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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.

Don’t test our patience: Jarange

  • VNS
  • Aug 30, 2025
  • 4 min read

Mumbai: Maratha quota agitation leader Manoj Jarange continued his indefinite hunger strike at historic Azad Maidan here on the second day on Saturday, warning the government that it should not test the patience of the community.


Jarange and thousands of his supporters braved the overnight rain, battled the mud on the ground and bemoaned the lack of basic amenities, including a paucity of water in the toilets.


Speaking to reporters at Azad Maidan, where he launched an indefinite fast on Friday, the 43-year-old activist said that the government should not spread misinformation that the Marathas are seeking reservation from the Other Backward Classes (OBC) quota.


"We are only demanding that we get our rightful share of quota based on the eligibility under the Kunbi category," he said.


Jarange has been demanding a 10 per cent quota for Marathas under the OBC category. He wants Marathas to be recognised as Kunbis — an agrarian caste included in the OBC category — which will make them eligible for reservation in government jobs and education.


"We don't want to indulge in politics. We only want a reservation. The government should not test the patience of the Maratha community," he warned.


"We are not asking to reduce the OBC quota. Don't spread misinformation," he charged.


The activist further urged Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis not to insult poor Marathas.


He accused Fadnavis of trying to create instability and vitiate the atmosphere in the state.


Fadnavis had on Friday said that the state government is positive about resolving the issues of the Marathas, if they are social and financial in nature, and not related to political reservation.


The chief minister assured that the cabinet sub-committee on issues related to the Maratha community is discussing Jarange's demands and will find a solution within the constitutional framework.


The ruling Mahayuti and Opposition Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi (MVA) have criticised each other over the situation in Mumbai, especially when the Ganesh festival was underway.


MVA leaders have said the government should talk to Jarange, and the only solution was for the Centre to waive the 50 per cent cap on reservations and conduct a caste census.


Traffic affected

Traffic came to a standstill outside the iconic Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) and the surrounding areas, with the police struggling to convince protesters to clear the route.


As puddles formed at the protest venue due to overnight showers, agitators gathered at the junction outside the CSMT.


Many complained of food scarcity, alleging that the government had shut shops around the protest site. They also claimed that the ground lacked adequate facilities to ensure their safety and hygiene.


In January this year, Jarange called off his hunger strike on the sixth day, after BJP MLA Suresh Dhas intervened on behalf of the state government.


It was his seventh such protest since 2023. Jarange had then announced that if the promised measures were not implemented swiftly, he would lead a major agitation in Mumbai.


Declare Marathwada's Marathas as Kunbis, give quota

Manoj Jarange on Saturday told a delegation led by retired High Court judge Sandeep Shinde that the government must declare all Marathas of Marathwada as Kunbis and be given reservation.


The delegation met Jarange at Azad Maidan in south Mumbai on Saturday afternoon. Jarange said the committee under retired judge Shinde had studied gazettes related to the issue for the past 13 months and now it was time for the panel to submit its report to pave the way for Marathas to get Kunbi status.

"Marathas in Marathwada must be declared as Kunbis and given reservation. The Hyderabad and Satara gazettes must be made into law for this," Jarange said.

In response, retired judge Shinde said he wasn't authorised to give such a report.


It was the job of the backward class commission, Shinde said.


"Caste certificate is given to individuals and not the entire community," he added.


The entire conservation between Shinde and Jarange was beamed live on Marathi news channels.


Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Jarange slammed Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis for deputing retired judge Shinde to hold talks with him.


"It is not Justice Shinde's job to issue GR (government resolution) declaring Marathas and Kunbis as the same. It is an insult of the government, Raj Bhavan and state to send Justice Shinde here," he said.


In principle approval

Shinde told reporters the cabinet had given in principle approval to the Hyderabad Gazette.


"I will go back to the cabinet sub-committee with details of my discussion with Jarange," he added.


Justice (retd) Sandeep Shinde heads the committee formed in September 2023 by the then Eknath Shinde government to decide the methodology for issuing ‘Kunbi’ caste certificates to members of the Maratha community.


The committee was asked to study the records of the former Hyderabad and Bombay states where Marathas are sometimes mentioned as Kunbis. Initially appointed for the region of Marathwada, its scope was later extended to cover the entire state.


“A constitutional amendment was necessary to resolve these issues, as there is a ceiling on overall reservations. As many as 80 percent Marathas are dependent on farming, but agriculture alone cannot secure their future, making reservations the only option.”

Sharad Pawar, President, NCP (SP)

 

“In view of the ongoing agitation at Azad Maidan under the leadership of Manoj Jarange-Patil, I humbly request that a one-day special session of the Maharashtra legislature be convened so that reservation can be granted to the Maratha community.”

Samadhan Awatade, BJP MLA, Pandharpur-Mangalwedha

 

“The answer to all these questions will be given by Eknath Shinde. Hadn't Shinde gone to Navi Mumbai and solved the issue? Then why this agitation again. Everybody knows what happened in the past, so all these questions must be addressed to Shinde.”

Raj Thackeray, Chief, MNS

 

“What is the issue in amending the Constitution to fulfil the economic and social demands of the Maratha community, which has hit the streets? When MVA was in power and the BJP was in the Opposition, Devendra Fadnavis had accused it of not having the political will to address the Maratha quota issue, but he is now talking about constitutional hurdles in resolving the matter.”

Sanjay Raut, Leader, Shiv Sena (UBT)

 

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