Will Mumbai Always Stay a Part of Maharashtra?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Mumbai is integral to Maharashtra, as declared by CM Fadnavis.
- Significant plans for Mumbai's transformation are underway.
- Crime rates have decreased, with a focus on addressing drug issues.
- The Maharashtra Special Public Security Bill targets left-wing extremism.
- Proactive governance aims to uphold the identity and safety of Maharashtra.
Mumbai, July 18 (NationPress) Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis asserted on Friday that no one can sever the bond between Mumbai and Maharashtra, emphasizing its permanence within the state. In response to a motion presented by opposition factions in the state Assembly, CM Fadnavis directed a pointed remark towards Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray, indicating that the upcoming local and civic body elections will resurrect the topic of any alleged attempts to disconnect Mumbai from Maharashtra.
"Mumbai is an integral part of Maharashtra. Regardless of who makes claims—be it someone's father, grandfather, or ancestors—Mumbai will continue to belong to Maharashtra. The voice of the Marathi Manoos will remain robust in this state," he proclaimed.
CM Fadnavis further elaborated, "In just a year and a half, Mumbai will witness a transformation, emerging as a modern and inclusive city. Our goal is to foster a progressive Maharashtra."
The significance of the Chief Minister's remarks is underscored by recent warnings from Uddhav Thackeray and Raj Thackeray, founder of the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena, urging the Marathi Manoos to stay vigilant against any plans to disassociate Mumbai from Maharashtra.
Amid discussions on the "imposition" of Hindi, CM Fadnavis stated that the government will make a decision following the report from the Narendra Jadhav-led committee.
During a meeting with Uddhav Thackeray on Thursday, where the latter presented a collection of articles questioning the necessity of making Hindi mandatory in the state, he remarked, "I reviewed the booklet yesterday. Merely meeting someone does not imply an alliance. Additional pages should be included in the booklet, noting that a committee's recommendation to mandate Hindi for grades 1 to 12 was approved by Thackeray's cabinet before the meeting."
CM Fadnavis condemned the altercation involving supporters of legislators Gopichand Padalkar and Jitendra Awhad on Thursday at the Vidhan Bhavan lobby, urging elected officials to adhere to the code of conduct to preserve Maharashtra's reputation.
He reiterated that the Maharashtra Special Public Security Bill, 2024, which has passed through both Houses of the state legislature, targets left-wing extremism (LWE) rather than Left parties.
"This Public Safety Act aims to deter individuals from instigating chaos through Maoist ideology. It will not be enforced against protests or dissent against the government," he clarified.
CM Fadnavis drew a comparison between Islamic Extremism and LWE, asserting that the administration is not adversarial towards Left ideologies.
In response to opposition claims regarding rising crime rates, he noted that the state has experienced a 6.5% decrease in crime compared to last year, with Nagpur, Maharashtra's second capital, seeing an 11% reduction.
However, he raised alarms about the escalating drug issue, pledging that measures under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act will be implemented to combat the drug crisis effectively.
He warned that police officials would face consequences if drug trafficking persists in their jurisdictions, noting that 13 officers have already been dismissed.
"I have also provided updates regarding narcotics. By the end of May 2024, 1568 individuals had been arrested. By the end of May, this number reached 2,194. We have established dedicated Narcotics Cells in each police station, employing 5,975 officials and 1974 personnel within the Special Narcotics Cell. The narcotics situation is a significant challenge for us. We have mandated action at every police station level to address this issue," the Chief Minister stated.