Union Minister Ramdas Athawale expressed concerns about the declining strength of the Opposition, attributing it partly to Mamata Banerjee’s waning influence. Athawale noted the shift of several MPs from different parties to the NDA, strengthening the coalition.
Athawale criticized Rahul Gandhi, stating that the Congress leader fails to fulfill his role as the Leader of the Opposition by mainly attacking Prime Minister Modi instead of offering constructive suggestions. He emphasized the importance of cooperation between the government and the Opposition for the country’s progress.
Regarding the formation of a committee to draft a Uniform Civil Code (UCC) in Maharashtra, Athawale emphasized the necessity of such a code to resolve long-standing disputes between Hindus and Muslims. He advocated for a two-child policy to strengthen families economically, including the Muslim community.
Athawale defended Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde’s allegations of misappropriation of donations at Mumbai’s Siddhivinayak Temple during Uddhav Thackeray’s tenure, suggesting a probe similar to the Ram Temple case for transparency.
