Less than a week after the Kurla bus tragedy, Dikshit Rajput, a 27-year-old was crushed to death by a wet-lease BEST bus near the Shivaji Nagar junction in Govandi on Saturday. The family members of the youth have demanded that the undertaking’s contract drivers be trained rigorously to avoid such mishaps. Rajput was a member of the non-teaching staff at a reputed college in Vidyavihar. He is survived by his mother, father and younger brother. The Deonar police have registered an FIR and have also apprehended the driver Vinod Rankhambe, 39. Navnath Dhavale, DCP, Zone VI, said, “Rajput was taken to Rajawadi hospital where the doctors declared him dead. During the investigation, it was learnt that he had come in contact with the tyre of a BEST bus. We are investigating the matter and action will be taken according to the law.” (From left) Dikshit Rajput’s mother, Laxmi; father Vinod; and brother Vivek at their residence on Sunday. Pic/Rajesh Gupta According to Vivek, 26, the brother of the deceased, at the time of the incident, around 11.30 pm, Rajput was heading home from a party on his two-wheeler after dropping a friend off at Govandi and collecting a food parcel for his family. “Around 12.30 am on Sunday, my mother received a call and the police officer stated that my brother had met with an accident. By the time we reached the hospital, the doctors had declared him dead,” he said. “The bus was proceeding to Kurla bus station from Shivaji Nagar. The bus was operated by the BVG Group under the wet-lease model,” said a BEST official. Vivek told mid-day that the BEST must ensure its bus drivers are sufficiently trained. “This is the second such instance since the Kurla tragedy where life has been lost due to negligence. Before handing over heavy electric vehicles to outsourced drivers, the authorities must provide them with proper training. We demand strict action against all the accused.” A senior officer attached to the Deonar police said, “Rankhambe has around 15 years of experience in driving and was not drunk when the accident took place. We are investigating the root cause of the accident. We have examined CCTV footage but have not reached any conclusion as it was not clear. We have seized the bus.” The police are looking into whether he had been adequately trained before being allowed to operate the vehicle. Rankhambe has been booked by the Deonar police under Sections 106 (causing death by negligent or rash driving), 125 (an act endangering the life or safety of others) and 281 (rash and negligent driving) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. The police officer said, “An eyewitness has stated that a person on an Activa [Rajput] had landed in front of the rear tyre of the bus. It might have been difficult for him to control the two-wheeler as it was dark. However, we are investigating the incident.”
16 December,2024 07:03 AM IST | Mumbai | Apoorva AgasheLeaders of the Mahayuti alliance were sworn in as cabinet ministers in the Maharashtra government during a ceremony at Raj Bhavan in Nagpur on Sunday. The 10-day-old BJP-led alliance ministry in Maharashtra was expanded with 39 ministers being sworn in, taking its strength to 42. In the expansion, BJP got 19 ministerial berths, followed by 11 to Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena and nine for Ajit Pawar’s Nationalist Congress Party. While 33 legislators were sworn in as cabinet ministers, six took oath as ministers of state. Governor P C Radhakrishnan administered the oath to the new ministers at the ceremony held on the eve of the state legislature's winter session being held in Nagpur from December 16 to 21. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and deputy CMs Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar, who took oath in Mumbai on December 5, were present. BJP’s state unit chief Chandrashekhar Bawankule, along with Ashish Shelar, Ganesh Naik, Mangal Prabhat Lodha, Pankaja Munde, Girish Mahajan, Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil, Chandrakant Patil and Nitesh Rane were among those who took the oath. CM Devendra Fadnavis and his wife Amruta at a roadshow in Nagpur on Sunday. Pic/PTI Shiv Sena leaders Shambhuraj Desai, Dadaji Dagadu Bhuse, Sanjay Rathod, Uday Samant, Gulabrao Patil, and Sanjay Shirsat, representing Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde's faction, were also sworn in as ministers. NCP leaders Aditi Tatkare, Dhananjay Munde, and Hasan Mushrif were also inducted into the cabinet. The new cabinet includes state BJP chief Chandrashekhar Bawankule and Mumbai BJP president Ashish Shelar. The Mahayuti alliance had faced criticism from the Opposition for delaying the announcement of its cabinet despite holding a significant majority. In the November 20 Assembly polls, the Mahayuti swept to power, winning 230 out of 288 seats in the state. The BJP led with 132 seats, followed by Shinde's Shiv Sena with 57 and Pawar's NCP getting 41. Results of the elections were declared on November 23. MVA boycotts customary tea party The Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) will boycott the tea party to be hosted by the Maharashtra government on the eve of the state legislature’s winter session here on Sunday, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Ambadas Danve said. Danve said that although the Opposition’s strength in the Assembly may be less, it will, with its full force, take on the government on various issues, including those pertaining to farmers. The six-day duration of the winter session was too short, the leader of Opposition in the state legislative council added. Congress leader Vijay Wadettiwar also demanded an extension of the session. New Ministers BJP (19)1. Chandrashekhar Bawankule2. Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil3. Chandrakant Patil4. Girish Mahajan5. Ganesh Naik6. Mangal Prabhat Lodha7. Jaykumar Rawal8. Pankaja Munde9. Atul Save10. Ashok Uike11. Ashish Shelar12. Shivendrasinh Bhosale13. Jaykumar Gore14. Sanjay Savkare15. Nitesh Rane16. Akash Fundkar17. Madhuri Misal18. Pankaj Bhoyar19. Meghana Bordikar Shiv Sena (11)1. Gulabrao Patil2. Dada Bhuse3. Sanjay Rathod4. Uday Samant5. Shambhuraj Desai6. Sanjay Shirsat7. Pratap Sarnaik8. Bharat Gogawale9. Prakash Abitkar10. Ashish Jaiswal11. Yogesh Kadam NCP (9)1. Hasan Mushrif2. Dhananjay Munde3. Dattatray Bharne4. Aditi Tatkare5. Manikrao Kokate6. Narhari Zirwal7. Makrand Jadhav-Patil8. Babasaheb Patil9. Indranil Naik No of ministers sworn in from each party BJP20 Shiv Sena12 NCP10
16 December,2024 06:57 AM IST | Mumbai | A CorrespondentIllusion or real deal? A man walks past a hoarding depicting a fort in Konkan on Link Road in Borivli West. A star is born Chef Surender Mohan (centre) accepts the Michelin honour in Doha Indian cuisine is picking up Michelins by the dozen this year. After Vikas Khanna’s Bungalow, the most recent Indian-themed restaurant to earn the moniker is Jamavar Doha. Led by co-founder Samyukta Nair, and helmed by culinary director chef Surender Mohan, the restaurant earned a Michelin star in the inaugural Michelin Guide for Qatar last week. Describing it as a ‘moment of national pride,’ Mohan said, “I have been associated with Jamavar for the last 24 years ever since we started the first Jamavar in Bengaluru in 2001. Since that success, we have spread all over India, and later to London.” The Michelin star is an award for their aspirations to achieve authenticity, he added, “We wanted to achieve authenticity in every single dish. It is a challenge to maintain this authenticity on every single serving, with consistency. We achieved that standard with good ingredients, local products and authenticity. Now, when we mention Jamavar, patrons have high expectations.” Co-founder Samyukta Nair noted, “As an Indian, it fills me with immense pride to see Jamavar Doha receive this accolade. It’s a celebration of Indian ingenuity, talent, and passion. This milestone is not just for us but for India as a whole, proving that our culinary art is truly world-class.” Marseille magic in Mumbai The crew performs at an earlier concert Last weekend, French collective (La) Horde from the Ballet National de Marseille found new fans just a hop skip and jump away in Colaba. The group presented a new jumpstyle choreography titled To Da Bone as part of the cultural programming of the Embassy of France in India in collaboration with The French Institute in India and Alliance Française de Bombay. As for what might have struck a chord with Mumbaikars, a troupe member revealed, “Being a high-energy footwork-driven style, there exist some overlaps with Indian classical styles. While the contexts differ, the passion and dedication to movement create a unique connection.” AF Bombay director Laurent Vergain (below) seemed to agree, “I have been living in Mumbai for the past four months now, and for me, the city’s pace and spirit mirrors the dance form’s quick footwork and high energy beats. I believe that the audience witnessed a hint of the city of dreams in this dynamic event.” Wilsonian salute for Nissim Ezekiel Clippings from the students’ exhibition Wilson College, Chowpatty will ring in special celebrations of old boy, Nissim Ezekiel on his centennial birth anniversary today. “He studied English literature at Wilson between 1941 and 1945. He was an exemplary student. So, it is right to pay tribute to his talents through a new generation,” shared Vinita Mathew, head of department of English literature at the college. Today’s celebrations will be led by students of the English department who have created an exhibition centred on his poems. “In addition, we will have his daughter, Kalpana Ezekiel Chogle, as our guest of honour. Older daughter, Kavita Ezekiel Mendonca will also join us on Zoom to release her book, Nissim Ezekiel: Poet and Father. The students of the department have also choreographed a performance of his poems, as well as a recitation,” Mathew (right) revealed. An eco-friendly Christmas Children participate at a previous workshop by the group Christmas trees are often adorned by elements that have special significance. On December 21, the Roots Nature Club will host a workshop on Carter Road in Bandra for children above four years where they will scour for natural elements like twigs, branches, leaves and roots. In doing so, the children can learn about the special role that these elements play and how they contribute to the ecosystem. They will then get to place these elements on a Christmas tree, assembled by the club using similar items. This eco-friendly exercise will provide children with a platform to learn the importance of the key role that these elements play. “We often hold workshops for our members, and this is the idea for our Christmas edition. The inspiration stems from the idea of the ornaments of the Christmas tree that usually denote an item special to the person placing it,” Pooja Hemdev, founder, and the club’s lead facilitator, told this diarist.
16 December,2024 06:40 AM IST | Mumbai | Team mid-dayDo you know what the stars hold for you in terms of love life, career, business and personal wellness today? Well, read on to know your astrological predictions as per your zodiac sign for December 16. Aries March 21 – April 20The day unfolds as planned and work is completed fairly quickly. Meet a friend for coffee. Cosmic tip: Use valuable time to invest in chores that lessen the load, instead of daydreaming about the past. Taurus April 21 – May 20Life comes a full circle as new decisions have to be made regarding the future. Take time off to relax.Cosmic tip: Remember, reading is to the mind as exercise is to the body. GeminiMay 21 – June 21Continuing to help those who deserve your care and compassion reveals making positive karma. Cosmic tip: Do the work yourself to complete it in half the time. Cancer June 22 – July 23Chafing at the restrictions placed; know it is for the best in the given circumstances. Cosmic tip: Peacefully work through inner conflicts in a manner you feel is best. Leo July 24 - Aug 23Today is auspicious for signing legal documents. Continue investing in schemes that have brought good returns in the past. Cosmic tip: Look ahead with confidence at the thought of daybreak. Virgo Aug 24 – Sept 23Two courses of action are open for you. Completing work keeps you tied to the desk, but this has to be tackled.Cosmic tip: Continue being grateful for all the blessings in life. Libra Sept 24 – Oct 22Someone at home is stressed about an outcome. Allay their fears.Cosmic tip: Take care not to share information that’s important for you. People may not understand your obsession about it. Scorpio Oct 23 – Nov 22Something that was troubling you ends as suddenly as it began. Be peaceful. Eat home cooked food to heal digestion.Cosmic tip: Be aware of legalities if on a different kind of a path. Sagittarius Nov 23 – Dec 22A karmic cycle of wish fulfilment begins, so choose wishes with care. Do get enough sleep.Cosmic tip: Give the benefit of the doubt, stating your mind in as few words as is possible. Capricorn Dec 23 – Jan 20Having a good rapport and mutual trust is a good basis for being involved in a business together. A long-term relationship begins.Cosmic tip: Enjoy this karmic cycle of life being so good. Aquarius Jan 21 – Feb 19Be quite frank, refusing the person’s request if feeling imposed upon; your time is important to take care of your own work.Cosmic tip: Maintain priorities in an unsure scenario, which brings in constancy. Pisces Feb 20 – March 20Keep mind focused, not allowing it to run around in five different directions that bring more confusion. A trip out of town is enjoyable.Cosmic tip: Choose peace. Send out peaceful vibes.
16 December,2024 12:12 AM IST | Mumbai | Shirley BoseUnion Minister Ramdas Athawale expressed his disappointment on Sunday over the absence of any representation from his party, the Republican Party of India (A), in the recent Maharashtra Cabinet expansion. Athawale, who had previously been promised a ministry by Chief Minister (CM) Devendra Fadnavis, demanded at least one portfolio for his party, news agency ANI reported. According to ANI, Athawale claimed that he was not invited to the cabinet expansion ceremony, which was attended by Fadnavis and his deputies, Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar. "The swearing-in ceremony for the Maharashtra Cabinet expansion was held in Nagpur. The CM and Deputy CMs attended the event, but despite being part of the Mahayuti alliance, I did not even receive an invitation," he said. The Republican Party of India (A) performed well in the Vidhan Sabha elections. We held meetings with Devendra Fadnavis, and he promised to allocate at least one ministry to us. However, in this expansion, there is no representation from RPI(A). We demand at least one ministry in the Cabinet," Athawale was quoted as saying by ANI. Athawale’s remarks come after the swearing-in of the leaders from the Mahayuti alliance as Cabinet Ministers in a ceremony held at Raj Bhavan in Nagpur on Sunday. Among those sworn in were Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders, including the party's Maharashtra unit chief Chandrashekhar Bawankule, Ashish Shelar, Ganesh Naik, Mangal Prabhat Lodha, Pankaja Munde, Girish Mahajan, Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil, Chandrakant Patil, and Nitesh Rane. From the Shiv Sena, Shambhuraj Desai, Dadaji Dagadu Bhuse, Sanjay Rathod, Uday Samant, Gulabrao Patil, and Sanjay Shirsat were inducted as ministers. Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leaders Aditi Tatkare, Dhananjay Munde, and Hasan Mushrif were also sworn in as part of the Cabinet. Maharashtra Governor CP Radhakrishnan administered the oath of office to the newly appointed ministers. The cabinet expansion comes 10 days after CM Fadnavis and his two deputies were sworn in on December 5. The Mahayuti alliance had faced criticism from the opposition for the delay in announcing its cabinet despite holding a significant majority. In the Maharashtra Assembly Elections 2024, the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance secured a landslide victory, winning 235 of the 288 seats. BJP emerged as the single largest party with 132 seats, while Shiv Sena and NCP secured 57 and 41 seats, respectively. (With ANI inputs)
15 December,2024 10:29 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentA day before the winter session is set to commence, 39 Mahayuti leaders took oath as Maharashtra Ministers at Raj Bhavan in Nagpur on Sunday evening. Of these, 19 are of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), 11 of Shiv Sena and nine of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). Watch the oath-taking ceremony live here: 🕟 संध्या. ४.३३ वा. | १५-१२-२०२४📍राजभवन, नागपूर.LIVE | Oath Ceremonyनूतन मंत्र्यांचा शपथविधी समारंभ#Maharashtra #Nagpur #OathCeremony https://t.co/gXRPXNcvOT — Devendra Fadnavis (@Dev_Fadnavis) December 15, 2024 BJP's Maharashtra unit chief Chandrashekhar Bawankule, along with party's Mumbai President Ashish Shelar, Ganesh Naik, Mangal Prabhat Lodha, Pankaja Munde, Girish Mahajan, Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil, Chandrakant Patil, and Nitesh Rane, were among those who took the oath. From the Shiv Sena, Shambhuraj Desai, Dadaji Dagadu Bhuse, Sanjay Rathod, Uday Samant, Gulabrao Patil, and Sanjay Shirsat were sworn in as ministers. NCP leaders Aditi Tatkare, Dhananjay Munde, and Hasan Mushrif were inducted into the Cabinet as well. Here's the entire list of the ministers: Cabinet ministers Chandrashekhar Bawankule (BJP)Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil (BJP)Hasan Mushrif (NCP)Chandrakant Patil (BJP)Girish Mahajan (BJP)Gulabrao Patil (Shiv Sena)Ganesh Naik (BJP)Dada Bhuse (Shiv Sena)Sanjay Rathod (Shiv Sena)Dhananjay Munde (NCP)Mangal Prabhat Lodha (BJP)Uday Samant (Shiv Sena)Jaykumar Rawal (BJP)Pankaja Munde (BJP)Atul Save (BJP)Ashok Uike (BJP)Shambhuraj Desai (Shiv Sena)Ashish Shelar (BJP)Dattatray Bharne (NCP)Aditi Tatkare (NCP)Shivendrasinh Raje Bhosale (BJP)Manikrao Kokate (NCP)Jaykumar Gore (BJP)Narhari Zirwal (NCP)Sanjay Savkare (BJP)Sanjay Shirsat (Shiv Sena)Pratap Sarnaik (Shiv Sena)Bharat Gogawale (Shiv Sena)Makrand Jadhav Patil (NCP)Nitesh Rane (BJP)Akash Fundkar (BJP)Babasaheb Patil (NCP)Prakash Abitkar (Shiv Sena) Ministers of state Madhuri Misal (BJP)Ashish Jaiswal (Shiv Sena)Pankaj Bhoyar (BJP)Meghna Bordikar (BJP)Indranil Naik (NCP)Yogesh Kadam (Shiv Sena) Maharashtra Governor CP Radhakrishnan administered the oath to the new ministers. The ceremony was attended by CM Devendra Fadnavis and his deputies Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar. The Maharashtra Assembly Election 2024 witnessed a decisive victory for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Mahayuti alliance, which registered a landslide win with 235 seats in the 288-seat lower house. The November 23 results marked a significant milestone for BJP, which emerged as the single-largest party with 132 seats. Its allies Shiv Sena and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) made notable gains, winning 57 and 41 seats, respectively. The cabinet expansion is taking place after more than 10 days after Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and his two deputies, Shiv Sena chief Eknath Shinde and NCP head Ajit Pawar, were sworn in on December 5. The Mahayuti alliance had come under fire from the opposition for not naming its cabinet despite having an overwhelming majority. (With ANI inputs)
15 December,2024 07:08 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThe blaze which broke out in Poonam Chambers opposite Atria Mall on Annie Besant Road, Worli, in Mumbai on Sunday morning was doused after four hours of firefighting. The incident was reported at 11:39 am, with fire and emergency services mobilised shortly thereafter. According to the latest information by the Mumbai Fire Brigade (MFB), the blaze was doused at at 3.23 pm. The fire reportedly originated from the second floor of the basement-plus-ground plus-seven-storey commercial building and was confined to the area. MFB had declared the fire a Level-II blaze at 11:51 AM, indicating a more severe fire, requiring additional resources. Authorities responded swiftly, with multiple agencies, including MFB, local police, Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST), 108 Ambulance services, and the local ward staff being deployed to the scene. Eight fire engines and seven water tankers were used in the operation. The rescue teams worked together to contain the blaze and prevent it from spreading to other parts of the building, and by 2.04 pm, they were able to control the fire. Visuals from the site showed thick black smoke rising from the flames that were almost doused by the fire personnel. As per the latest updates, no injuries have been reported in the incident. The cause of the fire and the damage by it is yet to be determined. Earlier, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader and local legislator Aaditya Thackeray visited the spot.Speaking to ANI, Thackeray said, "Fire tenders are going inside and cooling operations will soon begin."(With ANI and PTI inputs)
15 December,2024 04:47 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThe opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) will boycott the tea party hosted by the Maharashtra government on the eve of the state legislature's winter session, set to take place on Sunday, Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) leader Ambadas Danve said, according to news agency PTI. Addressing a press conference in Nagpur, Danve stated that despite the opposition's reduced strength in the assembly, it would, with full force, confront the government on various issues, including those related to farmers. He also criticised the short duration of the six-day winter session of the Maharashtra legislature and called for an extension of the proceedings, stated PTI. Congress leader Vijay Wadettiwar echoed this demand, urging for the session to be prolonged, PTI reported. Devendra Fadnavis had taken the oath as Maharashtra chief minister, with Shiv Sena chief Eknath Shinde and NCP head Ajit Pawar sworn in as his deputies at a grand ceremony in Mumbai on December 5. In the November 20 assembly elections, the Mahayuti coalition registered a landslide victory, securing 230 out of 288 seats in the state. Fadnavis's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) won 132 seats, Shiv Sena 57 and NCP 41 seats. MVA, comprising the Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT), and NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar), performed poorly, winning just 46 seats. The cabinet expansion of the BJP-led Maharashtra government is scheduled for Sunday. Ahead of the state cabinet expansion, Fadnavis paid floral tributes to Babasaheb Ambedkar in Nagpur, news agency ANI reported. He also held a roadshow in the city, his first since the Mahayuti's resounding victory. Fadnavis was accompanied by his wife Amruta and Maharashtra BJP chief Chandrashekhar Bawankule. During the roadshow, Amruta expressed her joy and said, "It feels extremely delightful to see the love of the people. The responsibility has increased and we have to shoulder it." Pawar also arrived in Nagpur ahead of the first cabinet meeting and expansion of the state government, reported ANI. Shiv Sena Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) Bharatshet Gogawale announced that the oath-taking ceremony would take place at 4 pm. He confirmed that 12 MLAs from his party, including himself, would take the oath as ministers, with seven of them being new faces, ANI reported. (With ANI and PTI inputs)
15 December,2024 03:34 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentIn the lead-up to the much-anticipated Cabinet expansion in Maharashtra, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis held a grand roadshow in Nagpur on Sunday. Accompanied by his wife Amruta Fadnavis and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) state chief Chandrashekhar Bawankule, the Chief Minister greeted an enthusiastic crowd, underscoring his close connection to the city. "Nagpur city is my family, and my family is welcoming me," Fadnavis remarked during the roadshow, expressing his gratitude towards the people for their unwavering support. Meanwhile, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Ajit Pawar also arrived in Nagpur, ahead of the first Cabinet meeting of the BJP-led State government and the official expansion ceremony. Shiv Sena MLA Bharatshet Gogawale confirmed that the swearing-in ceremony is scheduled to take place at 4 pm on Sunday. According to Gogawale, twelve MLAs from the Shiv Sena, including himself, will be sworn in as ministers. Of these, seven are new inductees, while five are being retained from the previous team. “Oath ceremony will take place at 4 pm today. Seven people are new faces, and five are being repeated,” Gogawale said, as per ANI. BJP MLA Girish Mahajan expressed his elation upon being selected as a minister. "State BJP Chief Chandrashekhar Bawankule called me and informed me about my selection. This will be my third time taking oath as a Maharashtra Minister. I extend my heartfelt gratitude to the party," Mahajan stated, as per ANI reports. BJP national secretary Pankaja Munde also expressed her gratitude for being included in the new team. "I am delighted to be given this opportunity to work once again in the team of CM Devendra Fadnavis. I am thankful to PM Narendra Modi, Amit Shah, JP Nadda, and the party leadership," Munde said. However, not all leaders received a confirmation call. BJP MLA Shivendra Raje Bhosale revealed that he had not been contacted by the party leadership. "I have not received any phone call yet. Workers in the constituency have their expectations, but we will abide by the Chief Minister’s decision," Bhosale told ANI. Similarly, Shiv Sena MLA Uday Samant said he was yet to receive a call. "All those chosen by Eknath Shinde will handle their responsibilities well. Those who are selected will take the oath," he added. The Cabinet expansion comes over two weeks after Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and his two deputies, Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar, were sworn in on December 5. The delay had drawn criticism from the opposition, despite the ruling alliance holding an overwhelming majority. The BJP-led Mahayuti alliance secured a landslide victory in the Maharashtra Assembly Election 2024, winning 235 out of 288 seats. The BJP emerged as the largest party with 132 seats, while the Shiv Sena and NCP gained 57 and 41 seats, respectively. As per ANI reports, the expansion reflects the coalition’s efforts to balance responsibilities among its members, amidst high expectations from the alliance's decisive mandate. (With inputs from ANI)
15 December,2024 02:30 PM IST | NagpurA fire broke out at Poonam Chambers CHS, located opposite Atria Mall on Annie Besant Road, Worli, on the morning of 15th December 2024. The incident was reported at 11:39 AM, with fire and emergency services mobilised shortly after. According to the initial reports from the Mumbai Fire Brigade (MFB), the fire is believed to have been confined to the second-floor office of the seven-storey commercial building. The fire was significant enough to prompt the MFB to declare it a Level II fire at 11:51 AM, which signifies a more severe fire requiring additional resources. Authorities responded swiftly, with multiple agencies including the MFB, local police, BEST, 108 Ambulance services, and ward staff being deployed to the scene. These teams worked together to control the blaze and prevent it from spreading to other parts of the building. As per the latest updates, no injuries have been reported at this stage. The cause of the fire is yet to be determined, but emergency responders are working diligently to ensure that the situation is under control and that the building's occupants remain safe. At the time of the report, there were no further updates on the extent of the damage caused by the fire.
15 December,2024 01:05 PM IST | MumbaiShiv Sena (UBT) Member of Parliament (MP) Sanjay Raut on Sunday launched a sharp attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who, in his speech in the Lok Sabha, emphasised the importance of zero tolerance towards corruption. Raut questioned the sincerity of the Prime Minister's claims, pointing to the alleged corrupt leaders within the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), including Maharashtra's Deputy Chief Ministers Ajit Pawar and Eknath Shinde. Raut criticised PM Modi's stance, alleging that the presence of such figures within the BJP undermines the credibility of the Prime Minister’s anti-corruption rhetoric. He particularly targeted PM Modi’s ties with business magnate Gautam Adani, suggesting that Modi's tolerance of Adani’s business practices contradicted his professed stance on corruption. "Ask your 56-inch chest how many corrupt people are around me? He should ask himself. You (PM Modi) are tolerating Adani and yet talk about zero tolerance towards corruption. PM Modi never does what he says," Raut told reporters. Raut further levelled accusations against Ajit Pawar, the leader of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), and Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, calling them corrupt. He called on PM Modi to expel Ajit Pawar from the party alliance, saying, "He (PM Modi) should remove Ajit Pawar from the party (alliance). He took an oath in your 'great' presence... Eknath Shinde is one of the most corrupt leaders, and the other 10-12 people who came with him have undergone raids by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and Enforcement Directorate (ED). Can you dare to sideline them?" The criticism from Raut comes in the wake of PM Modi's address to the Lok Sabha on Saturday, in which he presented eleven pledges for India's future, including a firm commitment to inclusive development and zero tolerance for corruption. In his speech, PM Modi urged that there should be no social acceptance of corruption and that the people should take pride in following the country's laws and traditions. Prime Minister Modi also directed his ire towards the Congress, accusing the party of consistently disrespecting the Constitution. He referred to the Nehru-Gandhi family, alleging that each generation had disrespected the Constitution. "Congress has continuously disrespected the Constitution. It has made attempts to reduce its importance. The history of Congress is full of such examples," said PM Modi. Taking a dig at the Congress, the Prime Minister labelled its historic slogan ‘Garibi Hatao’ (Remove Poverty) as a mere "jumla" (empty rhetoric), while highlighting that his government was committed to alleviating the suffering of the poor. The two-day debate on 75 years of the Indian Constitution in the Lok Sabha commenced on Friday, with PM Modi concluding the discussions on a note of reaffirming his government’s commitment to constitutional values and free politics, devoid of dynastic rule. As per ANI reports, the Cabinet expansion is also expected to coincide with these political developments in Maharashtra. (With inputs from ANI)
15 December,2024 12:49 PM IST | MumbaiADVERTISEMENT
