3 min readApr 3, 2023 07:01 AM IST
First published on: Apr 3, 2023 at 05:16 AM IST
Mangal Prabhat Lodha, Maharashtra Minister for Women and Child Development and Tourism, delves deeper into the expected role of a committee for curbing tensions among communities. He also talks about the state government’s initiatives related to Hindutva ideologue VD Savarkar amid fresh controversy, and the interfaith family coordination committee.
After clashes between two groups on Ram Navami in Malad’s Malwani area in Mumbai, you briefly spoke about a committee for coordination between groups. Can you give more details?
There can be more coordination and cooperation for social harmony. There are already ‘Bhaichara’ (brotherhood) committees in police stations. These can meet regularly to maintain harmony. As the guardian minister for Mumbai, I want to ensure these meetings happen regularly.
What can be done through such meetings to find a resolution?
When such incidents happen, we can ask the panel to get people from all groups together to coordinate with each other to maintain peace. Within one month, we want to organise such meetings across Mumbai suburbs for social harmony.
What is the progress on the interfaith marriage family coordination committee?
The committee has been meeting regularly. By the end of April, they will submit the first report. They are mandated to submit interim reports to the government, and we will determine how to take them forward.
Have such cases actually come to the committee? Has any case been investigated?
The committee members have received complaints, and they are working on concerns. I am not certain about the exact number of complaints received. However, we have received applications. We should take this in a positive spirit as it is not against anyone or any community. We want it to be procedural, and we want to coordinate among families.
Amid controversy related to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s comment, the BJP-Sena coalition government is undertaking programs and initiatives related to Vinayak Savarkar. Your views ?
Our initiatives started some time ago before the fresh controversy on the issue.
Around a month ago, I went to Bhagur on V D Savarkar’s death anniversary, and we drew up the plan.
We want to make a big museum and a theme park in Bhagur. Among other initiatives, we also want to make a ‘Savarkar circuit’, connecting four to six places closely associated with his life.
We are following it up to speed up work. Regarding the Savarkar Gaurav Yatra being held, the coordination is in the hands of the Maharashtra BJP unit, and I will not be able to comment on it.
Mangal Prabhat Lodha, minister for Women & Child Development, Maharashtra 
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