Category: STATE

Mumbai, Oct 4 (IANS) Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Saturday announced that the recruitment process of the Maharashtra Public Service Commission will be accelerated, and a large number of posts will be filled in 2026.

Keeping in mind that the posts and their responsibilities in each cadre of the state government have changed over time, the service entry rules for all cadre posts in the state will be amended.

The Chief Minister was speaking at the state-level programme of the State Employment Fair, where appointment letters were distributed to 10,309 candidates in the clerical category on compassionate grounds by the General Administration Department.

On this occasion, appointment letters were distributed to 20 candidates by dignitaries, including Chief Minister Fadnavis and Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, in a representative capacity.

CM Fadnavis said that to make the state government more efficient and dynamic, the government has focused on reforming the service entry rules, resolving pending cases on compassionate grounds and implementing a transparent recruitment process through the Maharashtra Public Service Commission (MPSC).

“To speed up the recruitment process of the MPSC, a committee has been formed under the chairmanship of the Additional Chief Secretary, General Administration, and a decision will be taken after studying various states. So far, 80 per cent of compassionate appointments have been completed. The remaining cases will be settled soon. In addition to strengthening the state administration institutionally, priority has been given to making it dynamic, sensitive and people-oriented, and for this, a 100-day and later 150-day programme was taken up. Many reforms were made through this,” he added.

The chief minister made a special mention of Additional Chief Secretary V Radha and initiated major changes after taking charge of the General Administration Department.

CM Fadnavis said that the service entry rules of many departments were 50 years old.

“Due to changes in technology, the nature and responsibilities of the posts, right from the clerk to the higher levels, have changed to a large extent, but the rules have not changed. An attempt was made to change these service entry rules to fill the vacant posts. Appointments on compassionate grounds were pending on a large scale. All the government decisions in this regard were changed, and a loose and simple government decision was made,” he said.

“Giving jobs on compassionate grounds is not a favour, but the responsibility of the government. We worked with the feeling that if an accident happens at the home of the employees, it is the government’s duty to take care of their families. Due to these changes, 80 per cent of the compassionate posts have been filled today, and the remaining 20 per cent of the posts will also be filled soon,” he said.

“Anushka Prakash More, daughter of martyred Sub-Inspector Prakash Pandurang More, has been appointed in the compassionate list today. It is important that we were able to provide justice to the daughter of the officer who was martyred in the cowardly terrorist attack of 26/11/2008 after so many years. Since Anushka is a B-farm, it was difficult for her to get the post of ‘Drug Manufacturer Group B’ on a compassionate basis due to the rules, because that post was with the MPSC. But, we made a special request to the MPSC and got relaxation in the rules and provided justice to her. We are happy that Anushka has been provided justice,” said the chief minister.

He further announced that it has also been decided to make appointments in the clerical cadre through MPSC. “If there is no transparency in the recruitment process in a state, then there is a great injustice to the hardworking people. Therefore, about 1 lakh people have been appointed after taking exams through good institutions like IBPS and TCS, which includes the recruitment of 40,000 police officers. In the future, appointments will be made by amending the service entry rules and speeding up the recruitment process,” he said.

Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar congratulated over 10,000 candidates on receiving appointment letters.

He said that it is a historic day as the government has cleared nearly 80 per cent of the pending cases on compassionate grounds, and special emphasis has been laid on transparency and speed in the recruitment process.

The government has provided relief to many families by removing technical and administrative hurdles. “There is a living story behind every file, every citizen and every decision. Therefore, the three words transparency, responsibility and loyalty should be the guide of every employee,” said DCM Pawar.

He appealed to the newly-appointed employees to increase the use of e-governance, conduct people-oriented administration and discharge their responsibilities honestly.

Meanwhile, the government release said that appointment letters were distributed in each district by the Guardian Minister.

Out of the total 10,309 candidates, the highest number of 3,078 candidates are from the Konkan region, followed by 2,597 from Vidarbha. There are 1,674 candidates in Pune region, 1,250 in the Nashik region, and 1,710 candidates from Marathwada.

–IANS

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Chennai, Oct 4 (IANS) Tamil Nadu Water Resources Minister and senior DMK leader Duraimurugan said on Saturday that the state government would not hesitate to arrest Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) President Vijay if the investigation into the Karur stampede warrants it, but stressed there would be no arbitrary action.

“The judge was right in saying Vijay lacks leadership qualities. If circumstances warrant his arrest, we will arrest him, but there will be no witch-hunt or unnecessary arrests,” Duraimurugan told reporters in Vellore, as the state gears up for a deeper probe into the September 27 tragedy that left 41 people dead.

The Madras High Court has taken a tough stance of the man-made disaster and ordered a Special Investigation Team (SIT) led by Chennai North Zone Inspector General (IG), Asra Garg, to probe the unfortunate incident.

Following the court’s directive, investigation records from Karur City police station are being transported to Chennai and will be handed over to the SIT, marking a shift from routine inquiry to a court-monitored, high-level probe aimed at fixing accountability.

Criminal cases have already been registered against senior TVK functionaries — General Secretary N. Anand and Joint General Secretary Nirmal Kumar — under five sections of the Indian Penal Code for negligence and endangering life.

But the court has gone a step further, posing tough questions over the role of Vijay and other party organisers.

The fact that Vijay reportedly left Karur soon after the deadly crush has drawn sharp criticism and intensified calls for accountability.

Namakkal district police are also preparing to seize Vijay’s campaign bus after reviewing more than two hours of video footage and 30 mobile clips from the campaign rally site.

However, during a hearing, the High Court questioned the necessity of seizing the bus, signalling that any action must be legally justified.

DMK Deputy General Secretary Kanimozhi Karunanidhi, reacting to the developments in Chennai, said that the people should interpret the court’s remarks on Vijay’s leadership but expressed faith in the SIT.

“The SIT team formed by the High Court will conduct a fair and impartial investigation,” she added.

The SIT’s first moves and the court’s pointed questions have signalled a decisive push to uncover what went wrong — from crowd control lapses to possible political negligence — as victims’ families and the people demand clear answers and accountability.

–IANS

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Ahmedabad, Oct 4 (IANS) From rebuilding earthquake-ravaged Kutch in 2001 to leading the evacuation mission “Operation Ganga” in 2022, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has consistently placed service to humanity at the core of his leadership.

After the devastating Gujarat earthquake in 2001, the then Chief Minister Narendra Modi took charge and committed himself to restoring Kutch. Under his leadership, the region was transformed into a thriving hub of industry, trade, agriculture, and tourism.

Later, as Prime Minister, his decisive actions during the Russia-Ukraine conflict ensured the safe return of nearly 18,000 Indians stranded in the war zone.

Whether restoring lives at home or protecting citizens abroad, PM Modi has demonstrated a consistent commitment to public welfare.

Bharatbhai Sanghvi, a social activist from Kutch, said, “PM Modi has always placed service to humanity and public welfare above all else throughout his political career. In 2001, after the devastating earthquake in Kutch, he took charge as Chief Minister and devoted himself entirely to rebuilding the region’s infrastructure, industries, and normal life.”

Uday Mahurkar, former Information Commissioner, added, “As Chief Minister, Modi’s dedication led Kutch to become one of India’s fastest-growing districts and a prosperous centre for industry, trade, agriculture, and tourism.”

Bhargavi Patel, a medical student who returned from Ukraine, shared her experience: “Even after becoming Prime Minister in 2014, PM Modi prioritised the safety and well-being of Indian citizens. During Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Operation Ganga, launched under his leadership, enabled the safe evacuation of around 18,000 Indian citizens and students. The world witnessed his commitment to his people.”

From rebuilding Kutch and improving the lives of its citizens to launching nationwide efforts to bring Indians safely home from global crises, PM Modi has consistently put the country and its people first in every role he has held.

–IANS

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Panaji, Oct 4 (IANS) Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday ruled out any tie-up with the Congress for the 2027 Goa Assembly elections.

“There will be no alliance with the Congress under any circumstances,” said Kejriwal, denying claims that some of the party’s Goa workers were open to joining hands with the grand old party ahead of the Assembly elections.

Talking to media persons after inaugurating a party office in Mayem, 16 km from here, the AAP leader said the people of Goa have been let down and deceived the most by the Congress.

“The Congress has become a wholesale supplier of MLAs to the BJP over the years. Can the Congress give an assurance to Goa voters that no party legislator will switch to the BJP in future,” he said.

The former Delhi Chief Minister said, “At least 13 Congress MLAs switched to the BJP between 2017 and 2019. In 2022, 10 Congress legislators switched flanks and joined the BJP.”

He said if the AAP entered into an alliance with the Congress, it would amount to supplying legislators to the BJP. “We do not want to be a part of any exercise that facilitates the formation of a BJP government in Goa,” he said.

Kejriwal also vowed to offer a new political system by dumping the old one under which 13-14 political families of BJP and Congress leaders have been ruling Goa for years.

“This is a decayed political system involving the BJP and the Congress. The time has come to uproot this system and offer a new option to Goa residents,” he said.

Promising a new brand of people-centric politics and governance in Goa, Kejriwal said under their government, the public would get the freedom to decide which projects should be executed in the state and how to make optimal use of resources, including land.

He earlier alleged that the state’s resources were under the control of a select 13-14 political families, which continue to switch parties to remain in power and loot the state and deposit wealth in Swiss banks.

–IANS

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Panaji, Oct 4 (IANS) Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convenor and former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday slammed both the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Opposition Congress in Goa, alleging they are “hand in glove” in looting the state’s resources.

Kejriwal, speaking after inaugurating a party office in Mayem, 16 km from here, alleged that in the past six decades, 13 or 14 families have alone continuously occupied the government and its machinery in Goa. “These two parties fight elections for their families and to loot Goa, not for the people’s welfare,” he asserted, stressing that the people of Goa have “no role” in the state government.

The AAP leader accused Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant of planning to field his wife from the Mayem Assembly constituency in the upcoming polls, questioning why a common party worker is not given a ticket instead. “We won’t pick any of the leader’s wife or relative as a candidate,” Kejriwal maintained, alleging that “dynasty rule” prevails in both the Congress and the BJP.

He pointed out the frequent defections between the two major parties, stating that leaders shift to the ruling side after the formation of the government.

Kejriwal asked the public if a few families or the people should control the government. Sharing information he claimed to have received during a flight to Goa, Kejriwal alleged that Goa Congress president Amit Patkar owns mines in the state, and he cannot operate them without the blessings of CM Sawant.

“Both are one in plundering state resources. They earn in joint business, making the people fools,” the AAP leader stated. The former Delhi CM stated that the Goa people are deprived of basic amenities like hospitals, schools, and good roads.

“These public issues can be solved using the public money which now goes into the pockets of these two parties,” he alleged, urging people to prepare to change the system in Goa.

Earlier, AAP leader Atishi expressed confidence that the AAP would form the government in Goa in the 2027 Assembly elections, claiming the public has turned against the current BJP administration.

She alleged that common people are scared to approach BJP MLAs with problems as the legislators “intimidate the people.” Atishi promised that an AAP government would establish a ‘Delhi model’ of governance in Goa, where the citizens can “freely and fearlessly” approach their representatives.

–IANS

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