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Maharashtra

Now, cobra and chicken join the Maharashtra political circus!

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Many fauna-friendly politicians in Maharashtra frequently invoke a variety of mute creatures to lampoon political parties and their leaders at public rallies to regale the audiences and score brownie points.

Like insects, scorpions and snakes stepped on the dais in the past, this time Maharashtra Navnirman Sena President Raj Thackeray went a reptile ahead – the dreaded cobra, also symbolic of Lord Shiva.

At his large public meeting in Thane late on Tuesday, Raj compared Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA)’s Housing Minister Dr Jitendra Awhad with a cobra – in mostly personal remarks at many other leaders.

“Look at his (Dr Awhad) face. It is like the open hood of a cobra…” was Raj’s poisonous refrain, leaving the crowds in splits, the ruling Shiv Sena-Nationalist Congress Party-Congress numb, and the Opposition Bharatiya Janata Party chuckling.

Not reputed to take such things lying down, Dr Awhad aggressively rolled his bespectacled eyes to proclaim he was “proud” to have the countenance of a cobra.

“When I open the hood, I can strike back at my opponents,” Dr Awhad said, gesticulating his hand like a hungry, angry cobra ready to attack, hinting at a political ‘taandav’ in future.

Then he hissed: “Never mind my face. I am proud of it. But can someone check out which part of a ‘chicken’ his (Raj’s) face resembles?” before slithering away from the stunned media.

The ‘cobra-chicken’ dog-fight ignited by Raj sparked off the anticipated political furore with Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar frowning and declaring that he will “give a befitting reply at the appropriate time”.

Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut said that “after he (Raj Thackeray) got an Enforcement Directorate notice” he has become the BJP’s loudspeaker”.

Referring to the MNS’s gauntlet to the MVA to dismantle loudspeakers from all mosques in the state within 21 days (May 3), Raut rebuffed saying: “Only (the late) Balasaheb Thackeray had the authority to give such ultimatums”.

He also dared Raj to invite and felicitate the ‘untraceable’ BJP Mumbai activist Kirit Somaiya at his swank new home ‘Shivtirth’ in Dadar.

The usually soft-spoken, US-educated NCP state President and Minister Jayant Patil – whom Raj referred to as ‘Jant’ (worm) – smiled and said “Raj’s knowledge is very weak and he needs to be readmitted to primary school to improve himself”.

Raj also hit out at NCP MP Supriya Sule by comparing her with an elephant, saying she had different sets of teeth for showing (tusks) and chewing.

Sule dismissed it by commenting that Raj is living in history, basking in the glory of his illustrious uncle (the late Balasaheb Thackeray), and needs to be ignored.

Dr Awhad supported her by asking, “does Raj know how painful it is when one is pierced by a tusk”, adding that Raj has taken a ‘contract’ to spread communal discord in society.

Congress Chief Spokesperson Atul Londhe merely labelled it as a ‘third umpire speech’, while other party leaders wondered whether Raj is blind to the problems of spiralling fuel prices, inflation, unemployment to indulge in such lectures.

Meanwhile, the Thane Police are reportedly sharpening their knives to book Raj for brandishing a sword at the rally and the NCP planning a befitting reply to the attacks on its leaders at the party’s weekend rally.

Maharashtra

We will take initiative on the problems of Mumbai University – Ambadas Danve

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Mumbai: Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Council Ambadas Danve said that the government will take initiative regarding the vacant posts of teachers in Mumbai University, enrollment of colleges, and pending development works by MMRDA. Today he visited the Kalina campus and took stock of the problems and current situation of the students.

Delay in development works of the university

An agreement was signed between Mumbai University and MMRDA for the beautification of the Kalina campus and construction of buildings for educational purposes. But this work has not been done till now and concerns were raised about the completion of these works.

Issue of safety of students

Every day five to six thousand students visit the Kalina campus, but incidents of attacks on female students are increasing due to outside elements. Also, the Bit Chowki near the main entrance was demolished in the name of widening the road, which increased the threat to the safety of girl students, this issue was raised by Senate member Sheetal Devrukhkar-Sheth.

Issue of cancellation of teacher recruitment

Instead of improving the quality of education, the decision to cancel the teacher recruitment is proving to be harmful for the students, Senate member Milind Satam reported.

Challenge to the international recognition of the university

Despite getting international recognition, the students are facing problems due to the problems of Mumbai University, which is unfortunate, said Ambadas Danve. Students from all over the country and abroad come here to study, so it is important to solve these problems, he said.

Vice Chancellor Dr. Ravindra Kulkarni, Pro-Vice Chancellor Dr. Ajay Bhamare, local MLA Vilas Potnis, Senate members Sheetal Devrukhkar-Sheth, Milind Satam, Kisan Sawant, Param Yadav and other dignitaries were present in this meeting.

Danve resolved to raise voice with the government on the problems of the university and play an active role in the interest of the students.

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Maharashtra

‘Water Grid’ project for Marathwada: Gulabrao Patil

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Mumbai: The ‘Marathwada Water Grid’ scheme is being implemented to permanently solve the water shortage in Marathwada and ensure robust water supply. Under this project, 11 major dams of Marathwada will be connected through pipelines and drinking water will be provided to cities and villages across the region. Water Supply and Sanitation Minister Gulabrao Patil gave information about the project and said that this project will provide sustainable water supply to Marathwada.

The cooperation of global level banks will be taken to implement this scheme, Patil said. A review meeting was held with representatives of global banks in the ministry regarding this project. Many important officials including Principal Secretary of Water Supply and Sanitation Department Sanjay Khandare, Member Secretary of Maharashtra Jeevan Pradhikaran Abhishek Krishna, Chief Executive Officer of ‘Mitra’ Praveensinh Pardeshi, Director of Jal Jeevan Mission Abhiyan E Ravindran, and Secretary of Water Resources Department Sanjay Belsare were present in this meeting.

Long-term water supply to Marathwada will be ensured through this project. Along with this, as per the advice of the central government, the project will be set up and implemented by taking loans from the World Bank, Asian Development Bank and New Development Bank. The implementation of the project will be coordinated by the ‘Mitra’ institution, as told by Minister Gulabrao Patil.

The ‘Mitra’ institution has taken the initiative to discuss the project further and coordinate with the concerned banks. Patil expressed confidence that the project will significantly help in solving the water problem of Marathwada.

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Maharashtra

The state government is preparing to bring private kindergartens under its control

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Mumbai: The lack of educational facilities, midday meals for children, and proper implementation of government schemes in private schools running in the streets of the state has increased the concern of parents. As a measure against this, the School Education Department has started preparing a new manual to bring private schools under government control.

According to the new National Education Policy, pre-primary education for children between 3 and 6 years of age has been considered important, and it is proposed to include private schools in this policy as well. Currently, many schools running in the streets are running without any manual and are out of the control of the local administration. It has been assured that a suitable educational environment will be created for the children under this new rule of the Education Department.

Under the new regulations, educational curriculum for children will be implemented in the balwadis, along with midday meals and appropriate schemes for the physical and mental development of children. This is expected to provide quality education to the children.

It has not yet been decided which department will control these balwadis – the School Education Department, the Women and Child Welfare Department, and the Integrated Child Development Services Department. However, it is believed that this decision will reduce the anxiety of parents and improve the educational quality of children.

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