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By:

Quaid Najmi

4 January 2025 at 3:26:24 pm

Raj Thackeray tormented over ‘missing kids’ in state

Mumbai : Expressing grave concerns over the steep rise in cases of ‘missing children’ in the state, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) President Raj Thackeray has accused the state government of treating the matter casually and failing to respond to it urgently.   In an open missive on 'X' to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Raj Thackeray quoted data from the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) pointing at almost an alarming 30 pc increase in the number of children ‘missing’ in the state...

Raj Thackeray tormented over ‘missing kids’ in state

Mumbai : Expressing grave concerns over the steep rise in cases of ‘missing children’ in the state, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) President Raj Thackeray has accused the state government of treating the matter casually and failing to respond to it urgently.   In an open missive on 'X' to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Raj Thackeray quoted data from the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) pointing at almost an alarming 30 pc increase in the number of children ‘missing’ in the state between 2021-2024.   When asked for his reactions, Fadnavis told media-persons in Nagpur that he had not read the letter, but the issue raised is important and he would reply to it. Fadnavis stated that the NCRB has also provided the reasons why the kids go ‘missing’, how they return and the period, ranging from 3 days to 18 months.   Dwelling on the sufficiency of the NCRB figures, he contended that they reflect only complaints formally registered by the police and thousands of cases may never be reported.   On the ‘rescue, return and reunion’ of such missing children, he pointed to the sheer psychological trauma they may have suffered and sought to know how such child-lifter networks continued to thrive openly and blatantly.   The MNS chief targeted what he claimed was the “state’s lack of proactive measures to identify and dismantle child-begging rackets” as many juveniles can be seen begging at railway stations, bus stands, traffic signals, often accompanied by adults with doubtful authenticity.   “If some woman claims to be the child’s relative or guardian, should the government not order a thorough probe? Is it inappropriate to consider even a DNA test in suspicious cases,” Raj Thackeray demanded.   Slamming the government and the Opposition, he lamented how both sides failed to prioritise such urgent social issues in the legislature where discussions centre around partisan sparring.   The letter also mentions attempts by the Centre to coordinate with states on the ‘missing or trafficked children’, regretting how political upmanships and symbolic debates prevent meaningful action on the ground.   The NCRB said that Maharashtra has consistently ranked among states with the highest number of ‘missing children’, particularly in urban centres like Mumbai, Thane, and Pune.   Simultaneously, experts, child rights NGOs and activists have warned about trafficking networks that exploit poverty, migration and weak law enforcement and low convictions, despite official rescue missions or rehab efforts.   In his appeal, Raj Thackeray called upon Fadnavis to take concrete, visible measures rather than discussions and conventions. “Maharashtra expects decisive steps from you, not speeches. Jai Maharashtra,” he signed off.     In October 2023,Sharad Pawar red-flagged ‘missing girls-women’ This is the second major social cause by a political leader, two years after Nationalist Congress Party (SP) President Sharad Pawar had red-flagged nearly 20,000 ‘missing women and girls’ from the state between Jan-May 2023.   In the present instance, Raj Thackeray said that “behind the statistics lies a far more disturbing reality involving organised, inter-state gangs that kidnap children, physically abuse them and force them into begging rings”.   “Little kids are assaulted, made to beg and shifted across states. Groups of children disappear suddenly, and the government appears unable, or unwilling, to grasp the seriousness of what is happening,” said Thackeray in a strong tone.

Akhilesh wants 12 seats from MVA, points to Bhiwandi

Updated: Oct 21, 2024

Akhilesh wants 12 seats from MVA, points to Bhiwandi

Dhule: The Samajwadi Party (SP) has asked for 12 seats as part of the opposition Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi (MVA) in Maharashtra, party chief Akhilesh Singh Yadav said on Saturday, even as the alliance is yet to declare its seat-sharing arrangement.


Talking to reporters in north Maharashtra’s Dhule district, Yadav said his party has declared candidates for five seats.


Yadav said his party is the one that is satisfied with a few seats. “We have asked for 12 seats (as part of the MVA),” he said, adding that the SP has shared details of the seats where it has a strong presence.

The SP’s assertion has come at a time when the MVA constituents are in a stalemate over seat-sharing.

On Saturday, the SP declared the candidature of Irshad Jahagirdar from Dhule city, making him the fifth candidate of the party so far.


The party on Friday declared sitting MLA Rais Shaikh’s candidature from Bhiwandi East, Riyaz Azmi from Bhiwandi West and Shaan-E-Hind from Malegaon Central. The SP’s state president, Abu Asim Azmi, is a sitting MLA from the Shivajinagar-Mankhurd seat.


Yadav addressed rallies in Malegaon on Friday and Dhule on Saturday.


Talking to PTI, Abu Azmi said, “We have declared five candidates so that they (MVA) know that we are strong here, or else they will tell us in the meeting that your candidate is not very strong. We have shown that we are asking for seats where we are strong.”


He said Congress has not won the Bhiwandi East seat since 1999. “Only we will win this seat. They should not regret it like Haryana later (if the MVA fields a candidate from the seat),” he said.


Azmi said MVA leaders have spoken to him and assured him about seats.


Founded by Mulayam Singh Yadav, the SP is a constituent of the opposition’s INDIA bloc at the national level. The Peasants and Workers Party (PWP)and the left parties are also part of the MVA.


In Maharashtra, three parties - Shiv Sena (UBT), Congress and NCP (SP) -- which are also part of the INDIA bloc, are contesting the elections as part of the MVA alliance.


The assembly elections in Maharashtra will be held on November 20.


Maharashtra poll results will decide future of country: Akhilesh Yadav

“Maharashtra polls is the election that will change the politics of the country. This is a historic election. After the poll results, the BJP government will go and when the government in Maharashtra goes the (Union) government in Delhi will also collapse.” he asserted.


“When the (Union) government in Delhi goes, our CM (Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath) who takes a bulldozer with him will also go,” he said.


He urged his supporters to ensure defeat of the BJP and its allies in Maharashtra so that it can change the government in Uttar Pradesh.

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