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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.

The Arm Strong of Nashik

The Arm Strong of Nashik

The story of Chhagan Bhujbal is a stellar example of how hard work can get one to the top but a few wrong moves can make the entire career trajectory go on a downward spiral. Bhujbal, now 77, began his work life as a vegetable vendor in Mumbai and was among the early ones to join the Shiv Sena after Bal Thackeray founded the party in 1966. Known for his captivating oratory and a fiery attitude, Bhujbal closely rose up the ranks in the party, became a corporator and was twice elected as the mayor of Mumbai. A tiff with Manohar Joshi and other Sena leaders saw Bhujbal defect to the Congress in 1991 under Sharad Pawar’s leadership. By now, he had won a widespread following as an OBC leader. He followed his mentor Pawar to the NCP when the party was founded in 1999.


Bhujbal earned a reputation for being a daredevil politician—he gave fiery speeches, in the eighties when the Maharashtra-Belgaum border issue was on the boil, he entered Belgaum in disguise and hoodwinked the police for a while until he was arrested; as the home minister of Maharashtra, he is believed to have cracked down on the underworld and in 2000, he did what no one had done before—he put his original mentor, Thackeray, behind bars in a case related to the Sena party paper Saamna. Bhujbal founded the Maharashtra Education Trust that runs schools and colleges in Mumbai and Nashik.


His son and nephew entered politics as his successors. Son Pankaj is a two-term legislator from Nandgaon and nephew Sameer is a former Member of Parliament from Nashik and while they enjoy various positions in the NCP, neither has risen to the star status that Bhujbal enjoyed.


Bhujbal’s career was marred by numerous controversies and a jail term. He was alleged to have played a part in the stamp paper scam in which Abdul Karim Telgi was the mastermind; he faced charges in Rs 800 crore scam and even spent two years in jail until he was acquitted. In 2023, he supported Ajit Pawar when the NCP split. His fortunes have, however, dwindled. In 2024, despite news that he was keen on contesting the Parliamentary polls from Nashik, he was denied the opportunity.


Always flamboyant in his dressing sense and oratory, Bhujbal faced the ire of the Maratha community when he opposed the challenged the Maratha reservations during the ongoing agitation by Manoj Jarange-Patil. His son Pankaj’s nomination to the legislative council recently is seen as an attempt to pacify a sulking father who was overlooked for the Rajya Sabha elections in June.

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