Sharad Pawar criticizes Dhananjay Munde amid controversy, calls for resignation over aide’s arrest
Mumbai: Nationalist Congress Party (Sharad Pawar faction) chief Sharad Pawar on Monday criticized Maharashtra minister Dhananjay Munde, stating that "anyone with self-respect would have quit" after Munde’s close aide, Valmik Karad, was arrested in connection with the abduction and murder of sarpanch Santosh Deshmukh in Massajog, Beed.
Despite mounting pressure from the opposition and Mahayuti allies, Munde has refused to resign, asserting he has no involvement in the case. Pawar expressed concern over the state's political climate and questioned the government’s moral responsibility, also referencing NCP minister Manikrao Kokate’s recent conviction for using forged documents to obtain low-income housing.
“The situation in Maharashtra is troubling,” Pawar said, accusing the Mahayuti government of neglecting ethical standards. “Earlier, leaders would resign in such cases to allow investigations, but this government seems unaware of moral obligations.”
Defections and political tensions
When asked about speculation of Uddhav Thackeray’s MPs defecting to Chief Minister Eknath Shinde’s faction, Pawar dismissed the possibility, stating that recent discussions with MPs from the NCP, Congress, and Thackeray’s party showed no signs of defection.
Pawar also responded to Shinde’s recent warning to Thackeray, saying, “I don’t understand what ‘Don’t take it lightly’ means. As far as I know Marathi, that phrase doesn’t exist.”
Concerns over interstate tensions
Pawar condemned the Maharashtra government's suspension of MSRTC bus services to Karnataka after alleged attacks by pro-Kannada activists in Chitradurga. He warned that halting bus services inconveniences ordinary citizens and should be avoided.
On the Mahadji Shinde Award controversy
Addressing criticism for presenting the Mahadji Shinde award to Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Pawar clarified that he was merely attending the Delhi event, where several others were also felicitated. “The focus remained on Shinde, but 14 others were honored at the same event,” he said.
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Kerala court sentences 20-year-old man in minor girl rape case
Kollam (Kerala) (PTI): A Kerala court has sentenced a 20-year-old man to 21 years of imprisonment for raping a minor girl after befriending her on a social media app.
Karunagappally Fast Track Special Court judge Rajeevan Vachal sentenced the convict to 21 years under the relevant provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, special public prosecutor (SPP) N C Premchandran said.
The court also imposed a fine of Rs 1.1 lakh on the convict, the prosecutor said.
The incident occurred in 2024 when the accused befriended her on a social media app and then offered to take her to the Azheekal beach here.
However, instead of taking her to the beach, he took her to an isolated place behind the CHC hospital at Mynagappally here and raped her, the SPP said.
Following the incident, the girl attempted suicide, but was saved and then told the doctors what had happened, the prosecutor said.
The hospital authorities informed the police, who registered a case and launched an investigation.
The prosecutor said that seven witnesses were examined and 20 documents were submitted before the court to substantiate the guilt of the accused.
