Mumbai, Aug 29 (PTI) NCP (SP) leader Jitendra Awhad on Saturday accused the Maharashtra government of not being serious about the issues faced by people, including rising inflation, unemployment and the MPSC paper leak controversy, and said his party would launch agitations to highlight them.
He was speaking to reporters after a meeting of the NCP (SP) core committee that lasted nearly four hours.
“Rising inflation is a very serious concern. On the one hand, there is economic planning, while on the other, inflation is increasing and troubling people. Our view is that the government is not serious about it,” he said.
He also criticised the government’s handling of farmers’ issues and the loan waiver scheme.
“On the one hand, inflation is rising and on the other, we are facing drought-like conditions. But the government is not taking either issue seriously,” Awhad said.
Referring to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s attack on the BJP-RSS over the ‘shuddhikaran’ (purification) ceremony carried out at the venue of a rally addressed by AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge in Haldwani earlier this month, the NCP (SP) legislator said, “Untouchability is a crime.” “A case should be registered against everyone responsible at the earliest. We strongly support Rahul Gandhi’s demand on this issue,” he said.
Despite having such a good Constitution, caste discrimination and untouchability have still not ended. It continues in Maharashtra, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh and elsewhere, he said.
On the state government’s Ladki Bahin financial assistance scheme, he alleged that nearly one crore women beneficiaries had been dropped from the list.
“The Ladki Bahin scheme was one of the schemes on which they won the elections. Now these one crore women have become unwanted. Their names have been removed from the scheme and the government has no answer to this,” he said.
Awhad said the party would launch a campaign against the alleged paper leak in the examination conducted by the Maharashtra Public Service Commission (MPSC) for drug inspectors’ posts.
“The government is not serious about the MPSC paper leak and the chaos in the commission. We will have to build a similar movement for MPSC, and our preparations have started,” he said.
Talking about unemployment, Awhad said Maharashtra had traditionally been known as a state that provided employment but the situation had changed.
“There was a belief that if you came to Mumbai with just a piece of cloth on your head, you would never be without work. You could start earning within 24 hours. Now a picture is emerging that jobs are not available in Maharashtra. This is extremely saddening,” he claimed.
Awhad also raised concerns over the ongoing revision of electoral rolls and alleged that Form 7 could be used to delete voters’ names.
“I appeal to the people of Maharashtra to remain alert. Even if your name is on the electoral roll, remain alert because Form 7 can be used to delete names,” he said.
Awhad also accused the government of trying to suppress dissent by registering cases against young people over social media posts.
“We have decided to stand with them. We are forming a legal team. Wherever such an incident takes place against our workers or people in any part of the state, our legal team will be ready to fight the legal battle,” he added.
On the caste census, Awhad alleged that although the Prime Minister had announced a caste-based census, there was no provision for recording OBC caste details in the Census form.
Awhad also criticised the condition of roads in the state and alleged that large amounts were being spent on new projects while basic roads remained full of potholes.
“Big roads, big schemes and big amounts of money are being spent, but the basic roads are full of potholes. There is no money even to fill potholes. This shows how bad the state’s financial condition has become,” he said.
On speculation about a merger of the two NCP factions, Awhad said no such discussion had taken place. “There has been no discussion about any merger. There is no such issue before us,” he said.
On the party’s ownership, he said, “Sharad Pawar is the founder of the party. Therefore, our clear view is that this is Sharad Pawar’s party.” Awhad also said agitation was an important part of a political party’s functioning.
“Agitation is the soul of any political party. Agitation has an impact. You have to agitate, otherwise you will not remain politically alive,” he said. PTI MR NP
This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.