Latest news with #Munde
Hindustan Times
an hour ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Fraud in agri dept: ACB records Anjali Damania's statement
MUMBAI: Social activist Anjali Damania on Wednesday appeared before the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) and submitted evidence regarding alleged fraud in the state agricultural department when it was headed by Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Dhananjay Munde. The activist alleged a ₹161-crore fraud in the department between July 2023 and November 2024, when Munde was a minister in the previous Mahayuti government. 'We recorded her statement for around four hours,' said an ACB official. Damania alleged that despite a central government directive in 2016 to transfer money directly to farmers' bank accounts via Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT), the agricultural department purchased equipment and fertilisers at inflated rates for distribution among farmers. BJP MLA Suresh Dhas had also alleged that Munde was involved in a ₹200-crore scam during his term as minister. The NCP leader has termed the allegations baseless and ridiculous. The ACB said that it is in the process of recording statements and evidence, after which it will start investigation.
Time of India
a day ago
- Business
- Time of India
Graft allegation against Munde: ACB calls Damania for inquiry
Mumbai: The ACB has called social activist Anjali Damania for an inquiry in connection with her complaint against leader and former cabinet minister Dhananjay Munde, said officials on Tuesday. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Damania on Monday received a letter from the ACB in which she has been asked to remain present before the anti-graft agency's officials within two days, said an official. She had levelled allegations of corruption in the agriculture department when Munde held the portfolio during previous Mahayuti coalition government. In the ACB's letter, the activist has been asked to appear before its personnel with documents pertaining to the complaint against Munde. Damania shared the letter in a post on her X handle late on Monday and mentioned that she will go to the ACB office to present her case on Wednesday. Earlier this year, Damania alleged a Rs 88 crore scam in the agriculture department when Munde held the portfolio in the previous Mahayuti government. Despite the Union govt's 2016 directive to transfer money directly to farmers' bank accounts under Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT), the agriculture department purchased equipment and fertilisers for distribution to farmers at inflated rates, she claimed. Munde had dismissed Damania's allegations as "baseless and ridiculous". In Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, environment minister and BJP leader Pankaja Munde said she was ready to face problems if the people are with her, while referring to the exile of Pandavas and noting that righteous people inevitably experience hardships in their lives. A highlight of the occasion was the first public appearance of NCP leader and Pankaja's embattled cousin Dhananjay Munde after months of political slugfest. PTI
Hans India
2 days ago
- Politics
- Hans India
CM Fadnavis pays tribute to Gopinath Munde on his 11th death anniversary
Mumbai: Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday paid a tribute to the veteran BJP leader and former union minister Gopinath Munde on his 11th death anniversary. In his post on X, he said, "Humble tributes to the people's leader, a statesman who dedicated his political life to the cause of social welfare, our guide and inspiration, Gopinathrao Ji Munde on his Smruti Din." "I pay tribute to a leader who strived for the rights and interests of the downtrodden and affected people, fought for the rights of Bahujan Samaj and Other Backward Classes, forced the then government to announce a farm loan waiver after organising statewide morcha, relentlessly fought to get relief to the Godavari flood-affected people from Marathwada, took out Sangharsh Yatra to flag off the criminalisation of politics in Maharashtra,' said the Chief Minister, uploading a video in his post. The state unit chief and Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule also paid tribute to Munde. The state BJP in its post on X said, "Tribute to a senior party leader, guide and an inspiration for many workers." Munde was credited with spreading the BJP's wings across Maharashtra and changing its image of a party dominated by the upper class and traders. It was Munde, who was picked up by the veteran BJP leader late Vasantrao Bhagwat, who travelled across Maharashtra in 1980s, that helped the party tremendously increase its presence in the state. Munde carved his place in the party with his hard work, will and massive grassroots-level support. Munde began his career in state politics by joining the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad, and after joining the BJP, he travelled to villages and hamlets for the party's consolidation. Munde and his brother-in-law, Pramod Mahajan, were termed in the party circles as 'Ram-Laxman', who transformed the party's image and made it a force to reckon with, especially during the Congress-dominated politics. Munde started his electoral politics from Beed, where he became a zilla parishad member in 1978. Later, he became a legislator from Renapur constituency, Deputy Chief Minister in the Shiv Sena-BJP government during 1995 and 1999, later MP from Beed constituency and Union Minister. He hogged headlines for confronting former Chief Minister Sharad Pawar and targeting the Congress-led government on "criminalisation" of politics. Munde launched an agitation against the now-infamous Enron power project and announced that, after coming to power, the project would be dumped into the Arabian Sea. After the Shiv Sena-BJP came to power, the first phase of the project was repudiated in May, as announced by the BJP and Shiv Sena alliance during the 1995 Assembly elections. Later, the project was revived in 1996 after renegotiations with the Enron-led Dabhol Power Company. Amid tensions between the BJP and the Shiv Sena, Munde and Mahajan were associated with the "bridge makers" due to their cordial relations with Shiv Sena founder Balasaheb Thackeray. Munde, who was Rural Development Minister in the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led cabinet, died on June 3, 2014, in a car accident in New Delhi.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
PMPML snaps a May record with breakdowns; fare hike upsets many
1 2 Pune: PMPML just recorded its worst May in three years in terms of bus breakdowns, recently released data showed. Last month, the transport body recorded 1,971 breakdowns, compared to 1,673 in May 2024; 1,901 in May 2023; and 1,024 in May 2022. Essentially, there were 66 bus breakdowns every day of May this year, leaving many passengers asking why they were now being asked to pay more for a bus ride. PMPML's fare increase came into effect from June 1 — the minimum ticket is now Rs 10, up from the earlier Rs 5. The cost of daily and monthly passes has also gone up. Officials said the hike is unlikely to impact ridership. On June 1, data showed 9.45 lakh people travelled on 1,556 buses. "On Sundays, passenger traffic is much less than on weekdays. We run fewer buses. So, for now, we cannot say the fare hike led to a dip in passenger traffic," one senior PMPML official said. Lata Jori, a resident of Bhugaon, said the cost of commuting was now a major concern. Jori works as a domestic help in Kothrud. "This ticket price hike is unfair," she said, adding that those on a daily wage may now find it difficult to take PMPML buses. Sanjay Shitole, from the citizen group PMP Pravasi Manch, said they dropped a plan to meet PMPML CMD Deepa Mudhol Munde. "We believe we'll just be told that the fare hike was approved by the RTA, which is headed by the Collector. But with so many breakdowns every day, PMPML and civic bodies must ask themselves if the hike is justified. We now plan to meet the Collector to discuss this," Shitole said. Ujjwal Keskar, a former corporator, said he has written to Munde about PMPML's operational losses. "The transport body lost over Rs 706 crore in the last FY. Between 2014 and 2024, it suffered losses of Rs 3,863 crore. This money is enough to come up with a new metro line. It's the constant changes in policy and leadership that have brought us to this point. It's really concerning," he wrote in his letter to Munde. Sagar Dhande, who works as a shop assistant in Kondhwa, said he will now have to pay Rs 30 to commute from Hadapsar to his place of work. "It used to be Rs 20. The cost of the daily pass is now Rs 70, compared to the earlier Rs 40. My salary is very low so this is a huge burden for me," Dhande said. Makrand Gaikwad, another regular passenger, said: "The fare from PMC HQ to Hadapsar, which used to be Rs 25, has increased to Rs 40. Given the number of breakdowns every day, I think this is just unfair," he said.
New Indian Express
5 days ago
- 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
