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United News of India
4 days ago
- Politics
- United News of India
Fadnavis releases special issue of ‘Lokrajya' on Ahilyadevi Holkar
Ahilyanagar, May 31(UNI) On the occasion of the tercentenary of Ahilyadevi Holkar's birth anniversary, a special issue of 'Lokrajya' based on her life and work was released by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Saturday. The publication ceremony organized at the tercentenary birth anniversary celebration of Ahilyadevi Holkar at Choundi was attended by Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, chairman of Maharashtra Legislative Council Prof Ram Shinde, Water Resources Minister and Guardian Minister of the district Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil, Sports and Youth Welfare Minister Dattatray Bharne, Other Backward Bahujan Welfare Minister Atul Save, MLA Gopichand Padalkar, MLA Vitthalrao Langhe, MLA Babasaheb Deshmukh, MLA Shivaji Kardile, MLA Narayan Patil, MLA Amol Khatal, MLA Chitra Wagh, MLA Kashinath Date, MLA Monika Rajale, MLA Suresh Dhas among others. This issue has been prepared under the guidance of Brijesh Singh, Principal Secretary and Director General of Directorate General of Information and Public Relations and Editor-in-Chief of 'Lokrajya'. The cover of the issue has a logo created on the occasion of the birth tercentenary. The issue provides information on the life of Punyashlok Ahilyadevi Holkar, her work in Maharashtra, religious devotion, social work, ideal of governance, philanthropy, and various structures built by her. UNI VKB PRS
United News of India
21-05-2025
- Politics
- United News of India
Maha: Legislative Council Chairman invites President for tercentenary birth anniversary celebration of Ahilyadevi Holkar
Mumbai / New Delhi, May 21 (UNI) Maharashtra Legislative Council Chairman Prof Ram Shinde on Wednesday extended invitation to President Droupadi Murmu for celebration of the tercentenary birth anniversary of Punyashlok Ahilyadevi Holkar. He was in New Delhi to extend invitation to the President. Addressing a press conference organised after meeting President Murmu at Maharashtra Sadan, he said that the birth anniversary of Ahilyadevi Holkar is celebrated every year on May 31. This year, the 300th birth anniversary of Ahilyadevi Holkar will be celebrated in a grand manner at her birthplace, Chaundi in Jamkhed taluka, Ahilyanagar, he informed. During that time, she defied the customs and traditions of the society and protected religion and culture, he said. She restored 12 Jyotirlingas across the country, Shinde informed that many works like the reconstruction of Kashi Vishwanath Temple, construction of ghats at many historical religious places, construction of wells, plantation of trees on the roadsides were done by her. Prof Shinde said that President Shankar Dayal Sharma, Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan, Chief Minister of the states, and many Union Ministers had previously attended the Jayanti Mahotsav programme held at his birthplace, Chaundi, he added. UNI VKB SS
Time of India
16-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Former legislative council chairman Nimbalkar questioned for 4 hours in extortion bid case
Kolhapur: A Satara police team questioned Ramraje Naik Nimbalkar , former chairman of Maharashtra Legislative Council , for four hours at his residence in Phaltan on Friday in connection with an extortion bid case. The FIR was registered based on a complaint filed by BJP politician and minister for rural development Jaykumar Gore . Earlier this month, police had issued summons to Nimbalkar (77) and 11 others to record their statements at Vaduj police station. However, Nimbalkar, a politician from Sharad Pawar's NCP , took ill and was admitted to a hospital. His lawyers then suggested that police record his statement at the hospital or home after the discharge. Gore alleged in the complaint that Tushar Kharat, a journalist, and a woman from Satara, sought Rs5 crore from him to stop a malicious campaign against him. According to police, the woman in 2017 filed a complaint against Gore, accusing him of sexual harassment. Gore claimed that he was acquitted by a court, but the woman again brought up this issue to malign him. The anti-corruption bureau caught the woman accepting Rs1 crore from a person, who allegedly acted on behalf of the minister, police officers said. Four people, including the journalist and the woman, have been arrested. A senior officer from Satara police said, "Nimbalkar's statement was necessary because there were circular calls between him and the four accused. Also, an audio call has been traced in which Nimbalkar and the woman arrested can be heard discussing a deal." Nimbalkar was cooperative, but he denied any dealings with the woman, the officer said. "His son and his lawyer were present during the questioning. We are going seek guidance from the seniors before proceeding with legal action." Among the 11 others summoned, three persons, including Prabhakar Gharge, NCP(SP)'s candidate against Gore in assembly election, have approached the local court seeking anticipatory bail. The court has fixed the hearing on May 26. On Friday morning, three personnel from Vaduj police station left for Phaltan but later they were joined by five colleagues and two from Phaltan police station as the news of Nimbalkar's supporters gathering outside his home spread. TOI could not reach Nimbalkar for a comment despite attempts. His close aides said the NCP politician would address the media at the appropriate time. Meanwhile, speaking in Solapur, Gore said, "He (Nimbalkar) troubled me for 16 years. He started again after I became minister." On Friday, NCP(SP) MLA Rohit Pawar, who was at the forefront of raking the sexual harassment allegations against the minister in the assembly, stated in a post on X that Gore was misusing power and position, which was clearly evident from the attempt to harass Nimbalkar.
Indian Express
04-05-2025
- Business
- Indian Express
Need to focus on tourism sector, attract foreign tourists: Maharashtra Chief Minister
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Sunday said in order to have toursin grow in Maharashtra, focus should be directed towards ensuring sanitation, cleanliness and improving online booking platforms. 'Nowadays, tourism is rated based on the experience the people receive, so we must focus on sanitation, cleanliness, an online booking platform, and having a yearly festival calendar in advance, taking tour operators into account,' the Chief Minister said on the concluding day of the first Maha Tourism Festival. The Chief Minister said that Maharashtra ranks fifth in the country in the tourism sector despite the state having 750 km of coastline, 5 world heritage sites, 7 tiger reserves, heritage caves, and multiple forts. 'So the efforts now will be directed to explore the tourism sector in the state, which would attract people from the state to foreign tourists, which will indirectly empower the local economy and help us make a top-rated tourist state. ' The first Maha Tourism festival, which started on May 2, concluded on Sunday, bringing over 75,000 visitors to Mahabaleshwar. The closing event included the presence of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, chairman of the Maharashtra Legislative Council Ram Shinde and Tourism Minister Shambhuraj Desai, Consulate General of Japan, among others. For a first, the three-day event featured maiden honey-bee tourism, laser show, drone show, floating market and other activities in Mahabaleshwar and emphasised exploring the state's tourism potential. Fadnavis said, 'This is the same day when Maharashtra's book village, 'Bhilar,' was inaugurated eight years ago. And we are happy that the first-ever Maha Tourism festival has been overwhelmed by tourists. With an investment of Rs 100 crores in the tourism sector, we can generate employment for over 10,000 people. Comparing the same investment in manufacturing, the employment generated is significantly lower. Worldwide, the most employment-generating sector is considered to be tourism.' Fadnavis said,'The concept of 'New Mahabaleshwar' that aims to create a new hill station near Satara is a welcome step. And we can reach globally with the help of content creators if they capture the unique food culture and other tourist-related stories and make it scale through social media platforms. Promotion of marine tourism is also on the table by including scuba diving, underwater coral, and submarine tourism after sinking the retired ship INS Gulzar.' At the event, Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde said, 'Since the construction of Koyna Dam, there had been a prohibition on water adventure sports, but a special committee formed under me and then home minister Devendra Fadnavis, has given permission for the said sports.' 'We have a real natural treasure in our state. The purest form of honey and strawberry is obtained at the Manghar Honey Village and Mahaabaleshwar, respectively. This is the first time that various activities such as a floating market similar to Dal Lake, paragliding, laser light shows, drone shows, boat riding on Venna Lake, and others were enjoyed by tourists in Mahabaleshwar. And to further promote this sector, we would emphasise factors such as agro-tourism, jungle safaris, medical tourism, spiritual tourism, and cruise and caravan tourism, among others,' explained Shinde. 'Taking the safety of tourists into account, we have inaugurated the Maharashtra Tourists Security Force, which would have quick response teams and advanced technology usage, such as CCTV cameras. Now, tourists can safely enjoy tourist spots across Maharashtra, and we will be doing the next Maha Tourism festival at Koyna backwaters, which stretches until Patan,' Shinde added. Ram Shinde, chairman of the Maharashtra Legislative Council, said, 'The State's long-term vision in expanding the tourism sector is acknowledged globally too, as we have been joined by the Consulate General of Japan. This way we would attract global tourists too.' 'We were anxious organising this event as it was a maiden attempt, but our team has successfully made it happen. The response was overwhelming, with over 75,000 tourists visiting the Maha Tourism festival this year. And with this, we would be doing five such festivals in various revenue divisions, such as in Kokan, Vidarbha, Marathwada, and Khandesh every year,' said Shambhuraj Desai, Tourism Minister. 'There is tremendous potential in the Tourism sector, considering Maharashtra, and such festivals promote tourist locations. To start any tourist spot, one used to need Environmental clearance, permissions from the tourism ministry, forest department, eco-sensitive zone department and others, but with MTDC's initiative, the permission was given in a seamless single window system,' added Desai. Tourists also enjoyed a Maharashtrian-style carnival parade, which is usually experienced only in Goa. An exhibition of over 1200 weapons of the Chattrapati Shivaji Maharaj era was also on display. Moreover, women-led 'Khadya Jatra' included different Maharashtrian delicacies that ranged from kokum to khandesh.
The Hindu
01-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Opposition slams Maharashtra government over claims of good performance
The opposition on Thursday slammed Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis's claims that the State has performed well since he took over as the Chief Minister of the State, citing, the persisting issues such as farmers suicides have gone up and there has not been any discussion to solve it. Shiv Sena (UBT) and member of the Maharashtra Legislative Council, Ambadas Danve's statement was in the response to the CM's 100-day performance report that he released on Maharashtra Day, May 1, 2025. Mr. Fadnavis shared a 100-day performance report of the State administration, stating that 12 out of 48 departments had met their targets fully since the Mahayuti government assumed office in December 2024 to March 2025. The report, he said, was evaluated by the Quality Council of India. The announcement, however, drew criticism from the Opposition. Mr. Danve, dismissed the report as an attempt to mask the government's failure in addressing rural distress and rising farmer suicides. Speaking to reporters in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Mr. Danve said, 'The Mahayuti government's real contribution in these 100 days has been an increase in financial burden through election-centric announcements and a surge in farmer suicides. These realities must be reflected in their performance report.' Citing official data from the Divisional Commissioner's office, Mr. Danve pointed out that 269 farmer suicides were reported in the Marathwada region between January and March 2025, compared to 204 cases during the same period last year. The eight affected districts include Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Dharashiv, Latur, Beed, Nanded, Hingoli, Parbhani, and Jalna. Taking to social media platform X, Mr. Danve also criticised the use of what he described as 'divisive language and political theatrics' since the new government took charge. Referring to the murder of Beed sarpanch Santosh Deshmukh, he said, 'The State has been introduced to a new vocabulary - 'aaka', 'bada aaka', 'bokya', and 'khokya'. Meanwhile, budgetary cuts in student and farmer welfare schemes continue, and tall promises on loan waivers remain unfulfilled.' According to the report, shared by the Chief Minister on social media, 12 departments achieved 100% of their strategic targets under the 100-day programme. Eighteen departments scored over 80%, while 10 registered performances between 60 and 79%. Eight departments, however, scored below 60%. 'After the formation of the Mahayuti government, all 48 departments undertook a 100-day action plan. Of the 902 strategic targets set, 706 - or 78% - have been fully achieved. I sincerely congratulate all departments for their impactful work,' Mr. Fadnavis said in a statement.
