The Maharashtra government has made it mandatory to obtain prior permission from the family of late Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar before registering any institution, trust or foundation using his name, image or memorial. Instructions have been issued to all concerned offices across the state, directing them to exercise caution while approving any registration, construction of memorials or other decisions related to the name of ‘Ajitdada’ in the future.
In this regard, Special Executive Officer Sunil Kumar Musale has sent a letter to the Charity Commissioner on behalf of the Deputy Chief Minister’s Office. The letter states that the sudden demise of Ajit Pawar has caused deep grief across the state and that he commands great respect among the public for his work in the social and political fields.
Against this backdrop, authorities believe there is a possibility that statues, memorials or institutions such as educational organisations, social bodies and charitable trusts could be established in his name in different cities to preserve his memory. While such initiatives may often have good intentions, the letter notes that the possibility of misuse of his name for personal or commercial gain cannot be ruled out.
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For this reason, it has been proposed that a written No Objection Certificate (NOC) from Ajit Pawar’s family should be made mandatory before registering any new organisation, trust or foundation in his name.
The letter also emphasises that the norms set by the government and the Supreme Court must be strictly followed when erecting statues or memorials in public places. In addition, authorities have been asked to conduct a thorough investigation into organisations that may be collecting funds illegally or carrying out suspicious activities using Ajit Pawar’s name.
The same rules will apply to existing organisations if they seek to change their names to include ‘Ajitdada’. The letter has also urged the Charity Commissioner’s Office to immediately inform all district and divisional offices under its jurisdiction about these instructions.