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...

min read

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.

Waqf Wars and Cracks in the Lotus

Correspondent
Dec 4, 2024
2 min read

The BJP’s campaign against Waqf Board land claims is energizing its base but is instead exposing fault lines within its leadership.

The opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Karnataka has found its latest battleground to corner the ruling Congress-led government over the contentious issue of Waqf lands. A recent rally in Belagavi led by senior BJP leaders, was the latest in a series of protests accusing the state’s Waqf Board of overreaching its mandate and laying claim to land owned by Hindu farmers and religious institutions. While this campaign has amplified a long-standing grievance among sections of the BJP’s base, it has also laid bare divisions within the party’s state unit.

The anti-Waqf movement, spearheaded by former minister Ramesh Jarkiholi, comes amid allegations that the board has arbitrarily increased its land holdings to over six lakh acres, a figure that BJP leaders contend lacks transparency. Party firebrands such as Basanagouda Patil Yatnal have framed the issue as a threat to property rights, accusing the Waqf Board of targeting Hindu-owned lands.

Historical tensions over Waqf governance are hardly new. Originating as charitable land endowments during Islamic rule, Waqf properties have frequently been the subject of legal and political disputes in modern India. Critics of the current system argue that it lacks oversight and accountability, often leading to allegations of encroachment and corruption. The BJP’s push for reforms echoes similar actions in Andhra Pradesh, where the board’s powers were curtailed under Chandrababu Naidu’s government.

However, what distinguishes Karnataka’s protests is the political theatre surrounding them. Despite the strong turnout of senior BJP figures at the rally—including Jarkiholi, Arvind Limbavali, and Pratap Simha—several local legislators conspicuously stayed away. The absence of unity has fuelled speculation about deeper fractures within the party, particularly as Yatnal continues to publicly criticize state president B.Y. Vijayendra for alleged ‘adjustment politics’ with the ruling Congress government.

Yatnal, a polarizing figure within the BJP, has become emblematic of the party’s internal strife. His vocal dissent, coupled with a show-cause notice issued by the BJP’s Central Disciplinary Committee, underscores the leadership’s struggle to contain rebellion. These tensions were exacerbated by the BJP’s poor performance in recent bypolls, which Yatnal attributed to compromised leadership and backroom deals with Congress.

The Waqf controversy has thus become both a rallying cry and a flashpoint for Karnataka’s BJP. On the one hand, it allows the party to consolidate its Hindu vote base by framing the issue as a matter of property rights and justice. On the other, it seems to be exacerbating internal divisions within the party at a time when unity is critical.

Karnataka has historically been a bellwether state for the BJP, offering a foothold in the south and a proving ground for its ideological narratives. But as the anti-Waqf agitation gathers momentum, the party’s national leadership faces a delicate balancing act: championing its base’s demands for reform while addressing the fractures that threaten to undermine its cohesion.

In this battle over land and legitimacy, the BJP may find that its real challenge lies not in confronting the Waqf Board but in reconciling the contradictions within its own ranks.