Monsoon session underlines CM’ firm focus on Hindutva By Abhijit Mulye

Mumbai: Just concluded monsoon session of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly has underlined yet again that apart from good governance and development, implementation of the Hindutva agenda will be the focus during this second inning of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.

Maharashtra’s timeless pilgrimage of faith, devotion and unity – the Pandharpur Wari was just round the corner when the monsoon session began on June 30. The state government under Fadnavis between 2014 and 2019 had taken initiatives like Nirmal Wari to ensure cleanliness. This time the government took the care for devotees to the next level. Apart from making elaborate arrangements to take care of the health of devotees who walk around 250 km over a span of 20 days, the state government brought in insurance scheme for the devotees and also announced decisions on ex-gratia payment of Rs 4 lakh to next to kin in case of loss of life during the Wari.

All these measures, that can be seen as part of good governance, led to record-break attendance of devotees at Pandharpur on Ashadhi Ekadashi, when the CM performs Pooja at the Vitthal temple there. CM Fadnavis said that the state government contemplates developing amenities in the town on the lines of preparations for Kumbha, to be able to handle the large number of devotees. Intrusion of leftist forces in Wari and Wari’s comparison to Namaz on roads by SP MLA Abu Azmi led to some controversies, but Fadnavis firmly delivered the message that the government believes in Hindutva which unites all factions of the society.

The next controversy Fadnavis had to handle during the session was over the Wardha to Sindhudurg Shaktipeeth Mahamarg that connect 12 prominent pilgrimage places in the state. This brilliant blend of development and religious sentiments has disturbed many a people including some of the members of Fadnavis cabinet. However, the CM has been firmly defending the project in the legislature as well as on the field. In response to those who are opposing the project many farmers who are in favour of the project gathered in Kolhapur recently, reaffirming Fadnavis’ resolve to initiate work on the project as soon as possible.Fadnavis government has changed names of 4 prominent cities in the state in past 6 months. In the session, name of Sangli town Islampur was changed to Ishwarpur as per the wishes of the majority of people residing there. Fadnavis made it clear that his government looks at such decisions from the point of view of doing away with the cultural encroachment by the foreign rulers.

But, more than any of these actions, if any one feat is to be singled out for underlining the Fadnavis government’s resolve to follow the Hindutva agenda, it was his statement that the benefits of reservation in the state would be available only to those belonging to the Hindu fold or religions that are closely aligned with Hinduism, such as Sikhism and Buddhism. He made it clear that those who have converted to other religions, particularly Abrahamic faiths like Christianity and Islam, will no longer be eligible to avail of caste-based reservation in government jobs, meant originally for Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs).Not only did Fadnavis draw a clear constitutional and civilisational boundary, but he also warned of strict legal action against individuals who were availing reservation benefits despite having converted to other religions. This move is being hailed as a crucial step in protecting the true spirit and purpose of the reservation, as well as preserving the cultural and social integrity of the Hindu society.

The firm resolve of the state government in pursuing measures like these and the helplessness of the opposition in the legislature as well as on the road has also made it clear that the state government is likely to be seen pursuing Hindutva agenda with more vigour in the times to come.