Latest news with #Pankaja
Time of India
7 days ago
- General
- Time of India
After 11 years, Pankaja & Dhananjay come together on Gopinath Munde's death anniversary
Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar: After a gap of 11 years, the Munde cousins — minister Pankaja and former minister Dhananjay Munde — came together on Tuesday at Gopinathgad, in Beed's Parli Vaijnath, during the death anniversary observance of BJP politician Gopinath Munde . Earlier, the cousins used to visit Gopinathgad separately each year, avoiding interaction due to their political differences. Tuesday's occasion, featuring a religious ceremony and blood donation drive, garnered significant attention across Maharashtra, both for its political importance and the public reunion of the Munde cousins at the annual commemorative event. While Dhananjay Munde remained silent during the event, Pankaja Munde addressed the gathering and shared memories of her father. Before the event, Pankaja had said, "The NCP is now our ally, so we invited all functionaries from the party, including Dhananjay Munde. He is my cousin, and I am certain he will attend the function." The cousins, feeling politically isolated, have shown solidarity at public events throughout the past year, having resolved their differences before the previous year's elections. During her Gopinathgad speech, Pankaja said Dhananjay requested her to speak for the family. "He (Dhananjay) told me, 'You speak for all of us.' I am grateful to everyone who stood by me over the years as I found my footing in politics. This is a family, and every year, we wonder what we can do to keep Gopinath Munde's memory alive," she said. The BJP minister in the Devendra Fadnavis cabinet highlighted her father's public service. "If people knew how wounded he was, there would have been a wave of blood donations across the country. Today, we conduct health and blood donation camps to honour his legacy. He lives on through his ideals and the love of the people," she said. Referencing spiritual matters, Pankaja added, "Even Lord Ram and the Pandavas faced exile. I heard in the keertan today — greatness comes with pain." Additionally, Pankaja discussed her recent accommodation allocation. "I was finally given the Ramtek bungalow, which I requested back in 2014. At the time, it was occupied by a senior minister. Today, it feels like a great honour and a rare moment in history that I received this bungalow after Munde Saheb. This is not just a residence; it symbolises responsibility and commitment," she said.
Hindustan Times
7 days ago
- General
- Hindustan Times
BJP's Pankaja Munde puts cryptic message on father's death anniversary
Maharashtra environment minister and BJP leader Pankaja Munde on Tuesday said she was ready to face problems if people are with her, while referring to the exile of Pandavas and noting that righteous people inevitably experience hardships in their lives. She also mentioned demon king Ravan in her speech laced with political undertones while addressing a gathering at Gopinathgad which houses the memorial of her father and BJP stalwart late Gopinath Munde on his death anniversary. Another highlight of the occasion was the first public appearance of Nationalist Congress Party leader and Pankaja's embattled cousin Dhananjay Munde after months of political slugfest. Dhananjay was forced to resign as a cabinet minister in March amid a huge political firestorm over his links with Walmik Karad, an accused in the Beed sarpanch Santosh Deshmukh murder case. "Righteous people face problems. Kauravas and Ravan didn't face vanvas (exile) but Pandav had to go into exile. I am ready to face problems if people are with me," Pankaja said. Reflecting on her journey since the passing of her father, Pankaja said, "I have been speaking from this dais for the past 11 years. When Gopinath Munde passed away, it felt like a lightning strike on our lives". Drawing an analogy from the Mahabharata, she said, "Draupadi called out to everyone when she was in trouble, but she didn't call Lord Krishna initially. It was only when she called him that he came to her aid. Even God doesn't give us anything unless we ask for it." Pankaja asserted that if her father were alive today, he would have held a significant post in the country. "Gopinathji lives on, not just in our family, but in the hearts of people because of the work he did. He never wished ill for anyone. I see him today in his followers," the BJP MLC said, adding that she always maintained strong and respectful relationships. Before her address, Pankaja paid floral tributes at her father's memorial. She was accompanied by her sister, former MP Pritam Munde, and MLA Dhananjay Munde. Dhananjay didn't deliver a speech on the occasion.
