OFF THE RECORD review on some of the headlines….
Milind Narvekar’s attitude!
(www.vikrantjoshi.com)
CM Uddhav Thackeray’s close aide Milind Narvekar’s bungalow on the Dapoli-Murud seashore in Ratnagiri district was demolished owing to violations in the Coastal Zone Regulations. BJP leader Kirit Somaiya who was in the forefront for the administration to take action, has claimed it as ‘Karun Dhakavale’ (Got it done!) You know Kirit ji, we all love this fighting attitude and spirit of yours! You fight till the end, and perhaps you are the only leader who takes his matters to logical conclusion. During your fight you don’t even think twice about your own life, safety and repercussions it may have. Salute to your courage! Maharashtra needs people like you. Again you are absolutely right what you are doing with Cabinet Minister Anil Parab and then MP Bhavana Gawali. We too had warned Parab to not let people like Kharmate and Shah near him, but he just wouldn’t listen. Now that you are after him, I am sure we all will see justice happening there too soon! But sir, this time for the first time, I personally didn’t appreciate one thing of yours. You were present at the site when Narvekar’s own house was being demolished. No, I didn’t like it, and I am sure not many did too! Today Narvekar is the only one who has excellent relations with the BJP be it Devendra Fadnavis, be it in Delhi, or be with our Governor too. Remember na, when CM Uddhav Thackeray couldn’t or didn’t want to meet the Governor, it was Narvekar who played a pivotal role in getting them at least ‘talking’. CM Thackeray and Fadnavis during their recent Kolhapur flood review tour, met coincidentally for media ops. It wasn’t a coincidence. They say Narvekar wanted them to meet. My point is Kirit ji, besides Narvekar, perhaps Subhash Desai and Eknath Shinde , are the only ones who share good rapport with the BJP now. Keeping this in mind, and yes, it was a personal bunglow of his own money, I felt you could have given it a pass! And now look at the attitude display of Narvekar. He could have reached anywhere, be it Delhi or Fadnavis or the Governor to try and stop this demolition. But he stayed mum and got his own bungalow demolished instead. Imagine the plight of Narvekar , his family, seeing his own house go down on TV😔. As Vishambhar Choudhari said, we have Lavasa and Adarsh too, why isn’t anyone concentrating there? 99% of Mumbai buildings have some or the other violations, what happens there? Here Narvekar used his own money to build that bunglow right, but rest all other projects which are illegal, are bloody taxpayers money, isn’t it? Why not get them demolished first? Activist Anjali Damania too, didn’t like your ‘manasikta’ (temperament) Kirit ji. She has tweeted about it.
IAS Nidhi Choudhary gets transferred yet again.
(www.vikrantjoshi.com)
Five years and four transfers for IAS Nidhi Choudhary! Badhiyaan hai!! With this happening all over bureaucracy now (IAS & IPS), I won’t be surprised if many opt for Central Deputation, like many have already done, than to continue under this bizarre MVA Government regime. What happens, when these young and good officers get transferred around Mumbai, Pune, or any other Metro, their immediate family live in the metros and the officer takes charge wherever they are posted. Weekend family get-togethers is not something new we have heard for many IAS & IPS. But imagine the plight of a lady officer who has to meet and see her family only once a week, and that too in such uncertain/trying times when there are 2 waves of Covid pandemic and floods were happening all over. Emotionally it is extremely draining. Yes, Nidhi Choudhary is a very good officer. Have known her since her ZP CEO days. To see her go here and there every year breaks my heart and belief in the system that works in Maharashtra. What I heard is shocking. MP of Raigad, Sunil Tatkare and his Minister Daughter Aditi, are doing a fabulous job in Raigad district☺️☺️. Whenever there are meetings called by the Guardian Minister be it with the administration or any other planning committee, the protocol is fixed–daughter calls the meetings and father chairs (he sits nearby😉) it. How cool is that, isn’t it? Father participates actively while daughter watches and learns how business is conducted. God knows what happened between them and a straightforward, honest, no-nonsense officer like Choudhary? Why didn’t Tatkare bat for her in spite of Nidhi’s gigantic work during floods, 2 rounds of Covid ? Hmmm….Rumour has it that Nidhi was told of her transfer since January. But her seniors including Sanjay Kumar, Ajoy Mehta and now Kunte were not of the view to transfer her at all, CM to this time, it is said put his weight around for her but in the end , even he couldn’t stop her transfer. These CS & ex-CS’s during their respective tenures, all had held HER fort for 18 months. Corrupt, third grade, person who eats out of everyone’s plate, including the relatives, got her transfer done finally. Achaa by the way, new Collector Mahendra Kalyankar is in lurch and hasn’t taken charge till now. And to conclude, one more breaking, no direct cadre officer in Raigad now…ZP CEO, SP & now Collector in Raigad distrcit, all are Promotee’s!
Vikrant Hemant Joshi
