Ruling Sena, BJP at odds over Urdu centre construction in Agripada

BJP MLA Nitesh Rane demanded the suspension of officials who gave the land to the Urdu centre, alleging the area already has Urdu schools which are not attended by students.

CM Eknath Shinde and Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis. (PTI)

Legislators of the ruling BJP and Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena found themselves at odds over the construction of an Urdu learning centre in South Mumbai’s Agripada.

BJP MLA Mihir Kotecha, in his calling attention motion, raised the issue of Agripada’s Urdu learning centre. “The previous UBT government had started to see green everywhere and in a bid to appease a particular minority community it forced the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation to construct the centre instead of the originally planned ITI. It should be cancelled and an ITI should be set up,” said Kotecha.

Cabinet minister Uday Samant said the decision was already challenged in the Bombay High Court and as per the order from the Chief Secretary, the work has presently been halted.

However, the BJP MLAs continued to raise the issue attacking the previous government and alleged that it was involved in appeasement politics. Samajwadi Party (SP) MLA Rais Shaikh pointed out that it was local Shiv Sena MLA Yamini Jadhav who had first moved the proposal to set up the centre and every procedure was followed while going ahead with the decision.

BJP MLA Nitesh Rane went on to demand the suspension of officials who gave the land to the centre, alleging the area already has Urdu schools which are not attended by students. “What is the use of the Urdu centre then?” He asked.

Samant asked Protem Speaker Samir Kunwar to let Jadhav speak. “There is already an ITI in my constituency. What we are building is not an Urdu school but centre. It is a language like any other in the country and should not be linked to any particular religion. People in my constituency had demanded for such a centre and based on that I had made the demand,” Jadhav said.

After Jadhav’s statement Skill Development minister Mangal Prabhat Lodha said the issue should not be stretched as the chief secretary already stayed the construction following the court case.

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On Tuesday evening, Assembly speaker Rahul Narvekar announced that a special meeting on this issue will be held within next three weeks.

Alok Deshpande

Alok Deshpande is a Special Correspondent with The Indian Express' Mumbai bureau, recognized for his focused and authoritative reporting on governance, politics, and the socio-economic dynamics of Maharashtra's hinterlands. His unique academic background in Geology and early work in the water sector provides a specialized layer of Expertise to his reporting on resource and environmental issues. Expertise Current Role: Special Correspondent, The Indian Express, Mumbai. Core Authority: Alok provides detailed coverage of Maharashtra politics and governance, with a particular emphasis on how policies and power struggles affect the rural and semi-urban areas (the 'hinterlands'). Key Coverage Areas: His reports frequently focus on high-stakes administrative and political topics, including: State Assembly Proceedings: In-depth reporting on the Legislative Assembly, covering ministerial statements, legislative debates, and inter-party conflict within the ruling Mahayuti alliance. Policy & Finance: Coverage of state finances, including supplementary budget demands, fiscal deficits, and major government schemes (e.g., Jal Jeevan Mission, Ladki Bahin Yojana). Rural and Social Issues: Reports on critical health issues (e.g., child deaths in districts), human-animal conflict (leopard attacks, stray dogs), and agrarian concerns (e.g., farmer suicides). Local and Urban Governance: Covers major announcements regarding urban development (e.g., BMC's OC amnesty scheme, pagdi system push) and local body elections, including political defections and alliance splits. Unique Credentials & Trustworthiness Academic Specialization: Holds a Post-graduate degree in Geology. This background gives him a foundational understanding of natural resources, which directly informs his reporting on environment, water, and infrastructure projects. Early Professional Experience: His shift to journalism came after working with an NGO focused on the water sector. This practical experience strengthens his Expertise in critical areas like water management and rural development, as evidenced by his reporting on the Jal Jeevan Mission. Journalism Training: An alumnus of the prestigious Asian College of Journalism (ACJ), Chennai, confirming his formal training and commitment to rigorous journalistic standards. Alok Deshpande's rare combination of scientific education, non-profit sector experience, and deep political reporting makes him a highly trusted and authoritative voice on the governance and ground realities of Maharashtra. He tweets @alokdesh ... Read More

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