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Tag: Uddhav Thackeray

  • Face mask only shield against coronavirus: CM Thackeray on Shivaji Maharaj Jayanti

    By PTI
    PUNE: Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Friday said that swords and shields were used in the battles fought during Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s times but in the fight against the coronavirus, face mask is the only shield.

    He made the statement at the Shivneri fort in Junnar tehsil of Pune district, where he paid homage to Shivaji Maharaj on his birth anniversary. Shivaji Maharaj was born on Shivneri fort in 1630.

    Thackeray visited the fort in the morning and paid floral tributes to Shivaji Maharaj and his mother Jijabai.

    Thackeray said that entire Maharashtra reveres Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj as a deity.

    “Numerous kings came and disappeared…. Numerous battles were fought, several kingdoms came and vanished, but there is something special about Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj,” he said.

    “Shivaji Maharaj fought several battles and established ”swaraj”…. There is no need to tell how he fought the opponents. No such battles are being fought now, and there are no swords and shields. But right now we are fighting a battle against the coronavirus and face mask is the only shield in the fight,” he said.

    “…we will strike whenever it is required, but while defending, we have to use a shield. In this battle, mask is our shield…do not forget that,” Thackeray added.

    One cannot win a battle by just holding a sword. One needs a determined heart and the desire to win. Shivaji Maharaj continues to provide that inspiration, he said.

    The chief minister also attended several programmes, including the “cradle ceremony”, at the fort.

    Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar was also present there on the occasion.

    In view of the coronavirus pandemic, the district administration had urged people not to gather at Shivneri fort to celebrate the Maratha warrior king’s birth anniversary.

    Thackeray also said that he considers himself fortunate and blessed as he got the opportunity to come to Shivneri for the second consecutive year to pay homage.

    He added that the radiance of history linked to all the forts in the state needs to be spread across the globe.

    The chief minister said that during the programme, someone told him that Shivaji Maharaj possessed a certain skill.

    “Even Dada (Ajit Pawar) has that skill. I am going to learn it to find out what is going on in his mind,” he said in a lighter vein. 

  • Make people aware of fraudulent elements taking money in Ram’s name: Uddhav Thackeray

    By PTI
    MUMBAI: Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray has taken a veiled swipe at the BJP, saying Shiv Sena workers should make people aware about “fraudulent elements” who are collecting money in the name of Lord Ram.

    Thackeray, who heads the Sena, was addressing party legislators and functionaries on Tuesday.

    The Shiv Sena will conduct a ‘Shiv Sampark’ campaign from February 22 to 27 to reach out to people across the state to expand its base, Thackeray was quoted as saying by a close aide.

    “Some people are collecting money in Lord Ram’s name. Shiv Sena workers should make people aware of such fraudulent elements,” he said, apparently targeting the BJP, his party’s former ally, over the campaign for collection of funds for the Ram temple at Ayodhya.

    When common people face problems, they turn to the Sena, Thackeray said, adding that this relationship between the party and the people must be nurtured.

    Party workers should tell people about the Sena-led coalition government’s achievements and convey people’s aspirations and expectations to the government, the chief minister said.

    The Sena is in power in Maharashtra in alliance with the Congress and the NCP.

  • Committed to welfare of Palghar district, says Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray

    By PTI
    PALGHAR: Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Friday visited Palghar and said his government was committed to the welfare of the tribal-dominated district.

    He, however, parried a query on the controversy over the state governor’s flight on Thursday, and took a swipe at the BJP with a “closed door” jibe.

    Talking to reporters in Jawhar, he said the focus would be on developing the health, education, communication, water, industrial and tourism sectors in the district.

    The district has a long coastline and Jawhar can be developed as a hill station, the CM told reporters.

    He sidestepped a query on the Maharashtra governor being denied permission on Thursday to fly to Dehradun in Uttarakhand in a state plane.

    However, tongue in cheek, he said airstrip facilities will be set up Palghar “now that you (media) have reminded me about flights”.

    In reply to another query on the review meeting he chaired with district officials, the CM said “I will tell you what I discussed behind closed doors”, a possible humour-laced swipe at the BJP and Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

    Shah, during a visit to the state’s Konkan region recently, had spoken about the Shiv Sena’s claim that the BJP had broken its promise of sharing the CM’s post after the October 2019 Assembly polls.

    Shah had, at the time, said “whatever I do, I do it in the open and not behind closed doors”.

    During his visit to Jamsar PHC in Jawhar, Thackeray appreciated the rangolis and traditional art works created by tribals.

    He said Warli paintings from the region should be promoted so that people from far and wide are aware of its beauty.

  • Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray pushes Haffkine to start research on COVID-19 vaccine

    By PTI
    MUMBAI: Considering the situation in Maharashtra, Mumbai-based Haffkine Institute needs to conduct research on a COVID-19 vaccine soon, Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray said on Tuesday.

    Thackeray made the comments during a review meeting he held in connection with the Parel-based institute, one of the oldest biomedical research establishments in the country, an official statement said.

    Medical Education Minister Amit Deshmukh was also present for the meeting.

    The main task of the Haffkine Institute is to produce vaccines for different diseases and carry out research.

    “Hence, priority needs to be given to conduct research on a big scale here in the time to come and the state government will extend all cooperation required for the same, Thackeray said, according to the statement.

    The chief minister said the 121-year-old institute should lay stress on research besides taking efforts to produce a COVID-19 vaccine.

    For this, efforts should be made for COVID-19 vaccine technology transfer from the ICMR and Bharat Biotech (which developed Covaxin), Thackeray said.

    The chief minister said the state government will help in setting up a modern vaccine research centre in the institute in time to come.

    He said it is praiseworthy that the institute, which has played a big role in making India polio-free, produced over 28 crore vaccines in the past six months.

    But considering the situation in the state, it is required that the institute carries out research on a COVID-19 vaccine soon.

    “It will be a matter of pride for all of us if the institute succeeds in producing (COVID-19) vaccine,” Thackeray said.

    The statement said a committee, formed by the government under the chairmanship of renowned scientist Dr Raghunath Mashelkar to suggest a roadmap for reforms at the institute, has talked about the need to allocate Rs 1,100 crore to implement five projects over a period of half a decade.

    According to the statement, Thackeray said the government supports completion of the five projects and asked the authorities to prepare a detailed plan in this connection within the next 15 days.

    The state Medical Education Minister and senior bureaucrats are part of the institute’s governing council.

  • No big schemes, funding for Maharashtra in Union budget, says Uddhav govt

    By Express News Service
    MUMBAI: The Uddhav Thackeray-led Maha Vikas Aghadi government on Monday expressed displeasure over the Union budget saying that Maharashtra did not receive any major fund for its infrastructure projects as the focus of the budget was on election-bounds states.   

    Maharashtra Congress president Balasaheb Thorat alleged that the Union budget established a new practice of announcing projects only for the poll-bound states. 

    “The budget has been converted into an election manifesto. The budget speech of Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman makes us question whether this budget is an election manifesto or a sale plan for the government-owned assets. The Union budget neglected states like Maharashtra which provides the highest amount of revenue every year,” said Thorat calling it “step-motherly” treatment by the Centre.

    Maharashtra Housing minister and senior NCP leader Jitendra Awhad described the budget in four words — ‘India is on sale’. Awhad said, “Our forefathers in last 70 years developed a lot of infrastructures and profit-making PSUs. But the Modi government has put them on sale. The BJP-led central government is going to sell airports, highways, power distribution channels, parts of the railway goods transport, government warehouses, GAIL, pipeline of Indian Oil, stadiums, plus it will privatize seven ports. It has been selling the country’s assets and defence to private companies,” said the minister.

    Former CM Ashok Chavan, who is also a minister in the Maha Vikas Aghadi government, said that the budget has no sense. “This is the directionless budget. The budget rather than giving relief to the honest tax-payers middle class will exploit them further through high taxes. It has also failed to simplify the GST procedure and no vision for employment generations,” said Chavan. 

    Leader of Opposition and BJP MLA Devendra Fadnavis called it one of the best annual budget that has taken care of all sections of the society. “The budget has made the provision of Rs 5 lakh crore for the infrastructure development, besides there is no rise in taxes despite pandemic situations. It has also focused on the health and proposed a huge amount for the development of health infrastructure,” said the former CM.

  • Maharashtra CM grants Rs 50 lakh for Marathi literary meet

    By PTI
    MUMBAI: Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray has announced a grant of Rs 50 lakh for the 94th edition of Akhil Bharatiya Marathi Sahitya Sammelan, which is slated to be held in Nashik from March 26, an official said on Friday.

    According to a statement issued by the Chief Minister’s Office, the annual literary meet will be held at Gokhale Education Trust premises and noted science writer and astrophysicist Jayant Narlikar has been appointed as the president.

    The chief minister hoped that the event will be held in compliance with all COVID-19 safety protocols.

    The situation in the state has gradually improved after a year of battling the COVID-19 pandemic, the statement quoted Thackeray as saying.

  • Declare Marathi-speaking Karnataka-Maha border areas as UT: Uddhav Thackeray

    By PTI
    MUMBAI: Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Wednesday said areas dominated by Marathi- speaking people on the state’s border with Karnataka should be declared as a Union Territory till the Supreme Court gives its final verdict on the issue.

    Speaking at the launch of a book on the boundary dispute between the two states, Thackeray lashed out at the Karnataka government over alleged atrocities on Marathi- speaking population in those areas, and said there is a need to fight to win the case for their inclusion in Maharashtra.

    Maharashtra claims certain areas, including Belgaum, Karwar and Nippani which are part of Karnataka, contending the majority of population in these areas is Marathi-speaking.

    READ| Karnataka CM, Opposition slam Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray’s comments on border dispute

    The case over the dispute between the two states is pending before the Supreme Court for many years.

    Thackeray said, “When the case is being heard in the Supreme Court, the Karnataka government renames Belgaum, declares it as its second capital, constructs a Legislature building and holds one legislature session there. Isn’t this contempt of court?” Thackeray asked.

    He said the “Karnataka-occupied Marathi-speaking areas should be declared as a Union Territory” till the Supreme Court gives its final verdict.

    “We have to learn from past experiences and fight to win.

    The Karnataka-occupied Marathi-speaking areas will be included in Maharashtra,” he asserted.

    The chief minister also targeted the Maharashtra Ekikaran Samiti (MES) for allegedly disintegrating and weakening the Marathi cause for selfish political interests.

    “Earlier, the MES won half-a-dozen MLAs, Belgaum mayor used to be a Marathi-speaking person.

    The Shiv Sena never entered the political fray in Belgaum because it did not want to weaken the MES,” he said.

    Thackeray, whose party formed a Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) with the NCP and Congress to form government in 2019, said a time-bound action plan needs to be charted out to win the legal battle and ensure the Marathi- speaking leadership and people in those areas of Karnataka remain united.

    “Let’s take a pledge that we will not rest till we win. If the long-pending issue is not resolved during this (MVA) government’s tenure, it will never be,” he said.

    “In Karnataka, whichever political party’s government or chief minister take charge, they have one thing in common – atrocities against Marathi people and language,” he charged.

    Marathi people should also unite, he said, adding that “let us be determined to win”.

    Speaking on the occasion, NCP president Sharad Pawar said the Mahajan Commission was set up (by the Centre in 1960s) to study and arrive at a conclusion when (Maharashtra leader) Senapati Bapat began his hunger strike.

    “The then Maharashtra chief minister Vasantrao Naik accepted the commission and agreed that its findings will be binding on the state.

    But, the commission was 100 per cent against Maharashtra,” Pawar said.

    “We (Maharashtra) rejected the commission’s findings. Barrister A R Antulay, the former CM, wrote a book dismissing the Mahajan Commission’s report. This book should find a mention in the new book (released on Wednesday),” he said.

    Pawar said the Supreme Court is the “last weapon for the state” and Maharashtra should use all its legal acumen to win the case.

    “We have to fight to win. There is no other option. It is good that Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray is taking a lead in this direction. Maharashtra needs to sink its political differences and show more unity in this case,” he said.

    The new 530-page book, ‘Maharashtra-Karnataka Seemavad: Sangharsh Aani Sankalp’ (Maharashtra-Karnataka boundary dispute: struggle and pledge), compiled and edited by Deepak Pawar, an OSD in the state government’s boundary dispute cell, gives a detailed account of issue.

    Deepak Pawar said he has travelled from Bidar to Karwar (in Karnataka) and found that love for Marathi language and culture binds people from the border areas to Maharashtra.

    “The need of the hour is to assure them that the state of Maharashtra is firmly behind them, and the MES should also be united to carry on the struggle,” he said.

    Maharashtra General Administration Department’s principal secretary Shrikant Deshpande said the boundary dispute is a fight for the “Marathi asmita (pride)”.

    The book, comprising articles and cartoons chronicalling the issue over the last 64 years, will help create an awareness about the issue among the new generation and bridge the disconnect between Marathi-speaking locals and other people in Maharashtra, Deshpande said.

    “Political and social mobilisation is the need of the hour to ensure Marathi language and culture thrive in these areas,” he said.

    Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa recently slammed Thackeray’s comments wherein the latter said his government is committed towards incorporating into Maharashtra the areas of Karnataka where Marathi-speaking people are in majority.

  • Declare Marathi-speaking Karnataka-Maha border areas as UT: Uddhav Thackeray

    By PTI
    MUMBAI: Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Wednesday said areas dominated by Marathi- speaking people on the state’s border with Karnataka should be declared as a Union Territory till the Supreme Court gives its final verdict on the issue.

    Speaking at the launch of a book on the boundary dispute between the two states, Thackeray lashed out at the Karnataka government over alleged atrocities on Marathi- speaking population in those areas, and said there is a need to fight to win the case for their inclusion in Maharashtra.

    Maharashtra claims certain areas, including Belgaum, Karwar and Nippani which are part of Karnataka, contending the majority of population in these areas is Marathi-speaking.

    READ| Karnataka CM, Opposition slam Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray’s comments on border dispute

    The case over the dispute between the two states is pending before the Supreme Court for many years.

    Thackeray said, “When the case is being heard in the Supreme Court, the Karnataka government renames Belgaum, declares it as its second capital, constructs a Legislature building and holds one legislature session there. Isn’t this contempt of court?” Thackeray asked.

    He said the “Karnataka-occupied Marathi-speaking areas should be declared as a Union Territory” till the Supreme Court gives its final verdict.

    “We have to learn from past experiences and fight to win.

    The Karnataka-occupied Marathi-speaking areas will be included in Maharashtra,” he asserted.

    The chief minister also targeted the Maharashtra Ekikaran Samiti (MES) for allegedly disintegrating and weakening the Marathi cause for selfish political interests.

    “Earlier, the MES won half-a-dozen MLAs, Belgaum mayor used to be a Marathi-speaking person.

    The Shiv Sena never entered the political fray in Belgaum because it did not want to weaken the MES,” he said.

    Thackeray, whose party formed a Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) with the NCP and Congress to form government in 2019, said a time-bound action plan needs to be charted out to win the legal battle and ensure the Marathi- speaking leadership and people in those areas of Karnataka remain united.

    “Let’s take a pledge that we will not rest till we win. If the long-pending issue is not resolved during this (MVA) government’s tenure, it will never be,” he said.

    “In Karnataka, whichever political party’s government or chief minister take charge, they have one thing in common – atrocities against Marathi people and language,” he charged.

    Marathi people should also unite, he said, adding that “let us be determined to win”.

    Speaking on the occasion, NCP president Sharad Pawar said the Mahajan Commission was set up (by the Centre in 1960s) to study and arrive at a conclusion when (Maharashtra leader) Senapati Bapat began his hunger strike.

    “The then Maharashtra chief minister Vasantrao Naik accepted the commission and agreed that its findings will be binding on the state.

    But, the commission was 100 per cent against Maharashtra,” Pawar said.

    “We (Maharashtra) rejected the commission’s findings. Barrister A R Antulay, the former CM, wrote a book dismissing the Mahajan Commission’s report. This book should find a mention in the new book (released on Wednesday),” he said.

    Pawar said the Supreme Court is the “last weapon for the state” and Maharashtra should use all its legal acumen to win the case.

    “We have to fight to win. There is no other option. It is good that Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray is taking a lead in this direction. Maharashtra needs to sink its political differences and show more unity in this case,” he said.

    The new 530-page book, ‘Maharashtra-Karnataka Seemavad: Sangharsh Aani Sankalp’ (Maharashtra-Karnataka boundary dispute: struggle and pledge), compiled and edited by Deepak Pawar, an OSD in the state government’s boundary dispute cell, gives a detailed account of issue.

    Deepak Pawar said he has travelled from Bidar to Karwar (in Karnataka) and found that love for Marathi language and culture binds people from the border areas to Maharashtra.

    “The need of the hour is to assure them that the state of Maharashtra is firmly behind them, and the MES should also be united to carry on the struggle,” he said.

    Maharashtra General Administration Department’s principal secretary Shrikant Deshpande said the boundary dispute is a fight for the “Marathi asmita (pride)”.

    The book, comprising articles and cartoons chronicalling the issue over the last 64 years, will help create an awareness about the issue among the new generation and bridge the disconnect between Marathi-speaking locals and other people in Maharashtra, Deshpande said.

    “Political and social mobilisation is the need of the hour to ensure Marathi language and culture thrive in these areas,” he said.

    Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa recently slammed Thackeray’s comments wherein the latter said his government is committed towards incorporating into Maharashtra the areas of Karnataka where Marathi-speaking people are in majority.

  • Maharashtra CM to inaugurate Patri Pool bridge in Kalyan on January 25

    By PTI
    THANE: Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray will inaugurate the reconstructed Patri Pool bridge, which connects Kalyan to Dombivli in Thane district, on January 25 through video-conference.

    Shiv Sena MP from Kalyan, Shrikant Shinde, told reporters on Friday.

    “The old Patri Pool bridge, which was built in 1914, posed a big threat as it had become dilapidated. It was pulled down in November 2018. Although its reconstruction process faced several hurdles, the new bridge is now ready,” he said.

    “It will provide a big relief to the commuters, particularly the residents of Kalyan and Dombivli,” he said.

  • Serum Institute fire caused damage worth Rs 1,000 crore: CEO Adar Poonawalla

    Express News Service
    MUMBAI: CEO of the Serum Institute of India (SII) Aadar Poonawalla on Friday said that the institute has suffered a loss to the tune of Rs 1,000 crore due to the fire mishap on Thursday.

    “We have suffered heavy loss. However, the fire will not affect the productions and supply of the Covishied vaccine as we had stored them (Covishied vaccines stock) at various places as the contingency plan,” Poonawalla said while talking to reporters.

    “But the mishap will surely affect the production and supply of the rotavirus and BCG vaccine,” the SII CEO further said, adding that they were installing machinery for rotavirus and BCG vaccine in the building that gutted in the fire. 

    “The financial losses (due to the fire) are to the tune of Rs 1,000 crore,” Poonawala said. “It was a big fire, five people lost their lives. We have compensated their families and will always be with them. Due to the best wishes of people and the blessing of God, our fight against Covid-19 will not be impacted. Our supply to other countries will also continue,” said Poonawalla.

    ALSO READ | Serum Institute fire: 200 labourers jump from windows to live; Rs 25 lakh announced for kin of dead

    Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray, who also addressed the press after taking stock of the situation at the SII, expressed anguish over the death of the labourers in the fire mishap and said the Covishield production plant is safe.

    “The production and supply of Covisheild will continue. The vaccine storage is also safe and secured. The Covishield production plant was quite away from the building that caught the fire. It was a big relief. The fight against Covid-19 will continue,” said Thackeray.

    The CM further said that various teams are probing the fire incident. “Let the investigation get completed. It is not correct to say anything now.  After the probe gets over, we will know whether it was an accident or sabotage. The Serum Institute has already announced the ex-gratia for the kin of the deceased. The state government will also extend financial help to them,” Thackeray added.