Latest news with #MaharashtraPradeshCongressCommittee
The Hindu
2 days 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.
Time of India
15-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Congress questions ceasefire timing, to take out rally
Nagpur: Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) president Harshwardhan Sapkal on Wednesday accused the BJP-led coalition govt of being apathetic towards farmers reeling under severe losses due to unseasonal May rains and demanded immediate relief measures. "The govt is sleeping while farmers are facing an unprecedented crisis. Conduct a panchnama of losses and provide compensation without delay," he told the media. Sapkal criticised the cancellation of the ₹1 crop insurance scheme , calling the replacement policy ineffective and against farmers. "The earlier scheme at least offered some compensation. Now, even after allegations of a scam, there's no accountability or corrective action," he said, demanding that the original ₹1 scheme be reinstated. With the kharif season nearing, Sapkal alleged that the state agriculture department was unprepared. "Bogus seeds are flooding the market, and linking of fertilisers with seed purchases continues unchecked. The govt merely announces action but does nothing on the ground," he said. He condemned the diversion of funds from the social justice and tribal development departments to welfare schemes like Ladki Bahin. "It is unconstitutional and unjust to divert resources meant for Dalits, tribals, and OBCs. If the state is facing a financial crunch, the BJP should seek a special package from the Centre," said Sapkal, urging CM Devendra Fadnavis, and deputy CMs Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar to take immediate steps. Commenting on the ceasefire following Operation Sindoor, Sapkal questioned the Modi govt's silence. "Why was a ceasefire declared just when our soldiers were gaining an upper hand? Did the US mediate? Has the Shimla Agreement been scrapped? The PM must answer. He didn't even attend the all-party meeting. A special session of Parliament must be convened," he demanded. To commemorate the martyrdom of Rajiv Gandhi and honour bravery of Indian soldiers, Sapkal announced that the Congress will organise a Tiranga Yatra in every district of Maharashtra on May 21. "From Mahatma Gandhi to the martyrs of Pahalgam, we owe our respect to those who sacrificed for the country," he said. Commenting on his meeting with NCP founder Sharad Pawar, Sapkal clarified that it was a goodwill visit. "This was my first meeting with Pawar Saheb since taking over. His five decades of experience is invaluable," he said.
The Hindu
28-04-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Maharashtra Congress alleges irregularities in MHT-CET State exams, writes to CM to seek a probe
The Maharashtra Congress Committee on Monday, wrote to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis demanding a probe in the Maharashtra Health and Technical Common Entrance Test (MHT-CET), a State-level common entrance examination, alleging irregularities. Maharashtra's State Common Entrance Test Cell conducted the test on April 27, 2025, for admissions in engineering colleges for the academic year 2025-26. After the test, there were reports of students claiming that over a dozen questions had incorrect options. A day later, Harshvardhan Sapkal, President of the Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee, on April 28, alleged that irregularities during the examination have caused concern among students and parents. Writing to the CM, the letter claimed, 'Students have complained that at the exam center in Ahilyanagar district, 20 to 25 questions in the 50-mark mathematics paper had incorrect answer options. This is a very serious matter, and the Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee has demanded that students be awarded marks for these erroneous questions.' The Congress State President further stated that in the mathematics paper, among the 50 questions, 20 to 25 had incorrect answer options. In some cases, all four options given were wrong. However, since students were required to attempt all questions, they were compelled to choose incorrect options, the letter alleged. Mr. Sapkal claimed that when students complained about this at the exam center, their grievances were ignored. 'Similar complaints have been reported from other examination centers across the State. Some centers also faced server outages, but satisfactory responses were not provided by the examination authorities. This examination is crucial for engineering admissions. If as many as 20 to 25 questions had incorrect options, it could cause significant harm to students. Who is responsible for this? Why should students suffer due to the negligence of the institutions or companies responsible for preparing the papers and conducting the examination? This is not merely a matter of a few questions; it concerns the future of thousands of students,' he said. The opposition party has demanded that the State government's intervention into the matter, urging the government to take the issue seriously and also take strict action against those responsible. 'Institutions that cannot properly prepare papers or organise examinations should never be entrusted with such tasks again and should be blacklisted. The State government is fully responsible for ensuring that students are not harmed under any circumstances,' Mr. Sapkal.
