After 11 years, Pankaja & Dhananjay come together on Gopinath Munde's death anniversary
BJP
politician
Gopinath Munde
.
Earlier, the cousins used to visit Gopinathgad separately each year, avoiding interaction due to their political differences.
Tuesday's occasion, featuring a religious ceremony and blood donation drive, garnered significant attention across Maharashtra, both for its political importance and the public reunion of the Munde cousins at the annual commemorative event.
While Dhananjay Munde remained silent during the event,
Pankaja Munde
addressed the gathering and shared memories of her father.
Before the event, Pankaja had said, "The NCP is now our ally, so we invited all functionaries from the party, including Dhananjay Munde. He is my cousin, and I am certain he will attend the function."
The cousins, feeling politically isolated, have shown solidarity at public events throughout the past year, having resolved their differences before the previous year's elections.
During her Gopinathgad speech, Pankaja said Dhananjay requested her to speak for the family.
"He (Dhananjay) told me, 'You speak for all of us.' I am grateful to everyone who stood by me over the years as I found my footing in politics. This is a family, and every year, we wonder what we can do to keep Gopinath Munde's memory alive," she said.
The BJP minister in the Devendra Fadnavis cabinet highlighted her father's public service. "If people knew how wounded he was, there would have been a wave of blood donations across the country.
Today, we conduct health and blood donation camps to honour his legacy. He lives on through his ideals and the love of the people," she said.
Referencing spiritual matters, Pankaja added, "Even Lord Ram and the Pandavas faced exile. I heard in the keertan today — greatness comes with pain."
Additionally, Pankaja discussed her recent accommodation allocation. "I was finally given the Ramtek bungalow, which I requested back in 2014. At the time, it was occupied by a senior minister. Today, it feels like a great honour and a rare moment in history that I received this bungalow after Munde Saheb. This is not just a residence; it symbolises responsibility and commitment," she said.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
20 minutes ago
- Time of India
Police examine videos after BJP councillors booked for altercation with Ludhiana mayor
Ludhiana: Police in the city are reviewing video footage following a heated altercation at the Zone-D office of mayor Inderjit Kaur that resulted in charges against two BJP councillors, the husbands of three women councillors, and more than 20 others. The incident unfolded recently, when BJP members of the house arrived at the municipal corporation office seeking a meeting with the mayor. Tensions escalated, leading to what police describe as intimidation and physical confrontation. A complaint filed by assistant sub-inspector Sudagar Singh, who serves as the mayor's security officer, suggests that the situation became hostile after several people entered the office claiming to be councillors. Mayor Kaur alleged that not all present were elected. As discussions grew heated, three men — Kulwant Singh Kanti, Vishal Gulati, and Jatinder Goryan, all spouses of sitting councillors — allegedly argued with and threatened the mayor, restraining her from leaving the office. Councillors Mukesh Khatri and Gauravjit Singh Gora were also accused of aggressive behaviour and reportedly attempted to assault the mayor before allegedly manhandling the ASI. Following the ASI's intervention, the group reportedly continued with abusive language before leaving the premises. Division Number 5 police have filed an FIR against councillors Gauravjit Singh Gora (Ward 80), Mukesh Khatri (Ward 76), Kulwant Singh Kanti (spouse of Kuldeep Kaur, Ward 33), Vishal Gulati (spouse of Ruchi Gulati, Ward 73), Jatinder Goryan (spouse of Ruby, Ward 17), and 20 unidentified individuals under charges of obstructing a public servant, assault, wrongful restraint, and criminal intimidation. Police say all relevant video evidence is under review and no further arrests or action will be taken until they have examined the footage thoroughly. The BJP members of the MC house, meanwhile, have maintained a sit-in protest outside the mayor's office since Friday night, demanding an apology from mayor Inderjit Kaur over alleged misbehaviour. A senior police official said the investigation was in progress and any further steps will depend on what the video evidence reveals. MSID:: 123075543 413 | Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Friendship Day wishes , messages and quotes !
Time of India
20 minutes ago
- Time of India
B'gavi water poisoning rooted in hatred, bigotry: K'taka CM
Belagavi: Two weeks after drinking water laced with poison left 11 students indisposed at a government school in Belagavi district, Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah Sunday described it as "a heinous act driven by religious fundamentalism and hatred" and attacked BJP for creating an environment of religious polarisation. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The incident took place at Hulikatti village of Savadatti taluk. District superintendent of police Bhimashankar Guled told reporters that the school headmaster is from a minority community and three members of fringe group Sri Rama Sene had been arrested in connection with the case. Police sources claimed that the poisoning incident was part of a larger plan to discredit the headmaster, who has been heading the school for 13 years, and force his transfer from the district. The headmaster continues to serve the school despite continued attempts to malign him and tarnish his image. The CM, in a post on X Sunday, expressed shock and anguish over the incident, calling it "rooted in religious fundamentalism". "This act could have resulted in the massacre of innocent children. It is a terrifying reminder of how religious bigotry and communal hatred can manifest in such inhuman ways," his post said. The 11 students who fell ill after consuming the contaminated water were later discharged following treatment at a hospital in Savadatti. Of the three arrested in the case, Sagar Patil is president of Savadatti Taluk unit of Sene, police said. Reflecting on the gravity of the incident, Siddaramaiah said, "It is hard to fathom that such cruelty could arise in the land of the Sharanas, who proclaimed that compassion is the root of all religion." Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Siddaramaiah criticised BJP leaders, holding them morally accountable for creating a climate of religious polarisation. "Those who spread hatred in the name of religion for political gain must introspect. Will Pramod Mutalik, BY Vijayendra, or R Ashok take responsibility for this? Leaders who support such anti-social elements must come forward and atone for their sins," he said. Siddaramaiah said the government has set up a special task force to curb hate speech and prevent communal violence."We are taking stringent legal action, but public cooperation is crucial. Citizens must raise their voice, resist hate, and file complaints against those inciting division." Commending law-enforcement authorities, Siddaramaiah added, "I congratulate the police personnel who foiled this sinister plot. I have full faith that the judiciary will deliver justice and ensure the perpetrators face the consequences of their horrific crime."
United News of India
an hour ago
- United News of India
BJP criticises NCP-SCP over Jitendra Awhad's controversial remarks on Sanatan Dharma
New Delhi, Aug 3 (UNI) The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) today criticised Nationalist Congress Party–Sharadchandra Pawar (NCP-SCP) leader Jitendra Awhad over his remarks describing Sanatan Dharma as having 'destroyed India.' Such comments attack the very fabric of Indian civilisation, BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra said at a press conference here, and questioned whether such a position reflected the official stance of the NCP-SCP. Patra commented, 'We are a tolerant society, and that is precisely why we are expressing our protest through a press conference. Had such a statement been made about Islam and Muslims, the response would not have been as restrained.' Patra also directed pointed questions at NCP-SCP chief Sharad Pawar and party MP Supriya Sule, asking whether Awhad's controversial remarks represented the party's official ideology or were merely his personal views. 'He has spoken against the core values of India. I would like to ask Sharad Pawar and his daughter, Supriya Sule, if they endorse this statement,' he said. Patra further observed, 'nowhere else in the world do we see a situation where the majority population is openly accused and then simultaneously labelled as intolerant.' Awhad had sparked a controversy after stating that Sanatan Dharma had 'ruined India' and terming its ideology as 'perverted.' His remarks came in the aftermath of a special NIA court acquitting all seven accused in the 2008 Malegaon blast case — a development that has reignited political discourse surrounding the notion of 'saffron terror.' It may be mentioned that, at a public interaction, Awhad had asserted that Sanatan Dharma had historically marginalised key figures of social reform. 'There was never any religion called Sanatan Dharma. We are followers of Hindu Dharma. This so-called Sanatan Dharma denied Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj his coronation and defamed Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj. Its followers attempted to assassinate Jyotirao Phule and humiliated Savitribai Phule,' he said. The BJP leader also referred to Dr. BR Ambedkar's criticism of the Manusmriti and the caste-based oppression allegedly embedded in Sanatan Dharma. 'It was this same tradition that denied Ambedkar the right to education and even access to water. It was Babasaheb who rose against Sanatan Dharma, burned the Manusmriti, and rejected its oppressive traditions,' Awhad said. The BJP has called for a clarification from the NCP-SCP leadership, maintaining that such remarks are inflammatory and disregard the sentiments of the Hindu majority. UNI AJ AKT SSP
