Thackeray govt suffered from 'policy paralysis', says Deputy CM Fadnavis
Pune (PTI): Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said on Thursday the erstwhile Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government suffered from "policy paralysis" when it ruled the state for 31 months.
Addressing a public rally in Satara district's Maan tehsil, he said an "inactive government" assumed office in November 2019 and it was not concerned about problems being faced by people of drought-prone areas.
Fadnavis assured local BJP MLA Jaykumar Gore that till the time their fight against drought in the region was not over, he would stand by people in their struggle.
"Today, the ground-breaking of a lift irrigation scheme at Jihe-Katapur was performed. A total of 15,000 hectares of land will be irrigated under the scheme. This land would have come under irrigation by now as we had completed all formalities but we went out of power (in 2019).
"After that, an inactive government assumed office, which had nothing to do with the Maan region, had nothing to do with the drought-like situation prevailing here, and had nothing to do with people suffering from drought. For them, people are just a vote-bank," said the BJP leader who served as CM from 2014 to 2019.
He accused the MVA government of trying to stall the irrigation scheme, which had already been cleared by the previous administration, during their term in office.
Fadnavis said with people's blessing, their government (Shiv Sena-BJP) came back to power and work on the scheme picked up pace and assured that by December 2024, the region in western Maharashtra will get adequate irrigation water.
"I am giving you my word. The work (on the scheme) will be completed (on time). Today, the work has started, and by December 2024, irrigation facility will be provided in an area of 15,000 hectares. Funds will not be a constraint as I hold the keys of the vaults," said the deputy CM, who also handles the finance portfolio.
Fadnavis said had the BJP government returned to office in 2019, administrative nod for the Tembhu lift irrigation scheme in Satara district, would have come by the end of that year.
The irrigation project, for which Rs 4,089 crore was allotted in 2018, will benefit the perennially drought-prone areas of three districts.
The scheme is about constructing barrages on the river Krishna near Tembhu village and lifting 22 billion cubic feet water to irrigate 80,000 hectare areas in seven talukas spread across Satara, Sangli and Solapur districts.
"But unfortunately, the previous government suffered from policy paralysis. Their pen was not working, rather, they did not have a pen to their pockets, and that is why administrative nod was not given to the project," he said.
The MVA government, led by chief minister Uddhav Thackeray, was in office from November 2019 to June 2022.
Fadnavis claimed in the last 6 months of the Shiv Sena-BJP rule, the government has given administrative nods to 29 schemes.
He assured that in the next one month, the state government will provide Rs 2,000 crore for the Tembhu scheme.
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Veteran Tamil film producer Rajan dies after jumping into Adyar River
Chennai (PTI): Veteran Tamil film producer K Rajan died after jumping into the Adyar River in the city on Sunday, police said.
Police said it appears to be a case of suicide, though the reason for his extreme step was not immediately known.
The 85-year-old film personality asked his driver to stop the car while crossing the Adyar bridge and suddenly got out and jumped into the river, police sources said.
The driver immediately alerted Fire and Rescue Services personnel, who reached the spot, recovered the body, and sent it for post-mortem.
Police have registered a case, and further investigation is underway.
Rajan entered the Tamil film industry as a producer in the early 1980s. Apart from producing films, he also directed a few movies.
He also served as president of a film distributors’ association.
Top leaders of political parties, including the two Dravidian majors—the DMK and AIADMK—expressed shock and grief over his death and conveyed their condolences to the bereaved family.
Former Chief Minister and DMK President M K Stalin said Rajan had always boldly raised his voice for the welfare of small film producers and the overall development of the film industry.
“He had always urged that Tamil films be titled in Tamil,” Stalin said in a statement, adding that Rajan consistently fought for the rights of ordinary workers in the film industry.
AIADMK general secretary and former Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami said Rajan’s voice was important in securing recognition for small-budget films in the Tamil film industry.
Among others who condoled his death was PMK founder S Ramadoss. Leaders from various parties also expressed their condolences to the bereaved family.
“This is terrible news. Deeply shocked to hear about the demise of our beloved member of the film fraternity, producer K Rajan sir,” actor and BJP leader Khushbu Sundar said in a post on social media platform X.
“He was a very respectful person and someone who never hesitated to call a spade a spade. This is very upsetting. May his soul rest in peace,” she added.
