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Tag: Uddhav Thackeray

  • Sharad Pawar meets Uddhav Thackeray ahead of Parliament monsoon session

    By PTI
    MUMBAI: NCP president Sharad Pawar called on Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray here on Thursday, a meeting coming days ahead of the beginning of the monsoon session of Parliament and in the backdrop of controversial remarks made by state Congress head Nana Patole.

    The meeting took place at ‘Varsha’, the CM’s official residence in south Mumbai.

    Pawar is a Rajya Sabha member and his party is a key constituent of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), which is led by Thackeray’s Shiv Sena.

    The Congress is the third ally in the MVA.

    The monsoon session of Parliament will commence from July 19 and continue till August 13.

    The state government has demanded that the Centre intervene and take steps to relax the 50 per cent limit for reservations to restore political quota for OBCs in local bodies and in jobs and education for the Marathas.

    The government has also sought three crore anti-COVID-19 vaccines from the Centre every month to accelerate the inoculation drive in Maharashtra.

    Patole recently kicked up a row when he sought to suggest that the MVA government was keeping an eye over his movements and claimed the Shiv Sena and the NCP feel the ground was slipping from beneath their feet due to his party’s growing influence.

    As his “under watch” remarks caused a flutter, Patole later claimed wrong information was being spread through the media and asserted there was no dispute among MVA allies.

    Talking to reporters on Wednesday, the Congress leader, in a veiled attack on the NCP in the context of the 2014 assembly elections, said his party was “cheated” seven years ago and it is now preparing for the 2024 general elections keeping that in mind.

    He has said the Congress will contest elections on its own and emerge as the single largest party in the state.

  • After ‘under watch’ remark, Patole says no rift in MVA; BJP seeks explanation from Uddhav

    By PTI
    MUMBAI/NAGPUR: Maharashtra Congress president Nana Patole has sought to suggest the state government is keeping an eye over his movement and claimed that Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) allies Shiv Sena and the NCP feel the ground was slipping from beneath their feet due to his party’s growing influence.

    As his ‘under watch’ statement created a controversy, Patole on Monday claimed wrong information was being spread through the media and asserted there was no dispute among MVA allies and the Congress was being deliberately targeted.

    Reacting to Patole’s suggestion that his movement was being tracked, the NCP, which handles the home deparment, said his claim was based on incomplete information, while the Shiv Sena asserted that all was well in the ruling alliance.

    Wading into the row, BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis said Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray and deputy CM Ajit Pawar should give explanation on the allegations made by Patole.

    It all started with a speech the state Congress president gave in Lonavala, a hill station around 125km from Mumbai, during the weekend.

    Speaking at a meeting of party workers in Lonavala, Patole said the Congress is resurrecting itself in Maharashtra and this has caused disquiet among the Shiv Sena and the NCP.

    The MPCC did not name the two MVA partners while making a reference about them in his speech.

    The Congress is part of the three-party Shiv Sena-led MVA government.

    He also sought to hint that the government is keeping an eye on his activities.

    “Every morning at 9, intelligence report is submitted to the chief minister and the home minister on what is happening in the state. The Congress is resurrecting itself and the report is making the ground beneath their feet slip away. I am here in Lonavala but the report will go to them,” he said.

    ALSO READ | Maharashtra govt sets up panel to probe phone-tapping allegations made by state Cong chief Nana Patole

    Patole later told a Marathi news channel that his statement hinting at tracking of his movement has been misconstrued.

    “I have not made any comment that the state government is keeping a watch on me. My allegations were against the Centre,” he said.

    Meanwhile, the NCP said the allegations of Patole that he was under watch of the intelligence department were based on incomplete information.

    Addressing a press conference, NCP spokesperson and minority affairs minister Nawab Malik said the police have a special department to report movements of important leaders, their meetings, political programmes and agitation.

    This has been the long-standing practice irrespective of which party or alliance is in power.

    Relevant information is collected and a comprehensive report is submitted to the home department and the chief minister, he said.

    “If Patole is unaware of this process, he should consult former CMs of the Congress – Ashok Chavan, Sushilkumar Shinde, Prithviraj Chavan,” Malik said.

    The NCP minister said if Patole doesn’t want police ‘bandobast’ (security arrangement) for himself or leaders of his party, he should make an application and the home minister would take a decision on that.

    Congress leader and minister Balasaheb Thorat said, “I don’t know what he (Patole) meant. He would be in a better position to explain.”

    Shiv Sena leader and minister Eknath Shinde sought to downplay Patole’s remark and said the MVA was working well.

    “The Shiv Sena-Congress-NCP alliance was working fine,” he added.

    Asked by journalists in Nagpur whether the Maharashtra CM or the deputy CM will be speaking to him over his controversial statement, Patole said, “I will feel good talking with them.”

    “There is no dispute between us and if anyone is trying to create dispute through the media, it will be resolved through discussions. I will certainly like to talk to the CM and the Deputy CM,” he said.

    He said the Congress is becoming people’s party in Maharashtra and the BJP is losing ground and hence “wrong news reports” are being circulated against his organization.

    “I want to tell that the MVA government will complete its full 5-year term. The BJP, from the day MVA government came to power, has been saying that this government will fall.”

    “But, the government has completed almost two years and their intentions have not been successful. Hence, wrong news is being circulated,” said Patole.

    Answering a query on the Congress’s future plan, he blasted the BJP, the main opposition party in Maharashtra.

    “The Congress is fighting across the country and in Maharashtra it is protesting over the price rise issue for the last four days. The Congress is getting a huge support from people. The BJP has taken a note of it and hence with the help of the media, it is creating a picture of dispute between MVA allies. There is no dispute between the three parties,” Patole said.

    To a query whether some state Congress leaders are disappointed with him and are complaining to the central leadership, Patole said, “Our leaders are going to Delhi for their respective work.”

    “The Congress is being targeted and a particular person is being targeted, which means that person is becoming important in Maharashtra.  People’s support for the Congress is growing. There is no rift in the Maharashtra Congress and the party is working unitedly,” he said.

    Meanwhile, Fadnavis said in Nagpur that Patole’ s statement indicates that the NCP and the Shiv Sena were uncomfortable with the Congress’s claim of its growing popularity.

    ALSO READ | Won’t react to small people: Pawar on Maharashtra Congress chief’s remarks on nephew Ajit

    “Nana Patole’ s statement indicates that the NCP and the Shiv Sena are afraid of the Congress’s announcement of re-establishing itself on its own and hence they are keeping a watch on him. Now, the CM and the deputy CM should tell why they are so afraid, and why they are keeping a watch on him, ” said Fadnavis.

    Fadnavis was speaking to reporters after visiting the family of a Nagpur resident, Manoj Thawkar, who was allegedly beaten up by police and subsequently died.

    Police have denied the allegation.

    “This incident is very serious, wherein a handicapped youth is beaten up with sticks just because he was not wearing a mask. I have seen the videos of eyewitnesses who claimed he was beaten up in public and again at a police station,” the former CM said.

    “It means this death occurred due to the police beating,” he said and demanded action against the erring police personnel. The BJP on its part will give Rs 2 lakh assistance to the victim’s family,” Fadnavis said.

  • Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray dismisses rumours about talk of patch-up with BJP

    By PTI
    MUMBAI: Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Tuesday dismissed rumours that the Shiv Sena and BJP may come together again, and also slammed the opposition party for its conduct during the state legislature’s just-concluded monsoon session.

    Speculation was rife in political circles in the last few days over possible reconciliation between the Thackeray-led Sena and the BJP which parted ways after the 2019 Assembly elections. “Something which didn’t happen when we were together for 30 years, what can happen now, ” he said to a question about whether the two parties would join the hands again.

    Talking to the media after the two-day session ended, the chief minister said the actions of the BJP members were not the sign of a healthy democracy. Twelve BJP MLAs were on Monday suspended from the Assembly for one year for allegedly misbehaving with presiding officer Bhaskar Jadhav in the Speaker’s chamber.

    “What was the need for the BJP to create a hue and cry over a resolution asking the Centre to provide census data of 2011 to enable the State Backward Class Commission to prepare empirical data of OBCs….should we say its animosity for OBCs came to the surface?” Thackeray asked.

    He said that the conduct of BJP MLAs “made us hang our heads in shame”. “Even if you feel the resolution wouldn’t yield anything, couldn’t you still support it? What was the need to create ruckus. If the Centre is not providing us the data, how do you know there are mistakes in it,” Thackeray said.

    “If there were mistakes, why did the Devendra Fadnavis government seek information about it in 2019,” he asked.

    Monday’s ruckus was an attempt to destablize the Sena-NCP-Congress government, Thackeray alleged, adding the attempt failed and it had failed in the past too. “The BJP blames us for murdering democracy and called the MLAs’ suspension a black chapter, then what are ED and CBI doing, painting the democracy white?” he further said.

    To a question on the pending election for Assembly Speaker, the chief minister said his government applies COVID-19 rules to itself too.

    “During a pandemic, the health of people and legislators is important. I underwent a COVID test on Sunday and got the report on Monday morning. (But) What about MLAs from rural areas, how can the 72-hour period for RTPCR test be implemented,” he asked.

    Justifying the delay in holding election for Speaker and short duration of the session, he said in two days “we could do a lot of work which will help people”.

  • Duration of monsoon session can’t be extended due to COVID-19: Maharashtra CM in letter to Governor

    By PTI
    MUMBAI: Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Friday wrote a letter to Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari, in which he defended the government’s decision of holding the monsoon session of the state legislature only for two days starting July 5, saying that its duration cannot be extended in view of the coronavirus situation.

    He also appeared non-committal on holding the legislative assembly speaker’s election during the two-day session, saying there was no “time-frame” for it.

    Thackeray also urged Koshyari to pursue with the Centre the state government’s demand of sharing the empirical data on the Other Backward Classes (OBC) in order to take steps for restoring the political reservation for the community in local civic bodies.

    Recently, Koshyari had written a letter to Thackeray, asking him to extend the duration of the upcoming monsoon and fill the post of the legislative assembly speaker urgently citing the demands raised by a BJP delegation.

    In his reply letter, Thackeray said the duration of the legislature session cannot be extended in view of the second wave of the pandemic and the threat of a possible third wave.

    “Medical experts have predicted a severe third wave,” he said.

    Thackeray said that taking care of the health of the people and the elected representatives in the state was the responsibility of his government.

    He said the decision to hold the monsoon session for two days was taken due to the COVID-19 pandemic and cases of Delta Plus variant of the virus reported in several districts of the state.

    The government was trying to hold the election for the legislative assembly speaker’s post at the earliest, he said.

    “It is better if each and every MLA can participate in the election process. There is no point in doing things in haste. As per the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the union health ministry guidelines, an RT-PCR test done within 72 hours is held valid. So it is not correct to declare a date in advance for holding the speaker’s election,” the CM said in the letter.

    Thackeray said deputy speaker Narhari Zirwal is officiating as the speaker and he had overseen the proceedings during the budget session held earlier this year.

    “There is no violation of constitutional provision. There is no time-frame to hold the speaker’s election,” he added.

    The CM also said the government has written to the State Election Commission (SEC), requesting it to postpone the by-elections to Panchayat Samitis.

    “We are expecting a positive response from the commission in view of the threat of spread of the COVID-19,” he said.

    The SEC had recently declared elections to five Zilla Parishads and the byelections to seats in 33 Panchayat Samitis that were rendered vacant and converted to general category following the Supreme Court verdict quashing OBC quota in local bodies.

    “We have asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to find a constitutional solution to the issue. Empirical data of OBCs is required to provide representation to the community in local bodies. The data is with the central government. I urge you to also pursue with the Centre to provide the empirical data of the 2011 census to enable the state government to take further steps,” he said.

    The BJP had last week held a ‘chakka jam’ or road blockade protests across Maharashtra last week alleging that the state government had failed short to defend the OBC quota in the Supreme Court and to provide the empirical data.

  • Uddhav Thackeray government not to pass farm laws in Maharashtra Assembly

    By Express News Service
    MUMBAI: The Maha Vikas Aghadi government is unlikely to pass the central farm laws in the two-day monsoon session commencing on July 5. NCP chief Sharad Pawar said that there are a lot of objections over the present farm laws of the central government.

    “The entire process will take time. Therefore, it is very difficult to table and approve the farm laws in the monsoon session. Congress leader Balsaheb Thorat and farmer leader Raju Shetti also met us with some suggestions about the farm law,” Pawar said.

    The Congress party, which is opposed to the central farm law, asked Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray to prepare its own state laws that will empower the farmers and ensure fair prices. Uddhav has set up a Cabinet sub-committee under the  charge of deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar to study the centre farm laws and to prepare the new farm laws. 

    However, the cabinet sub-committee is yet to submit its report to the government. Various farmer delegations led by the likes of farmer leader Raju Shetti and social activist Medha Patkar met Uddhav recently. They urged the Maharashtra chief minister to drop the central farm laws and prepare the new one that will protect the interest of thousands of farmers.

  • Development issues and not politics discussed in meeting with CM Uddhav: NCP chief Sharad Pawar

    By PTI

    MUMBAI: NCP president Sharad Pawar on Thursday said his recent meeting with Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray focused on how to expedite development programmes of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government and maintained nothing else should be deciphered from it.

    Talking to reporters here, Pawar said, “No politics was discussed. Our view is that some decisions need to be taken fast. My meeting with the Chief minister was to deliberate on how to expedite the state government’s development programmes. There was no political discussion.”

    The NCP leader, whose party is a key constituent in the Shiv Sena-led MVA government, had called on Thackeray here two days ago amid speculation in political circles about differences among the ruling coalition partners.

    The Congress is the third partner in the MVA, a coalition of parties which have different ideologies.

    The 80-year-old former Union agriculture minister refused to respond to questions on speculation that there was pressure on the NCP to withdraw from the MVA and that several firms belonging the Pawar family were being served notices by the ED.

    “This question is not relevant here,” he said.

    ALSO READ: MVA govt firmly in saddle, will respond to BJP’s ‘falsehood’, says Sena MP Sanjay Raut

    Pawar was talking to reporters here after a virtual inauguration of the DY Patil Agriculture University in Kolhapur.

    Asked about the election for the post of assembly speaker, Pawar said the MVA allies will discuss the candidate suggested by the Congress and take a decision.

    “When the MVA government was formed, the speaker’s post went to the Congress. Whichever candidate’s name the Congress gives, it should be finalised by all the allies after discussion,” the veteran politician said.

    The post fell vacant after Congress MLA Nana Patole resigned in February to take over as the party’s state unit president.

    Pawar said the Centre should hold talks with farmers from North India who are protesting against the new agriculture laws for the last seven months. 

    “The Centre should step up dialogue with them. Bringing political differences in the issue was wrong,” he added.

    The NCP leader said the Maharashtra government favours amendments in the three new farm laws enacted by the Centre last year before their implementation in the state.

    “A dialogue has begun in that direction. A cabinet sub-committee headed by Revenue Minister Balasaheb Thorat is looking into it. I am not sure whether amendments will be introduced in the two-day monsoon session of the state legislature beginning from Monday (July 5),” he said.

  • Maharashtra ready to vaccinate 15 lakh people per day, says CM Uddhav Thackeray

    By PTI

    MUMBAI: The Maharashtra government is ready to vaccinate 15 lakh people per day against COVID-19, Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray said on Monday as he cautioned people in light of the anticipated third wave of the pandemic and the danger of the Delta Plus variant.

    Speaking virtually at the inauguration function of a jumbo COVID Care Centre (CCC) in suburban Malad, Thackeray said the need of the hour was to be more cautious and remain alert considering the threat of a possible third wave of the pandemic.

    Thackeray said the health of citizens was a priority for his government and there will be no compromise on protecting them from COVID-19.

    “There is also a threat from the delta plus variant. Even though the daily number of COVID-19 cases is falling, people should continue to follow the COVID appropriate behaviour. We are ready to vaccinate 15 lakh people per day,” he said.

    A total of 3,11,59,607 people have been vaccinated so far against COVID-19 in Maharashtra.

    On June 26, Maharashtra set a new record for itself by vaccinating more than 7 lakh people in a day, a state health department official had said.

    The chief minister said the second wave of the pandemic is not ended yet.

    “Though the bed occupancy is less now, the COVID appropriate behaviour has to be followed by all. In the first wave, we (the government) were the first to erect a jumbo COVID facility at BKC (Bandra Kurla Complex) in a record time,” he added.

    The Malad CCC, constructed by the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA), is one of the four new facilities being set up to strengthen the health infrastructure to tackle the possible third wave of the pandemic.

    The newly-constructed jumbo CCC has 2,170 beds out of which 70 per cent are oxygen beds and 192 are ICU beds.

    There are 200 oxygen beds and 50 ICU beds for the paediatrics ward.

    Apart from Malad, CCCs will come up at Kanjurmarg, Sion, and at Racecourse in Worli in Mumbai.

    Additionally, the bed capacity at NESCO centre, Richardson and Cruddas facility at Byculla and the NSCI is being ramped up.

    Maharashtra on Sunday reported 9,974 fresh coronavirus positive cases and 143 fatalities, taking the tally of infections to 60,36,821 and the toll to 1,21,286, the state Health Department had said.

  • Fadnavis must cooperate with Maharashtra CM on OBC quota, says Sena MP Sanjay Raut

    By PTI

    MUMBAI: Shiv Sena Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut on Monday said BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis should cooperate with Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray to resolve the issue of OBC quota in local bodies in Maharashtra.

    The Supreme Court had recently truck down such quota after observing that the seats earmarked for various communities must not exceed 50 per cent of the total strength of the local body.

    The BJP has been accusing the MVA government of not presenting empirical data in the apex court to show that such quota was needed in local bodies.

    Fadnavis had recently said he could get the OBC quota reinstated if he was given the reins of power in the state for four months, adding that he would quit politics if he failed to do so.

    Speaking on Fadnavis’ statement, Raut said the BJP must stop the former CM from taking such a decision as there was a a paucity of good leaders in the country and the latter’s quitting would be unfair to Maharashtra.

    “His colleagues must persuade him against taking such a decision. The state government is looking into the OBC quota issue and Fadnavis should cooperate with the chief minister in finding a solution. We will not let Fadnavis take political sanyas,” Raut said.

  • Maharashtra reports spike in numbers after unlock, Thackeray advises caution

    Express News Service
    MUMBAI:  Covid-19 cases in Maharashtra have suddenly increased, from 6,200 a day a few days back, the count crossed the 10,000 mark on Wednesday. Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray has warned the district authorities not to rush to lift restrictions, as the third wave with the Delta Plus variant is spreading fast in some of the districts.

    According to data from the state health department, when the unlock started on June 7, count of fresh cases for that day were 10,219. On June 18, the count was 9,798, and on June 19, it came down to 8,912. On June 21, it further went down to 6,270 cases, but the number jumped on June 22 with 8,470 cases, and on June 23, went up to 10,066.

    The state has already reported 21 Delta Plus cases in Ratnagiri and Jalgaon districts. Chief Minister Thackeray has cautioned that the Covid-19 danger persists. “Based on scientific data, the state government has facilitated the availability of oxygen beds. Local authorities should not be in a hurry to announce unlock measures,” Thackeray warned.

    Government sources said seven districts are a cause for concern — three each in the western and Konkan areas and one in the Marathwada region.  Dr Sanjay Oak, chairman of Maharashtra health task force, said testing should be stepped up in these districts. He said that the focus should again be on 4 Ts — testing, tracing, tracking and treatment. 

    “Vaccination should be also ramped up. Small containment areas should be clearly marked,” said Dr Oak.“Maharashtra has set a target of producing 3,000 metric tonnes of oxygen against the current production of 1,300 metric tonnes per day. The state government has decided to encourage various companies to produce oxygen at a large scale,” Thackeray added.

    The Chief Minister has asked the local authorities to speed up preparations for the third wave and be ready to tackle it as and when it comes. “We are yet to find out how lethal the new Delta variant is. Experts have warned that the latest Covid version is deadlier than the first and second variants. Therefore, people of the state need to be more careful and authorities in all the distrcits should be prepared to tackle it,” Thackeray said. 

  • Increase Covid-19 testing, vaccination: Maharashtra CM asks state officials

    By PTI
    MUMBAI: Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Thursday directed the state health authorities to focus on seven districts in the state, where the COVID-19 infection count is relatively higher, and increase testing and vaccination there.

    Thackeray also made it clear that there should be no hurry in relaxing the coronavirus-induced restrictions and the local administration should not take any chances considering the threat of the virus spread.

    Addressing virtually the collectors of Raigad, Ratnagiri, Sindhudurg, Satara, Sangli, Kolhapur and Hingoli districts, where the number of cases being reported is high, Thackeray said the state health department should plan about making available oxygen beds, ICU beds, setting up field hospitals in all districts in view of the possibility of a third wave.

    He said that upgrading health infrastructure is necessary in view of the prevailing second wave, the Delta plus variant of the virus and the threat of third wave.

    “We have to be very careful in future. We are at the tail of the second wave. Unlocking shouldn’t be done in a hurry. Each district should be self-sufficient in oxygen production. Administration must ensure that oxygen, medical equipment are available for rural and remote areas,” he said.

    Thackeray also said that more field hospitals should be set up and planning for it should be done by identifying buildings and premises.

    Health secretary Pradeep Vyas said the state’s positivity rate has come down to 0.15 per cent, but the positivity rate in the seven districts – three of them in Konkan region, as many in western Maharashtra and one in Marathwada – is double or triple.

    Meanwhile, in a separate meeting with oxygen manufacturers, Thackeray said the state’s target was producing 3,000 metric tonnes of oxygen per day, and asked them to increase the production and storage capacity.

    The present capacity is 1,300 metric tonnes per day.

    ALSO WATCH:

    He asked the companies to take benefit of the government’s scheme, under which various concessions are given to boost the oxygen production.

    State chief secretary Sitaram Kunte, who was present at the meeting, urged the companies to set up oxygen plants in remote and rural areas.

    Maharashtra on Wednesday reported 10,066 COVID-19 infections, taking its overall tally to 59,97,587.

    The state had on June 16 reported 10,107 cases and since then, the daily count had remained below 10,000.

    With 163 deaths during the day, the fatality count increased to 1,19,303.