New Delhi, June 28: NCP (Sharad Pawar faction) leader Anish Gawande has taken aim at the central government, addressing several issues including the Uniform Civil Code (UCC), the proposed visit of former U.S. President Donald Trump to India, and controversies surrounding the Ram Mandir Trust. He has also called for accountability and independent investigations into various matters.
Regarding the complaint filed by rebel leaders against the alleged misuse of the TMC party name under Mamata Banerjee’s leadership, Gawande stated that there is a continuous trend of political parties being fractured in the country. He accused the government of previously breaking the Aam Aadmi Party, followed by the Trinamool Congress and then Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray). He deemed the TMC’s complaint valid, asserting that Mamata Banerjee is a resilient leader who will fight her political battles on the streets. Gawande claimed that the strength of Mamata’s faction will be evident at the upcoming ‘Shaheed Divas’ event.
On discussions about implementing the UCC in West Bengal, Gawande emphasized that if the UCC is to be enacted, it must be uniformly applied across the country. He warned that having different versions of the UCC in various states would defeat its purpose. He stressed the need for extensive dialogue with all states and stakeholders, stating that merely creating a law will not resolve the issue.
Responding to the potential visit of Donald Trump, Gawande noted that India respects the tradition of ‘Atithi Devo Bhava’ and will welcome Trump. He urged clarity regarding the proposed India-U.S. trade deal during this visit, highlighting that while a historic trade agreement was mentioned, key provisions have yet to be made public. He called for transparency on issues such as soybean and corn imports and trade balance.
On the resignations of Ram Mandir Trust’s General Secretary Champat Rai and Trustee Anil Mishra, Gawande pointed out ongoing allegations of financial irregularities, including donations and silver offerings. He questioned why discussions of resignations are occurring under government pressure if the Trust is an independent entity. He demanded an independent investigation into the appointment process of Trust members and whether proper vetting was conducted beforehand.
Regarding the Maharashtra TET paper leak case, Gawande remarked that incidents of question paper leaks in competitive exams are becoming increasingly common. He noted that questions have arisen over NEET and now TET exams. He insisted that until accountability is established and action is taken against the responsible officials, such leaks will persist. He called for accountability from the central education minister and Maharashtra’s education department.
In response to Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s challenge to Akhilesh Yadav concerning the Krishna Janmabhoomi, Gawande stated that national politics should not be confined to Hindu-Muslim debates. He asserted that no individual needs to prove their devotion to Lord Ram, and questioning issues like corruption is a citizen’s right. He emphasized that the opposition’s aim is not religious debate but rather to address public interest and accountability issues.
On political accusations related to Ayodhya and Ram devotees, Gawande claimed these are attempts to distract from real issues. He accused the government of failing to take responsibility for alleged financial irregularities if the Trust was operating under government oversight. He called for an independent investigation to clarify who is accountable for the alleged financial transactions and irregularities.
Commenting on Akhilesh Yadav’s statement about ‘Nation First’ turning into ‘Donation First,’ Gawande stated that the pressing question remains about the use of allegedly raised funds. Serious questions are being raised about the financial activities in various political endeavors, and he called for a fair and independent investigation into all these allegations.
–
Leave a Comment