Latest news with #Mahayuti
Time of India
38 minutes ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Nashik Kumbh Mela schedule out but suspense over guardian minister pick continues
Nashik: Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Sunday maintained ambiguity over who will be the guardian minister of Nashik district, hosting the Simhastha Kumbh Mela in 2026-27, indicating that differences among three Mahayuti allies vying for the post remain unresolved. Addressing reporters after chairing a meeting of seers to discuss the schedule for the Nashik-Trimbakeshwar Kumbh Mela, Fadnavis said, "Kumbh Mantri Girish Mahajan (BJP) is working along with ministers Dada Bhuse (Shiv Sena), Chhagan Bhujbal and Narhari Zirwal (both NCP). If needed, we are also there". The chief minister further said the absence of a guardian minister has not affected administrative work. "Guardian ministers come and go. Do not worry and don't bring politics in this issue. This (Kumbh Mela) is a religious and cultural parva (period)," Fadnavis said while replying to a query on the possible district guardian minister pick. Earlier this year, the appointment of guardian ministers of Nashik and Raigad districts was stayed amid a reported tussle in the ruling Mahayuti, comprising BJP, Shiv Sena led by Eknath Shinde, and NCP headed by Ajit Pawar, on the issue. Live Events On January 18, the state government announced the list of district guardian ministers, with Nationalist Congress Party's Aditi Tatkare getting Raigad and BJP leader Girish Mahajan being given the responsibility of Nashik. However, amid reports of discontent, the general administration department issued an order staying these two appointments on January 19. Mahajan and Bhuse had served as guardian ministers of Nashik district under governments headed by Fadnavis and Eknath Shinde, respectively. Before that, Chhagan Bhujbal of NCP (undivided) held the post when the Congress-NCP Democratic Front (DF) government was in power. Bhujbal, who was recently inducted as a cabinet minister in the Mahayuti government, has reportedly shown interest in representing the guardian minister's post. Economic Times WhatsApp channel )
Hindustan Times
12 hours ago
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Mahayuti reverses pre-election hike in crop loss compensation to farmers
MUMBAI: The Mahayuti government, which had hiked the compensation for crop losses before the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, cancelled this on Friday and restored a 2023 order which will leave farmers with reduced compensation. With this, the government will save the money it would have had to shell out to farmers for the damages they suffered on account of heavy rains in the past few days. Following the rains, the administration began a survey of the damage to crops and on Friday, a government resolution (GR) was issued. 'The state cabinet has decided to give compensation to farmers as per the criteria decided by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDRF). So from Kharif 2025, the compensation criteria would be followed as per the order dated March 27, 2023 and the order issued in this regard on January 1, 2024 has been cancelled,' states the GR. Compensation for farmers is calculated on the basis of crop loss. A particular amount is decided for per-hectare loss based on the type of farming, besides which a limit is put on compensation. The limit, which was two hectares or five acres in the March 2023 order, was hiked to three hectares (or 7.5 acres) by the Eknath Shinde-led Mahayuti government in January 2024. Through the GR issued on Friday, the limit was reversed to two hectares. The GR also reduced the compensation on different types of farmland: non-irrigated, irrigated and horticulture. The January 2024 GR had hiked the compensation rate for non-irrigated crops from ₹8,500 per hectare to ₹13,600. For crops on irrigated land, it was increased from ₹17,000 per hectare to ₹27,000. For cash crops and fruits, it was hiked to ₹22,500 to ₹36,000 per hectare. All this stands to be reversed now. The losses to farmers are significant. For example, a farmer owning non-irrigated land would have got up to ₹40,800 in compensation for crop loss on three hectares. Now he will get a maximum of ₹17,000. After the unseasonal rains in 2023, the then Mahayuti government under chief minister Eknath Shinde, with an eye on the forthcoming Lok Sabha and assembly polls that year, had issued the increased compensation order on January 1, 2024. Farmer leader and former MP Raju Shetti said that the Mahayuti government had betrayed farmers by cancelling the additional compensation after winning the elections and getting the farmers' votes. 'The Mahayuti government came to power by offering various sops to different sectors,' he said. 'But after winning the elections, it has betrayed all those who voted for it on the strength of sops like Ladki Bahin. This cancellation of additional aid given to farmers in 2024 is another example. This government is a cheat.' As per the economic survey of Maharashtra, the average agricultural land holding in Maharashtra is 1.34 hectare (3.35 acres) but in areas like Vidarbha (where farmers are already under stress) it is above five acres.
Time of India
15 hours ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Once led by Bhindranwale, Damdami Taksal says won't let SGPC jathedar speak at Op Bluestar event
Amritsar: Mehta Chowk-based Sikh seminary Damdami Taksal chief Baba Harnam Singh Dhumma has asked the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) to prevent the officiating jathedar of the Akal Takht, Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj, from delivering a message to the Sikh community from the Akal Takht rostrum on June 6, the anniversary of . Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The chief of Damdami Taksal, which was once led by Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, has said if SGPC failed to stop Gargaj from issuing the message, Damdami Taksal and other Sikh groups will strongly oppose the move. He added if any confrontation arose in the process, the SGPC will be held responsible, both directly and indirectly. "To avoid any conflict or division within the quom (community), the SGPC and Punjab govt must act with wisdom and fulfil their responsibilities," said Dhumma, whose statement came during a meeting at the Damdami Taksal headquarters in Mehta Chowk on Saturday. Dhumma, who has grown closer to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) since his support to the party's Mahayuti alliance in Maharashtra in Nov last year, said Gargaj had not been accepted by the panth (Sikh community) as jathedar. He claimed that Gargaj's appointment was made in violation of established maryada (the Sikh code of religious conduct). As per established tradition, the Akal Takht jathedar pays tribute to those killed in Operation Bluestar during a shaheedi samagam (martyrdom event) held by SGPC on June 6 and deliver a message to the Sikh community from the rostrum of the Akal Dhumma said the panth did not recognise Gargaj as the legitimate jathedar. "Therefore, any message delivered by him from the ramparts of Akal Takht Sahib will not be acceptable, he added. "The Damdami Taksal, along with the entire Sant Samaj, Sikh sects, Sikh federations, Nihang Singh organisations, and the broader Sikh panth, will strongly oppose such a move," said Dhumma. He also accused SGPC of violating religious protocol under political influence. "The jathedar was appointed around 2.30am at Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib, without the parkash of Sri Guru Granth Sahib, and an announcement was made appointing Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj by simply offering siropa (robe of honour)," he recalled. "This act has created a serious crisis within the panth," Dhumma added.
Time of India
20 hours ago
- Business
- Time of India
In Kolhapur, INDIA bloc likely to face local body elections together says Cong MLC Satej Patil
Kolhapur: Congress MLC Satej Patil has confirmed that the INDIA bloc parties will contest the upcoming local body elections in Kolhapur as a unified force. The elections for local bodies in Kolhapur district are slated for Sept-Oct. The alliance partners — comprising Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT), NCP (SP) and left parties — have started their preparations at the booth level. Following a preliminary meeting with INDIA representatives in Kolhapur on Friday evening, Satej Patil indicated a 90-95% likelihood of contesting jointly. He noted that Congress state president Harshvardhan Sapkal recently consulted with NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar and Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray regarding Congress's stance in the forthcoming local body elections. He observed the state administration has lost its financial direction, and women previously addressed as "ladki" have seen reduced benefits. "The elections for Kolhapur and Ichalkaranji municipal corporations, ZP, and town councils will be held after the rains. This time, the picture will be different from the assembly elections. Ladki Bahin saved Mahayuti from defeat; however, for govt, the sisters are no longer considered 'ladki'. Funds need to be arranged to save the scheme by curtailing funds from other departments. State govt is planning to hand out loans to the Ladki Bahin beneficiaries so that govt can refrain from paying the monthly dole. Instead, the banks will receive the amount once a year," said Patil. The Congress MLC said state govt's total debt burden has reached Rs 9.5 lakh crore, approaching Rs 10 lakh crore. "The three parties in govt have failed to plan the finances of the state. The Mahayuti MLAs are still ignorant of the problems faced by the people. We raised our voice, and only after that did state govt start assessing the damages caused by the recent floods and heavy rain. With all these issues, we are going to face the elections, and we are hopeful of winning in all local bodies," added Patil.
Mint
a day ago
- Politics
- Mint
Unbelievable! 2,200 Ladki Bahin beneficiaries in Maharashtra found to be govt employees
Over 2,200 beneficiaries of the Mukhyamantri Ladki Bahin Yojana were found to be government employees during scrutiny, PTI quoted Maharashtra Minister Aditi Tatkare as saying on Saturday. In a post on X on Friday, Tatkare said verification of beneficiaries will be a regular process. 'After scrutinising nearly 2 lakh applications, 2,289 government employees were found to be the beneficiaries of the Mukhyamantri Ladki Bahin Yojana. After realising this, such beneficiaries are not being given the benefit of the scheme,' the Women and Child Development Minister said. Stating more, the minister said that the government is committed to ensuring that only eligible beneficiaries receive the benefits of the Ladki Bahin Yojana, adding they will continue to scrutinise applications for this. Earlier in August 2024, the Mahayuti government in the state launched the Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana ahead of the 2024 Maharashtra assembly polls. Under this scheme, women in the age group of 21-65 years are entitled to a monthly assistance of ₹ 1,500. However, government employees are not eligible for the scheme. Following the polls, the Mahayuti leaders have attributed the resounding success of the ruling alliance in the assembly polls to the Ladki Bahin scheme. Though they admitted that it has put severe strain on the state exchequer.
