Is this Modi's guarantee for MP: Cong slams BJP for picking Mohan Yadav as CM
New Delhi (PTI): The Congress on Tuesday attacked the BJP for picking Mohan Yadav as the next chief minister of Madhya Pradesh, alleging that there are many serious allegations against him including "large-scale manipulation" in the Ujjain masterplan.
Springing a surprise, the BJP on Monday picked Yadav, a leader of Other Backward Classes (OBC) and a three-time MLA, as the next chief minister of Madhya Pradesh.
In a post in Hindi on X, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said, "Eight days after the election results, BJP elected the Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, a person against whom there are many serious allegations including of large-scale manipulation in the Ujjain masterplan."
"Out of the 872 acres of land reserved for Simhastha, his land was carved out by changing the land use," the Congress leader alleged.
Many of Yadav's videos are also viral on social media in which he is seen abusing, threatening and making objectionable statements, Ramesh alleged.
Is this 'Modi's guarantee' for Madhya Pradesh, he asked.
Yadav, who was not seen as among contenders for the CM post, is considered to be close to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and is a three-time MLA and a prominent leader of OBCs, who account for more than 48 per cent of the state's population.
He was first elected as an MLA in 2013 from Ujjain South and retained the assembly seat in 2018 and again in 2023.
The BJP legislator was serving as the higher education minister in the outgoing CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan's cabinet.
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Marathi must for auto, taxi drivers in Maharashtra; special verification drive from May 1: Minister
Mumbai (PTI): The Maharashtra transport department will launch a special verification drive from May 1 to August 15 to ensure effective implementation of the decision to make Marathi mandatory for auto-rickshaw and taxi drivers in the state, minister Pratap Sarnaik said on Tuesday.
Addressing a press conference, the transport minister said that under the drive, licences of the drivers will not be cancelled solely for not knowing Marathi, but strict action will be taken against the violators and those engaged in illegal transportation.
"Action will be taken only as per existing legal provisions," he said.
The drive will be carried out across all 59 Regional Transport Offices (RTOs) in the state under the supervision of a committee headed by Additional Transport Commissioner Ravindra Gaikwad.
"If one wants to do business in Maharashtra, knowing Marathi is essential," the minister said, adding that representatives of auto and taxi unions have expressed full support to the decision.
Citing a recent special drive in Mira-Bhayander, Sarnaik said an inspection of 3,443 auto-rickshaws was conducted, during which 565 drivers failed to demonstrate the knowledge of Marathi.
"But these drivers have shown willingness to learn the language," he said.
The committee headed by Gaikwad will monitor the campaign on a daily and weekly basis, and issue directions to RTOs based on inspection reports, he added.
Facilities will be provided at RTO offices for drivers willing to learn Marathi, with training support from Konkan Marathi Sahitya Parishad and Mumbai Marathi Sahitya Sangh. Booklets and e-material will also be made available, according to Sarnaik.
Drivers who complete the training will be issued certificates by the state government, which will be required at the time of licence renewal, the minister said.
"Giving an opportunity to those willing to learn Marathi is part of the state's tradition, but there will be no compromise with those violating rules," Sarnaik warned.
A comprehensive report on the 100-day drive will be submitted on August 16, based on which further policy decisions will be taken, he added.
