Wed Feb 05 12:04:04 UTC 2025: ## Congress Leader Condemns Maharashtra’s New Mantralaya Security System, Citing Discrimination
**Mumbai, February 5, 2025** – Senior Congress leader Vijay Wadettiwar has launched a scathing attack on the Maharashtra Mahayuti government, criticizing its newly implemented facial recognition system at the Mantralaya, the state secretariat. He alleges the system disproportionately restricts access for ordinary citizens while allowing easy entry for contractors and those close to ministers.
Wadettiwar accused the government of shielding itself from public interaction, claiming that farmers, laborers, and the general public are being denied access to voice their grievances, unlike those with connections to the ruling party. He demanded the immediate abolition of the facial recognition system, calling it discriminatory and unjust.
His criticism extended beyond the security system. Wadettiwar questioned the government’s inaction regarding numerous allegations against Minister Dhananjay Munde, accusing the government of a “shameless stance” and a lack of accountability. He also criticized the Maharashtra Police’s failure to locate the phone of an accused in the Santosh Deshmukh case, raising concerns about their effectiveness.
The Congress leader further highlighted the Mahayuti government’s alleged failures in addressing crucial issues affecting the state’s population. He cited unpaid dues to farmers for crops like paddy and soybeans, delayed subsidies for drip irrigation, and six months of unpaid wages under the MGNREGA scheme, linking these failures to the recent suicide of a laborer in Gadchiroli. He also condemned the withholding of scholarships for OBC students.
Wadettiwar concluded by alleging that the state government, facing financial difficulties, is diverting attention from pressing problems by creating internal conflicts among ministers and neglecting fundamental issues. He called for immediate action to address these grievances.
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