Mumbai, Sep 15 (IANS) Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday defended Union Home Minister Amit Shah amid the controversy surrounding his remarks on the Hindi language, accusing the opposition of selectively interpreting his speech and taking his comments out of context.
The controversy erupted after Amit Shah, speaking at the Rajbhasha Sammelan in Navi Mumbai, described Maharashtra as a leading multilingual state and said there was no reason to oppose learning an additional national language alongside one’s mother tongue. The remarks triggered criticism from Shiv Sena (UBT) and the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS).
Expressing indirect disapproval, MNS Chief Raj Thackeray posted a cryptic message on social media, stating, “A cow does not die from a crow’s curse. That is all for now.”
Responding to criticism, CM Fadnavis, speaking to reporters, clarified that Shah explicitly emphasized the importance of the mother tongue and highlighted the rightful status of Marathi in Maharashtra. He urged political leaders to avoid taking statements out of context.
On the Mumbai Police denying permission for activist Manoj Jarange Patil’s rally, CM Fadnavis stressed that maintaining law and order remains a priority, particularly during the upcoming festival season.
He noted that fresh applications will be reviewed on merit, adding that the state government has already accepted several of Jarange’s demands while others remain pending before the court.
On reports of a new CBI FIR naming political figures in connection with the Disha Salian case, CM Fadnavis stated he has not yet reviewed the document. He noted that the CBI is acting pursuant to High Court directions and advised against premature speculation while the legal process takes its course.
CM Fadnavis said that the state cabinet on Tuesday approved several key decisions to support sugarcane farmers, strengthen cooperative sugar factories, and improve governance scheme evaluations.
Among the major announcements was the provision of soft loans to cooperative sugar mills, the establishment of the Maharashtra Technical Assistance Cell (‘Maha-Tech’), and a historic decision regarding agricultural land returns in Ahilyanagar district.
To provide financial stability to distressed cooperative sugar factories, the state government approved soft loans. This capital support will help sugar mills clear pending Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP) dues owed to farmers for the 2025–26 crushing season and ensure smooth preparations for the upcoming 2026–27 season, said the CM.
The Cabinet approved the creation of the Maharashtra Technical Assistance Cell (‘Maha-Tech’) to evaluate and optimise state government schemes.
Implemented in collaboration with IIM Mumbai and the Center for Planning and Policy Research, the cell will conduct rigorous evaluations of 25 key state policies and 25 major welfare schemes over the next year to enhance decision-making and delivery effectiveness.
In a significant relief for farmers in Haregaon village (Shrirampur taluka, Ahilyanagar district), the Cabinet decided to return lands currently held by the Maharashtra State Farming Corporation to their original owners. Necessary amendments to the Maharashtra Agricultural Lands Act, 1961 were approved to facilitate this transfer.
The cabinet also approved a complete exemption of stamp duty on the lease deed registration for the Nashik branch of the Maharashtra Sahitya Parishad (located in the Nashik Municipal Corporation building) to establish a study center and library.
The cabinet gave clearance for the free transfer of 6,240.30 sq meters of government land to the Arvi Municipal Council in Wardha district for the construction of a commercial complex.
Further, the cabinet sanctioned amendments to the Maharashtra Municipal Councils, Nagar Panchayats and Industrial Townships Act, 1965.
The cabinet also gave administrative approval and expenditure for creating four new administrative posts for the Chairman’s office of the Mumbai Police Housing Township Project.
–IANS
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