top of page

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 Quarrelling Siblings

Updated: Nov 12, 2024

Amol and Ashish

Saoner in Nagpur is seeing a face-off between two brothers. Amol and Ashish, both doctors, are contesting against each, one as an Independent and the other as a BJP candidate. The move is likely to confuse the voters who will have two candidates by the same surname and from the same family.


The two are the sons of former senior Congress leader from Nagpur, Ranjeet Arvindbabu Deshmukh who held the position as state unit president of the party on two occasions and has been the president of Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC). He was first elected to the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly in 1985. During his early days in the Congress, he was known for his good relations with Sanjay Gandhi. In the 1990s, Deshmukh led a campaign demanding statehood for Vidarbha, a demand that occasionally erupts even today.


During his tenure, Deshmukh has held several portfolios such as rural development, education, health, agriculture and textiles. He is known to have pioneered village cleanliness drives and held portfolios in the Congress-led governments in the state for almost two decades.


Both his sons are in politics; his older son Dr Ashish Deshmukh contested from Katol in 2014 on a BJP ticket. He lost the elections from Ramtek in 2019 though. He was later suspended from the Congress for a period of six years for making statements criticising Rahul Gandhi. He has been involved with various social organisations such as Youth for India, no tobacco drives and the Vidarbha Progressive Farmers Association. Ranjeet’s younger son Dr Amol Deshmukh had contested as a member of the NCP. A medical doctor by education, he holds a Masters degree in Management from the UK and had earlier served in government-run health projects in Vietnam, Afghanistan, Kazakhstan and Nepal.


Now in 2024, the two brothers will contest from Saoner. While Ashish is a nominee of the BJP, Amol is contesting as an Independent after the Congress denied him a ticket. While there is no known rift between the brothers, the decision to contest against each other ensures that at least one member of the family goes to the legislative assembly.

Comments

bottom of page