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By:

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.

The Significant Royal

The MVA faced probably the biggest embarrassment in Kolhapur when the official candidate of the opposition alliance Madhurima Raje withdrew her nomination from the assembly election and the grand alliance that is confident of coming to power in the state had to support an independent candidate in the constituency. However, the developments that followed it have placed a question mark over the sitting Congress MP – Chhatrapati Shahu Raje – as to whether he is merely a pawn for his political party even though he is being revered among the people as the King.


Shahu Maharaj, also known as Shahu II of Kolhapur, is current Member of Parliament (MP) representing the Kolhapur constituency. Born on January 7, 1948, he is a descendant of the illustrious Maratha warrior king, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, and the great-grandson of the great social reformer Shahu I of Kolhapur.


Shahu Maharaj’s early education was at the prestigious Bishop Cotton School in Bangalore, followed by higher studies at Indore Christian College, where he graduated in 1967 with a degree in History, Economics, and English Literature. His academic background laid a strong foundation for his future endeavors in public service and leadership.


In 1962, Shahu Maharaj was ceremonially crowned as the Maharaja of Kolhapur, a title he holds with great respect and responsibility. Despite the abolition of royal titles and privy purses by the Indian government, he continues to be a revered figure in the Maratha community and beyond.


He is affiliated with the Indian National Congress (INC) and has been actively involved in various political initiatives. His first significant foray into politics was in 1998, although it was not until 2024 that he successfully won the Lok Sabha seat from Kolhapur. His victory was a significant milestone, as it marked the return of a Congress MP to Kolhapur after 25 years.


His personal life is equally distinguished. He is married to Yadnaseniraje, and the couple has two sons, Sambhaji Raje and Maloji Raje, both of whom are also involved in public service. His family continues to uphold the values and traditions of their royal lineage while contributing to the welfare of society.


However, when it came to deciding the candidate for the assembly, it appears as if other local leaders of the Congress and Mahayuti undermined Shahu Maharaj. This left the king very disturbed and even threatened to resign as the party MP. The open outburst of political leaders in favour of and against Shahu Maharaj has exposed the claims of the Congress that it offered him the post of MP just to honour the royal family.


However, this is not the first time that the royal family has been insulted like this due to its involvement in the politics.

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