after a video, where he purportedly said, speaking in Bhandara district, that he can beat up and badmouth “Modi”, went viral.

    The Congress leader later clarified that he was only referring to a local goon.

    BJP workers protested against him in Nanded on Tuesday.

    City BJP president Pravin Sale said the Congress leader’s statement was part of a “conspiracy”, and if he came to Nanded, “we will seat him on a donkey and take out a procession.”

    BJP workers staged protests in Jalna city as well as at Partur in Jalna district too.

    In Aurangabad, district BJP chief Sanjay Kenekar said Patole’s statement was an “attempt to increase TRP (visibility) of Congress” which is nowhere to be seen in Maharashtra and the country otherwise.

  • RS bypoll: Maharashtra Congress leaders urge Fadnavis to withdraw BJP candidate

    By PTI

    MUMBAI: Maharashtra Congress president Nana Patole and state Revenue Minister Balasaheb Thorat met Leader of Opposition in the Assembly Devendra Fadnavis on Thursday to urge the opposition BJP to withdraw its candidate and ensure the Congress nominee gets elected unopposed in the next month’s bpoll to a Rajya Sabha seat from the state.

    The by-election was necessitated due to the death of sitting Congress MP Rajiv Satav in May this year.

    The Congress, which shares power with the Shiv Sena and NCP in Maharashtra, has fielded Rajni Patil, while the BJP has nominated Sanjay Upadhyay for the bypoll, to be held on October 4,.

    “Thorat and Patole met Fadnavis to persuade the BJP to withdraw its candidate and facilitate unopposed win of the Congress candidate,” a Congress source said.

    The scrutiny of nomination papers will be done on Thursday and the last date of withdrawal is September 27.

    Voting, if neccessary, will be on October 4 and counting of votes will be done the same day.

    The 288-member Maharashtra Assembly forms the electoral college for the poll.

    The BJP has the highest 106 MLAs in the House, followed by Shiv Sena (56), NCP (53), Congress (43), Bahujan Vikas Aghadi (3), Samajwadi Party (2), AIMIM (2), Prahar Janshakti Party (2), MNS (1), CPM (1), Swambhimani Party (1), Rashtriya Samaj Paksh (1), Krantikari Shetkari Party (1), Peasants and Workers Party (1), Jansurajya Shakti Party (1) and Independents 13.

    One seat is lying vacant since the death of Congress MLA Raosaheb Antapurkar in April this year.

  • Time has come to unearth corruption of erstwhile Devendra Fadnavis govt: Congress

    Responding to a query, the Congress leader said the MVA government of Shiv Sena, NCP and Congress will last its full term and BJP #39;s dream of returning to power will never come true.

  • State must approach SC for OBC data from Centre: Maharashtra Congress chief Nana Patole

    By PTI

    NAGPUR: Maharashtra Congress chief Nana Patole on Sunday said the MVA government in the state must appeal in the Supreme Court for directions to the Centre to provide census data of Other Backward Classes (OBC).

    He was addressing a press conference here against the backdrop of the apex court on Saturday saying the state government cannot postpone local bodies polls over OBC reservations, as this power was only with the Election Commission.

    Patole also said all upcoming polls should be held after OBC reservations are restored, so that members of these communities do not suffer any “political loss”. “The state government should appeal in the SC to get the Central government to provide census data of OBCs to Maharashtra. The state OBC commission must also collect empirical data as soon as possible,” Patole said.

    An all-party meeting on August 27 had unanimously agreed to not hold polls till reservations for OBCs in local civic bodies were restored.

    Patole also said he would meet Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray over the post of advocate general as the incumbent, Ashutosh Kumbhakoni, was appointed by the previous Devendra Fadnavis government. “Traditionally, the advocate general changes when the government changes,” Patole claimed.