Latest news with #BhaskarJadhav
Hans India
3 days ago
- Politics
- Hans India
Opposition corners Maha govt on crop loan waiver
Mumbai: Maharashtra opposition on Thursday cornered the MahaYuti government over its poll promise of crop loan waiver and demanded that it should be introduced without further delays. Opposition party legislators Jayant Patil, Vijay Wadettiwar and Bhaskar Jadhav accused the state government of dilly-dallying over its promise of crop loan waiver, saying it is needed immediately as agriculture is suffering from GST, due to which no matter what crop is grown, the production cost is Rs 60,000. Farmers are hit hard by the damage caused due to unseasonal rains, and they are unable to bear the burden amid the rising mismatch between the cost of production and the price the farmers ultimately get for their produce. Opposition members were speaking during the resolution moved by them for discussion on the state government's apathy and neglect towards rising cases of farmers' suicides and losses incurred by them due to market volatility. The opposition members adopted an aggressive posture, expressing their strong displeasure over the absence of ministers from the agriculture, water resources, marketing, water conservation and other departments in the assembly, which led to a ruckus as the ruling party members also expressed their dissatisfaction over the absence of concerned ministers in the house. 'If there are no ministers in the House, the Secretary and Deputy Secretary should be present in the officers' gallery, then call at least a desk officer basically to take notes,' said legislator Suresh Dhas sarcastically. As there were no ministers from any other department except Skill Development Minister Mangal Prabhat Lodha in the House for 15 to 20 minutes, the opposition created a ruckus demanding an adjournment of the House. The BJP member Sudhir Mungantiwar and Suresh Dhas also joined the opposition to take serious objection to the proceedings. They criticised the government, asking questions such as when it will waive off loans, pay for paddy purchase, and provide one and a half times the guaranteed price, when it will investigate bogus crop insurance, and what measures will be taken to address farmer suicides. During the discussion, opposition legislators criticised the government over the controversial statements made by Agriculture Minister Manikrao Kokate and BJP legislator Babanrao Lonikar. Shiv Sena UBT legislator Bhaskar Jadhav, senior Congress leader Vijay Wadettiwar and NCP SP legislator Jayant Patil termed the government's policies 'anti-agricultural.' Bhaskar Jadhav said: 'This year, the paddy fields have been destroyed due to untimely rains. When farmers are in trouble everywhere, the Agriculture Minister himself makes fun of the farmers. BJP legislator Babanrao Lonikar also makes insensitive statements against farmers. This is only because of the arrogance of power.' Vijay Wadettiwar said, 'The price of chemical fertilisers has been increased drastically. The price of seeds and pesticides has increased. He demanded that the government announce a crop loan waiver instead of setting up a committee. Jayant Patil and Vijay Wadettiwar asked the government not to make a prestige issue about the implementation of a Rs 86,300 crore Shaktipeeth Mahamarg. They demanded that the government should take the farmers and the opposition into confidence before going ahead with land acquisition and project development. However, BJP legislator Gopichand Papalkar strongly supported the Shaktipeeth Mahamarg and claimed that the opposition parties are politicising the issue.
Indian Express
3 days ago
- Health
- Indian Express
Opposition alleges Maharashtra govt purchased cancer diagnostic vans at inflated price, Speaker Rahul Narvekar orders inquiry
Maharashtra Assembly Speaker Rahul Narvekar Thursday directed the public health department to conduct an inquiry into the purchase of eight cancer diagnostic vans and submit its findings before the end of the Monsoon Session after the Opposition's allegations. Opposition MLAs questioned the price at which each of the vans was purchased. 'As per the information I have, the price of each van was Rs 99 lakh, while a similar van of the Tata company can be purchased at Rs 45 lakh only. The entire purchase process looks managed and there can be no denying this,' said Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA Bhaskar Jadhav. Meghana Sakore-Bordikar, Minister of State for Public Health, stated that the purchase of eight cancer diagnostic vans was made through the government's GeM portal via a turnkey process. The rates at which purchases were made were 0.94 per cent less than the estimated rates. There was a competitive tender for the same. It involves the vehicle, medical equipment, furniture and customisation. There has been no corruption in the purchase,' said the minister. She said three companies had participated in the tender process. 'At present, an inquiry is ongoing based on complaints from the legislators,' she said. 'The government has purchased eight cancer diagnostic vans. The price of a van cannot exceed Rs 40 lakh. The equipment in this van is not more than Rs 12 lakhs. However, the vehicles have been purchased at a higher price,' said Congress MLA Vijay Wadettiwar. Wadettiwar said these vans are related to a life-threatening disease like cancer, and some of the equipment has even broken down. 'There should be an investigation into whether there has been corruption in this purchase. The report must come out if the investigation is ongoing,' he said. The Congress MLA asked the Speaker to ensure that the report is tabled before the house, before the end of the session. 'The inquiry must be conducted at the earliest and the report should be tabled before the House before the end of the session,' said Speaker Narvekar.
Hindustan Times
5 days ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
It is govt and assembly speaker's responsibility to appoint LoP: Sena (UBT) MLA
Mumbai, Shiv Sena legislator Bhaskar Jadhav on Tuesday said the responsibility of appointing the leader of opposition in the Maharashtra assembly lies jointly with the state government and the speaker. It is govt and assembly speaker's responsibility to appoint LoP: Sena (UBT) MLA The Sena , led by former state chief minister Uddhav Thackeray, is neither ignorant nor unaware of the procedural norms, Jadhav told reporters in the Vidhan Bhavan premises here. Jadhav's name has been recommended by the Shiv Sena for the LoP post, a cabinet-level position. Notably, Sena MP Sanjay Raut had said that in the past, the post of LoP was given to opposition parties even as they had not won 10 per cent of the seats at that time. The combined strength of the opposition parties in the 288-member state assembly is nearly 50, he pointed out. The Shiv Sena has the strength of 20, Raut had said, claiming that even if the strength of MLAs is less, there is no law or provision in the Constitution which says the House should function without the LoP. Jadhav said, "There is no technical hurdle left in appointing the leader of opposition. The government cannot simply wash its hands off by pointing fingers at the speaker. When such a crucial constitutional post is vacant, both the government and the speaker must act." The Sena MLA said he possesses written communication from the Vidhan Bhavan administration confirming that a specific numerical strength is not a prerequisite for staking claim to the position. "Within the Maha Vikas Aghadi , the Shiv Sena has the highest number of MLAs. Our allies have also endorsed my candidature. The ball is now in the court of the government and the speaker," he said. "This is the third consecutive session of the state legislature, and yet there is no leader of opposition in the assembly. This delay is not only unjustified but raises questions about the government's intent," Jadhav claimed. He said his party has complied with all formalities and expectations and claimed the continued delay would amount to undermining the opposition's constitutional role in the House. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
