Do not celebrate Voters’ Day on July 1, demand Cong, NCP

Opposition parties raised objection over government that announced celebrating 'Voters' Day' on July 1, which is the birth anniversary of former chief minister Vasantrao Naik.

Opposition members in the legislative council alleged that the state government is trying to reduce significance of Naik, who made a Green Revolution in the state.

Naik's birth anniversary is celebrated as the Agriculture Day, and the week as the Agriculture Week in Maharashtra.

On behalf of the state government, Leader of the House Chandrakant Patil said that government has no role in it as it was decided by the State Election Commission. He

Opposition members in the legislative council alleged that the state government is trying to reduce significance of of former chief minister Vasantrao Naik, who made a Green Revolution in the state by celebrating his birthday as Voters' Day

assured that the government will write to the Commission but cannot instruct as commission is an autonomus body.

"The government has no intention to insult Naik. The birth anniversary of Vasantrao Naik and the Agriculture Week will be celebrated as usual and there will be no change. We can just write to the state commission, but cannot instruct it to change the date," said Patil.

Dhananjay Munde, opposition leader in the legislative council raised the issue pointed out that the government resolution have been issued by general administration department about celebrating July 1 as Voters' Day. "Why only July 1 and cannot July 2or any other day. It shows that government trying to reduce significance of former CM Vasantrao Naik," Munde said.

Congress member Haribhau Rathod argued that the Election Commission of India (ECI) has already fixed January 25 as the National Voters' Day.

He produced a copy of the ECI order in the House and suggested that either some other day should be fixed as the state voters' day or it should be celebrated on January 25 as per the ECI's instructions.