Maharashtra
YEAREND INTERVIEW: Cong seats won’t grow like Rahul’s beard: Ramdas Athawale

With the nation set to go to the polls in 2024, political parties have already started preparing for the all-important Lok Sabha elections.
While the Congress is covering the length and breadth of the country with its ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’, the BJP too is in action mode to ensure painting the nation with saffron colour for the third successive term.
Speaking exclusively with IANS, Union Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment, Ramdas Athawale, claimed that the BJP will will win 350 seats in 2024, while the NDA’s tally will touch the 400-mark.
Also targeting Rahul Gandhi and his Bharat Jodo Yatra, the President of the Republican Party of India said that he (Rahul Gandhi) might have grown his beard, but that won’t help the Congress grow the number of seats in 2024, as the Yatra will make no difference.
Here are excerpts from the interview:
Q: The year 2022 is nearing its end. How did the year go for your ministry? What were the achievements?
A: This year, we introduced many policies for the SC, OBC and De-notified Tribes (DNTs). We also introduced policies under the Accessible India Campaign or Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan, which is a programme for the differently-able community of the country.
Similarly, we have pension policies for the elderly. We have three commissions under our ministry — for the Schedule Caste, Other Backward Class and Safai Mazdoor. We keep working on such policies so that people can get benefits from them.
Q: What are the major plans of the ministry for 2023?
A: We have appointed the Rohini Commission under which there is 27 per cent reservation for OBCs, but the DNTs are demanding separate reservation. Though this falls under the OBC category, the DNT community is not getting any benefits from the commission. So there are talks regarding categorisation of this 27 per cent reservation system.
Also, we have given 10 per cent reservation to economically weaker sections in jobs and admission, whose annual family income is below Rs 8 lakh and who don’t fall under SC/ST/OBC categories. Any family from any caste falls in this category and can avail benefits of this policy.
We have also appointed a three-member commission, headed by former Chief Justice of India, K.G. Balakrishnan, to consider the possibility of granting SC status to ‘new persons who have historically belonged to the Scheduled Castes’, but have converted to religions other than Hinduism, Buddhism and Sikhism. He has also been given the responsibility to study Dalit Muslims and Dalit Christians and submit a report within six months.
Q: India is hosting the G20 meet next year. What will be the contribution of the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment?
A: We are in the process of chalking out new programmes for the G20 meet. We will come up with new ideas.
Besides, we have a scheme of overseas scholarship under which we give scholarships to Schedule Caste students to go aboard and study. This year, we sent 125 students abroad and we are targeting to ramp up the numbers next year.
Q: The 2024 Lok Sabha elections are not far away, and the Republican Party of India is in alliance with the BJP. What are you thoughts about the upcoming general elections?
A: In 2024, we are targeting 350+ seats for the BJP, while the NDA should win 400+ seats. In 2019, BJP had got 303 seats alone, so the target is more this time. The Republican Party of India is fully with the BJP. Prime Minister Narendra Modi holds good thoughts about Babasaheb Ambedkar. He has vowed to strengthen the Constitution framed by Ambedkar. His ideology of ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas, Sabka Prayaas’ is appreciable.
The Prime Minister’s vision of ‘Aatamnirbhar Bharat’ is incomparable. He is a global leader. He has taken the country’s economy to a new level. Leaders like Rahul Gandhi cannot even face Modi in 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
Q: The opposition parties seem to be coming together for the next general elections, just like like they formed the Mahagathbandhan in 2019. What is your take on this?
A: It is hard for all the opposition parties to come together. Also, every party wants the PM candidate to be from their party. Even if they come together, facing PM Modi will be tough for them. The Prime Minister not only has the support of the NDA, he also enjoys the support of the common people. He is running a good government.
Q: Rahul Gandhi’s popularity seems to be growing with the Bharat Jodo Yatra that his drawing good crowd. Do you think it will make any difference in 2024?
A: This is not Bharat Jodo Yatra, but ‘Bharat Todo Yatra’. If Congress wanted to do Bharat Jodo, they could have done it during its 70-year rule. But what they did was ‘Bharat Todo’.
Also, Rahul Gandhi should first work on ‘Congress Jodo’ instead. Yes, the Yatra is drawing large crowds, but that will not translate into votes in favour of the Congress. Rahul Gandhi has grown his beard, but Congress’ seats will not grow.
Maharashtra
Anti-drug rally of Govindi Samajwadi Party leader and MLA Abu Asim Azmi

Mumbai: A massive anti-drug rally was taken out today under the leadership of Samajwadi Party MLA Abu Asim Azmi to draw attention to the serious problem of drug addiction and illegal drug trade in Mankhurd Shivaji Nagar assembly constituency and to create public awareness against it.
Thousands of workers and local citizens participated in the rally. Protesters took to the streets and demanded strict action against the illegal drug trade and appealed to the youth to stay away from drugs.
The main objective of the rally was to free the youth of the area from the clutches of drugs and to put pressure on the administration to stop this illegal trade. Abu Asim Azmi himself led the rally and stressed the need for immediate and strict action against the drug problem in the area. Not only party workers but also a large number of mothers, sisters, young and old citizens of the area participated in the demonstration, highlighting the seriousness of the problem.
The drug problem in Mankhurd Shivaji Nagar constituency has been a topic of discussion for many years and it is badly affecting the lives of local citizens. By organizing this rally, MLA Azmi has once again shown his determination to solve this important problem faced by the citizens of his constituency. Speaking on the occasion, MLA Abu Asim Azmi warned the administration: “Immediate and strict action should be taken against those involved in the illegal drug trade, otherwise the Samajwadi Party and the local citizens will intensify the protest.” The rally proved to be an important rally in drawing attention to the social and health problems of the Mankhurdshivaji Nagar area.
Maharashtra
A new police station should be established in Govandi Shivaji Nagar. Maharashtra SP leader Abu Asim Azmi demands from Police Commissioner Devin Bharti

abu aasim aazmi
Mumbai: Maharashtra Samajwadi Party leader and MLA Abu Asim Azmi has demanded the establishment of a new police station in Shivaji Nagar constituency from Mumbai Police Commissioner Devin Bharti. He said that the old police station has been shifted to Mahada, which makes it very difficult to reach the police station from the SMS company area and it takes half an hour to an hour. In such a situation, a new police station should be established in Shivaji Nagar constituency. There has been an increase in drug abuse, crimes and other incidents in Shivaji Nagar and Govindi areas, along with an increase in the population here. It is necessary to establish a police station in proportion to the population, while the presence of police stations and personnel is not there in proportion to the population. He said that Police Commissioner Devin Bharti has said that after the recruitment of police, the police station will be established and manpower will be deployed in the police stations. Along with this, Abu Asim Azmi has also accused the local administration of irregularities in the distribution of funds along with the establishment of the police station. He said that now the corporation and The BMC election has not been held, there are Samajwadi Party corporators here but they are not being provided funds, but whoever joins the Shinde group is provided funds, this is complete injustice and therefore the funds should be distributed equally. He said that the government has no concern with the slum areas, the police presence will remain in Walkashore, Malabar Hill and Cuffe Parade, but there is no police presence in the slum areas and there is a shortage of them, that is why the bat chowki that we have built with our own funds in Govindi is also empty, there is no police personnel in it.
Maharashtra
Mumbai Accident: 1 Killed, 6 Others Injured As Speeding Tempo Traveller Crashes Into BEST Bus In Dadar

Mumbai: A speeding tempo traveller crashed into a BEST bus and two other vehicles in Dadar late Sunday night, killing one and injuring six, including three brothers. The victim was identified as Shahabuddin Zainulabdeen Shaikh, 37, a clothes vendor, said the Shivaji Park police, adding that medical examination confirmed that the driver, Sandesh Kumbhar, 27, was driving under the influence of alcohol.
Preliminary investigation revealed that Kumbhar, a resident of Wadala, was driving in a rash and negligent manner. According to BEST, the fatal mishap occurred around 11.30 pm near the Dadar Plaza bus stop, when a tempo traveller, heading towards Shivaji Park, lost control. It collided with the front right side of a BEST bus that was en route to Pratiksha Nagar from the Worli depot.
After crashing into the bus, the tempo traveller also struck a taxi and another tourist vehicle, damaging both. “The impact caused the bus to veer left, hitting pedestrians and passengers waiting at the stop. Shahabuddin, a pedestrian, died on the spot,” said an official.
Those injured were identified as brothers Rahul Padale, 30, Rohit Padale, 33, and Akshay Padale, 25. The remaining three are Vidya Mote, 30, Abhishek Rautkar, 24, and Abdul Nadir, 23. While Nadir is from Wadala, the rest are from Sion. They were immediately rushed to Sion Hospital with the help of the bus conductor and local police personnel. The police have registered a case of accidental death against Kumbhar.
-
Crime3 years ago
Class 10 student jumps to death in Jaipur
-
Maharashtra1 year ago
Mumbai Local Train Update: Central Railway’s New Timetable Comes Into Effect; Check Full List Of Revised Timings & Stations
-
Maharashtra12 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
-
Maharashtra1 year ago
False photo of Imtiaz Jaleel’s rally, exposing the fooling conspiracy
-
National News12 months ago
Ministry of Railways rolls out Special Drive 4.0 with focus on digitisation, cleanliness, inclusiveness and grievance redressal
-
Maharashtra11 months ago
Maharashtra Elections 2024: Mumbai Metro & BEST Services Extended Till Midnight On Voting Day
-
National News1 year ago
J&K: 4 Jawans Killed, 28 Injured After Bus Carrying BSF Personnel For Poll Duty Falls Into Gorge In Budgam; Terrifying Visuals Surface
-
Crime12 months ago
Baba Siddique Murder: Mumbai Police Unable To Get Lawrence Bishnoi Custody Due To Home Ministry Order, Says Report