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Tag: Uddhav Thackeray

  • Maharashtra CM asks family doctors to join fight against COVID-19

    By PTI
    MUMBAI: Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Sunday appealed to doctors who serve as family physicians to join the state’s fight against COVID-19 and advise their patients under home isolation about the right treatment protocols.

    During a virtual interaction with private medical practitioners and members of the state COVID-19 task force, Thackeray said patients trust their family doctors more than anyone else.

    “The treatment protocols of COVID-19 patients in home isolation can be managed more effectively if their family physicians join the battle against the viral infection,” the chief minister said.

    He said family physicians can evaluate the COVID-19 patient’s condition, co-morbidities and oxygen level during home isolationand guide them effectively regarding the need for hospitalisation.

    “If the asymptomatic patients in home isolation are treated effectively,it would help reduce the COVID-19 mortality rate,” he said.

    He said family doctors should also take into account the increasing sugar level of COVID-19 patients and how it can be restricted.

    He appealed to family doctors in the state to join the COVID-19 care centres in their vicinity as consultants.

    Maharashtra’s COVID-19 task force member Sanjay Oak stressed on the need to ensure hygiene in oxygen pipes and concentrators as well as during home quarantineof patients with uncontrolled co-morbidities to prevent other infections.

    Another task force member Shashank Joshi spoke about how home care was crucial and of critical importance for patients.

    Thackeray had last week also stressed on the role of private doctors, specially family physicians, in the fight against COVID-19, saying they can help in early diagnosis of the infection in their patients and facilitate timely treatment for them.

    On Saturday, Maharashtra reported 34,848 new cases of COVID-19, taking the tally to 53,44,063, while 960 deaths pushed the toll to 80,512, as per the state health department.

  • Cyclone Tauktae: Maharashtra CM Thackeray asks authorities in coastal districts to be alert

    By PTI
    MUMBAI: In view of IMD’s warning about Cyclone Tauktae, Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray has directed the authorities in coastal districts of the state to remain alert and well-equipped to tackle the situation.

    “Be alert and ensure rescue operation wherever necessary,” Thackeray was quoted as saying in a statement issued by the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) late night on Friday.

    Palghar, Raigad, Ratnagiri, Sindhudurg districts are likely to bear the brunt of the cyclone and hence the collectors of these districts have been asked to take all necessary precautions in terms of rescue equipments and manpower, Thackeray said.

    He said this during a meeting of the Disaster Management Authority that was held to take stock of the preparations to tackle the cyclone, the statement said.

    The India Meteorological Department (IMD) had said on Friday that the depression in the Arabian Sea is likely to intensify into a “very severe cyclonic storm” on May 17 and cross the Gujarat coast a day later.

    It had also said the weather condition has intensified into a deep depression and it is very likely to further intensify into cyclonic storm Tauktae by Saturday morning.

    It is very likely to intensify further into a severe cyclonic storm by Saturday night,.

    The IMD had predicted heavy to very heavy rainfall in Konkan and Goa on May 15-16.

  • CM Uddhav Thackeray urges sugar cooperatives to produce oxygen for treating Covid patients

    By PTI
    MUMBAI: Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Friday urged the sugar cooperative industry to produce oxygen, much needed for hospitals treating COVID-19 patients.

    He was speaking after attending the virtual inauguration of an oxygen production plant of Dharashiv Sugar Cooperative in Osmanabad district.

    The sugar cooperative is the first in the state to start oxygen production, an official release said.

    Thackeray said the state needs to become self- sufficient in oxygen production to beat the second wave of COVID-19.

    “Our production capacity is 1,200 metric tons (per day)while the demand is 1,700 metric tons. If we produce 3,000 metric tons of oxygen, we will be self-sufficient,” he was quoted as saying.

    Municipal corporations are trying to ramp up their oxygen production and sugar cooperatives should also follow the suit, he said.

    Union minister Nitin Gadkari, who also participated in thr virtual function, said having their own oxygen plants should be made mandatory for hospitals with more than 50 beds.

    Every district must be able to meet its oxygen requirement from within the same district, he suggested.

    The Dharashiv sugar cooperative has converted its ethanol project into oxygen plant which would be producing six tons of oxygen with 96 per cent purity daily.

  • PM Modi dials Uddhav Thackeray, praises Maharashtra’s effort to fight COVID-19

    Narendra Modi spoke to Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray over the COVID-19 related situation and praised the state’s efforts to fight coronavirus, informed state Chief Minister Office (CMO).

    According to a statement from the CMO, Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the call enquired about Maharashtra’s efforts in the fight against COVID and said that the state was fighting a good battle against the second wave.

    The Chief Minister informed PM Modi about the state government’s planning to face the third wave of novel coronavirus.


    “The Prime Minister and the Union government have been guiding the state in the war against coronavirus from the very beginning and it is being put to good use by the state government,” Thackeray said during the conversation.

    Earlier, Thackeray has also written to the Central government seeking permission to develop a separate app for COVID vaccination in the state. In a letter, he described various issues including complaints of frequent glitches in CoWIN platform.

    Meanwhile, according to the Union Health Ministry, Maharashtra was among the ten states that reported 71.81 per cent of new COVID-19 cases in the country on Friday. The state reported the highest daily new cases at 62,194. The state was among the twelve states that cumulatively accounted for 81.04 per cent of India’s total active cases and had 6,41,281 active cases of the virus.

  • Maharashra govt to announce sops to pacify Marathas

    Express News Service
    MUMBAI: To avoid a backlash from the electorally-significant majority Maratha community over cancellation of the reservations, Uddhav Thackeray government has decided to announce various sops to the community. Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar said that they are ready to call the special session to decide on various schemes, sops and alternate arrangement for the Maratha community now that reservation has been struck down by the Supreme Court.

    “The government is with the Maratha community. It is very unfortunate that the Supreme Court rejected the reservations for the Maratha community despite all-party resolutions giving reservations to the Maratha community. Once this pandemic is over, we will have a meeting with Maratha community leaders where the decision of giving various benefits to Maratha students will be finalized. We will extend all possible benefits that can compensate them,” Ajit Pawar said.

    Senior BJP leader Ashish Shelar said all leaders should keep aside their egos and work for the welfare of the Maratha community. Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray said that the Supreme Court in its judgment said that the state government has no right to give the reservations to any caste and community. He said the court further said that only the Centre can give reservations. “We urge teh Prime Minister to give reservations to the Maratha community,” he said, putting the ball in Centre’s court.

  • BJP alleges Rs 300 crore scam in revamping of Manora MLA hostel in Mumbai

    By PTI
    MUMBAI: The Opposition BJP in Maharashtra on Friday alleged a Rs 300 crore scam in the redevelopment of Manora MLA hostel in south Mumbai, citing that the project cost had increased by 66 per cent in two years.

    In a letter to Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, BJP legislator Atul Bhatkalkar demanded to know why the contract for redeveloping the hostel at Rs 600 crore was scrapped and reworked at Rs 900 crore.

    “How was there a cost escalation of Rs 300 crore in two years? Who is the beneficiary of this Rs 300 crore scam?” he asked.

    Bhatkalkar demanded that the contract be scrapped and a thorough probe be conducted in the entire matter.

    The BJP MLA also threatened to file a complaint in this regard with the Central Vigilance Commissioner (CVC).

    The earlier Devendra Fadnavis-led government in Maharashtra had signed an MoU with the Central government’s National Building Construction Corporation (NBCC) for the project at Rs 600 crore, Bhatkalkar said.

    “If the government fails to scrap the project, the BJP will launch an agitation,” he said.

    Meanwhile, the state Congress spokesperson Sachin Sawant said, “Manora could have been repaired. However, under the Fadnavis government, the repair work was embroiled in scam. The decision to revamp the hostel was taken by the BJP government in 2018, and the NBCC appointed by them demolished the structure in 2019.”

    This delay had cost the state government more than Rs 700 crore, as each month around Rs 3.5 crore is being paid to MLAs, who don’t have a home in Mumbai (even BJP MLAs are paid Rs 1 lakh each), he said.

    The state government had last year entrusted the redevelopment of the hostel situated in Nariman Point to the Public Works Department.

  • No room for complacency, we are preparing for third Covid wave: Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray

    By PTI
    MUMBAI: Amid indications of COVID-19 cases plateauing in Maharashtra, Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Wednesday warned there was no room for showing complacency and said the government is preparing to deal with a third wave of the infection.

    He said though some districts have shown a steady decline in COVID-19 cases, some others are still exhibiting an upward trend, but the number of patients under treatment has dropped from what it was in April-end.

    Thackeray said he has asked officials to work in a mission mode to ramp up the production of medical oxygen, used in treating serious COVID-19 patients, ahead of the third wave of the infection hitting Maharashtra, the worst coronavirus-affected state in the country.

    “We are preparing for the third wave of the virus,” Thackeray said addressing the state on social media.

    The CM said the people of the state, where lockdown-like curbs are in place to stem the infection spread, should not become complacent just because there is a downward trend in coronavirus cases.

    ALSO READ | Nationwide lockdown remains an option: Head of COVID-19 taskforce

    Thackeray said, “Though some districts have shown a decline in cases, we need to be ready for the third wave of COVID-19. The state task force on COVID-19 is currently engaged in guiding family doctors in district and tehsil places about treatment protocols. It will enable them to make accurate diagnosis and avoid over prescription of medicines.”

    Thackeray said the Supreme Court has appreciated the Mumbai municipal corporation’s work to contain the coronavirus spread in the financial capital.

    “As on April 25, there were almost seven lakh active cases in Maharashtra. The figure came down to 6,41,900 as on May 4. We have been able to control the cases up to some extent, but some districts are still showing a surge in COVID-19 cases. We have so far set up 4.5 lakh isolation beds, one lakh oxygen beds, 30,000 ICU beds and 12,000 ventilators,” he said.

    Thackeray said the state will have to increase oxygen generation capacity to 3,000 MT and has started working on it.

    “We generate 1,200 MT oxygen every day but our consumption is 1,700 MT. I have given a target to officials to increase the production capacity to 3,000 MT before we hit by the third wave of COVID-19. I call it mission oxygen,” he said.

    On Wednesday, Maharashtra reported 57,640 new COVID-19 cases and 920 deaths.

    ALSO READ | COVID: Centre warns of ‘inevitable’ third wave, says time-frame for it can not be predicted

    Terming the Supreme Court’s decision to strike down reservation in jobs and education for the Marathas as disappointing, Thackeray said he will write to the Centre, requesting Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Ram Nath Kovind to step in and provide relief to the community.

    “I am requesting the Centre with folded hands to award reservation to the Maratha community. I am going to write a letter to the Centre regarding the demand. If required, we can meet personally also for Maratha reservation,” he said.

    The Supreme Court, in its ruling on the Maratha quota, reaffirmed the Centre’s key role in awarding reservation to a social group, he said.

    “The Maharashtra government will provide all types of documentation and help to the Centre to take a decision (in favour of Maratha quota),” the chief minister said.

    “While the Supreme Court rejected the act, it also showed us the path to get reservation for the Maratha community. The court told the state government that we do not have a right to make such a legislation, but the Centre has,” he said.

    “The way the Centre showed urgency to scrap Article 370 (which provided special status to J$@$#K), it should demonstrate a similar will to clear the Maratha reservation as well,” he said.

    Thackeray appealed to people of the state not to be misled by those wanting to create unrest over the Maratha quota issue.

    “The decision (to quash quota) was a bit disappointing as both the assembly and the council of the Maharashtra legislature had approved the (reservation) bill unanimously and the law was upheld by the Bombay High Court as well,” he said.

    ALSO WATCH:

    “The lawyers who successfully defended the act in the Bombay High Court, were also there to represent the state in the Supreme Court. We had equipped them with more legal resources,” said the chief minister.

    “Still, some people are blaming us for losing the case in the apex court,” Thackeray said in a veiled attack on the BJP.

    The opposition party has said the Shiv Sena-led Maha Vikas Aghadi government “failed” to convince the Supreme Court over the issue of reservation for the Maratha community.

    Former Maharashtra chief minister and BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis claimed there was a lack of co-ordination” on part of the state government while making its submissions before the apex court.

  • SC decision on Maratha quota unfortunate, says Uddhav as verbal volleys start in Maharashtra

    By PTI
    MUMBAI: Terming the Supreme Court’s decision to strike down the Maharashtra law granting quota to Marathas in admissions and government jobs as unfortunate, Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Wednesday said the legal battle for the reservations to that community will continue till there is “victory”.

    In a statement after the apex court verdict, Thackeray said, “With folded hands, we request the prime minister and the president to take an immediate decision on Maratha quota.”

    The chief minister said he expects the Centre to show the same alacrity on the Maratha quota issue as it did in delivering verdicts on issues like the Shah Bano case and repeal of Article 370 for which the Constitution was amended.

    Thackeray said BJP MP Chhatrapati Sambhajiraje has been seeking Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s appointment over the Maratha quota issue for the last one year but to no avail.

    The apex court has scrapped a decision taken by all parties in the state legislature, he said.

    The legal battle for Maratha quota will continue till there is “victory”, Thackeray said.

    Earlier in the day, the SC termed the state law on Maratha quota as “unconstitutional” and held there were no exceptional circumstances to breach the 50 per cent reservation cap set by the 1992 Mandal verdict.

    The judgement came on a batch of pleas challenging the Bombay High Court verdict which had upheld the grant of reservation to Marathas in admissions and government jobs in the state.

    The Maharashtra State Reservation (of seats for admission in educational institutions in the State and for appointments in the public services and posts under the State) for Socially and Educationally Backward Classes (SEBC) Act 2018 was enacted to grant reservation to people of the Maratha community in the state in jobs and admissions.

    The Bombay High Court, while upholding the law in June 2019, had held that 16 per cent reservation was not justifiable and the quota should not exceed 12 per cent in employment and 13 per cent in admissions.

    Meanwhile, the BJP on Wednesday blamed the Shiv Sena-led Maharashtra government for “failing” to convince the Supreme Court over the issue of reservation for the Maratha community in jobs and education.

    State BJP president Chandrakant Patil demanded that the state government call an all-party meeting and a special session of the Assembly to discuss the issue.

    The Supreme Court on Wednesday struck down the Maharashtra law granting quota to Marathas in admissions and government jobs, terming it as “unconstitutional”, and held there were no exceptional circumstances to breach the 50 per cent reservation cap set by the 1992 Mandal verdict.

    “It is a complete failure of the state government. It failed to convince the SC on why it was important to breach the 50 per cent ceiling on quota in extraordinary circumstances, which has been created in the state with regard to the Maratha community,” Patil told reporters in Pune.

    He said the previous Devendra Fadnavis-led state government had formed the Backward Class Commission which recommended to consider the Maratha community as backward on three fronts – social, economic, and educational.

    The Fadnavis government then enacted the law (in 2018) giving reservation to the Maratha community in jobs and education, which was later challenged in the Bombay High Court.

    “The Fadnavis government had successfully convinced the HC that Marathas account for 32 per cent of the state’s population and how it was an extraordinary situation in the state,” he said.

    But, the present Maha Vikas Aghadi government in Maharashtra (comprising the Shiv Sena, NCP and Congress) has “completely failed the Maratha community”, Patil claimed.

    “Youth from the Maratha community should speak up on the issue and mount pressure on the state government,” the BJP leader said.

    He demanded that the state government call an all-party meeting over the issue.

    “In fact, they should call a special Assembly session on the issue of Maratha quota and the COVID-19 situation in the state,” he said.

    Leader of Opposition in the state Legislative Council Pravin Darekar said the decision has come as a “complete disappointment” for the Maratha community.

    “The law, cleared by both Houses of the state Legislature and upheld by the Bombay High Court, was struck down only because of this state government,” he said.

    Vinod Patil, one of the petitioners seeking reservation for Marathas, termed the decision as “unfortunate”.

    “We will decide our next move after going through the order in detail,” he said.

    After the SC’s order, members of some Maratha organisations staged a protest by wearing black ribbons on their arms in Pune.

    “It was necessary on part of the Maharashtra government to explain the state’s stand in the court, but it did not happen,” one of the protesters said.

    Another protester termed it as a “black day” for the Marathas, saying youth from the community were hopeful of a decision in their favour.

    state minister Ashok Chavan criticised former chief minister Devendra Fadnavis for passing the SEBC Act in 2018 without “due rights”.

    The apex court struck down the law by terming it “unconstitutional”, and held there were no exceptional circumstances to breach the 50 per cent reservation cap set by the 1992 Mandal verdict.

    “The Union government’s 102nd amendment had taken away decisions (read powers) of awarding reservation to the Maratha community because of which the erstwhile Fadnavis government framed the SEBC Act which has been quashed by the Supreme Court,” Chavan, who heads the state sub-committee on Maratha reservation, told a press conference.

    “Passing a law when you had no such right amounts to misleading the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly and the council by Fadnavis as the then CM.

    This amounts to cheating the people by giving them false information,” he alleged.

    The 2018 SEBC (Socially and Educationally Backward Communities) Act of Maharashtra was enacted to grant reservation to people of the Maratha community in the state in jobs and admissions.

    The Bombay High Court, while upholding the law in June 2019, had held that 16 per cent reservation was not justifiable and the quota should not exceed 12 per cent in employment and 13 per cent in admissions.

    Chavan said the SC has “stamped on the fact that Maharashtra state has no right to award any such reservation after the 102 amendment in the Constitution.”

    “When the 102nd amendment was passed in Parliament, the Centre had assured that rights of states will remain untouched and that there will be no impact on the acts passed by states.

    However, the supreme court has refused this argument and set aside the Maharashtra government’s act of awarding reservation to the Maratha community,” the senior Congress leader said.

    The 102nd Constitution amendment Act of 2018 inserted Articles 338B, which deals with the structure, duties and powers of the National Commission for Backward Class, and 342A which deals with the power of the President to notify a particular caste as SEBC and power of Parliament to change the list.

    The top court had on March 8, framed six questions for adjudication while terming the issue of interpretation of the 102nd constitutional amendment as of seminal importance.

    Meanwhile, another minister in the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government and NCP chief spokesperson Nawab Malik said, “The ball of Maratha reservation is now in the Centre’s court.

    The state government is ready to submit a recommendation of awarding reservation to the Maratha community.

    “Either the Union government reinstate the state’s rights to grant reservations through the court as assured on the floor of Parliament or it should set up a backward (classes) commission. The state government will submit its recommendations seeking reservation for the Maratha community to the commission,” he added.

  • Regional leaders in limelight after BJP’s poor poll showing

    Express News Service
    NEW DELHI:  West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s power packed performance in Bengal defeating the BJP, as well as the victory by DMK and LDF win in Tamil Nadu and Kerala respectively, has brought to limelight strong regional leaders, but at the national level the Opposition still lacks the power and cohesion needed to take on the BJP with majority of regional leaders, including Sharad Pawar and Banerjee, having personal ambitions.

    NCP supremo Sharad Pawar, Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal, Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, SP chief Akhilesh Yadav, former J&K chief minister Omar Abdullah, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, former Karnataka chief minister HD Kumaraswamy congratulated Banerjee for taking on PM Narendra Modi.

    Banerjee during the peak of the election had reached out to the opposition to join hands to defeat the BJP in Bengal.

    However, the Congress and Left decided to contest against the Trinamool and BJP in the state.

    Hailing her as “Bengal Tigress” who single-handedly fought for the self-respect of Bengal and led her party to victory in the assembly elections, Thackeray said: “Didi was fighting a lone battle to uphold the pride of the people of Bengal. All forces converged to ensure her defeat, yet, she emerged victoriously. I congratulate her & the people of WB. Now let us all keep politics aside & focus on our battle against Covid.”

    Mamata’s spectacular win against the BJP has vaulted her to the national league.

    Pawar, who is considered as someone who could unite opposition parties under a coalition, wished her, “Congratulations Mamata Banerjee on your stupendous victory. Let us continue our work towards the welfare of people and tackling the pandemic collectively”.

    Any possible opposition coalition in future would depend upon the role played by strong regional parties and if their leaders will be able keep aside personal ambitions. With the Congress slowly leaving the space to regional parties, unifying such strong leaders would be a challenge.

  • No additional restrictions, says Uddhav Thackeray

    By Express News Service
    MUMBAI:  Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray said on Friday that the current restrictions imposed in the state have helped contain the spread of Covid-19 and that his government is not planning to impose any additional measures. 

    “Otherwise, the active cases in Maharashtra would have gone up to 10 lakh against the seven lakh today,” Thackeray said about the current restrictions. We are hopeful that soon there will be a decline in the number of active cases. We are better prepared for the third wave of the virus. For the second wave, we were prepared, but no one told us that it will spread much faster and will be deadlier than the first wave,” the chief minister said.

    Thackeray said Maharashtra generates 1,200 metric tonnes of oxygen daily while the present demand for oxygen is now 1,700 metric tonnes. “We are fulfilling the shortage of oxygen by bringing from other states. We are also planning to start many oxygen plants,” Thackeray said.