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By:

Abhijit Mulye

21 August 2024 at 11:29:11 am

Govt assures swift UCC implementation

Mumbai: Maharashtra government unequivocally declared its commitment to implementing the Uniform Civil Code across the state, assuring the legislative assembly that a comprehensive legal framework is already in the advanced stages of formulation. Minister of State for Home Yogesh Kadam categorically stated on the floor of the House on Tuesday that the ruling Mahayuti administration is entirely positive about the swift introduction of the Uniform Civil Code to standardize personal laws. To...

Govt assures swift UCC implementation

Mumbai: Maharashtra government unequivocally declared its commitment to implementing the Uniform Civil Code across the state, assuring the legislative assembly that a comprehensive legal framework is already in the advanced stages of formulation. Minister of State for Home Yogesh Kadam categorically stated on the floor of the House on Tuesday that the ruling Mahayuti administration is entirely positive about the swift introduction of the Uniform Civil Code to standardize personal laws. To facilitate this monumental legislative transition, the state government has formally sanctioned the constitution of a dedicated expert committee, which is being spearheaded by a retired High Court judge. This committee has been entrusted with the critical responsibility of meticulously preparing the draft bill for the Uniform Civil Code, which the government intends to enact immediately upon the submission of the final report. Emphasising the overarching objectives of the proposed legislation, Kadam noted that the Uniform Civil Code would universally apply to every citizen irrespective of their religious affiliations and would explicitly incorporate a stringent ban on the controversial practice of polygamy. The minister drew direct parallels with the legislative measures recently adopted by states like Uttarakhand, underscoring that the impending law in Maharashtra would similarly entail severe penal consequences, potentially including imprisonment for up to seven years for violations related to polygamy and illegal divorce practices. He firmly maintained that the government’s approach is fundamentally secular, harboring no animosity toward any specific religion, but is rather driven by the constitutional imperative to extend equal rights, legal protection, and comprehensive justice to women from all communities. This definitive policy assurance from the government was catalysed by a highly volatile calling attention motion initiated by BJP legislator Devyani Farande, which thrust the deeply sensitive issues of triple talaq and polygamy into the center of the assembly’s monsoon session. Farande brought the ongoing plight of Muslim women to the immediate attention of the House, asserting that despite the central government’s strict legislative prohibition, the illegal practice of instant divorce continues to flourish unabated.

Villagers spurn caste-sympathy factors, vote for issues

Beed: In an emotional yet bitterly contested by-poll, the people of Massajog village in Beed district rejected caste and sympathy politics to elect a prominent local leader Swarupanand Deshmukh as their new Sarpanch, defying most political punditry.


Swarupanand edged past his rival, Ashwini Deshmukh - widow of the slain Sarpanch Santosh Pandit Deshmukh, a local Bharatiya Janata Party leader killed in December 2024 - by a narrow margin of 92 votes.


The by-election, held on Tuesday, recorded a robust 84pc turnout, with 1,744 of the total 2,084 registered voters casting their ballots. The results were declared on April 29 in which Swarupanand secured 914 votes, while Ashwini polled 822; and eight votes were cast for NOTA.


Ashwini’s campaign was led prominently by her children, Vaibhavi and Viraj, and her brother-in-law Dhananjay Deshmukh, among others, who appealed to voters to help complete the “unfinished work” of the late Santosh Deshmukh - banking on a sympathy wave.


However, defying pre-poll expectations, the electorate appeared to set aside emotional appeals, favouring local issues, equations, and leadership considerations.


Soon after his unexpected victory, Swarupanand alleged that he had faced “money power, muscle power and emotional pressure,” but remained undeterred.



He also claimed that Ashwini had been fielded as “a proxy” in a larger political game.


“My ‘sister’ Ashwini-tai was not even keen to contest. However, we stand firmly with the family in their quest for justice for Santosh Deshmukh,” he said, striking a conciliatory note.


Reacting to the outcome, Dhananjay Deshmukh accepted the people’s mandate and pledged continued efforts for the village’s development, which had drawn national attention following the Sarpanch’s killing 16 months ago. He acknowledged that prolonged protests and legal battles had strained ties between the family and sections of the village.


Prominent OBC leader Navnath Waghmare described the result as a rejection of caste-based politics, blaming Dhananjay’s proximity to Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange-Patil for alienating voters.


“This is a setback not only for the Deshmukh camp and Jarange-Patil, but also for (NCP-SP) MP Bajrang Sonawane,” Waghmare said, in remarks seen as a swipe at the Nationalist Congress Party (SP), whose senior leaders, including Sharad Pawar, had visited Massajog after the killing to express solidarity.


Following Santosh Deshmukh’s murder, the region witnessed widespread protests, road blockades and marches cutting across caste and party lines, with villagers demanding swift arrests, a high-level probe and justice for the family. The agitation soon acquired political overtones, extending beyond the state to the national stage.


Over time, however, unity gave way to divisions, with caste and political alignments coming to the fore and influencing the local political discourse - factors that played heavily in yesterday’s Sarpanch by-poll.


The verdict conveyed a clear message that though Santosh Desumukh’s brutal killing remains a deep wound on the villagers’ collective psyche, they decided on candidate merits and local developmental issues above mere sympathy or caste considerations.


Dhananjay Munde lost cabinet berth
In the political storm after Santosh Deshmukh’s killing Dhananjay Munde, a Minister of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) – now led by Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Ajit Pawar – had to quit after a close aide’s alleged involvement emerged.

The investigators arrested his close associate, Walmik Karad, in connection with the killing as the Opposition clamoured for booking Munde as a co-accused in the crime.

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