15 September,2026 06:07 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis addresses the media in Mumbai on Tuesday. PIC/X
Maharashtra Chief Minister (CM) Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday defended Union Home Minister Amit Shah over his remarks on the Hindi language, accusing the Opposition of selectively interpreting his speech and taking his comments out of context, news agency IANS reported.
The controversy erupted after Shah, speaking at the Rajbhasha Sammelan in Navi Mumbai, described Maharashtra as a leading multilingual state and said there was no reason to oppose learning an additional national language alongside one's mother tongue. His remarks drew criticism from Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) and the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS).
Expressing indirect disapproval, MNS chief Raj Thackeray posted a cryptic message on social media, stating, "A cow does not die from a crow's curse. That is all for now."
Responding to the criticism, Fadnavis told reporters that Shah had explicitly emphasised the importance of the mother tongue and highlighted the rightful status of Marathi in Maharashtra. He urged political leaders to avoid taking statements out of context.
On the Mumbai Police denying permission for activist Manoj Jarange Patil's rally, Fadnavis said maintaining law and order remains a priority, particularly during the upcoming festival season.
He stated that fresh applications would be reviewed on merit, adding that the state government had already accepted several of Jarange's demands while others remain pending before the court.
On reports of a new CBI FIR naming political figures in connection with the Disha Salian case, Fadnavis said he had not yet reviewed the document.
He noted that the CBI is acting pursuant to High Court directions and advised against premature speculation while the legal process takes its course.
Fadnavis said the state Cabinet on Tuesday approved several key decisions to support sugarcane farmers, strengthen cooperative sugar factories, and improve the evaluation of government schemes.
Among the major decisions was the provision of soft loans to cooperative sugar mills, the establishment of the Maharashtra Technical Assistance Cell ('Maha-Tech') and a decision to return agricultural land in Ahilyanagar district to its original owners.
To provide financial stability to distressed cooperative sugar factories, the state government approved soft loans. This capital support will help sugar mills clear pending Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP) dues owed to farmers for the 2025-26 crushing season and ensure preparations for the upcoming 2026-27 season, Fadnavis said.
The Cabinet also approved the creation of the Maharashtra Technical Assistance Cell ('Maha-Tech') to evaluate and optimise state government schemes.
Implemented in collaboration with IIM-Mumbai and the Center for Planning and Policy Research, the cell will evaluate 25 key state policies and 25 major welfare schemes over the next year, with the aim of improving decision-making and delivery effectiveness.
In a significant relief for farmers in Haregaon village in Shrirampur taluka of Ahilyanagar district, the Cabinet decided to return lands currently held by the Maharashtra State Farming Corporation to their original owners.
Necessary amendments to the Maharashtra Agricultural Lands Act, 1961, were approved to facilitate the transfer.
The Cabinet also approved a complete exemption from stamp duty on registration of the lease deed for the Nashik branch of the Maharashtra Sahitya Parishad, located in the Nashik Municipal Corporation building, to establish a study centre and library.
Further, it cleared the free transfer of 6,240.30 square metres of government land to the Arvi Municipal Council in Wardha district for the construction of a commercial complex.
The Cabinet also approved amendments to the Maharashtra Municipal Councils, Nagar Panchayats and Industrial Townships Act, 1965.
Additionally, the Cabinet sanctioned administrative approval and expenditure for creating four new administrative posts for the Chairman's office of the Mumbai Police Housing Township Project.
(With IANS inputs)
