Maratha reservation: Activist Manoj Jarange warns of fresh hunger strike on August 29
Addressing the media at Antarwali Sarthi village in Jalna district, Jarange said the state government had deceived the community by not fulfilling four major demands, despite repeated assurances.
'The government has once again betrayed the Maratha community. We have waited patiently for two years, but the time has come to rise. I urge all Marathas — don't remain silent. Finish your farming in the next two months and get ready to march to Mumbai,' he said.
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Indian Express
15 hours ago
- Indian Express
Why Maharashtra BJP has opened arms to take back a 90-yr-old leader, barbs and all
Senior leader Annasaheb Dange's return to the BJP after two decades has given the Maharashtra unit a big boost, with leaders saying he could guide the organisation. The 90-year-old, who had left the BJP in 2002 after complaining of being 'sidelined' within the party, is part of an older generation of party leaders with a strong connection to the ground, having worked with the Jana Sangh and then built the party. His compatriots talk of him cycling several miles every day to reach out to people and recruit them. In the 80s, when the BJP was just growing, party ideologue Vasantrao Bhagwat conceptualised the MADHAV strategy – acronym in Marathi for the Mali, Dhangar and Vanjari OBC communities – to create a base for the organisation. The Congress was virtually unchallenged in Maharashtra till then, with its firm support base among the Marathas, Dalits and tribals. However, soon, the MADHAV framework paid off. Along with Gopinath Munde, Suryabhan Wahadne, N S Pharande, Dange took centre stage in state politics and spread the BJP's message. It helped that all these leaders were from OBC communities, with Dhange belonging to the Dhangar community himself. The BJP came to power in Maharashtra for the first time in 1995-1999 in alliance with the Shiv Sena. Dange was made Cabinet minister and allocated the Rural Development and Panchayat Raj ministries. In the 1999 Assembly polls, the Sena-BJP alliance lost, and a Congress-NCP government led by Vilasrao Deshmukh came to power. Things within the BJP soured sometime in the early 2000s for Dange, when he was denied an MLC ticket and was not accommodated in any other post. He alleged then that this was due to centralisation of power in Munde and Mahajan's hands. In 2002, Dange left the BJP and, two years later, floated an outfit called the Lokrajya Party. However, it failed to have any presence in the state. Dange joined the NCP in 2011 and was made NCP vice-president. When the NCP split into two factions in 2023, Dange remained with Sharad Pawar. But that did not amount to a larger political role and Dange largely remained on the sidelines. Sources said Pawar was not inclined to give Dange a key position as he felt the leader was losing his relevance. The NCP (SP) has been struggling to find its footing, and the BJP has been keeping its doors open for everyone including the old guard. This made Dange's return to the BJP smooth. A senior BJP functionary said, 'At this stage of his life, Dange is not seeking any political post in the party or government. He already has many educational institutions including medical, engineering colleges in Sangli district.' The BJP believes that Dange's return would also send out a positive signal to the Dhangar community, which is a sizeable population in at least 40 Assembly constituencies located in West and North Maharashtra and in Vidarbha. Commenting on his return, Dange said Wednesday, 'I feel fortunate to return.' However, his outspoken nature was still on display as he joined the BJP in the presence of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. Recalling the circumstances that led to his resignation, Dange said: 'Back then, someone asked Atal Bihari Vajpayee who would be his political successor. In response Vajpayee named Pramod Mahajan among other leaders. Mahajan thought that if he were to assume an important role at the Centre, his brother-in-law Munde should become CM of Maharashtra. After that, I started getting secondary treatment in the party.' He said then Sena supremo Bal Thackeray was also 'fond' of Mahajan. ' A section within the BJP feared my rise due to this too.' Fadnavis quickly rebuffed this, and said it was 'just a case of misunderstanding'. 'We are glad to have a senior leader like Dange in the party. He made a huge contribution towards the growth of the party. He left due to some misunderstanding. Now, we seek his blessings and guidance. In a way, we have come to him and not vice-versa.' A senior BJP leader said that the reality of the '90s BJP was entirely different. 'The role of Pramod Mahajan and Gopinath Munde cannot be overlooked. While Mahajan was a strategist, Munde was a mass leader. Being top leaders they took centre stage. All those whose aspirations were not met attacked them.'
Hindustan Times
2 days ago
- Hindustan Times
After Shinde's intervention, BMC rolls back ₹15,000 road digging fine for Ganesh mandals
MUMBAI: In a big relief for public Ganesh mandals across Mumbai, deputy chief minister Eknath Shinde has directed the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to withdraw a controversial hike in road digging fines for pandal construction. The municipal corporation had recently increased the penalty for digging roads from ₹2,000 per hole to ₹15,000—a move that had sparked outrage among organisers ahead of this year's Ganeshotsav. Devotees carry an idol of the elephant-headed Hindu deity 'Ganesha' ahead of the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai on July 20, 2025. (Photo by Punit PARANJPE / AFP) (AFP) Following strong objections from the Brihanmumbai Public Ganeshotsav Samanvay Samiti (BGSSS), the coordinating body of Ganesh mandals in the city, Shinde stepped in and asked municipal commissioner Bhushan Gagrani to roll back the revised fine. The BMC has now agreed to retain the earlier charge of ₹2,000 per hole. 'The deputy CM has made a request and the proposal to withdraw the pothole penalty has been accepted,' confirmed a senior civic official. Posting on X, Shinde said, 'Ganpati Bappa Morya! The Mumbai Municipal Corporation had increased the road restoration charges for pandal digging. I discussed this with commissioner Bhushan Gagrani and instructed that there should be no hike in the penalty.' He also urged mandals to avoid digging newly laid roads, stating, 'A large portion of Mumbai's roads is being concretised. I appeal to mandals to consider new technologies for erecting pandals without damaging concrete roads.' 'No clarity this year' BGSSS president advocate Naresh Dahibavkar welcomed the rollback and thanked Shinde for acting swiftly. 'During the 2024 planning meeting, then-chief minister Shinde had promised that no fees would be charged for digging. The sudden imposition of a ₹15,000 penalty this year triggered widespread anger,' he said. However, Dahibavkar flagged concerns over poor coordination ahead of this year's festival, which will be celebrated from August 27 to September 6. 'Though Ganeshotsav has been officially declared a state festival, there's been no city-level planning meeting yet. Instead, local meetings are being held at police stations and ward offices, creating confusion,' he said. The BGSSS has now called for an urgent coordination meeting with all departments—municipal, police, and state—to streamline permissions, manage crowds, and ensure safety during the 11-day festival. Dahibavkar also expressed concerns over the potential impact of the August 29 Maratha reservation rally, led by activist Manoj Jarange Patil, on Ganeshotsav celebrations. 'It's expected to draw huge crowds in Mumbai and may impact festival arrangements. We need clear protocols in place to avoid any disruption,' he said.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Time of India
New SIT under IPS officer Kumawat to probe Mahadev Munde murder case
Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar: A new special investigation team (SIT) has been set up to investigate the murder of Beed resident Mahadev Munde, with IPS officer Pankaj Kumawat appointed as its head. This information was disclosed by Munde's widow, Dnyaneshwari, following her meeting with chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on Thursday in Mumbai. Confirming the development, BJP MLA Suresh Dhas, who attended the family's meeting with the CM, said inspector Santosh Sable and an assistant inspector would also join the newly formed SIT. All three officers have previously served in Beed, with Kumawat recognised for his bold actions during his tenure there. Both Sable and the assistant inspector were also stationed in Parli around the time of the murder. The formation of the SIT comes 21 months after the murder, which took place on Oct 21, 2023, in Beed's Parli. Dnyaneshwari said no arrests have been made to date, raising concerns about the investigation's progress and integrity. She said that her meeting with the Chief Minister was arranged after Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange intervened and urged Fadnavis to address the family's grievances. "I told the CM everything that happened over the past 21 months. He became emotional and assured us that no one involved in this crime will be spared," Dnyaneshwari told reporters in Mumbai. Dnyaneshwari further alleged that the Parli police were pressured to halt the investigation following a call from a senior politician's official residence. "We have requested a call detail record (CDR) analysis to uncover everyone linked to this pressure. We have submitted the names of those involved to the CM," she added. Fadnavis reportedly called Beed superintendent of police Navneet Kanwat during the meeting and sought swift action. He also assured that all accused, regardless of their political influence, would be arrested. "It has been nearly two years since my husband was murdered, and the accused have been roaming free. We now hope justice will be delivered," Dnyaneshwari said.
