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Quaid Najmi

4 January 2025 at 3:26:24 pm

Thackerays’ ‘Taandav’ for trees, tigers

AI generated image Mumbai: Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) President Raj Thackeray launched a sharp attack on the government for the systematic degradation of the state’s environment under the garb of development, even as the climate change poses a direct threat to the environment, economy, agriculture, public health and the future of both rural and urban centres. Questioning the state government’s claims of having planted millions of trees, he rued how the World Environment Day has been...

Thackerays’ ‘Taandav’ for trees, tigers

AI generated image Mumbai: Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) President Raj Thackeray launched a sharp attack on the government for the systematic degradation of the state’s environment under the garb of development, even as the climate change poses a direct threat to the environment, economy, agriculture, public health and the future of both rural and urban centres. Questioning the state government’s claims of having planted millions of trees, he rued how the World Environment Day has been reduced to an annual ritual of tree-planting drives and clicking selfies for social media, though 90 pc of the saplings don’t survive even a day. “Only the government knows where those trees really are,” said Raj sternly. He recalled a "Blueprint of Maharashtra’s Development" he had proposed in 2015, in which he advocated how development without environmental sensitivity is hollow. Justifying, he said that the consequences are visible where roads, bridges and infrastructure projects are hailed as achievements, but even a short spell of rainfall can paralyze entire cities. Referring to recent reports on farmers returning from the fields after 10 am due to the scorching heat, Raj said that the worsening climate crisis has become an everyday reality. Citing official statistics, Raj claimed that extreme heat has caused productivity losses of nearly USD 159 billion and slashing of 160 billion work-hours annually in recent years. He mentioned the World Bank estimates that India’s GDP could plummet by 2.5-4.5 pc while 57 pc of the country’s districts sheltering 76 pc of the population stare at serious climate-related crises. Taking a swipe, he said while the governments boast about growth figures and economical rankings, they are silent on the staggering costs of environmental destruction. He questioned the development model “whether flooded cities, washed-away crops and unbearable summers” genuinely indicate progress. Claiming that Maharashtra was increasingly becoming unliveable for upto 8 months in a year, he said excessive monsoon rains disrupt rural life and urban floods cripple cities, while extreme heat make normal life a torture in summers in both urban-rural areas. Targeting the Centre, Raj alleged that nearly 173,984 hectares of forest lands were diverted in the past 11 years for mining and infrastructure projects to benefit the PM’s single favourite Adani Group. He said that these lands amount to 1,730 sqkm, or equivalent to the area of 16 Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP) that is spread over barely 104 sqkm. Dissolve state wildlife board: Aaditya Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aditya Thackeray has accused the Maharashtra government for issuing a permit to carry out mining activity in the sensitive tiger corridor between the Tadoba-Andhari and Indravati sanctuaries housing the big striped cats. In a strongly-worded letter to the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) Member-Secretary Sanjay Kumar, Thackeray sought his immediate personal intervention, sacking the Maharashtra State Board for Wild-Life (SBWL), revoking the permit, and probe against the Chief Wildlife Warden & Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) M. Srinivasa Reddy for the alleged lacunae. Aditya’s two-pager says the permit has been granted for “scientific exploration and excavation/systematic recovery of low-grade iron ore in existing mines in villages Hedri, Bande, Parsalgondi and Round Parsalgondi, in the Etapalli taluka of Gadchiroli district”. Last January, Aditya – MLA from Worli – had first raised the issue saying that the proposed mine would create only 120 jobs, including 32 permanent, and the estimated output is pegged at 1.1 million tons in a year. Referring to two letters of Reddy – on April 28 and May 21 – the SS (UBT) leader claimed that in communications to the state government, the PCCF had changed his stance on the issue. Aditya said that in the first letter, Reddy had effectively opposed the government plans for mining activity but in the second letter, he took a somersault, ostensibly due to government pressures or some commercial interests, “the U-turn is disgraceful and detrimental to India’s national interest” – and this abrupt shift in stance must be investigated thoroughly. In view of the contrary stance of the PCCF Reddy, entrusted with protecting the wildlife but failing to defend the NTCA and NBWL, point to serious malfunctioning of the SBWL, and hence it must be dissolved, besides reviewing all its decisions in the past three years, particularly those pertaining to hazardous activities in sensitive areas, demanded Aditya. 444 tigers roam in 11,000 sq.km As per the Status of Tiger Report (2002), and the Maharashtra Economic Survey 2025-2026, the state boasts of 444 tigers prowling in the wild along with other menacing creatures. The state’s total protected wildlife network of 88 Notified Areas of National Parks, Sanctuaries, and Conservation Reserves - including 6 dedicated to the striped big cats – is spread over 11,092 sq. kms as per current data.

BJP’s first ‘Samrat’ in Bihar; oath today

Choudhary becomes third ‘imported’ BJP leader to get highest post after Himanta Biswa Sarma and Basavraj Bommai

Patna: The phase of political uncertainty and intense maneuvering that gripped Bihar over the past few days has finally come to an end. Following the resignation of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, the Bharatiya Janata Party moved swiftly to bring clarity by electing Samrat Choudhary as the leader of its legislative party. It is now confirmed that Choudhary will be sworn in as the next Chief Minister of the state on Wednesday and for the first time in Bihar, a BJP Chief Minister will take the oath.


A crucial meeting of the BJP legislature party was held on Tuesday at the party's state headquarters in Patna under the leadership of Union Agriculture Minister and state observer Shivraj Singh Chouhan. The meeting was attended by key leaders, including Samrat Choudhary and Vijay Kumar Sinha. After detailed deliberations, Choudhary was unanimously chosen as the leader of the Legislative Party, a decision formally announced by Chouhan.


After being elected as the leader of the legislative party, Choudhary, in his first response, reaffirmed his commitment to service and dedication. He told reporters that he has been an active political worker for the past three decades, and although responsibilities may change over time, his core objective has always been to serve Bihar, and will continue to remain so.


Choudhary also pledged to work towards taking Bihar to new heights of development and good governance under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the guidance of the party organisation. He described former Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's tenure as a source of inspiration, expressing confidence that the state would continue to progress under his guidance.


Wide Spectrum

Samrat Choudhary's political journey reflects a wide spectrum of experience. He began his career with the Rashtriya Janata Dal before moving through the Janata Dal (United) and eventually joining the BJP. Within the BJP, he has held significant organisational and governmental roles, steadily emerging as a prominent political figure.


Coming from a deeply political background, Choudhary has been closely associated with public life since his early years. His father, Shakuni Choudhary, is a well-known name in Bihar politics, having served seven terms as both MLA and MP. His mother, Parvati Devi, also represented the Tarapur assembly constituency as an MLA. Samrat Choudhary himself secured victory from Tarapur in the Munger district in the last assembly elections.


Entering active politics in 1990, Choudhary took oath as Agriculture Minister in the Bihar government in 1999. He was subsequently elected as an MLA from the Parbatta constituency in 2000 and 2010, and in 2010, he was appointed Chief Whip of the opposition in the Bihar Legislative Assembly.


His role within the BJP gained significant momentum after 2018. In 2019, he was appointed state vice president and gradually rose to become one of the party's key faces in Bihar. In 2023, he was made the state president of the BJP. When Nitish Kumar returned to the NDA after breaking away from the Mahagathbandhan, Choudhary was entrusted with the dual responsibilities of Deputy Chief Minister and Home Minister, an unprecedented move in the state's political history.


Born as Rakesh Kumar on November 16, 1968, Samrat Choudhary has carried forward his father's political legacy and has now ascended to the highest executive office in the state.


Earlier, Nitish Kumar had submitted his resignation to Governor Syed Ata Hasnain. Reflecting on his tenure, he stated that since 2005, the state had witnessed the establishment of the rule of law and significant development across sectors such as education, healthcare, roads, electricity, and agriculture.


With this transition, Bihar's politics has entered a new phase, and all eyes are now on the direction and governance style of the government to be led by Samrat Choudhary.


After leaving Lok Bhavan, Samrat Chaudhary visited the residence of BJP national president Nitin Naveen, where he was welcomed with sweets. The two leaders also held an extended discussion.

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