Latest news with #Marathi-speaking
India Today
12 hours ago
- Politics
- India Today
Is Raj Thackeray's stagecraft with MVA another prep for Maharashtra's political reset?
Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) president Raj Thackeray, in a signal of a possible political realignment, will be attending the 77th foundation day of the Peasants and Workers Party (PWP) in Panvel, near Mumbai, on August 2, sharing the stage with leaders of the Opposition front in the leaders of the Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) scheduled to attend the function are Shashikant Shinde, state president of the Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar); Sanjay Raut, Rajya Sabha MP from the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray); and Vijay Wadettiwar, leader of the Congress legislature party and a former will be seen joining forces with the MVA, which is part of the wider anti-BJP INDIA bloc, at a time when speculation is rife about a political reconciliation between him and estranged first cousin Uddhav Thackeray. On July 5, Uddhav and Raj had broken two decades of mutual political distancing by sharing the stage in Mumbai and espousing a joint cause of protecting Patil, general secretary of the PWP, confirmed that Raj, Raut, Shinde and Wadettiwar will attend the foundation day rally, declaring: 'Raj Thackeray is tilting towards the INDIA alliance We are coming together on the issue of Marathi.' Patil's reference was to the Shiv Sena (UBT), MNS, Congress, NCP (SCP), PWP and the Left rallying against the BJP-led Mahayuti government's decision to introduce Hindi as a third language from Standard I in Maharashtra's schools. Widespread opposition from political parties, educationists and parents has forced the Devendra Fadnavis government to keep the decision in abeyance for had met Raj at his residence in Mumbai's Dadar (West) to invite him for the foundation day function. Pointed to historical connections, he said 'Prabhodankar' Keshav Sitaram Thackeray, grandfather of the Thackeray cousins, and PWP leaders such as Bhausaheb Raut had been comrades in the Samyukta Maharashtra movement that had called for the creation of a Marathi-speaking state of Maharashtra, with Mumbai as its PWP, born out of the non-Brahmin movement in 1948 and claiming a Marxist and Bahujan credo, was once the principal Opposition force in Maharashtra. Now, the party is restricted to Raigad district, abutting Mumbai; Sangola in Solapur district; parts of Kolhapur district such as Sangrul; and pockets of Osmanabad, including Tuljapur. The PWP retains its base among the Aagri and Koli communities in the Maharashtra assembly polls last year, the PWP fielded 14 candidates, of whom only Dr Babasaheb Deshmukh won, from Sangola in Solapur district. Deshmukh is the grandson of former minister and PWP veteran Ganpatrao Deshmukh aka poll result was a far cry from the four seats the PWP had won in 2009—three of them from Raigad alone. The defeat of Patil's daughter-in-law Chitralekha from Alibag constituency to Mahendra Dalvi of the Shiv Sena led by deputy chief minister Eknath Shinde came as a shocker for the PWP. In most of the seats contested, the PWP had faced candidates from MVA constituents such as the Shiv Sena (UBT).advertisementBefore the assembly elections, Patil, a four-term member of legislative council, had suffered a shock defeat in the legislative council elections held in July 2024. The ruling Mahayuti won nine of the 11 seats up for who had the MVA's backing, bit the dust amidst massive horse-trading and cross-voting. In these elections, the Shiv Sena (UBT) had fielded Milind Narvekar, personal assistant of Uddhav. Narvekar's was seen as a wild-card entry at a time the legislative council polls were poised to pick winners the assembly polls, Patil's brother and former MLA Subhash aka Panditset Patil, and Aaswad Patil, the son of his sister and former MLA Meenakshitai Patil, had joined the the setbacks, the PWP maintains that it is part of the MVA. The upcoming local body elections are being seen as a litmus test for the party and the Opposition at large. The question is: will Raj's move to attend the PWP rally be a one-time gesture or open up new possibilities amidst the political fluidity?advertisementSubscribe to India Today Magazine- EndsMust Watch
Deccan Herald
a day ago
- Politics
- Deccan Herald
MES rakes up Marathi language demand ahead of local polls
Belagavi: At a time when different linguistic communities are learning the state language Kannada and joining the mainstream, the Maharashtra Ekikaran Samiti (MES) has once again stirred controversy by demanding official documents in Marathi in the border areas and opposing the implementation of Kannada, the state's official language. The move is being seen as a politically motivated attempt to polarise voters ahead of the upcoming Taluk and Zilla Panchayat losing much of its influence in recent years, MES has revived its longstanding demand for the use of Marathi in government communication, citing provisions of the Linguistic Minorities Act. While earlier the group restricted its appeals to the district administration, recently they have begun to make demands to the elected representatives of political parties recent developments, MES leaders met Public Works Department and Belagavi District In-charge Minister Satish Jarkiholi in Gokak and Women and Child Welfare Minister Laxmi Hebbalkar in Belagavi, urging them to implement the use of Marathi in official documents. They warned that Marathi-speaking voters form a significant portion of the electorate in Yamakanamaradi and Belgaum Rural Assembly constituencies, represented by the two ministers, and their demand should be taken linguistic sentimentsPolitical observers believe the MES is trying to reignite linguistic sentiments and consolidate its base in Belagavi and Khanapur taluks ahead of the local body polls. However, their efforts during the Belagavi City Corporation elections failed, as Marathi-speaking voters chose BJP and Congress candidates over MES-backed ones, signaling a decline in support for the pro-Maharashtra State Border Areas Development Authority member Ashok Chandargi cautioned political leaders against yielding to MES pressure, stating, 'For political gains, leaders should not compromise on the interests of Kannada. Pro-Kannada voters are in large numbers and will not take such actions lightly.'Legal action soughtIn a recent meeting chaired by Tourism, Law and Parliamentary Affairs and Boundary Areas In-charge Minister H K Patil, Kannada activists reiterated their demand for a ban on MES and sought legal action against its leaders for attempting to sow linguistic discord. They pointed out that Kannada-speaking people in Maharashtra are not given similar linguistic privileges and have learned Marathi to integrate into the Patil assured that there would be no rollback in the implementation of Kannada in the state's administration. The district administration has also briefed MES representatives about the scope and limitations of the Linguistic Minorities Act.
Indian Express
3 days ago
- Automotive
- Indian Express
Maharashtra govt to launch ride-hailing app to compete with Ola, Uber
The Maharashtra government will soon introduce an app-based autorickshaw, taxi, and e-bike service aimed at creating jobs for local youth, particularly those from the Marathi-speaking belt, Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik said on Monday. The service that would be operated under the state transport department would offer a competition for the private players in the sector, which is currently dominated by private cab aggregator platforms such as Ola, Uber, and Rapido, according to Sarnik. The proposal has received an in-principle nod from Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and deputy chief ministers Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar, but the clearance from the Cabinet is expected soon, Sarnaik said. Sarnaik, who is also the chairman of Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC), said the app-based aggregator platform for the state is almost complete, and the government is deliberating on names such as Jai Maharashtra, Maha-Ride, Maha-Yatri, or Maha-Go for the app. The app is being developed in collaboration with institutions such as the Maharashtra Institute for Transport Technology and Maharashtra Institution for Transformation (MITRA), with private players in consultation. 'This will not only offer comfortable travel for commuters but also generate employment for thousands of youngsters in Maharashtra,' Sarnaik said, adding that all terms in the Centre's aggregator policy guidelines are being adhered to. The government plans to check the monopoly and ensure transparency in fare levels and drivers' benefits, officials from the transport department said. The app will offer services by auto-rickshaws, taxis, and e-bikes in towns and cities. Officials indicated that the platform will also be made compatible with the Central Government's Motor Vehicle Aggregator Guidelines, 2020, which stipulate safety, accountability, and fare regulation standards for digital transport aggregators. 'The government has the technical knowledge, infrastructure, and manpower. This model, if well implemented, will serve the interests of both service providers and users,' he added.
News18
3 days ago
- News18
Marathi-Speaking Man Threatened, Abused In Mumbai's Goregaon; MNS Workers Protest
Last Updated: A Bajaj Finance employee in Mumbai allegedly abused a Marathi customer and insulted MNS chief Raj Thackeray. In response, MNS workers staged a protest at the office. Chaos ensued in Mumbai's Goregaon area after an employee of Bajaj Finance allegedly abused and threatened a Marathi-speaking customer at the office, despite the customer having repaid his loan. Later, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena's (MNS) Goregaon assembly chief Virendra Jadhav and his supporters gathered at the Bajaj Finance office and protested the incident. They also vandalised the office, and as the clash escalated, the employees of Bajaj Finance allegedly used foul language against MNS chief Raj Thackeray. This led to further outrage among MNS workers and office bearers, who disrupted the company's operations. A video from the spot showed protests at the office. There was no information of any police action in the incident yet. Later, Virendra Jadhav stated that the MNS will continue its protest until an action is taken against those who abused the Marathi customer and Raj Thackeray. On July 23, the police registered a case against a man and three others for allegedly assaulting a 20-year-old student in Navi Mumbai's Vashi area with a hockey stick after the latter asked him to speak in Marathi. The incident occurred outside a college in Vashi, and came to light after the victim, a resident of Pawane village in Airoli, filed a complaint in this connection. Subsequently, a case was registered under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) Sections 118 (1) (voluntarily causing hurt or grievous hurt by dangerous weapons or means), 352 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of peace), 351(2) and 351(3) (criminal intimidation), section 3(5) (common intention) and others. view comments First Published: July 29, 2025, 08:12 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
The Hindu
5 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Mahajan Commission report on Karnataka-Maharashtra border row is final, asserts H.K. Patil
HUBBALLI Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister H.K. Patil has said that there was no reason for Kannadigas to be concerned over cases pertaining to the Karnataka-Maharashtra border row before the Supreme Court, as it was a constitutional issue and no decision yet had been taken on taking up the case for hearing. He was chairing a meeting of Kannada organisations at in Belagavi on Saturday. 'The language row is a poll issue in Maharashtra. So there is no need to panic over it. Honouring the federal system in the country, Karnataka accepted the formation of Mahajan Commission. Our stand is that the commission's report is the sole solution to the border row. You have to accept the report, otherwise the status quo should continue. This is our government's firm stand,' he said. The Minister said the bonhomie between Kannadigas and Marathi-speaking people is a model to the whole nation. Those who rake up language row should understand it and keep quiet, he said. He said that steps would be taken to address the injustice being caused to Kannadigas in Goa and the issue would also be raised with the Union government. On cases against Kannada activists, he said that certain procedures would have to be followed and the attention of the concerned persons would be drawn towards it. Steps would also be taken to strengthen Kannada schools in the border areas by holding a detailed discussion with the Education Minister on the issue with a delegation from Belagavi, he said. Representatives of various Kannada organisations aired their grievances and contentious issues and also gave suggestions. Various legislators and senior officials were present.
