Won’t get involved in Sena name, symbol allocation row, vows Sharad Pawar

First India Bureau ing at the fort, he said, “When I was near the fort, some Shiv bhakts approached me and complained of police restricting them from visiting the fort. They told me that police were objecting to their visit, citing crowding which may lead to an untoward incident such as stampede.” party name Shiv Sena and bow and arrow party symbol to the Balasahebanchi Shiv Sena faction on Saturday, the EC had observed, “The current constitution of Shiv Sena is undemocratic and has been mutilated to undemocratically appoint people from a coterie as officebearers without any election at all,” adding that such party structure fails to inspire confidence.

“This is highly unfair. The followers should not face any discrimination when it comes to visiting the Shivneri Fort. Had I gone ahead, people would have followed me and this could have led to a stampede,” he added.

While addressing a function on Shivaji Jayanti, CM Shinde said he heard Sambhaji Chhatrapati’s comments.

“We will take necessary steps so that people do not face any hurdles next year when it comes to visiting the Shivneri Fort,” he said.

Echoing his sentiment, Deputy CM Fadnavis also said there will be better arrangements next year to manage the crowd properly.

Quick Recap

The Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena experienced a split in June last year when 40 MLAs led by incumbent Chief Minister Eknath Shinde rebelled against the Maha Vikas Aghadi government. As a result, the state government collapsed and CM Thackeray had to resign from his post. Following this, a new government was established by the Shinde faction and the Bharatiya Janata Party.

What Home Minister Amit Shah says has never been taken seriously. What can we say about people who believe in buying justice and truth? Who has won and lost Maharashtra; we’ll show when the time comes. We will not say anything now. —Sanjay Raut, Shiv Sena

Pune: Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar on Sunday said he will not get involved in the controversy over allocation of Shiv Sena party name and poll symbol to Eknath Shinde-led faction. He clarified his stand on the Election Commission’s decision after Shiv Sena – Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray camp leaders and even his daughter, NCP’s Supriya Sule expressed shock at the ruling. In its decision on Friday, the EC allowed the Uddhav Thackeray faction to retain the name Shiv Sena - Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray and the flaming torch poll symbol, till the conclusion of upcoming Assembly bypolls in the state. It was given to it in an interim order in October last year.

Pawar on Friday said the loss of “bow and arrow” will not make any difference to the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena faction as

‘MAHA’ CELEBRATION ON SHIVAJI JAYANTI!

NCP supremo had advised Thackeray to ‘start from beginning’ after EC announced decision on Saturday people will accept its new poll symbol.

To a query from reporters over the issue on Sunday, the NCP chief, who was in Pune’s Baramati town, said, “I do not want to get involved in the controversy regarding the name and symbol given to Eknath Shinde.

I have already clarified my stand on the same.” Uddhav Thackeray had termed the EC’s order “dangerous for democracy” and vowed to challenge it in the Supreme Court. Chief Minister Eknath Shinde had described it as “the victory of truth and people”.

Maha sugar production to fall in 2022-23 due to rainfall

First India Bureau

Aurangabad: Maharashtra's sugar production is expected to drop from 137.28 lakh tonne in 2021-22 to 124 lakh tonne in 2022-23 due to adverse weather conditions. Continuous rains have impacted sugarcane cultivation, confirmed Sugar Commissioner Shekhar Gaikwad.

ON SHIVAJI JAYANTI, LATUR DOC COUPLE DISTRIBUTES CYCLES TO 38 UNDERPRIVILEGED GIRLS

Latur (PTI): On Sunday, a doctor couple in Latur celebrated the birth anniversary of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj by distributing 38 bicycles to girls from poor and rural backgrounds to help them reach school and prevent them from dropping out. This is their yearly celebration of the Maharaj’s birth anniversary. “We have been distributing cycles every year on this day. This is our true celebration of the birth anniversary of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj,” said Dr Harshwardhan Raut.

LIGHT AND SOUND SHOW ON SHIVAJI’S LIFE AT RAIGAD FORT ON JUNE 05

Aurangabad (PTI): The first ‘light and sound’ show based on the life of Maratha warrior king Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj will be held at the Raigad Fort in Maharashtra on June 05 this year. Preparations for it are in full swing, Raigad Development Authority Chairperson Sambhaji Raje Chhatrapati has said. The Raigad Development Authority has undertaken conservation work on parts of the fort and is also working to hold a light and sound show, a day before Shivaji was coronated as the emperor (on June 06, 1674), Sambhaji Raje said on Saturday.

‘DESTROYED TEMPLES REBUILT BY SHIVAJI MAHARAJ, OTHER MARATHA RULERS’

Pune: Hailing Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj for rebuilding temples destroyed during the rule of Mughals and other foreign invaders, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday said the restoration work is being taken forward by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Shah was speaking after inaugurating the first phase of “Shivsrushti”, a theme park based on the life of Shivaji Maharaj at Narhe-Ambegaon in Pune. “Several temples were destroyed during the rule of Mughals and other foreign invaders. Last week, Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant did the redevelopment of

Saptakoteshwar temple, which was reconstructed by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. Similarly, the temples in south India were also redeveloped by the Maratha warrior king. Shivaji Maharaj constructed grand gates in front of the temples and tried to restore these structures,” Shah said.

The script of the light and sound show has been approved by the authorities concerned, he said.

“The show will cover incidents from the birth of Shivaji Maharaj till his death. The rocky surface behind the Holicha Maal area will be used by the audience to watch the show. They will have a 180-degree view of the show from Rajsadar (the court of Shivaji) to the samadhi,” he said.

Union Home Min Amit Shah offers prayers at Ambabai temple in Kolhapur on Sunday.—ANI PHOTO

Continuous rains rendering the ground wet for longer periods to blame, says official

“As a result, the production will be going down in Maharashtra in the ongoing season. Earlier, we estimated 138 lakh tonne of production when the crushing season started. Now, it should be around 124 lakh tonne. We have conveyed the updated figures of production to the Central government,” he said.

“The crushing season will be over early as compared to last year. In the last crushing season, factories worked till the start of the monsoon. Now, it will end by April-end. A total of 199 factories are currently operational in the state,” the official said. Sugarcane crushing in Satara, Sangli, and Kolhapur will be over by March-end and by Aprilend in Marathwada.