Latest news with #HarshvardhanSapkal
The Hindu
a day ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Congress challenges Centre to present development record on global indices
Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee president Harshvardhan Sapkal on Monday (June 9, 2025) called upon the Narendra Modi-led Central government to present a detailed and globally benchmarked account of its development record over the past 11 years. Speaking at a press conference in Nagpur, Mr. Sapkal criticised the recent publicity campaign launched by the Union government highlighting its achievements and urged that any such account be evaluated through international metrics such as the Human Development Index, the Happiness Index, and the Global Hunger Index, as compiled by institutions like UNICEF, the World Bank, and the World Health Organization. 'The Modi government must answer why it failed to deliver on key promises - including two crore jobs annually, doubling farmers' income, implementing the Swaminathan Commission report, and developing smart cities,' Mr. Sapkal said. Alleging that India's developmental momentum had slowed under the Bharatiya Janata Party-led regime, the Congress leader said, 'Under former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, the country was on a growth trajectory. But in the last 11 years, we have regressed on multiple fronts.' Responding to questions on the possibility of reunification among factions of the Nationalist Congress Party, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena, and the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray), Mr. Sapkal said such decisions rested with the respective parties. 'As the Maha Vikas Aghadi, we contested the last two elections together. Similarly, the INDIA bloc stands united against forces undermining democracy and the Constitution. Our alliances will strengthen with those committed to safeguarding these values,' he said. Mr. Sapkal added that alliance-related decisions for the upcoming municipal elections would be taken at the local level in consultation with other coalition partners.
New Indian Express
31-05-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Rahul soothes frayed tempers in Mumbai Congress
No end to grand old party's electoral woes After losing the assembly elections, Congress in Maharashtra is trying to bounce back, but its half-hearted efforts under the leadership of political light-weight Harshvardhan Sapkal are not paying off. Therefore, the party cadre is looking at credible secular options either close to power or in power. Several senior Congress leaders and their supporters are in talks with the NCP, led by Deputy CM Ajit Pawar. Most party leaders do not see their future with the Congress, as it has slipped below a 10% vote share. It has been observed in several states, such as UP, Bihar and Tamil Nadu, that it is nearly impossible to bounce back once the Congress' vote share dips below 10%. Munde's search for solace continues Silence is the best option when everything is chaos around you. This is concerning NCP MLA and former minister Dhanjay Munde. He had to resign after his close aide Walmik Karad was found to have been the mastermind in the Massajog sarpanch Santosh Deshmukh murder case. Since then, Munde has been seeking solace. Having lost the ministership, he also holds no key position in the party. He reportedly joined a fortnight-long Vipassana course at Igatpuri near Nashik, where he has to do something challenging for politicians to achieve: maintain silence for 8-10 hours during daily meditation and eat only Satvik food. Sudhir Suryawanshi Our correspondent in Maharashtra
Time of India
17-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Congress demands apology from Modi, Nadda over MP ministers' remarks on armed forces
Nagpur: Maharashtra Congress chief Harshvardhan Sapkal on Saturday demanded public apology from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP national president JP Nadda over remarks made by two BJP ministers from Madhya Pradesh that he claimed insulted the Indian armed forces. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Sapkal criticised MP deputy chief minister Jagdish Devra and forest minister Vijay Shah, accusing them of making "shameless and disrespectful" statements in the wake of Operation Sindoor. "This mission was a testament to the valour of our soldiers, and yet BJP leaders continue to trivialise their sacrifice with appalling political sycophancy," he said. Sapkal cited Shah's previous controversial remark about Colonel Sofia Qureshi and slammed Devra, who reportedly claimed, "The entire nation, the armed forces, and soldiers bow at the feet of PM." Sapkal said, "Such remarks belittle the armed forces, their honour and legacy." The Congress chief demanded immediate disciplinary action and called for sedition charges to be filed against both ministers. "If Modi, Amit Shah, and Nadda continue to remain silent, it will mean they agree with the comments made by these ministers. These individuals need to be prosecuted," he added. Sapkal said the repeated instances of such rhetoric show a pattern of arrogance within the BJP and warned that the public would not tolerate insults directed at the country's defence forces. "The nation is proud of Operation Sindoor and the bravery of our soldiers. No political figure, regardless of their position, should be allowed to hijack that honour," he said.
Hindustan Times
23-04-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Govt clarifies tender error; BJP calls Cong criticism ‘childish'
The Maharashtra government on Tuesday issued a clarification after the Congress accused the Mahayuti coalition of planning to spend ₹150 crore on preparations for an upcoming cabinet meeting in Ahilyanagar district. The state stated that the actual tender amount was ₹1.5 crore, but a typographical error led to the incorrect figure being published in a newspaper advertisement. The controversy began after Maharashtra Congress president Harshvardhan Sapkal shared a post on X, attaching a tender notice from newspapers stating that ₹150 crore would be spent on arrangements including mandaps, staging, green rooms, toilets, barricading, sound systems, air conditioning, electricity, fire safety and CCTV setup for the cabinet meeting at Chondi on April 29. The meeting is being held to mark the 300th birth anniversary year of the legendary queen Ahilyabai Holkar, after whom Ahmednagar district was renamed last year. In his post, Sapkal lashed out at the BJP-led government, accusing it of extravagance while claiming the state was under financial strain. He cited the discontinuation of pilgrimage schemes for senior citizens, unfulfilled promises under the Ladki Bahin Yojana, and the refusal to waive farm loans, while alleging ₹1.5 crore was recently spent on a helipad for Union home minister Amit Shah's visit to NCP leader Sunil Tatkare's residence in Raigad. Responding swiftly, the state government issued an official statement clarifying that the tender was for ₹1.5 crore, not ₹150 crore. The public works department (PWD) confirmed that the release order for the advertisement had the correct figure, but a publishing error by one newspaper led to the inflated amount being printed. State revenue minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule dismissed Sapkal's criticism as 'childish'. 'On April 21, the PWD, Ahilyanagar, issued an advertisement for works worth ₹1.5 crore for the Chondi cabinet meeting. Unfortunately, one of the newspapers printed ₹150 crore by mistake. Sapkal should verify facts before making baseless allegations,' he said. Bawankule said the release order was published in two newspapers, but only one carried the incorrect figure. Reacting to the minister's remarks, Sapkal said, 'Since you're very senior in politics, I assume you can read numbers. Instead of childishly blaming the newspaper, check with your own public relations department — they've admitted it was an unintentional mistake.'
Indian Express
22-04-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Maharashtra: Congress leaders at district, block level given tasks to strengthen party
In a bid to strengthen the organisation of Maharashtra unit of the party, the Congress leadership has chalked out mandatory tasks for office-bearers, ranging from district to block level. 'District presidents should travel to different blocks for at least 10 full days a month, implement the agitation programmes given by the party, and hold at least one meeting a month, while block presidents should travel to wards for at least eight full days a month. They should participate in the agitation of the district Congress. They should hold at least one meeting in a month,' said Maharashtra Congress chief Harshvardhan Sapkal after the meeting of state executive committee. He said that All India Congress Committee (AICC) has declared 2025 as the year of organization, and accordingly, emphasis will be placed on strengthening the organisation. 'State office-bearers will have to tour the districts assigned to them for at least six full days a month and fulfil the responsibilities given by the state office for two days. A report should be submitted to the state office on the 10th of every month. If the office-bearer is absent in three consecutive meetings without any genuine reason, he will be relieved of duty,' the Congress state president said. Sapkal said the Sadbhavana Yatra will be organized in Nashik on April 29 and the Sadbhavana Satyagraha on May 1. The Sadbhavana Yatra and the Constitution Protection Yatra have been organized in Parbhani on May 4 and 5, he said.
