Maharashtra
Maharashtra govt sets up panel to collate information on inter-faith couples; minister says aim is to avoid repeat of Walkar case
Mumbai, Dec 14 (PTI) The Maharashtra government has set up a committee to gather information on the inter-faith and inter-caste marriage couples and the maternal families of the women involved if they are estranged, with its head and state minister Mangal Prabhat Lodha saying the move is aimed at avoiding a repeat of the Shraddha Walkar case.
The opposition Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) called it a “retrograde” step and said the Eknath Shinde government had no right to spy on the personal life of people.
A Government Resolution (GR) issued on Tuesday by the state’s Women and Child Development Department said the “Intercaste/Interfaith marriage-family coordination committee (state level)” will be headed by Lodha.
The committee will monitor district-level initiatives for women involved in such marriages who may be estranged from their families, so that assistance can be provided if necessary, it said.
Talking to reporters on Wednesday, Lodha said setting up the committee was an attempt of the state government to ensure that the Shraddha Walkar case does not happen again.
“The fact that Walkar’s family was not aware that she had died six months ago is scary…We don’t want to have another Shraddha Walkar and this is the reason why the committee is being set up to ensure women in such marriages are not away from their families,” he said.
Walkar was murdered allegedly by her live-in partner Aaftab Poonawala in Delhi in May this year. Poonawala allegedly strangled Shraddha and cut her body into 35 pieces which he kept in a 300-litre fridge for almost three weeks at his residence in Mehrauli in south Delhi, before dumping them across the city over several days.
The GR said that the committee will be a platform for women and their families to avail counselling and resolve issues. It added that the panel will have 13 members from government and non-government fields to study policies of the state and central government regarding welfare schemes and laws related to the matter.
The committee will hold regular meetings with district officials and collect information of registered and unregistered inter-faith and Inter-caste marriages; on such marriage that took place in places of worship and marriages took place after elopement, it said.
Meanwhile, senior NCP leader and former state minister Jitendra Awhad said in a tweet, “What’s this rubbish of committee to check inter-caste/religion marriages? Who is govt to spy on who marries whom? In liberal Maharashtra this a retrograde, nauseating step. Which way is progressive Maharashtra heading towards. Stay away from people’s private life.”
However, Eknath Shinde-led ‘Balasahebanchi Shiv Sena’ spokesman Krishna Hegde welcomed the step..
Last month, minister Lodha had asked the State Women’s Commission to set up a special squad to identify women who married without family support and are estranged from them. This decision was taken in view of the Shraddha Walkar murder case.
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had recently said that his government would study laws on freedom of religion, dubbed as legislations on “love jihad”, enacted by other states, but had not yet decided on introducing a similar law in the western state.
“Love jihad” is a term often used by right-wing activists to allege a ploy by Muslim men to lure Hindu women into religious conversion through marriage.
Maharashtra
Call for ‘limited’ officials in nationalist’s new resolution camp, resentment at its peak in Vidarbha
Mumbai: There is growing resentment in the party due to the invitation of selected officials of Vidarbha to the two-day Navsankalp camp organized by the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) in Shirdi. An atmosphere of discontent has been created as many senior leaders of Vidarbha were not invited to the camp.
Only four officials invited from Vidarbha
Only four officials from Nagpur district—Prashant Pawar (Nagpur city president), Baba Gujar (district president), Shrikant Shivankar (city working president), and Anil Ahirkar (state vice-president)—have been invited to this camp. The rest of the officials have been instructed not to attend this camp. There is deep resentment among other leaders due to this decision.
Questions of angry leaders
The Nationalist Congress had performed brilliantly in Vidarbha in the assembly elections. Six out of seven candidates had won. These officials say that after working hard in the elections, they are now being ignored. “Is our need over after the elections?” is the question raised by these leaders.
Complaint of displeasure to Ajit Pawar
Some displeased leaders have lodged their complaint by directly contacting Deputy Chief Minister and NCP National President Ajit Pawar. However, it is being told that Pawar has verbally given permission to some leaders to join the camp. Despite this, permission has not been given to join the camp without authorized invitation.
Fear of factionalism in Vidarbha
The Nationalist Congress is already organizationally weak in Vidarbha. But now there is a possibility of factionalism increasing due to such decisions. Some leaders allege that a senior leader of East Vidarbha has given a chance to join the camp only to his close associates.
Possibility of impact on civic elections
The civic and district council elections are near. In such a situation, growing displeasure and factionalism within the party can weaken the strength of the organization. The displeased workers also believe that sidelining them can have a negative impact on the party’s upcoming electoral performance.
The issue of displeasure may arise in the camp
The issue of dissatisfaction of Vidarbha is likely to be raised in this Navsankalp camp being held in Shirdi. If the leadership does not take concrete steps on this issue, this resentment can become a big headache for the party.
Maharashtra
MLA Satish Chavan of Sharad Pawar’s group left, will join Ajit Pawar’s group, will participate in the program in Shirdi
Mumbai: There has been a significant change in the factionalism going on in the Nationalist Congress Party. In the Lok Sabha elections, Sharad Pawar’s faction gave a big blow to Ajit Pawar’s faction. Sharad Pawar’s faction won 8 seats, while Ajit Pawar’s faction got only one seat. Also, the defeat of Sunetra Pawar also proved to be a big event. Before the assembly elections, there was a wave of people joining Sharad Pawar’s faction, but now after the elections, a big change is being seen in the situation.
After the assembly elections, some leaders of Ajit Pawar’s faction had hinted at joining Sharad Pawar’s faction, in which the names of some MPs were also being taken. However, both the Pawars had rejected this discussion. But now a prominent MLA of Sharad Pawar’s faction, Satish Chavan, has decided to leave Sharad Pawar. He is going to join Ajit Pawar’s faction, and his entry will take place at an event to be held in Shirdi.
Satish Chavan’s entry – a big blow to Sharad Pawar
Satish Chavan is currently an MLA and contested from Gangapur assembly seat. While he was in Sharad Pawar’s faction, he was suspended by Ajit Pawar for six years. He was defeated in the assembly elections, but now he has decided to return to Ajit Pawar’s faction. His decision is being considered a big blow to Sharad Pawar, because Chavan has given a new twist to his prophecy by joining Ajit Pawar’s faction.
Satish Chavan will join Ajit Pawar’s faction in a program to be held in Shirdi on Saturday. His party entry ceremony will be held in the presence of Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar in this program. Along with this, the decision of six years suspension against Chavan will also be withdrawn.
Chavan’s decision indicates increasing Ajit Pawar’s influence in Vidarbha
Satish Chavan’s entry into the party may further strengthen the influence of Ajit Pawar’s faction in Vidarbha. This development indicates internal conflict and factionalism in Sharad Pawar’s faction. Gangapur assembly seat was earlier with BJP, where Chavan contested from Sharad Pawar’s faction, but after the defeat, he is now joining Ajit Pawar’s faction.
It is hoped that this decision of Satish Chavan will further strengthen Ajit Pawar’s leadership and increase the organizational strength of Nationalist Congress in Vidarbha. This will prove to be a big setback for Sharad Pawar’s faction.
It is now being speculated that more leaders will enter Ajit Pawar’s faction and the unity of the party will increase, while internal conflict and factionalism may emerge once again in Sharad Pawar’s faction.
Maharashtra
Angry Chhagan Bhujbal attends Nationalist convention in Shirdi
Mumbai: Disgruntled leader Chhagan Bhujbal attended the Nationalist Congress Party convention in Shirdi. An important issue regarding his attendance was that Bhujbal was dissatisfied with the internal politics of the party. Bhujbal always expresses his opinion clearly and his attendance has given rise to many political discussions. Many leaders had made strong efforts for his attendance.
Bhujbal discussed with the party’s working president Praful Patel for two hours. In this discussion, the future of the party and various issues were discussed in detail. Bhujbal was upset with the party leadership for some time, but after this discussion he decided to attend the convention. During the discussion, there was also a phone conversation with Tatkare, which revealed important points of this discussion.
Bhujbal had contacted many political leaders to attend the Nationalist convention, but he did not succeed in contacting Ajit Pawar. There was some political turmoil due to Ajit Pawar’s absence, but Bhujbal ignored it and attended the convention.
All eyes are on what kind of guidance Bhujbal will give in the convention. His presence in this convention in Shirdi indicates that there may be a new turn in the internal politics of NCP. What will be his future role will be clear in the coming times.
-
Crime2 years ago
Class 10 student jumps to death in Jaipur
-
Maharashtra3 months ago
Mumbai Local Train Update: Central Railway’s New Timetable Comes Into Effect; Check Full List Of Revised Timings & Stations
-
Maharashtra4 months ago
False photo of Imtiaz Jaleel’s rally, exposing the fooling conspiracy
-
National News3 months ago
Ministry of Railways rolls out Special Drive 4.0 with focus on digitisation, cleanliness, inclusiveness and grievance redressal
-
Maharashtra3 months ago
Mumbai To Go Toll-Free Tonight! Maharashtra Govt Announces Complete Toll Waiver For Light Motor Vehicles At All 5 Entry Points Of City
-
Crime3 months ago
Baba Siddique Murder: Mumbai Police Unable To Get Lawrence Bishnoi Custody Due To Home Ministry Order, Says Report
-
Maharashtra2 months ago
Maharashtra Elections 2024: Mumbai Metro & BEST Services Extended Till Midnight On Voting Day
-
National News4 months ago
J&K: 4 Jawans Killed, 28 Injured After Bus Carrying BSF Personnel For Poll Duty Falls Into Gorge In Budgam; Terrifying Visuals Surface