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Quaid Najmi

4 January 2025 at 3:26:24 pm

DGCA team scans Baramati airport

Rohit Pawar bays for probe, suspension of VRSVPL Mumbai: In a major development, a team of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) reached Pune and carried out a detailed inspection of the Baramati airport where the Learjet crash killed Nationalist Congress Party President and Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Anantrao Pawar on Jan. 28. The visit came barely 12 hours after Nationalist Congress Party (SP) MLA Rohit R. Pawar made sensational disclosures connected to the air-crash, the...

DGCA team scans Baramati airport

Rohit Pawar bays for probe, suspension of VRSVPL Mumbai: In a major development, a team of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) reached Pune and carried out a detailed inspection of the Baramati airport where the Learjet crash killed Nationalist Congress Party President and Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Anantrao Pawar on Jan. 28. The visit came barely 12 hours after Nationalist Congress Party (SP) MLA Rohit R. Pawar made sensational disclosures connected to the air-crash, the purported safety violations perpetrated by the aircraft owner, VSR Ventures Pvt. Ltd. (VSRVPL), its top brass, records of the plane plus the individuals and other alleged irregularities. Simultaneously, Rohit Pawar visited New Delhi to meet Union Home Minister Amit Shah and others on the same issue and to aggressively put up the demand for a proper and full-fledged investigation into the tragedy. “If I am asked if there is anything shady, I will say that it was not merely an accident. It’s a 100 percent conspiracy. I state this with full responsibility and there is nothing political about it. There was something definitely wrong due to which my uncle lost his life,” reiterated Rohit Pawar forcefully in New Delhi today. Seeking a time-bound investigation by European probe agencies in tandem with the DGCA and the CID, he called for a multi-party team of political leaders to oversee and monitor the probe. “Let it be clear. We are very disturbed. There are many questions to which we need answers fast – within a month,” he urged. Rohit Pawar repeated his explosive allegations that the highly connected VSRVPL top brass could manipulate evidence or suppress crucial documents if the probe gets delayed. Citing the experience of the September 2023 Learjet crash at Mumbai Airport, he said the probe report into that aircraft owned by VSRVPL is still languishing and just last week – after the Baramati crash - the Indian authorities committed that it would be completed soon. “The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) had sought details of the Sep. 2023 crash from VSRVPL, but the request was spurned. Some media persons informed me that the probe report was ready and was to be sent a couple of weeks ago, but it was apparently scuttled by a senior politician with experience in the aviation department. All this needs to be cross-checked. If that report had been released, it would have brought out many things and remedial measures could have been taken and Ajit Pawar could have been saved,” said Rohit Pawar. The Karjat-Jamkhed law-maker said the company had a troubling history of safety - including issues related to pilots and aircraft maintenance - leading to its suspension by EASA. “Strangely, its operations are still allowed in India. Why was it not suspended here? Political VIPs, business leaders, cricketers and celebrities use its aircraft. They are clearly playing with the lives of top people,” he charged. Rohit Pawar accused VSRVPL of cost-cutting practices and claimed some of its pilots had been found inebriated in the past, and sought scrutiny of internal WhatsApp group chats, including those involving Arrow Aviation Services (AAS) - the handler managing VIP bookings – whose official allegedly provided incorrect weather information. “AAS had told them visibility was normal at Baramati Airport that morning, when it was actually 3,000-metres. This flouts the stringent DGCA norms of no flight operations if visibility is not a minimum 5000-metres,” pointed out Rohit Pawar. He revealed that on Jan. 27 at 7:13 pm, a request was made through Arrow to book the aircraft as Ajit Pawar’s meetings were getting unduly delayed, as he had to urgently sign a file of a senior NCP leader from Vidarbha who was late, and this forced the DyCM to cancel his road travel plans. Rohit Pawar raised serious questions about maintenance lapses as the VSRVPL reportedly has its own in-house MRO. “Who was handling it? Were there qualified aircraft maintenance engineers? What about its hangar details? All this must be fully probed,” he persisted. On the last-minute changes, he asked why the designated pilot Sahil Madan was replaced by Sumit Kapoor, why the flight scheduled to take off at 7 am, departed at 8:10 am, but no convincing reasons have been given so far. He alleged that Kapoor had previously been suspended for three years over alcohol-addiction related issues and was often found consuming liquor during duty hours, as also some others in the company. Cautioning the DGCA against evading responsibility, Rohit Pawar said: “We will not tolerate if the DGCA attempts to run away from a proper probe by making stray statements. It is a good agency, and we expect a thorough technical investigation.” Pawar’s silence Referring to NCP(SP) Supremo Sharad Pawar’s ‘silence’ on possibility of sabotage immediately after the tragedy, Rohit Pawar surmised that it was deliberate, even as other senior leaders across the political spectrum jumped to his support. “However, I am speaking with research-based information. We will not sleep peacefully till all the mysteries are solved, lingering doubts cleared or nagging questions convincingly answered... Ajit Pawar is no more, we only seek the truth,” he added. Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut said that if a Vidarbha leader’s visit had delayed Ajit Pawar’s Baramati road trip, it must be probed. “Who was that leader? What was so important in that file? Would Maharashtra have stopped if it was not signed?” SS (UBT) Deputy Leader Sushma Andhare said all the points raised by Rohit Pawar are valid and the authorities must take serious note of the issues he wants resolved. Congress Chief Spokesperson Atul Londhe said: “I have learnt that the Black Box on all VSRVPL aircraft are kept switched off. Was it the same even in this case? If nothing is found in the Black Box of this plane, then no surprises." NCP Amalner MLA Anil Bhaidas Patil urged the media and political parties “not to give any political twist” to Rohit Pawar’s demand for a probe as it could unnecessarily mislead the people of Maharashtra.

Annasaheb Patil: A Lifelong Advocate for Workers’ Rights

Updated: Oct 21, 2024

Annasaheb Patil

Annasaheb Pandurang Patil, a member of the Maharashtra Legislative Council, made significant contributions to the uplifting of scattered workers in Mumbai. For this reason, he is regarded as the architect of the progress of the Maratha and Mathadi workers in Maharashtra. Annasaheb Patil proposed a simple yet broad definition of a `Maratha,’ stating that every person residing in Maharashtra and standing for its defence is a Maratha. With this ideology, he established the Mathadi Workers Union and the All India Maratha Federation.

When Annasaheb Patil arrived in Mumbai from his native village, Mandrulkole in Patan Taluka, he began his career as a worker. At that time, workers in Mumbai were facing dire conditions, and a majority of them were Marathas. Annasaheb Patil believed that workers needed to experience both economic and social progress. He deeply studied their issues and began organising them, forming the Mathadi Workers Union, formally known as the Maharashtra State Mathadi Transport and General Workers Union. This became one of the largest labour unions in the state.

At the time, most labour unions were led by communists, but Annasaheb Patil rejected their ideologies, instead building a union based on Indigenous principles. He organised protests and movements, putting forward workers’ demands for better wages, healthcare, and basic rights for workers before the government. His relentless work eventually bore fruit, and he became the guiding force for workers.

Annasaheb Patil’s efforts resonated with the government. The then-Chief Minister, Yashwantrao Chavan, addressed the demands put forth by Patil, and on June 5, 1969, the Mathadi Workers Act was enacted in Maharashtra. This legislation brought joy and relief to the workers, improving their quality of life. Due to this act, facilities such as hospitals, consumer societies, housing through CIDCO, and educational and medical services were made available to Mathadi workers. Patil’s contribution to their welfare was pivotal.

Today, the issue of Maratha reservation is a significant topic in Maharashtra. Annasaheb Patil, the father of the Maratha reservation movement, made sure that his demands were reasonable and did not disturb social unity. His image is revered across Maharashtra for this reason.

Annasaheb Patil worked tirelessly for the welfare of Mathadi workers, most of whom were Marathas. He united the 12 Balutedars and 18 Pagadi communities, forming various organisations under the All India Maratha Federation. His leadership earned him widespread respect, and on July 8, 1980, he became a member of the Legislative Council.

During this time, the demand for Maratha reservations based on economic criteria was gaining traction. Annasaheb Patil toured Maharashtra while advocating for this cause. He resolved to lead a protest march to the Legislative Assembly. As an MLA in the Congress government, Patil, along with Advocate Shashikant Pawar, led a massive procession from Azad Maidan, Mumbai, on March 22, 1982. The sight of the marchers carrying Shivaji Maharaj’s saffron flag caught the attention of the citizens of Mumbai.

Annasaheb Patil submitted a list of nine demands to the then Chief Minister, Babasaheb Bhosale. Realising that the demand for reservation would not be considered, he declared that if justice were not served to the Maratha community, he would not live to see the next sunrise. True to his word, he ended his life on March 23, 1982, leaving an indelible mark on the state.

Annasaheb Patil devoted his life to the progress of Mathadi workers, raising their issues before the government and improving their living conditions. His efforts for the Maratha reservation and social justice brought attention to the problems faced by the community. His life was a testament to the struggle for the welfare of society. Rightfully, he is remembered as the father of the Maratha reservation movement and the architect of Maratha upliftment.

On his birth anniversary, we humbly pay tribute to the sacred memory of Annasaheb Patil.

(The writer is a BJP member of Maharashtra Legislative Council. Views personal.)

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