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New Delhi, Oct 31 (IANS) Senior Samajwadi Party (SP) leader and former Uttar Pradesh minister Azam Khan has dismissed the demand to announce a Muslim Deputy Chief Minister in Uttar Pradesh as a symbolic, constitutionally meaningless exercise.

In a candid interview with IANS, the veteran politician argued that the position of Deputy CM holds no real authority and therefore does not serve substantive political empowerment for minorities.

Responding to a question on whether SP chief Akhilesh Yadav should promise a Muslim Deputy CM ahead of the next UP Assembly elections 2027, Khan said that the Constitution doesn’t recognise such a post; it’s merely symbolic.

“Even in UP, two Deputy CMs (Keshav Prasad Maurya and Brajesh Pathak) exist, but they are powerless; nobody listens to them. Until the Constitution provides for it, the post is meaningless,” he said.

The remarks come at a time when Muslim representation in the INDIA Bloc and within regional parties is under increasing scrutiny.

Khan emphasised that political empowerment must be rooted in structure and law, not symbolic overtures. He reiterated his long-standing position that representation must be meaningful, grounded in policy and authority, not ceremonial positions.

When asked about allegations that Rampur MP Maulana Mohibullah Nadvi deceived multiple women and married several times, Khan responded with characteristic sarcasm.

“Some can’t handle even one; others have many waiting for them; it’s fate. One man once told me his 47th wife had just died. When asked how, he said, ‘Every time I marry, the wife dies in three days’. Another said, ‘I’m not that lucky, one is enough to trouble me’. So, everyone has their own destiny and way of life, who are we to judge?” he said, refusing to comment directly on the charges against Nadvi.

The remark is likely to draw reactions across political circles, given the sensitivity around the issue and ongoing debates over personal laws and gender rights.

While Khan hinted at reduced public activity due to health and prolonged legal battles, he maintained he has not quit politics. “If I had retired, would you still come to see me? You only come to check how much light is left in this lamp. The truth is, keeping it lit is no longer in my hands.”

–IANS

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Bengaluru, Dec 1 (IANS) Karnataka BJP has slammed Minister for Rural Development and Panchayat Raj (RDPR), IT and BT Priyank Kharge over a 40 per cent decline in startup investment in the state this year. The party has mocked Minister Kharge for taking great interest in indulging in political mockery and neglecting his portfolios.

The Leader of Opposition R. Ashoka stated on Monday, “There is great interest in political mockery but no interest in technological innovation. This is the work style of our state’s IT-BT Minister Priyank Kharge.”

“Priyank Kharge, who constantly pokes his nose into matters unrelated to him, insists on banning the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), and keeps taunting people politically at every opportunity, seems to have neither awareness of his responsibilities nor any interest in them,” he stated.

“Because of Minister Priyank Kharge’s indifference and inactivity, startup investment in our state has seen a steep 40 per cent decline today. Karnataka and Bengaluru, once renowned as the capital of innovation, are now forced to bow their heads before other states,” Ashoka stated.

“Our state needs an active IT Minister who thinks about the future of young innovators and investors and works to strengthen the state’s innovation ecosystem — not a troll minister who spends all his time indulging in political mockery,” Ashoka slammed.

“In short, Karnataka cannot progress until it is freed from this cursed Congress-led government in Karnataka,” Ashoka stated.

Ashoka quoted a report by Tracxn, a market intelligence platform headquartered in Bengaluru. The key findings included that the first half (H1) of 2025 saw a 44 per cent year-on-year drop in funding for Karnataka’s startup ecosystem. Q1 2025 alone saw a 23 per cent drop compared to the last quarter of 2024.

Further talking about the ambitious tunnel project of the Congress-led government in Bengaluru, Ashoka questioned, “Ignoring public opposition and expert opinion, and despite the fact that it will harm the environment and endanger surface and groundwater sources, for whose satisfaction is Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, who is also Bengaluru Development Minister, pushing ahead with this unscientific tunnel road project?

Ashoka further said, “The Rs 18,500-crore tunnel road being built in Bengaluru is nothing but a ‘collection scheme’ by Dy CM D.K. Shivakumar to offer a bounty to the high command in order to fulfil his dream of becoming Chief Minister. There is no doubt about this.”

–IANS

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Mumbai, Dec 17 (IANS) In a significant move to preserve the historical integrity of Maharashtra’s heritage, the State Cabinet on Wednesday decided to establish a State-Level Committee chaired by the Minister for Cultural Affairs, Ashish Shelar.

The primary objective of the committee is to ensure that state-protected monuments, including forts, remain free from encroachments. Maharashtra currently has 390 state-protected monuments. In addition, there are 145 temples, including Tulja Bhavani and Jejuri.

The project covers diverse sites ranging from the August Kranti Maidan, St George Fort, Dharavi Fort and Khandeshwari Caves; in the Konkan region, the ancient petroglyphs in Ratnagiri; and the birthplaces of national heroes such as Vasudev Balwant Phadke and Senapati Bapat. In Western Maharashtra, the project also includes the birthplaces of Yashwantrao Chavan and Baji Prabhu Deshpande.

“Removal of unauthorised constructions is not merely an administrative task but a necessity for the scientific conservation of our history,” the Cabinet noted.

The decision is expected to preserve the “historical authenticity” of ancient sites, accelerate the district development agenda by promoting tourism, and improve the state’s standing in heritage conservation rankings.

The committee comprises a high-level panel of ministers and secretaries to ensure inter-departmental coordination, including the Ministers of Revenue, Rural Development, Tourism, Public Works Department (PWD), Forests, and Ports Development. It also includes the Secretaries of Finance, Planning, Cultural Affairs, Urban Development (1), Home, Revenue, Rural Development, Tourism, PWD, Forests, and Ports Development.

While a previous Government Resolution (GR) dated January 20, 2025, focused specifically on clearing encroachments from forts — central, state and unprotected — the new decision expands the scope to include all state-protected monuments, according to a release issued by the office of the Minister for Cultural Affairs, Ashish Shelar.

The State-Level Committee will oversee the functioning of District-Level Committees, formulate strategic policies, and provide necessary guidance. The government noted that removing unauthorised structures is essential for monument conservation.

Furthermore, developing these sites as tourist hubs will boost district economies and accelerate regional development. To expedite the removal of encroachments and facilitate conservation, the Planning Department has been authorised to provide funds directly to District Collectors.

–IANS

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