My resignation is party’s internal matter, says Balasaheb Thorat

First India Bureau

Mumbai: Congress leader Balasaheb Thorat resigned as the leader of his legislature party following the dramatic developments in the Nashik graduate constituency during the Legislative Council elections.

After Thorat's decision, it was said that internal discord had started in the Congress. Meanwhile, now Balasaheb Thorat has made an important comment on his displeasure. Thorat interacted with the media after a meeting with Ma-

Thorat met with Maharashtra Congress incharge HK Patil and commented on his ‘displeasure’ harashtra Congress incharge HK Patil and commented on his 'displeasure'.

“I have not appeared in front of the media for the last several days. My resignation is an internal matter of the Congress. Today I had a discussion with Maharashtra Congress in-charge HK Patil. He has urged me to attend the Congress session in Raipur.

I am going to this conference," said Thorat, adding, "“Every organization has many questions. They are also in our organization. I have some questions. HK Patil believes those questions should be discussed with President Mallikarjun Kharge. It will be discussed. All these questions are for the strength of the Congress."

First India Bureau

Thane: Nationalist Congress Party chief and former Union agriculture minister Sharad Pawar has slammed the Narendra Modi government at the Centre for not doing enough to remove hurdles in the export of fruits and vegetables.

He was speaking to the media at an event in Sanpada in Navi Mumbai on Saturday.

The Centre is not paying attention to issues being faced in the export of fruits and vegetables, which was distressing farmers, especially those growing onion, a crop that needs to be exported in order to fetch a good price domestically, Pawar said.

He also flagged the increase in land acquisition for infrastructure projects like highways and expressways, rail routes and airports, all of which he

Ncp Leader From Thane Joins Bjp

Thane (FIB): A NCP leader from Thane district in Maharashtra joined BJP at the latter’s executive meeting in Nashik. NCP state unit vice president Dashrath Thiwre was welcomed into the BJP by Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and state unit chief Chandrashekhar Bawankule.

He said some 800 NCP workers joined the BJP along with Thiwre, who was vice president of Thane Zilla Parishad and chief of the NCP’s Thane rural unit and has a presence in the district’s Shahapur area.

He also flagged the increase in land acquisition for infrastructure projects claimed also put load on the agriculture sector.

“The Centre must provide support for the modernisation of agriculture. The production of fruits and vegetables is on the rise but there are hurdles in its export, which the Centre is not paying attention to,” he added.

Dausa: The new Delhi-Mumbai Expressway passes through backward areas to give priority to the development of socially, economically and educationally backward districts, Union Road and Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari said here on Sunday.

The minister was addressing the inauguration ceremony of the first phase of the highway in Dausa.

He also said the government is making every effort to take the road infrastructure of the country to a level at par with America by the end of 2024. "We will try to make India's highways at par with America's," Gadkari said.

"Prime Minister Narendra Modi has talked about making India self-reliant and especially the infrastructure of international standards, which he has repeatedly put in front of us as a goal. We believe that before the end of 2024, under the guidance of the prime minister, we will try our best to make India's road infrastructure at par with America," the Union minister

❍ MUMBAI CIVIC POLLS

The government is making every effort to take the road infrastructure of the country to a level at par with America by the end of 2024. We will try to make India’s highways at par with America’s.

—Nitin Gadkari, Union Road & Transport Min said. "It was the dream of Prime Minister Modi that development of socially, economically and educationally backward districts are given priority," he added.

Gadkari said he has identified around 500 blocks that are socially, economically, and educationally backward, and so, this highway is passing through backward areas and becoming a growth engine for these areas.

An electric cable will be laid between Jaipur and Delhi, and e-trucks and e-buses will be able to ply on this highway, he said. "We are also making 670 roadside facilities in the state along this highway which will have handicrafts and food outlets... Under the PM's leadership, India's road infrastructure will improve and we will become self-reliant and a super economic power," Gadkari added. Prime Minister Modi inaugurated the 246-km Delhi-DausaLalsot section of the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway on Sunday.