Saamana Editorial Targets BJP Over Youth Events And Maharashtra School Meals

The Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) on Monday launched a sharp attack on the BJP and Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, accusing the state government of financial irregularities in youth outreach programmes and alleged corruption in the school midday meal scheme. The criticism appeared in an editorial published in the party's mouthpiece, Saamana, and focused on food quality, political event funding and issues affecting young voters.

The editorial referred to an incident in Ambegaon in Pune district, where schoolchildren were reportedly served dried peas that remained hard even after being cooked in a pressure cooker for 13 whistles. The Thackeray camp alleged that the contractor supplying the food was a Nagpur-based businessman with close links to Fadnavis. The party also alleged that the businessman had financially supported a recent BJP Gen Z youth outreach programme at Reshm Bagh Ground in Nagpur.

The editorial used the phrase "peas of falsehood won't cook" while accusing food supply contractors of making money by providing substandard meals to schoolchildren. The allegations come amid wider political competition in Maharashtra over the youth vote. Opposition Leader Rahul Gandhi recently held an interactive programme titled "Chatron Ki Goonj" in Pune, which reportedly drew thousands of students.

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The Thackeray camp also criticised the administration over the arrangements surrounding Gandhi's event. It alleged that authorities initially resisted granting police clearance and later imposed several conditions on the programme. The editorial further claimed that attempts were made to disrupt the event and that police cases were subsequently registered against Congress workers.

The party also responded to Fadnavis' criticism of Gandhi's interactive programmes as "paid publicity events" and his indication that the matter could be investigated. The Thackeray camp challenged the BJP to examine its own event expenditure and investigate the sources of funding and contractor support linked to its youth programmes. It also accused the state government of failing to adequately address road conditions, pothole-related deaths and alleged irregularities in school meal procurement.

The editorial further raised concerns about graduate unemployment and the employment choices available to educated young people, while alleging systemic corruption in public contracts. The Shiv Sena (UBT) argued that growing dissatisfaction among young voters reflects frustration with repeated political promises and called on Fadnavis to examine the government's record before pursuing investigations against political opponents. The allegations made in the editorial could not be independently verified from the information provided.

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