Ajit Pawar may replace Eknath Shinde as Maharashtra CM, claims opposition leader Wadettiwar
Gadchiroli (PTI): Maharashtra opposition leader Vijay Wadettiwar on Monday suggested that Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader and Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar may replace Eknath Shinde as the chief minister.
Addressing a press conference in Gadchiroli city, Wadettiwar also claimed preparations are on to admit Shinde to a hospital and later replace him on "health grounds".
He said NCP chief Sharad Pawar and Ajit Pawar, who heads the group of rebel NCP MLAs, met in Pune recently amid speculation about Shinde's likely replacement and in view of "talks among MLAs loyal to Ajit that he could be made the chief minister".
The buzz about the "health" of Shinde, who was at his native village in Satara, grew louder after his supporter and MLA Sanjay Shirsat recently claimed the CM has fallen sick as he works for 24 hours.
"Information is coming out about ongoing preparations to admit Eknath Shinde in a hospital and replace him with a new chief minister," Wadettiwar said.
The Leader of Opposition in the Maharashtra Assembly also claimed the Chief Minister's Office (CMO) has stated that Shinde is not keeping well.
"I fear that he (Shinde) may be admitted to a hospital for two months and may be replaced on medical grounds. People of Maharashtra are asking whether preparations are on to admit Shinde in a hospital on medical grounds," the senior Congress leader said.
Notably, Shiv Sena (UBT) mouthpiece Saamana also referred to MLA Shirsat's claim about Shinde's "sickness".
"Shinde works for 24 hours, but it does not reflect anywhere in the state. If he has lost his sleep from the fear of losing his post anytime, it cannot be termed that he is working round-the-clock," the Saamana said in its editorial on Monday.
"If Shirsat's claims are true, Shinde should be admitted to an ICU and kept away from meeting (Deputy CMs) Devendra Fadnavis or Ajit Pawar. Shinde should be admitted to a good hospital in Mumbai or Thane," the editorial said sarcastically.
Interestingly, senior Congress leader Prithviraj Chavan last month claimed that Ajit Pawar, who is part of the Shiv Sena-BJP government, will be appointed as the chief minister around August 10.
This claim was dismissed by senior BJP leader and Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.
Fadnavis had said Ajit Pawar was well aware of the fact that he won't become the chief minister and the same was conveyed to him during the meetings held before July 2, when he joined the state government with eight MLAs of NCP.
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Karnataka School Edu Dept prohibits children from being made to dance to obscene songs
Bengaluru (PTI): The Karnataka School Education Department has issued a circular strictly prohibiting children from being made to dance to obscene songs in educational and cultural programmes.
It stated that such dances would negatively impact students' mental health and moral values. It will create indiscipline and harm the sanctity of education.
"All the Deputy Directors (Administration) of the state's School Education Department have been asked to take strict measures to prevent children or students from dancing to obscene songs in all government, aided and unaided schools in the state," the office of the commissioner of the School Education Department said in a recent circular.
"If it is found that children are being made to dance to obscene songs, appropriate action will be taken against the headmaster or management of such school," it added.
The department also listed certain measures in this regard, which include: strictly prohibiting children from being made to dance to obscene songs during educational and cultural programmes; selecting songs that are inspiring, positive, instilling national pride in children and reflecting the greatness, dignity, values, culture, and morality of the state.
Stating that the school headmaster and management are responsible for selecting songs and dances for cultural programmes, it said, they should also ensure that students wear decent clothes in dance or cultural programmes.
