Government offices and schools in the Pune district conducted various events Monday to mark the 63rd Maharashtra Foundation Day, commemorating the formation of the state from the division of the Bombay state on May 1, 1960. At the Pune police ground off F C Road, the main state function was held in the presence of Guardian Minister Chandrakant Patil, Pune Divisional Commissioner Saurabh Rao and Collector Rajesh Deshmukh. Speaking on the occasion, Patil said the state had made great strides in every respect and that the current government was making special efforts to ensure the welfare of various sections of the society, especially farmers. He listed the recent decisions taken by the government, including the decision to allocate Rs 50 crore for the development of Bhide Wada as a monument for the pioneering girls' school started by Mahatma Jyotiba Phule. He said Pune was among the best venues to organise G20 meets in January 2023, and the Union government has scheduled another G20 meet in the city in June. Leader of Opposition Ajit Pawar participated in the functions held in his hometown Baramati. Pawar paid tributes to 106 people who had lost their lives in the 'Sanyukt Maharashtra' movement. He said the fight for 'Sanyukt Maharashtra' would continue until the 814 Marathi-speaking villages of Karnataka's Bidar, Bhalki, Nipani, Karwar and Belgaum districts were merged with the state. "On this occasion, let's forget our differences of caste, religion, language and political parties to come together to protest the unity and integrity of the country and its constitution," said Pawar. Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) organised a 'shobha yatra' on F C Road to mark the occasion. The rally started at Good Luck Chowk and ended at Tukaram Paduka Chowk.
