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‘I Am Fighting For Maharashtra, Not For My Selfishness’: Uddhav Thackeray At Mahavikas Aghadi Rally

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Mahavikas Aghadi has blown trumpet for the upcoming Vidhansabha election on Friday. Its grand mega rally named ‘ Mahavikas Aghadi Padadhikari Melava, Nirdhar Vijayacha’ was conducted at Shanmukhananda auditorium at sion where all the senior leaders of UBT Shivsena, Congress and NCP SCP were present. A collective decision to defeat the current Mahayuti government was taken during the rally. An appeal was also made to all alliance party workers to fight collectively to win maximum seats and throw the corrupt government from power. Interestingly, Uddhav Thackeray made it clear his stand on the Chief Minister post. He said that he is willingly ready to extend support if Congress and NCP declares their candidate for CM post.. He said that he has no greed for the CM post but he wants to defeat the current corrupt and unconstitutional government. Uddhav also took potshots at Congress and NCP saying no one should defeat each other’s candidates to become CM of their parties. But neither Nana Patole nor Sharad Pawar made any statement on Uddhav Thackeray’s stand. The Uddhav statement has importance because from the last few days news has been run that MVA is fighting for CM post.

” I am fighting for Maharashtra not for my selfishness.”  Uddhav warns  “We should not defeat each other’s candidates in the election to make our Chief Minister. During the Shiv Sena-BJP government we had defeated each other’s candidates by not supporting each other and stayed away from forming the government. such activities should not happen in our case. If you want your CM then declare right now and go ahead.” Said Uddhav. 

Uddhav also made his stand clear on the waqf properties issue. Uddhav said that none of the waqf property and religious places properties should be given to contractors, businessmen and friends of the government. ” We will not allow you to usurp the lands of waqf and any hindu religious places in Maharashtra.”  Uddhav also demanded a joint parliamentary committee on the title of the Ayodhya temple land.

The fifty thousand Yojana doot scheme of the government is a sheet loot of people’s money. Sisters are getting rupees one thousand five hundred  but doots who will create awareness of the scheme will be given rupees ten thousand.  Uddhav also appeals MVA alliance workers to become doot of MVA and spread what MVA government did during its tenure and what current Mahayuti government is doing since last two years. 

Uddhav took potshots at the supreme court chief justice and said ” I am sure we (UBT and NCP) will get justice in this life or next life on the petition filed in the supreme court to take back our government and parties. When we had asked SC for early dates for hearing they warned us not to give directions to them.” Then we are requesting you by folding our hands to give us justice in our next life.” Uddhav also said : He further said “The Chief Justice was giving an example of Bangladesh to highlight the importance of democracy. Uddhav said when we turn back to the past, we see ‘Ramshastri Prabhune’ who was famous for delivering pure justice.”

Uddhav also criticised the government over not solving the Maratha reservation issue and instigating  Uddhav said we all MVA parties are ready if the union government brings a bill to extend the maximum limit of the reservation. 

Apart from that Sharad Pawar said the crisis over the country and the constitution has not been over yet.  Government is trying to curtail the rights of agitation on the roads. He also appealed to MVA party workers to support MVA candidates like their own party candidate and help to change the government to protect the constitution and the country. ” State governments want to introduce ‘ Jansuraksha Law’ under the law no one can do agitation on the roads. The jail term for the year six to seven years is being made in the law but fortunately our alliance parties vehemently opposed the law and that was kept pending in the assembly.” said Pawar.

Pawar also criticises Modi for not attending a parliament to answer the questions of the opposition.  Pawar also expressed his disappointment for not giving a respectable place to Rahul Gandhi, opposition leader of the Lok Sabha during the Independence day at Lal Quila. 
During the rally Uddhav Thackeray, Sharad Pawar, Nana Patole, Prithviraj Chavan, Jayant Patil, Supriya Sule, Aaditya Thackeray, Sanjay Raut, Naseem Khan, Jitendra Awhad, Anil Deshmukh Priyanka Chaturvedi and almost all the important leaders were present during the rally.

Supriya Sule NCP SCP MP said that the political environment of Delhi has been changed. Now, opposition party MPs are behaving like ruling party MPs. The Union ministers are running aways from the parliament when opposition leaders start asking questions. Mumbai Congress MP Varsha Gaikwad demanded white paper of  the BMC in the last two years when the administrator is looking after the government. NCP leader Jayant Patil also exposed state government policies. He alleged road work  of six thousand kilometers is a scam. He also criticised Alibaug for Vasai road work. 

State Congress President Nana Patole criticised Modi and Shah “Bharatiya Janata Party has earned money through corruption. Two leaders sitting in Delhi are robbing Maharashtra as an ATM. They are trying to make Maharashtra poor. President of Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee Nana Patole has said that after defeating the BJP alliance in the assembly elections, we will close this ATM of Modi-shah and use the money of Maharashtra only for the people of Maharashtra.” He added.

Maharashtra

‘Dalit Man Murdered By Cops, CM Devendra Fadnavis Lied,’ Says Rahul Gandhi In Parbhani, Demands Justice

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Mumbai, Dec 23: Dropping a political bomb, Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Monday alleged that a Dalit man was ‘murdered by police’ and Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis ‘lied’ in the legislature on the issue.

Accompanied by top party leaders, Rahul Gandhi visited the home of Somnath Vyankat Suryawanshi, 35, who was found dead in judicial custody on December 15, barely 72 hours after he was arrested in connection with the violence following the desecration of a statue of Dr B.R. Ambedkar there.

Emerging after paying condolences to the family, a grim Rahul Gandhi said that grieving Suryawanshi had shown him the post-mortem report and videos of the incidents, and also apprised him of the sequence of events thereafter.

“It’s 100 per cent a murder. The Police have beaten him… The police have murdered him in custody. He was killed because he was a Dalit and was trying to protect the Constitution. He was beaten and finished off,” said Rahul Gandhi sternly.

He also pointed an accusing finger at Fadnavis, claiming that the “CM has lied in the Assembly”, ostensibly to convey a “message to the police”.

“It is the RSS ideology to finish off the Constitution. The (MahaYuti) government and their ideology is responsible (for Suryawanshi’s death). The CM and those who thrashed him (the Dalit man) are responsible for all this,” said Rahul Gandhi determinedly.

When the media sought to know whether he was attempting to politicise the issue with his visit and statements, the Lok Sabha LOP contested the claim, even as Bharatiya Janata Party leaders flayed his remarks.

“There’s no politics here. It’s a matter of justice. There’s been a murder. It’s a question of ideology. We want immediate action in the matter. We want this to be resolved and those behind it must be punished,” Rahul Gandhi demanded.

Taking a cue, Maharashtra Congress President Nana F. Patole said that the Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) will soon move a breach of privilege motion against the CM for misleading the House on Suryawanshi’s death.

“The CM had said that he (Suryawanshi) was suffering from breathing problems and had died. Earlier the police had said he had complained of chest pains. The autopsy report (December 16) mentioned ‘shock following multiple injuries’ as the cause of death,” pointed out Patole.

Subsequently, an unfazed Fadnavis dismissed Rahul Gandhi’s remarks as ‘political’ and reiterated that the MahaYuti government has already initiated two probes into the matter, and justice would be done with stringent punishment to the accused.

Earlier, sporting a dark blue tee-shirt — symbolizing the Dalit colour, Rahul Gandhi entered the Suryawanshi home bare feet, bowed and paid homage to a portrait of Somnath, a law student, and then walked inside to greet the family with a ‘Namaste’, this afternoon.

He sat on the floor beside the mourning family members hailing from the Wadar community. They related the sequence of events leading to Somnath Suryawanshi’s death in judicial custody and showed him certain documents.

Rahul Gandhi gave them a patient hearing, nodded his head on several occasions, paid condolences and promised to ensure justice for the deceased man.

Later, he travelled to the home of another Dalit social worker Vijay Wakode, who suffered a heart attack and succumbed while attempting to control the rampaging mobs on December 11-12.

Rahul Gandhi was accompanied by top leaders like AICC’s Ramesh Chennithala, state President Nana Patole, MPs Dr Shivaji Kalge, Ravindra V. Chavan, Dr Kalyan Kale, MLAs Vijay Wadettiwar, Amit Deshmukh, senior leaders Vijay Balasaheb Thorat, President of State SC Department Siddharth Hattiambire, Nana Gawande, Atul Londhe and others.

Suryawanshi was arrested in connection with the violent incidents that ensued after the desecration of a statue of Dr Ambedkar near Parbhani Railway Station on December 10, by one ‘mentally disturbed’ person named Sopan Pawar.

After the sacrilege, a violent and tense shutdown was observed in Parbhani, while the local police swooped down and detained/arrested around 300 persons, mostly Dalits, including Suryawanshi on December 12.

Barely 72 hours later, Suryawanshi was found dead in judicial custody, sparking a massive furore with the Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) and INDIA bloc allies raising the issue at multiple levels.

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Maharashtra

Upset over exclusion from cabinet, Bhujbal meets CM Fadnavis over ‘growing’ OBC resentment

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Mumbai, Dec 23: Upset over his exclusion from the cabinet, a veteran NCP leader and Samata Parishad founder Chhagan Bhujbal on Monday met Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and discussed the growing resentment in the OBCs especially after he was denied a ministerial berth.

Bhujbal had earlier created a stir by making a statement — “Jaha Nahi Chaina, Vahan Nahi Rehna (There is no point in staying where there is no comfort)”. On Monday, he said, “I have told Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis everything that has been happening after December 15. He has asked me for 8 to 10 days. The Chief Minister has said he is aware that the OBC community is upset and that he would definitely think about addressing their resentment and dissatisfaction.”

“Sameer Bhujbal (his nephew) and I both met the Chief Minister. We discussed many issues, including social and political issues with him. We discussed everything that happened and what was going on. The CM told me that he saw and heard many things in the media. He further stated that the OBC community has a big role in the victory of the Mahayuti in the recently held Assembly election and we should thank everyone for that. Keeping this in mind, he said I am also concerned that the OBCs will not be harmed under any circumstances,” said Bhujbal.

“Currently, there are holidays due to festivals, there is a different atmosphere in the state. Therefore, the CM has assured me to discuss later and find a way out,” said Bhujbal who has repeatedly questioned the decision by Ajit Pawar and Tatkare to deny him a ministerial berth without taking him into confidence.

“The CM told me to give him 8 to 10 days and after that, we will meet again. He also asked me to tell the OBC leaders to discuss the pros and cons of the present situation and meet again,” said Bhujbal. He reiterated that “I have told the Chief Minister everything. He has understood the entire issue saying that OBCs are upset and he is also worried about it.”

To a question whether he would leave the NCP and join the BJP, he said, “I have said everything I wanted to say to the chief minister. I will not say anything more on this.”

Meanwhile, in his reaction after Bhujbal’s exclusion from the cabinet and his latest meeting with CM Fadnavis, NCP chief and Dy CM Ajit Pawar in Pune, said, “It is our internal issue, we will address it internally.”

Bhujbal meeting the CM, the first after he was dropped from the cabinet expansion held on December 15, is important especially as the OBC organisations, including Samata Parishad, have started organising protests and meetings across the state against his exclusion. The meeting is also to send a strong signal to NCP president and Dy CM Ajit Pawar that he may be down but certainly out. After his exclusion from the cabinet, Bhujbal has not met Ajit Pawar neither the latter nor the state NCP chief Sunil Tatkare had interacted with him in person or through phone.

Bhujbal has already denied the party’s offer to go to Rajya Sabha after resigning from the Assembly citing that it would be a betrayal of the Yevala constituency. He also claimed that the party neglected his request to field him in the Lok Sabha elections from Nashik constituency and for the Rajya Sabha elections.

Further, Bhujbal said he decided to contest the Assembly election after the party leadership told him that he was needed in the state. Bhujbal, who took on the pro-Maratha reservation activist Manoj Jarange, was expecting his induction into the cabinet.

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Delhi HC to pronounce today verdict on anticipatory bail plea of ex-IAS trainee officer Puja Khedkar

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New Delhi, Dec 23: The Delhi High Court is slated to deliver on Monday its judgment on anticipatory bail plea of sacked Maharashtra cadre probationary IAS officer Puja Khedkar, who allegedly submitted false OBC and PwBD (Persons with Benchmark Disabilities) certificates and fraudulently availed attempts beyond the permissible limits provided for the Civil Services Examination (CSE) by faking her identity.

As per the causelist published on the website of the Delhi HC, a bench of Justice Chandra Dhari Singh will pronounce its verdict on December 23.

Earlier on November 28, Justice Singh-led Bench reserved its decision after hearing both sides. It was then clarified that till the judgment is delivered, the interim relief granted earlier to Puja Khedkar shielding her from arrest will continue.

Asking Khedkar to cooperate with the investigation, the Delhi High Court, in an interim order passed on August 12, granted her protection from arrest.

Earlier, a court here had turned down her anticipatory bail plea and asked the investigating agency to find out if anyone from inside the UPSC had helped Khedkar.

Widening the scope of the probe, Additional Sessions Judge Devender Kumar Jangala had asked Delhi Police to investigate if other people recommended by the UPSC have availed quota benefits without entitlement.

The Centre, on September 7, sacked Khedkar from the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) with immediate effect, a month after the UPSC cancelled her selection in government service. Khedkar has been found guilty of faking and wrongly availing OBC and disability quota benefits.

After cancelling her selection, the UPSC also barred her for life from taking the entrance exam after finding her guilty of faking her identity to take the exam multiple times.

In a status report submitted to the Delhi High Court, Delhi Police had contended that former Maharashtra cadre probationary IAS officer Khedkar had submitted two separate disability certificates for her UPSC exam. The disability certificates dated 2018 and 2021 citing ‘multiple disabilities’ were purportedly issued by the Ahmednagar District Civil Hospital for her UPSC attempts made in 2022 and 2023.

However, as per Delhi Police’s status report, the hospital authorities had denied that the certificates claiming ‘multiple disabilities’ were issued to her by them. It was found that Khedkar availed relaxed criteria for OBC candidates and persons with disabilities.

It then came to light that her father, a former Maharashtra government officer, had property to the tune of Rs 40 crore and that she did not qualify for the non-creamy layer OBC quota.

The UPSC had said that its Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) “could not detect her number of attempts primarily because she changed not only her name but also her parents’ names”.

The Delhi High Court also issued notice to Khedkar on an application filed by the UPSC alleging that she committed perjury by swearing a false affidavit and making a false statement in relation to her anticipatory bail plea.

In its application, the UPSC disputed that it did not collect any biometrics (eyes and fingerprints) during Khedkar’s personality test and she made a “false statement” regarding the collection of her biometrics for obtaining favourable orders.

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