Maharashtra govt using madrassa issue to divert attention from corruption charges: Cong

Mumbai: Hitting out at the BJP-led Maharashtra government for derecognising madrassas as “non-schools”, MPCC chief Ashok Chavan on Friday said an unnecessary controversy has been created to deflect attention from allegations of corruption faced by ministers. [caption id=“attachment_2326304” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Former Maharashtra CM Ashok Chavan. AFP[/caption] Chavan also claimed that in view of the “unstable” political situation, the government could fall any time. Addressing a press conference, the Congress leader said the state government’s decision was contradictory to the HRD Ministry’s directive that national school curriculum cannot be imposed on madrassas and vedic education schools. “Four percent of the community go for madrassa education and had done well in their chosen fields. The state government’s decision has created fear in the minority affairs department. The aim is to dilute article 29 and 30 of the Constitution and an indirect signal to such institutions,” the Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) President charged. He said that if the intention of the government was welfare of the madrassas and imparting quality education, the decision could have been taken in consultation with all the stakeholders. Chavan felt the prevailing political situation is unstable in view of the allegations of corruption against BJP ministers. “The government can fall any time,” he said. When asked about the controversy over Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis delaying an international flight while flying to USA, Chavan said, “It is the DGCA report, which says so. If Fadnavis wants to file a criminal defamation, he should do that against Air India.” Fadnavis had dubbed the reports as misleading and said that on returning home he would initiate criminal defamation proceedings in the matter. Chavan reiterated his party’s threat to disrupt the proceedings of the monsoon session of the state legislature beginning later this month, if the government does not take concrete steps to provide relief to farmers, who suffered crop loss due to drought, unseasonal rains and hailstorm last year. Since January till May this year, 1,059 farmers had committed suicides. In Amravati division, the figure was 414 while in Aurangabad it was 367, Chavan said. “In June alone, four farmers had left suicide notes that they were ending their lives because of the failure of the government to waive off their debts as well as reschedule crop loan. One farmer Sudhir Gavande’s suicide note from Amravati said Bank of Maharashtra had refused to reschedule his loan and was insulted by bank officials,” he said. On 9 and 10 July, Congress leaders will lead protests at different places to demand loan waiver for farmers. “The farmers issue will dominate the monsoon session and it will not function till government announces something substantiate for the farmers,” he said. Chavan also revealed the party plans to meet Governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao to apprise him of the farmers’ problems requesting him to intervene and direct the government to announce a loan waiver. Similarly, the Governor would also be apprised of the issue of corruption charges against BJP ministers. PTI