Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on 29 July launched a sharp counterattack against Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, accusing the Congress leader of having no constructive vision for the country's youth and of pursuing a singular agenda of disruption. Speaking to the media in Nagpur, Fadnavis also announced key directives on student protest cases, Maratha caste certificates, and the flood situation gripping parts of Maharashtra.

Fadnavis Hits Back at Gandhi's Parliament Remarks

The Maharashtra CM was responding to allegations Gandhi had raised in Parliament, where the Congress leader claimed the Union Home Ministry had ordered pellet guns to be used against students. Fadnavis dismissed the charge outright and went on the offensive.

'Rahul Gandhi can say anything; the country knows how he speaks. He has only one agenda, and that is to spread chaos — he has no concern for the nation. I haven't listened to his speech because there is never any substance in it. Oppositions make allegations, but what positive alternative did Rahul Gandhi give to the youth? Prime Minister Modi, on the other hand, thinks about the country's youth, and the new Bill will make examination systems much safer,' Fadnavis said.

Student Protest Cases: Government Orders Withdrawal

In a notable policy announcement, Fadnavis said the Maharashtra government has directed the police and home department to withdraw cases registered against students who participated in various agitations. He acknowledged that the state had recorded a high volume of cases related to unlawful assembly, but credited the police with exercising significant restraint during the protests. The directive signals a conciliatory posture from the Mahayuti government even as political temperatures remain elevated.

Maratha Reservation: Government Reaffirms Commitment

Addressing queries about a fresh protest call by Maratha reservation activist Manoj Jarange Patil, Fadnavis sought to reassure the community. 'Eligible applicants requesting caste certificates are being provided with them, and the backlog of pending applications has significantly reduced,' he said. He added that no previous government had taken as many decisions for the welfare of the Maratha community as the current one, and that the government remained open to dialogue if grievances persisted.

Nagpur Floods: Administration on Alert

Fadnavis also addressed the severe waterlogging in Nagpur and other parts of the state, including Palghar, following an Orange Alert issued by the India Meteorological Department (IMD). He noted that cities were receiving a fortnight's or a month's worth of rainfall — between 100 mm and 125 mm — within one to one-and-a-half hours, placing extreme stress on existing drainage systems. He attributed localised waterlogging partly to ongoing or incomplete drainage construction projects, clarifying the problem was not widespread across entire cities.

Fadnavis stressed the need to overhaul urban infrastructure to handle high-intensity cloudbursts and assured that the local administration was fully prepared and actively monitoring the situation. He urged citizens to remain vigilant.