Maharashtra's Revenue Minister, Chandrashekhar Bawankule, announced that the state will cancel over 42,000 fake birth certificates held by illegal Bangladeshi nationals by August 15th. Moreover, the copies of these cancelled documents will be sent to the Revenue and Health Departments
Maharashtra Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule. File Pic
The Maharashtra government intends to revoke all fraudulent birth certificates issued to Bangladeshi nationals illegally residing in the state by 15th August, Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule announced on Wednesday, reported news agency PTI.
During a press conference, Bawankule revealed that 42,000 such cases have already been identified, though he noted that the actual figure is likely higher and will be confirmed by officials.
"By August 15, fake birth certificates given to Bangladeshis (staying illegally in the state) will be cancelled," Bawankule stated, adding that copies of these cancelled certificates must be sent to both the Department of Revenue and the Department of Health.
The minister also stated that he held a video conference with the state chief secretary on Tuesday regarding this matter.
Earlier this year, BJP leader Kirit Somaiya had alleged that 3,997 birth certificates were issued to Bangladeshis who had submitted forged documents. Moreover, this accusation led to the suspension of two officials previously posted in Malegaon by the state government, according to PTI.
In March, Yogesh Kadam, Minister of State in the Home Department, had highlighted the state government's unprecedented crackdown on Bangladeshis living illegally in Maharashtra over the past four years. In 2021, 109 illegal Bangladeshi residents were deported, followed by 77 in 2022, and 127 in 2023.
Furthermore, in 2024, 716 illegal Bangladeshi residents were arrested and 202 were deported. By March 2024, action had been taken against 600 Bangladeshis illegally residing in the state.
Meanwhile, in the development Move, the Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) has appointed a substantial 387-member committee, five months after Harshwardhan Sapkal took charge as the new state unit chief.
According to PTI, the newly formed body, includes a 36-member political affairs committee, 16 senior vice presidents, 38 vice presidents, five senior spokespersons, 108 general secretaries, 95 secretaries, and 87 executive committee members.
Furthermore, the All India Congress Committee (AICC) Maharashtra in-charge, Ramesh Chennithala, will chair the political affairs committee. Dheeraj Deshmukh, a former MLA and son of the late chief minister Vilasrao Deshmukh, has been named a senior spokesperson for the first time, according to PTI.
Meanwhile, the prominent figures on the political affairs committee include former chief ministers Sushilkumar Shinde and Prithviraj Chavan, Mumbai Congress chief and Lok Sabha member Varsha Gaikwad, Rajya Sabha members Rajni Patil and Imran Pratapgarhi, and former state presidents Nana Patole and Manikrao Thakare. Presidents of 13 district units of the party have also been appointed.
Party sources indicated that 40 per cent of the appointees belong to Other Backward Classes (OBC), and adequate representation has been given to Muslim, Adivasi, and Dalit communities from every region of the state. The sources further added that fresh faces from areas where leaders had previously left the party have also been included in the new committee.
(With inputs from PTI)
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