MVA picks on Shinde over 'Jai Gujarat' slogan, Fadnavis comes to his aid
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Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Ashadi Ekadashi: Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis, wife presides over Mahapuja at Vitthal-Rukhmini temple in Pandhapur
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and his wife Amruta performed the Mahapuja at the Vitthal-Rukhmini temple in Pandharpur on Ashadi Ekadashi, amidst a gathering of over 2 million Warkaris. KOLHAPUR: Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis and his wife Amruta presided over the Mahapuja at Vitthal-Rukhmini temple of Pandhapur in Solapur district on Sunday morning on the occasion of auspicious day of Ashadi Ekadashi. More than 20 lakh Warkari's have arrived in the temple town, most of which walking hundreds of kilometers to reach the temple town and get darshan of Vitthal and Rukhmini. Among them were Kailas Damu Ugale and his wife Kalpana from Jategaon, taluka Nandgaon from Nashik district who got the honour to preside by CM and his wife's side for the Mahapuja. The couple from Nashik was given free pass for state transport bus travel for next one year. Fadnavis briefing the media after the ritual said, "I sought strength to overcome the challenges and walk on righteous path for the development of Maharashtra. I also sought farmers welfare, they get bumper yield this year." When asked bout the allegations by Mahayuti leaders that people with extreme views have infiltrated the Wari, Fadnavis said that those coming in Wari must have thought of Vitthal on his mind and eager to get his darshan. Those come with agenda is absolutely wrong " Fadnavis praised the administration for reducing the time for darshan. He said that with the efforts, the Warkari's get darshan within five hour less than normal time. He also said that the Pandhapur corridor will be developed without destroying the livelihood of local traders, residents.
Hindustan Times
2 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
‘Overreacted': What Maha investor said in apology over ‘won't learn Marathi' remark after office vandalised
Maharashtra businessman Sushil Kedia, whose office in Worli was vandalised by workers of Raj Thackeray-led Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), said he was withdrawing from his 'overreaction', the comments he made on the party chief amid reports of common citizens of the state getting targeted over a lack of proficiency in the Marathi language. Mumbai Police deployed security outside Sushil Kedia's Worli office after MNS party workers attacked the premises in Mumbai, India, on Saturday, July 5. (Satish Bate/ Hindustan Times) Five workers of Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) were arrested on Saturday in connection with the vandalism at Sushil Kedia's office in Worli. A case was registered against them under Sections 223, 189(2), 189(3), 190, 191(2), 191(3), and 125 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023. What happened Office of Sushil Kedia, a prominent investor, was vandalised by MNS workers a day after he had challenged Raj Thackeray in a post on social media platform X and said that he will not learn Marathi as a protest against 'gross misconduct' of the MNS chief. 'I don't know Marathi properly even after living for 30 years in Mumbai & with your gross misconduct I have made it a resolve that until such people as you are allowed to pretend to be taking care of Marathi Manus I take pratigya I won't learn Marathi. Kya karna hai bol?' Kedia had posted on X. MNS leader Sandeep Deshpande responded, advising Kedia to focus on his business. 'Do business if you're a businessman; don't try to act like our father. If you insult Marathi in Maharashtra, you'll get a slap on the ear, otherwise, stay in your lane, Mehta or whoever. That's all for now.' Deshpande posted on X. After Deshpande's post, Kedia approached police, claiming he was getting threats for his social media post. 'We contacted Kedia after he tagged Mumbai Police in his post,' a police official said. On Friday, Kedia posted another message on X. 'Shri @RajThackeray threatening me by 100s of your workers is not going to make me a fluent Marathi speaker. If I am not confident of the quality of Marathi I can speak, with so much threatening around even more fear happens that if I miss speaking any word(s) improperly more violence will happen. Get the point. Love, not threat makes people get assimilated together,' his post read. 'Please note @CPMumbaiPolice @Dev_Fadnavis open threats of violence are being issued by @RajThackeray workers. Provide me safety. Is an Indian having any rights to dignity & safety in Maharashtra today is a question even our @HMOIndia @AmitShah ji might ponder on as well,' Kedia said on X. Kedia's post came after a sweet mart owner was assaulted by seven MNS workers in Mira Road near Mumbai recently for not speaking in Marathi. Kedia withdraws comments on Raj Thackeray On Saturday, Kedia stated that he made these comments in haste and has now realised his mistake. Stressing that his comments have been taken out of context by some sections, Kedia said, 'My tweet [X post] happened in a wrong state of mind under stress. And further, now it is getting manipulated and misinterpreted to suit the interests of people who want to gain from any controversy.' Kedia said that he made those comments after common citizens of Maharashtra were getting targeted over a lack of proficiency in Marathi. "Having come under pressure mentally from the violence inflicted on those who do not know Marathi, I ended up overreacting. I realised I must take back my overreactions and withdraw," he said. Praising MNS chief Raj Thackeray for raising "strong issues" that matter to the Hindus, Thackeray said, "Whether it was the Hanuman Chalisa campaign in recent memories or always, the championing of Hindutva and Rashtravad that he has done, he has always been a hero. But this time, when our own have been loggerheads with each other, my mind went haywire under stress." Sushil Kedia added that citizens here in Maharashtra will be inclined to learn the Marathi language if encouraged in the right manner. "I have realised my mistake, and I wish to correct it unequivocally. The concerned people may also hopefully consider someday soon that instead of frightening people if you provide us encouragement, it will help us overcome our hesitations in achieving fluency in the Marathi language more rapidly, as we will be fearlessly using it more and more. Of course, the tweet that I made out of haste, out of the stress," Kedia said while admitting that he clearly "overreacted" in his previous post. (With ANI inputs)
New Indian Express
3 hours ago
- New Indian Express
Twenty years on, Thackeray cousins bury the hatchet
MUMBAI: SHIV Sena (UBT) president Uddhav Thackeray on Saturday said he and his cousin, MNS chief Raj Thackeray, have joined forces in the interest of 'Marathi pride' while sharing a political stage with him after nearly 20 years. Uddhav sounded bullish when he said he and Raj will capture power in the Mumbai civic body elections and Maharashtra together. 'We have come together to stay together,' he asserted. At the public rally titled 'Awaj Marathicha' to celebrate the rollback of two government resolutions on introducing Hindi as a third language from Class 1 in state schools, Uddhav said, 'We won't let the government impose Hindi on us.' MNS leader Amit Thackeray, Raj's son, was seen sharing a hug with Uddhav's son Aaditya on the stage. Uddhav alleged that the people who are in power in Maharashtra, are 'slaves of two Gujaratis. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Eknath Shinde are in power, not to serve the interest of Maharashtra and Marathi manoos, but of their bosses in Delhi. We will never tolerate Hindi in Maharashtra. We will fight to safeguard our culture and language.' On the rollback of the three-language formula in Maharashtra, both brothers said the BJP-led government had no other option. 'The government rolled back the decision on the three-language formula due to the strong unity shown by Marathi people. This decision was a precursor to the plan of separating Mumbai from Maharashtra,' the MNS chief said, with Uddhav seated next. Raj, in a lighter vein, credited Fadnavis with bringing him and Uddhav together, a feat even Balasaheb Thackeray could not accomplish. 'Your power is in the legislature, ours on the streets,' Raj said to thunderous applause.
