Maha buzz as Uddhav Thackeray meets CM Fadnavis for third time in two days: Report
Mumbai: Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Uddhav Thackeray of Shiv Sena-UBT had their third meeting in two days on Thursday, following Fadnavis' light-hearted invitation for Thackeray to "join us" in the government.
The closed-door meeting lasted over 20 minutes and took place in the antechamber of Vidhan Parishad Chairman Ram Shinde at Vidhan Bhavan. The meeting focused on handing over a Marathi book titled “Why Hindi Should Not Be Imposed” to Fadnavis, along with a request to reconsider the imposition of Hindi as a third language in primary schools in the state, as reported by The New Indian Express on Friday.
Aaditya Thackeray was also present, and the discussion reportedly included the controversial three-language policy.
Fadnavis accepted the book but suggested that Uddhav Thackeray submit it to Narendra Jadhav, head of the committee reviewing the three-language policy.
Meanwhile, Uddhav Thackeray has demanded that the Speaker allow the post of Leader of the Opposition to his party, TNIE quoted its sources as saying. Thackeray had recommended Bhaskar Jadhav for the position, asserting that with 20 MLAs, Shiv Sena-UBT is the largest opposition party.
However, Speaker Rahul Narvekar has not taken any decision in this regard, and the CM has said it is the Speaker’s right to decide. The reason cited for the delay is that no opposition party has legislators representing 10 percent of the total assembly strength of 288, added the report.
This meeting follows a public comment by CM Fadnavis during a farewell ceremony for Leader of Opposition Ambadas Danve, where he jokingly invited Thackeray to join the ruling alliance, sparking speculation across the state. “Look Uddhav-ji, there is no scope of (our) going there (in the opposition) till 2029. But if you want to come over here, then consider it. It depends on you... it can be considered,” Fadnavis told Thackeray.
However, Uddhav Thackeray said that things were spoken on a lighter note in the House and need not be taken seriously. "Let it go. Some things should be taken on lighter note," he said when asked to comment on Fadnavis's offer.
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Cong slams Modi govt as 'anti-worker', calls for review of new Labour code
New Delhi (PTI): The Congress on Friday accused the Modi government of being "anti-worker" and demanded that the new labour code be reviewed, MGNREGA be revived as well as a national minimum wage of Rs 400 per day be established.
On International Labour Day, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge took a swipe at the government and said unemployment in India today is a direct consequence of the 'Hum Do, Hamare Do' policies.
"Driven by the 'Hum Do, Hamare Do' policy, the Modi government implemented an anti-worker Labour Code. As a result, unrest has erupted everywhere - be it in Noida, at the IOCL facility in Panipat, Adani's factory in Raikheda, NTPC Patratu, or the Samsung factory in Sriperumbudur," Kharge said in a post in Hindi on X.
Instead of ensuring job security, this Code promotes policies such as contract labour and 'Hire & Fire' practices, Kharge said and called for a review of the new Labour Code.
The Modi government has effectively dismantled MGNREGA by forcibly pushing legislation through Parliament, he alleged.
"Mr. Modi has shifted 40% of the wage burden onto the State governments. State governments are unable to bear this financial strain and will eventually be forced to stop providing work," he claimed.
The Modi government has compelled workers into a state of unemployment and pushed them towards 'gig work', Kharge said.
Currently, 69% of the workforce is working for wages below the statutory minimum wage, he said.
The Modi government has engineered a crisis of stagnant wages, Kharge alleged.
"When adjusted for inflation, the wages of the majority of India's workers have grown by less than 1% annually over the last decade (from 2014-15 to 2022-23)," he said.
The Modi government has created a massive unemployment crisis among the educated workforce, specifically, among graduates, Kharge claimed and added that jobs have been eliminated through the sale of Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs).
"The government has refused to fill approximately 30 lakh vacant government positions. Furthermore, the government's policy blunders have led to the decimation of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs)," the Congress chief said.
The Congress reiterates its five demands for India's workers including revival of MGNREGA and its expansion to urban areas, Kharge said.
He said a national minimum wage of Rs 400 per day should be established, with MNREGA included within its scope.
Kharged demanded that a 'Right to Health' law must be enacted, providing Universal Health Coverage of up to Rs 25 lakh for laborers and workers.
"'Life Insurance and Accident Insurance' coverage must be provided for all unorganized workers. Preventing the contractualization of employment must be made a core priority of the government, and the new Labour Codes must be reviewed," Kharge asserted.
