NEW DELHI: The Maharashtra government has appointed NCP leader Suraj Chavan—who was accused of assaulting an activist in Latur a few months ago—as a special invitee to the committee tasked with drafting the state’s revised youth policy.A government resolution (GR) issued by the School Education and Sports Department on Thursday also named Dhananjay Thackeray, a National Youth Award recipient, and advocate Sangram Shewale, a youth activist, as special invitees to the panel.Suraj Chavan, who serves as general secretary of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) under deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar, has been inducted as a special invitee to the committee revising Maharashtra’s Youth Policy 2012. The committee, originally tasked with reviewing the 2012 policy and preparing a revised draft, will benefit from a sanctioned provision of Rs 10 crore approved by chief minister Devendra Fadnavis for implementing programmes under the new policy, officials said. The revised policy aims to focus on skill development, entrepreneurship, sports promotion, and increased youth participation in governance. Officials noted that the inclusion of members from diverse backgrounds is intended to make the committee more representative. Chavan’s appointment, however, is likely to attract controversy, as he had earlier made headlines for allegedly assaulting an activist in Latur. In July, Chavan reportedly thrashed Chhava Sanghatna state president Vijaykumar Ghatge, who had thrown playing cards on a table during a press conference in front of NCP state president Sunil Tatkare. Ghatge and his organisation were protesting against then agriculture minister Manikrao Kokate, also from the NCP, after a viral video allegedly showed him playing ‘rummy’ on his mobile phone during the monsoon session of the state legislature. Following criticism from the Opposition, Chavan resigned as president of the NCP’s youth wing but was later appointed as a general secretary in the party. According to the latest government resolution, the appointments aim to strengthen the panel with the support of young leaders and activists. The committee is expected to submit its recommendations to the government by the end of this year.(With inputs from agency)
