‘Political gimmick for financial gain’: Maha Congress criticises HM Shah’s ‘Seva Sankalp Abhiyan’ announcement

Mumbai, Sep 13 (IANS) Launching a sharp political attack on the Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s two-day visit to Maharashtra, the State Congress Chief Harshwardhan Sapkal on Sunday claimed that the visit is not a ‘Sewa Sankalp Abhiyan’ (service resolve campaign) but it is a gimmick for political and financial gains especially with an eye on the financial capital.

Addressing media after Union Home Minister Shah’s announcement of Seva Sankalp Abhiyan from September 17 to October 17, Sapkal highlighted the severe drought-like situation and agrarian distress prevailing across Maharashtra, demanding immediate Central relief.

He demanded total loan waiver for affected farmers across the state and allocation of Rs 50,000 per hectare to farmers suffering severe crop losses.

“If Union Home Minister Amit Shah genuinely wishes to serve the people of Maharashtra, he must immediately announce a full farm loan waiver and Rs 50,000 per hectare compensation. Otherwise, this visit is nothing more than a political gimmick to settle accounts of corruption,” Sapkal asserted.

He also questioned the intent behind the high-profile visit, accusing the ruling MahaYuti alliance of transferring valuable lands to industrialists and seeking accountability over the allocation of funds, including expenses related to the Kumbh Mela.

Expanding his critique to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leadership, Sapkal termed the RSS’ recent ‘liberal’ posture as “duplicate” and insincere.

He claimed the RSS harbours a questionable stance on the Indian Constitution and the national flag (Tiranga), masking its core principles detailed in foundational texts like former Sangh Chief MS Golwalkar’s book “Bunch of Thoughts”.

Sapkal said the stark contrast between the BJP-RSS’ ‘anti-Muslim’ stance at home and Prime Minister Narendra Modi accepting top civilian honours from more than 10 Islamic nations abroad.

He demanded that RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat issue a direct clarification regarding the organisation’s explicit views on the Constitution, minority communities, and its overarching political agenda.

–IANS

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