Mumbai, Sep 9 (IANS) Maharashtra Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule on Wednesday warned the Congress that targeting the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) will not be accepted.
He claimed that the RSS is working for nation-building and the integrity of the country.
The government will under no circumstances tolerate a protest march targeted at the RSS land or headquarters.
Expressing strong indignation over the protest march organised by Congress toward the RSS office, Minister Bawankule launched a scathing attack on the grand old party for politicising the national song ‘Vande Mataram’.
He dared the Congress to march on the BJP office if it has the courage.
He clarified that if the Opposition wishes to agitate against the state government, they should direct their marches to official premises such as the District Collectorate, Police Commissionerate, Guardian Minister’s Office, Chief Minister’s Office or Ramgiri.
Minister Bawankule has hit out at Congress over its stance on ‘Vande Mataram’, saying that the anthem reinforces India’s culture, values, and glorious heritage globally.
Insulting ‘Vande Mataram’, the Minister alleged, amounts to Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, and their entire party insulting the nation itself.
Asserting that the public would demand answers for this stance by the Congress in the 2029 general elections, Minister Bawankule adopted an aggressive tone, saying that anyone living in India must respect and sing ‘Vande Mataram’.
Addressing the distress caused by the rainfall deficit in the state, which has severely impacted crops like soybean and cotton, Minister Bawankule noted widespread concern among farmers.
Rainfall across several regions—including Marathwada, Vidarbha, and North Maharashtra—stands at around 65 per cent, leaving a 35 per cent deficit.
He appealed directly to the farming community not to lose hope or resort to extreme measures like suicide.
The Minister announced that the state government has taken a strict stance regarding the misuse of government land allotted to gymkhanas in Mumbai, Nagpur, and other parts of Maharashtra.
Land granted for specific recreational or athletic purposes must be used strictly for those reasons, he said.
“However, inspections have revealed widespread violations of lease terms and conditions. Surveys have been conducted across gymkhanas state-wide, including 16 major facilities in Mumbai. Following evidence of severe breaches, official notices are currently being issued.”
Minister Bawankule warned that it is the state government’s duty to halt unauthorised commercial activities, such as hosting wedding ceremonies on government-allotted gymkhana grounds.
“While regularising terms, undertaking guarantees will be mandatory to ensure no future non-compliance. Repeat offenders will face strict action, including land repossession and cancellation of operations.”
Highlighting the Maratha reservation issue, Minister Bawankule emphasised that Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy CM Eknath Shinde have done significant work to address the community’s demands.
He said that while the previous Uddhav Thackeray-led Maharashtra government failed to defend the special reservation in the Supreme Court—resulting in its cancellation— CM Fadnavis and Deputy CM Shinde subsequently stepped in with concrete steps.
He noted that the Maratha community is currently benefiting significantly from the 10 per cent Economically Weaker Section (EWS) reservation.
He also reaffirmed the Maharashtra government’s dual policy of delivering justice to the Maratha community while ensuring that the existing reservation for 353 castes under the OBC category remains completely untouched.
To curb irregularities in sports certificates, the Maharashtra Cabinet has finalised a comprehensive oversight policy.
Minister Bawankule noted that Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar presented the proposal during Tuesday’s Cabinet meeting.
Strict regulations have been framed to prevent unqualified individuals from claiming government employment under the sports quota, the Minister said.
“Any fraudulent practice will result in immediate criminal prosecution (FIR), cancellation of the certificate, termination of employment, and disciplinary suspension or dismissal,” the Minister added.
–IANS
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