‘Peas of falsehood won’t cook’: Sena (UBT) targets BJP over school meals

The Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) on Monday attacked the BJP and Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis over alleged irregularities in the state’s school midday meal scheme and questioned the financing of the ruling party’s youth outreach events.

An editorial in the party mouthpiece Saamana highlighted reports that children at a school in Ambegaon in Pune district were served dried peas so hard that they remained uncooked even after 13 whistles in a pressure cooker.

The editorial alleged that the contractor supplying the food was a Nagpur-based businessman with close links to Fadnavis. It further claimed that the businessman had financially supported a recent BJP event aimed at Gen Z voters at Reshimbagh Ground in Nagpur.

“Supply contractors eat up millions by serving substandard food to schoolchildren, risking their lives,” the editorial said, adding that the contractor’s “peas of falsehood” would not cook.

The allegations have not been independently verified, and there was no immediate response from the BJP or the contractor.

The editorial was published amid intensified political efforts to reach young voters in Maharashtra. It referred to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s recent ‘Chhatron Ki Goonj’ event in Pune, which attracted thousands of students.

The Sena (UBT) claimed the authorities had initially resisted granting police permission for the programme before allowing it with more than 30 conditions. It also alleged that attempts were made to disrupt the gathering and that police subsequently registered cases against Congress workers.

The editorial argued that Gandhi’s interaction had unsettled the BJP and claimed that young people were increasingly frustrated with the party’s leadership, repeated promises and handling of employment concerns.

Fadnavis had described Gandhi’s student interactions as “paid publicity events” and said their financing would be investigated. Responding to the remarks, the Sena (UBT) demanded that the BJP first disclose the expenditure incurred on its own youth programmes and identify their sources of funding.

The party also accused the Chief Minister of failing to address alleged corruption involving roads, potholes and school meal contracts. It claimed that seven of the 12 people who died in pothole-related incidents in Nashik belonged to Generation Z.

The editorial further accused the government of neglecting unemployment among graduates and forcing educated young people to accept jobs below their qualifications.

Concluding its criticism, the Sena (UBT) claimed that discontent among Maharashtra’s youth was intensifying and urged Fadnavis to reflect on his government’s record before ordering what it described as selective investigations.

With IANS inputs