Latest news with #Thorat
Time of India
05-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Former revenue minister Balasaheb Thorat urges Maharashtra govt to fulfil farm loan waiver promise
Nashik: Former revenue minister Balasaheb Thorat on Saturday said govt must implement the promised loan waiver for farmers without hesitation and act in their interest. Thorat criticised politicians for announcing a loan waiver before elections and failing to execute it after assuming office. "When we (Congress) had our govt, we promised loan waivers twice and delivered on the promises. Considering the dire situation of farmers today, state govt should uphold its assurances," he said. During a programme organised in Nashik, Thorat addressed the attendees in the presence of Indranil Naik, the minister of state for soil and water conservation. As the chief guest, Thorat spoke at an event organised by Jai Hind People's Movement on the occasion of Vasantrao Naik's Memorial Day and Agriculture Day to honour young farmers. Highlighting the increasing number of farmer suicides in the state, Thorat urged govt to address the root causes, ensure fair prices for produce, create an agriculture-friendly environment, and strengthen agriculture universities to support the sector comprehensively, as previously done. In his address, minister of state for soil and water conservation Indranil Naik said, "Govt is taking several major steps to improve the environment for farmers. Farmers should focus on modern farming methods and utilise AI technology." The programme was attended by former MLC Sudhir Tambe, MLC Satyajit Tambe, MP Shobha Bachhav, Maharashtra State Bagayatdar Sangh president Kailas Bhosale, Sahyadri Farms founder President Vilas Shinde, Kondaji Mama Awhad, and others.
Time of India
03-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
After several missed deadlines, Thorat panel report on State Education Policy enters final lap
Bengaluru: With chief minister Siddaramaiah reaffirming his govt's commitment to a two-language policy in primary education, attention is back on the much-delayed State Education Policy (SEP) committee report. The panel is led by noted academician Sukhdev Thorat. After several missed deadlines, the panel was scheduled to submit its report in the second week of June. However, higher education minister MC Sudhakar said the committee will submit its final report later this month. "The tenure of the Thorat panel was extended considering the volume of study it had to carry out," said Sudhakar. "As the CM reiterated, we are committed to ensure school learning in our mother tongue." You Can Also Check: Bengaluru AQI | Weather in Bengaluru | Bank Holidays in Bengaluru | Public Holidays in Bengaluru Siddaramaiah's recent affirmation comes amid renewed debate on language policy, especially after Maharashtra put its three-language policy on hold. Eyes are also on President Droupadi Murmu, as The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (Karnataka Amendment) Bill, 2015, a legislation mandating mother tongue as the compulsory medium of instruction in primary schools, is pending assent. Siddaramaiah had met Murmu last week to press for speedy approval. "A two-language policy is an effective solution for the outrage in non-Hindi speaking states against attempted efforts by the Centre to impose Hindi on them," said Niranjanaradhya VP, development educationist who assisted in drafting the bill. "The amendment bill on the right of children to education is related to the language policy as well. We urge the President to give assent without delay." Meanwhile, pro-Kannada voices are growing louder. The Kannada Development Authority (KDA) plans to write to the CM reaffirming its support for a two-language policy, while several Kannada organisations under the umbrella of 'Namma Naadu, Namma Aalvike' have launched a statewide online campaign. "It is our firm belief that Kannada should have supremacy in Karnataka," said KDA chairman Purushothama Bilimale. "While we have already given our opinion to the Thorat committee, the KDA will yet again remind the CM of his commitment to the Kannada cause." Arun Javagal, vice-president, 'Namma Naadu, Namma Aalvike', said its online campaign is "designed to protect interests of Kannada and sister languages including Tulu and Kodava". "The response has been tremendous," he said.
Time of India
14-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Congress seeks blanket farm loan waiver; says government has money for big projects but not for farmers
Senior Congress leaders in Maharashtra on Saturday accused the Mahayuti government of betraying farmers and demanded an immediate and across-the-board farm loan waiver , warning that the current agrarian crisis could spiral into a major agitation if not addressed urgently. They also alleged that the government always has money for mega projects like expressways , but claims that coffers were empty when it comes to helping farmers. "Farmers are poor and distressed. Instead of helping them, BJP leaders are rubbing salt on their wounds," former Maharashtra Congress chief Nana Patole said. "Maharashtra tops the chart in farmer suicides. The government must act decisively and wipe clean the debt records by ensuring full loan waivers for all farmers," he said. According to him, Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule suggested that only 'eligible' farmers would get relief. Live Events "This is nothing but an insult. Farmers are by default eligible and in need. There should be no discrimination," he said. He accused the BJP of changing rules to benefit corporates while denying rightful relief to farmers. "During elections, they promised loan waivers, but now they are backing out and hiding behind committees," Patole said, adding that the Congress-led UPA government under the leadership of Dr Manmohan Singh had waived farm loans of Rs 70,000 crore without conditions, and the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government in the state had followed suit. The MLA from Sakoli alleged that the government found Rs 3,000 crore to increase contracts for a private firm, Megha Engineering, but claims to be cash-strapped when it comes to farmers. A Congress Working Committee (CWC) member and former state minister, Balasaheb Thorat, said the government should stop its "drama of forming committees" and immediately announce a blanket loan waiver. "The government had promised farm loan waivers in its very first cabinet meeting. Honouring this promise is both a political and moral obligation," Thorat said. Questioning the need for yet another committee, Thorat added, "The government always has money for expressways and mega projects but claims an empty treasury when it comes to farmers. Committees don't wipe debt, political will does." He warned that farmers, already devastated by unseasonal rains and crop losses across foodgrains, fruits, vegetables and cotton, are pushed to the brink with many forced to approach moneylenders due to denial of institutional credit. Thorat praised former MLA and Prahar Janshakti Party founder Bachchu Kadu's hunger strike for highlighting the gravity of the crisis and urged the government to stop "deception and delay". "Time is running out. If the government fails to act with urgency, it will face an uncontrollable backlash from the farming community," Thorat said. Kadu on Saturday ended his hunger strike after state minister Uday Samant assured him that his demands of farm loan waiver and hike in honorarium for persons with disabilities will be addressed by the government. Kadu was on a hunger strike in Gurukunj Mozari in Teosa taluka in Amravati district for the last seven days demanding complete loan waiver for farmers in Maharashtra and Rs 6,000 per month assistance for 'divyangjan'. Economic Times WhatsApp channel )
Time of India
06-06-2025
- Time of India
‘I am done with life': Pune techie jumps from 21st floor in Hinjewadi; suicide suspected
Representative AI image PUNE: A woman techie (25) died after jumping off the 21st-floor balcony of her rented flat in a residential society in phase III of Hinjewadi around 4.30am on May 31 She worked with an IT company in Hinjewadi IT Park. Senior inspector Kanhaiya Thorat of Hinjewadi police told TOI, "It is a case of death by suicide. We found a suicide note on her body which said — 'I am done with life. I am sorry, please pardon me.' We suspect the techie was depressed. However, we do not know the reason behind her depression." "We have registered an accidental death case in this regard," Thorat said. According to the police, the techie, a native of Ahilyanagar, went out of her rented flat on May 30. She returned to the housing society around 4.20am on May 31 and went to her flat. She entered the balcony from where she jumped off. Police studied the CCTV footage of the society and found her movements on the premises. She was taken to YCMH in Pimpri and was declared dead. She died of multiple injuries, police added. "After studying the circumstances, we do not believe there is foul play," he said. Police have seized her cellphone, clothes and other belongings for further probe. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Eid wishes , messages , and quotes !
Hindustan Times
06-06-2025
- Hindustan Times
Pune police invoke MCOCA against Akash Thorat gang
The city police have invoked the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) against the notorious Akash Thorat gang, which had been spreading terror in Ambegaon and was recently involved in the murder of youth due to previous enmity. The action was taken under the direction of additional commissioner of police (Addl CP) Rajesh Bansode. The accused booked under MCOCA include gang leader Akash Bharat Thorat, 32, of Atal Chawl, Ambegaon Khurd; Ajit Ankush Dhanawade, 24; Aditya Jalindar Shinde, 18; Rohit Balasaheb Kachare, 21; and Vishal alias Godya Deepak Ganechari, 21. Yash Khandu Kamble, 23, of Katraj had lodged a complaint at the Ambegaon Police Station regarding a fatal gang attack. According to the police, brothers Aditya Kakade and Sahil Kakade had assaulted Shinde over a dispute during the latter's visited to the pan shop run by the brothers. Later, associates of Thorat stopped Kamble and Sarthak alias Om Nitin Pandit, friends of the Kakades, on bike and attacked the duo with weapons. Sarthak succumbed to his injuries and the police filed a case. According to the police, since 2015, over 10 serious criminal cases have been registered against Thorat and his associates at various police stations. In light of his increased criminal activities, senior inspector Sharad Zine submitted a proposal through deputy commissioner of police (DCP) Smartana Patil to Bansode to initiate action under the MCOCA.
