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Dnyanesh Jathar
Dnyanesh Jathar

MAHARASHTRA

In brief: Taherbhai passes away; graft allegations rock govt and more

dev-fadnavis-file-reuters Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis has his hands full with several ministers and bureaucrats being accused of corruption | Reuters (File photo)

Remembering Taherbhai Poonawala

Taherbhai Poonawala, one of the leading figures in the secular and rationalist circle in Maharashtra, passed away last week in Pune. A Bohra Muslim by birth, Taherbhai first came to limelight when he questioned the authority that Syedna exercised on Bohri Muslims community in the 1950s. He did not believe in the marriage solemnised as per Bohra community traditions, and therefore, married his wife as per provisions of law. Taherbhai was boycotted by his own brethren as well as the Muslim community in Pune where he lived. But he continued to joined hands with eminent rationalists and secular social activists like Dr. Baba Adhav, Dr. Narendra Dabholkar.

With Taherbhai's death, Maharashtra has lost an influencial personality in the religious reform movement, especially among Muslims.

How Sharad Pawar became a legislator

Maharashtra state president of NCP Sunil Tatkare shared an interesting story this week on how Sharad Pawar contested elections and became a legislator. Tatkare, during his speech in the legislative council, surprised legislators when he revealed that Pawar was denied entry to the state legislature in 1966. Pawar had come to Mumbai and wished to see the proceedings of the assembly. He had applied for a pass to the visitors' gallery. However, he was denied the pass. “It was that day that Pawar made up his mind that he will never enter the legislature again unless he is elected as a representative. He contested elections in 1967 from Baramati and came to the state legislature as an MLA,” said Tatkare.

Opposition gets aggressive

The sudden aggression shown by the opposition has rattled the BJP during the ongoing monsoon session of the assembly. Opposition has targeted State Housing Minister Prakash Mehta and Radheshyam Mopalwar, senior IAS officer and managing director of Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation, over allegations of scam. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis was forced to remove Mopalwar from MSRDC and an inquiry has been ordered.

In Prakash Mehta's case, the issue has become trickier now that Mehta is adamant that he will resign only if the chief minister tells him to. In one particular case related to the redevelopment of MP Mills in South Mumbai, Mehta directly wrote over a file that the CM had approved the orders issued by him when in reality Fadnavis was not even aware of the proposal. Facing a series of allegations of corruption and misuse of office, Mehta still continues to be minister because of his excellent rapport with the central leadership of BJP. Sources close to Fadnavis said it is much preferred if Mehta steps forward to offer his resignation, like how senior BJP leader Eknath Khadse did.

Senior NCP leader Dhananjay Munde has now alleged that Industries Minister Subhash Desai denotified an industrial plot in Nashik to favour a developer. Desai, a Shiv Sena veteran, has refuted the allegations and informed the state legislature that after denotifying the plot, the government has returned the land to its original owner.

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