BJP MP Narayan Rane on Sunday slammed Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray over the party's announcement about contesting the local bodies elections solo, alleging that the latter's strength had diminished, reported news agency PTI. The Shiv Sena (UBT) on Saturday announced to contest local bodies polls solo, raising a question mark over the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi's unity. Party leader Sanjay Raut cited the lack of opportunities for workers of respective parties in an alliance and the right to organisational growth as the considerations for contesting solo. Raut said the INDIA bloc and MVA alliances - comprising Sena (UBT), Congress, and NCP (SP) - were meant for the Lok Sabha and state assembly elections. Reacting to the development, Rane said, "Uddhav Thackeray once spoke with confidence, but now his strength has diminished. What will happen if they contest alone? The party no longer has the capability. In two and a half years, he has lost what was achieved under Balasaheb Thackeray in 46 years," reported PTI. The announcement of the Shiv Sena (UBT) to go solo in local body elections comes amid rumours that the party is softening its criticism of the BJP and Fadnavis' "anything can happen in politics" remark. Asked about perception of growing closeness between the Sena (UBT) and BJP, the former union minister said, "I am unaware of it. It feels fine to me. Senior leaders will make a decision on this, and we will accept it." He also refused to comment on whether the BJP would contest the local body elections independently. Rane further hit out at Sena (UBT) MP Raut over his allegation that Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis was protecting the main accused in the Santosh Deshmukh murder case and the state government was safeguarding the mafia. He said, "When the Shiv Sena was in power, who was Raut protecting? Which mafia did he meet? What good deed landed him in prison? He should explain this first. The Shiv Sena (UBT) lacks credible voices, which is why Raut makes such statements." Asked about Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde's alleged displeasure over not getting another term as CM, Rane said, "Shinde did commendable work during his tenure. Since the BJP has more MLAs this time, the chief minister was from the party. Shinde cannot be upset as he is also a politician." (With inputs from PTI)
12 January,2025 02:44 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentWith the Shiv Sena (UBT) announcing that it would contest independently in the upcoming local bodies polls, leader Ambadas Danve on Sunday claimed that the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) is united but the equations of local bodies elections are different, PTI reported. Talking to PTI reporters in Pune, the Leader of the Opposition in the Maharashtra legislative council, alleged that the ruling Mahayuti was eager to break the MVA. The Uddhav Thackeray-led party on Saturday announced that it will contest local bodies polls solo. This move has raised concerns about the opposition bloc's unity. Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut stated that the lack of opportunities for workers of respective parties in an alliance and the right to organisational growth as the major considerations for contesting solo, PTI reported. Danve said, "The MVA is united. However, the equations for elections to the local governing body are different. The ruling parties are eager to break our alliance. But their wish won't be fulfilled." When asked about party leader Aaditya Thackeray's meeting with CM Fadnavis, he claimed, "There is nothing wrong with meeting the chief minister to discuss issues of the people if they will be solved at his level." As per PTI, Dave further attacked NCP leader and state minister Dhananjay Munde over the Beed's Massjog villages's sarpanch Santosh Deshmukh's murder case. "Criminals are being protected under Munde's leadership in Beed. So it is clear that such a person should not hold a constitutional post," he said. Deshmukh was kidnapped, tortured and killed on December 9, allegedly for opposing an extortion bid by a few individuals on an energy company helming a windmill project in the region. Walmik Karad, a close aide of Minister Munde, has been arrested in a related extortion case. "The government is protecting criminals. The accused who committed the murder contacted Karad multiple times. The complaint (of Deshmukh's abduction) was not registered because of pressure from Karad. Then why is he not being booked under section 302 (murder)?" he said. Dave also claimed that the number of beneficiaries for the PM Kisan Sanman Yojana has dropped, PTI cited. "Earlier, 1.21 crore farmers received aid under the PM Kisan Sanman Yojana. The number has come down to 81 lakh now. This will also happen with the Mukhya Mantri Majhi Laadki Bahin scheme for women," he claimed. (With PTI inputs)
12 January,2025 01:23 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentTwo gas cylinders exploded on a street food cart in Maharashtra's Parbhani, and no one was injured in the incident, an official from the fire department said on Sunday, reported news agency PTI. The blasts occurred on a 'vada pav' cart on Vasmat Road, and the fire department received a call at 12.11 am, the official said, reported PTI. Two gas cylinders on the cart exploded one after the other, he said, adding that there was no report of injuries to anyone. The official said the cart was destroyed in the blaze. The fire was doused in 30 minutes. 250 residents evacuated after fire in Thane building; no casualty Nearly 250 residents were evacuated after a fire broke out in a five-storey building in Maharashtra's Thane city on Sunday morning, civic officials said, reported PTI. No one was injured in the blaze which erupted at around 5 am in a laundry shop on the ground floor of the building located at Srinagar in the Wagle Estate area, Thane Municipal Corporation's disaster management cell chief Yasin Tadvi said, reported PTI. After being alerted, local fire personnel and the regional disaster management cell team members rushed to the spot to carry out the fire extinguishing operations and evacuated the building occupants, he said. The blaze was put out in about an hour following which the people were allowed to return to their apartments, the official said. The cause of the fire was under investigation, he added. Fire breaks out in hotel in Mumbai's Kurla; no report of injuries A fire broke out in a hotel in Mumbai's Kurla West area on Saturday, though there is no report of injuries at present, an official said. The blaze broke out in Rangoon Zaika Hotel on the arterial LBS Marg at 9:05 pm and four fire engines and four water tankers have been deployed for the dousing operation, he said. "It is a level one (less intensity) fire. There are no reports of injuries as of now. Civic officials, police, and power supply personnel are at the site to monitor the operation to douse the fire," the official informed. (With inputs from PTI)
12 January,2025 01:07 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentShiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut on Sunday said his party wants to go solo in the local bodies polls to strengthen its base and has never called for the dissolution of the opposition INDIA bloc or the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), reported news agency PTI. Raut's remarks came a day after he cited the lack of opportunities for workers of respective parties in an alliance and the right to organisational growth as the major considerations for contesting solo, which raised a question mark over the opposition bloc's unity. Speaking to reporters on Sunday, Raut said, "The Maha Vikas Aghadi was formed for the assembly polls and INDIA bloc for the Lok Sabha elections. The local body elections are meant to empower party workers and strengthen the organisation at the grassroots level," reported PTI. "I or my party have never said that the INDIA bloc or the Maha Vikas Aghadi should be dissolved," the Rajya Sabha member added, reported PTI. The INDIA bloc and MVA alliances include the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT), Congress, and Sharad Pawar's NCP (SP). Asked about the Congress leaders criticising him over comments regarding plans to go alone in the polls, Raut said the grand old party's members should listen to his full comments before reacting. "The Congress leaders should have the habit of listening to others," he said, reported PTI. Raut said the Shiv Sena (UBT) wants to ensure its 'flaming torch' (poll) symbol reaches voters at the grassroots level. The MVA allies should now work at the booth level to strengthen its parties and their workers, he said. "We have time as there are four-and-a-half years for the next Lok Sabha and Maharashtra assembly elections," the Sena (UBT) leader said, reported PTI. Asked about NCP (SP) head Sharad Pawar's discussion with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on bringing peace in Beed and Parbhani, Raut said Maharashtra is stunned after the assembly poll results. "Peace cannot come by giving protection to the killers of sarpanch Santosh Deshmukh and Somnath Suryavanshi," he said, reported PTI. The brutal murder of Santosh Deshmukh, the sarpanch of Massajog village in Beed district, on December 9 has triggered a slugfest between the ruling and opposition parties as one of the persons held in a related extortion case is a close associate of state minister Dhananjay Munde. The incident has led to widespread protests in the state and also given rise to fears of a caste conflict since Deshmukh was a Maratha and some of those held hail from the Vanjari community. Somnath Suryavanshi, who was arrested following violence in Parbhani on December 10 after a replica of the Constitution was vandalised, died on December 15 after he was rushed to a hospital from jail following a sudden illness. The ruling Mahayuti alliance of BJP, Shiv Sena and NCP won 230 of the state's 288 seats in the November 2024 assembly polls, shrinking MVA's tally to 46 seats, with Sena (UBT), Congress, and NCP (SP) each contributing 20, 16 and 10 seats, respectively. (With inputs from PTI)
12 January,2025 12:58 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentOn top of the news A man reads the newspaper under a patch of sunlight in a chawl in Parel A reading haven A moment from a previous reading session of the club As part of the Architecture and Design Film Festival starting today, city-based reading club Juhu Reads will be hosting a reading session at NCPA on January 12. Focussing on the idea of availability and accessibility of public spaces for community-based activities, the co-curator of the club, Shrishti Khanna (inset) told us, “This session is just another way of continuing what we’ve been doing with Juhu Reads — recreating public spaces as places of connection and leisure. The festival’s themes of sustainability, design, and public spaces feel like a natural extension of what we’ve been doing. It will be a silent reading circle where anyone can bring anything they’d like to read. The focus isn’t on formal discussions but rather on coming together in stillness and turning a public space into a little haven.” Nostalgia times with Shabana and Kaifi Azmi Kaifi Azmi (right) with his daughter, Shabana Azmi. Pic courtesy/Instagram On the occasion of Kaifi Azmi’s birth anniversary (January 14), Bhendi Bazaar-based cultural association, Urdu Markaz is organising a Kaifi Azmi Walk from Madanpura to Byculla this Sunday, to be led by his daughter, Shabana Azmi. “This is the first edition of a six-month-long series of culture walks that we have planned, starting with Kaifi Azmi. The idea is to take people through iconic spots and places in the city which have a connection to him. Kaifi Azmi was an extremely important figure in the literary scene of the past century, and this is our way of honouring his indelible impact on the cultural fabric of the country,” Zubair Azmi, founder, told this diarist. The battle of poets begins After creating a platform for spoken verse enthusiasts to find a creative outlet, Tape A Tale founder Kopal Khanna (below) is now taking the initiative to the next level. Collaborating with stand-up comic Samay Raina, Khanna has set out to begin an inaugural poetry show, India’s Kavya Samrat. “We have already received a lot of submissions, and hope to shoot it sometime this month for a release early this year in Mumbai. As a platform, we have always hosted new talent who could send us emails, and reach out for an opportunity. This is a turn to a wider search akin to Indian Idol, but for poetry. We will have entrants from all over the country competing across several rounds,” Khanna told this diarist. Those who are interested can check @tapeatale on Instagram for more details. We run the show Akshada Patil (right) in a moment from a previous running session City-based runner Akshada Patil is inviting Mumbaikars to a lively party in Juhu this weekend. The kicker? You’d have to finish a 4km run to be on the guestlist. “The Run and Rave concept has been around for some time in Europe. I reckoned Mumbai could use a similar incentive to get off their couches,” Patil told us. Those who wish to participate in this unique initiative can log on to @overlydaa on Instagram. Nature on our mind A volunteer clears a trail of dry leaves (right) a signboard at the forest With the increase in pollution levels and a highly unpredictable weather, we think it is high time to start reparations with nature, starting with the lungs of our ecosystem — forests. iNaturewatch Foundation, an organisation working in the field of urban biodiversity recently put up sign boards warning people of forest fires at the Taloja Hill forest in Kharghar. “We have been engaged in the process of reforestation and eco-restoration for quite some time now. Every year, during the winter months we hear news of forest fires due to the collection of dry foliage on the ground. Last month, a fire burnt close to 100 saplings that we had planted in the forest. We have placed signboards warning people of potential forest fire activities in both Marathi and English. We have also cleared forest trails with dry grass and marked spaces where birds reside, so as to preserve the biodiversity of the forest,” Dr V Shubhalaxmi (inset), founder, signed off.
12 January,2025 12:09 PM IST | Mumbai | Team mid-dayNCP (SP) head Sharad Pawar has said he has spoken to Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on efforts to normalise the social tension gripping Beed and Parbhani after the murder of a sarpanch and death of a Dalit youth in judicial custody, reported news agency PTI. United efforts are required to restore normalcy and resolve issues in Beed and Parbhani, Pawar said on Saturday, reported PTI. The brutal murder of Santosh Deshmukh, the sarpanch of Massajog village in Beed district, on December 9 has triggered a slugfest between the ruling and opposition parties as one of the persons held in a related extortion case is a close associate of state minister Dhananjay Munde. The incident has led to widespread protests in the state and also given rise to fears of a caste conflict since Deshmukh was a Maratha and some of those held hail from the Vanjari community. Somnath Suryavanshi, who was arrested following violence in Parbhani on December 10 after a replica of the Constitution was vandalised, died on December 15 after he was rushed to a hospital from jail following sudden illness. Speaking at an event in Pune, Pawar cited his experience as chief minister in dealing with the devastating Latur earthquake, in which more than 10,000 persons died in 1993 and the serial blasts in Mumbai the same year, reported PTI. The people of Maharashtra were socially aware and always stood united and cooperated with the administration in crises, the former Union minister pointed out. "It requires a united effort to restore normalcy and a chief minister cannot do it alone. I held a detailed discussion with CM Fadnavis today over the prevailing situation in Beed and Parbhani after these incidents. Most of my time these days is devoted on how to normalise the situation and resolve issues in Beed and Parbhani," Pawar said, reported PTI. "People who lived harmoniously are now living in fear and have developed animosity for one another. I spoke to the CM. We may have political differences but come what may, we have to work to keep people united," he asserted, reported PTI. Sharad Pawar praised RSS after seeing how it burst fake narrative balloon of LS polls: Fadnavis Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Friday said NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar praised the RSS after realising how the outfit managed to overcome the fake narrative spread by the opposition in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. On Pawar praising the RSS recently, the CM said the MVA was successful in creating a fake narrative during the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. "When assembly polls were approaching, many people from diverse fields who are inspired by the RSS played their role and burst the balloon of this fake narrative. Sharad Pawar saheb is very intelligent. He would have certainly studied this aspect. He realised that this (RSS) is not a regular political power but a nationalist power. In any competition it is good to praise others," he added. (With inputs from PTI)
12 January,2025 11:08 AM IST | Pune | mid-day online correspondentThe Maharashtra BJP's convention in Shirdi on Sunday, to be attended by Union minister Amit Shah, is expected to fine-tune its strategies for the local body polls, building on its impressive show in the 2024 state assembly polls. The state-level convention is the BJP's first major gathering since its win in the November 2024 assembly polls and formation of government under its leader Devendra Fadnavis. Senior BJP leader Shah is expected to address the party workers during the event, at the Shirdi temple town in Ahilyanagar district, which is likely to see the participation of nearly 15,000 delegates. The BJP has now shifted focus on the local body polls, including in Mumbai, and the convention is aimed at formulating strategies for them, a party functionary said, reported PTI. The convention will focus on strengthening the party's position in 27 municipal corporations by discussing strategies, addressing ground-level challenges, and planning organisational changes, he said, reported PTI. Speaking to reporters on Saturday evening, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said, "This convention is about expressing our gratitude towards the party functionaries and workers. We will also get a new task for our party workers." Fadnavis is set to meet district party leaders, state office-bearers, newly elected legislators and ministers to discuss strategies and plans for the elections. Maharashtra BJP president Chandrashekhar Bawankule will open the event proceedings and Fadnavis will propose a resolution thanking the people of the state for their support in the assembly elections, a party functionary said, reported PTI. Amit Shah will also address the event. A youth-focused campaign, inspired by the philosophy of Swami Vivekananda, will be launched to coincide with the National Youth Day, celebrated on January 12 every year in commemoration of the spiritual leader, sources told PTI. Ex-minister Ravindra Chavan appointed Maharashtra BJP working president MLA and former Maharashtra minister Ravindra Chavan was appointed as the working president of the BJP's state unit on Saturday, the party said in a release. The release said the appointment is with immediate effect. BJP's Maharashtra unit is scheduled to hold a daylong convention in the temple town of Shirdi, around 240km from Mumbai, in Ahilyanagar district on Sunday. Chavan (54) is a four-term MLA from Dombivali in Thane district. He was not inducted as a minister in the new BJP-led Mahayuti government. It was speculated that he might replace Chandrashekhar Bawankule, who has taken charge as the revenue minister, as the state BJP president. Chavan had earlier served as a minister of state and was a cabinet minister from 2022 to 2024. (With inputs from PTI)
12 January,2025 10:58 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentCivic officials said that nearly 250 residents were evacuated after a fire broke out in a five-storey building in Maharashtra's Thane city on Sunday morning, reported news agency PTI. No one was injured in the blaze which erupted at around 5 am in a laundry shop on the ground floor of the building located at Srinagar in Wagle Estate area, Thane Municipal Corporation's disaster management cell chief Yasin Tadvi said, reported PTI. After being alerted, local fire personnel and the regional disaster management cell team members rushed to the spot to carry out the fire extinguishing operations and evacuated the building occupants, he said, reported PTI. The blaze was put out in about an hour following which the people were allowed to return to their apartments, the official said. The cause of fire was under investigation, he added. Fire breaks out in hotel in Mumbai's Kurla A fire broke out in a hotel in Mumbai's Kurla West area on Saturday, though there is no report of injuries at present, an official said, reported PTI. The blaze broke out in Rangoon Zaika Hotel on the arterial LBS Marg at 9:05 pm and four fire engines and four water tankers have been deployed for the dousing operation, he said, reported PTI. "It is a level one (less intensity) fire. There are no report of injuries as of now. Civic officials, police, power supply personnel are at the site to monitor the operation to douse the fire," the official informed. Part of one-storey building collapses in Navi Mumbai A portion of an old, one-storey building in a bustling market place collapsed in Navi Mumbai on Saturday, fire officials said, reported PTI. There were no occupants in the structure, located on a narrow lane at the Janta Market in Turbhe, when a part of it came crashing down in the afternoon, they said, reported PTI. It was immediately not known how old the building was. Civic teams are clearing the area to ensure that no one is trapped under the debris, said an official. The Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation has urged locals to avoid the vicinity while efforts are underway to secure the area, he said. (With inputs from PTI)
12 January,2025 10:37 AM IST | Thane | mid-day online correspondentOn Sunday, the minimum temperature in Mumbai reached 17.8 degrees Celsius. According to the latest Mumbai weather updates from the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), Mumbai is expected to experience a partly cloudy sky on Sunday, January 12. Temperatures will range from a cool 20 degrees Celsius in the morning to a warm 32 degrees Celsius during the day. The relative humidity is 60 percent. The sun rose at 07:15 AM and will set at 06:19 PM. According to the Mumbai weather updates of the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), Mumbai's Santacruz observatory in suburban Mumbai recorded a maximum temperature of 30.2 degrees Celsius and a minimum temperature of 17.8 degrees Celsius. The weather department's data showed that the city observatory in Colaba recorded a maximum temperature of 28 degrees Celsius and a minimum temperature of 20 degrees Celsius. The IMD’s latest Mumbai weather update forecasts a "partly cloudy sky" for the city and its suburbs over the next 24 hours. Mumbai weather updates: City's AQI in 'moderate' category On January 12, the Central Pollution Control Board’s SAMEER app reported in its latest Mumbai weather updates that the city’s air quality remained in the 'moderate' category, with an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 117 at 9:05 AM. As per the SAMEER app dashboard, many areas across Mumbai showed 'moderate' AQI. Byculla recorded 'moderate' air quality with an AQI of 130. Colaba, Ghatkopar and Malad recorded 'moderate' air quality with an AQI of 109, 143 and 159, respectively. Meanwhile, Mulund, Powai and Shivaji Nagar recorded 'good' air quality, with an AQI of 92, 76 and 73, respectively. According to data from the SAMEER app, Navi Mumbai recorded air quality in the 'moderate' category with an AQI of 120, while Thane registered a 'moderate' AQI of 149. The air quality index from 0 to 100 is considered 'good', 100 to 200 'moderate', 200 to 300 'poor', 300 to 400 'very poor' and from 400 to 500 or above 'severe'. Meanwhile, as air pollution levels continue to rise in Mumbai, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has revised guidelines issued last year for construction sites. The civic body will also form squads at the ward level to visit construction sites and act if guidelines are flouted. Sensor-based air pollution monitoring systems will be installed at all construction project work sites and immediate action to be taken if pollution levels are detected above the limit.
12 January,2025 09:33 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentA police official on Saturday said that a man was booked for allegedly cheating a family in Bhiwandi in Thane of Rs 8.87 lakh after promising to cure illness through black magic, reported news agency PTI. The accused has been identified as Hazrat Baba, a resident of Millat Nagar in Bhiwandi, the Shanti Nagar police station official said while sharing an update on the Thane crime, reported PTI. "He took advantage of the illness of the complainant's husband and son and took Rs 8.87 lakh after promising to cure them. He has indulged in bogus rituals since October 2023. The 46-year-old complainant approached police after realising her family was being duped," the official said while sharing an update on the Thane crime, reported PTI. Hazrat Baba was booked under Maharashtra Prevention and Eradication of Human Sacrifice and other Inhuman, Evil and Aghori Practices and Black Magic Act and Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, the official said while sharing an update on the Thane crime, reported PTI. He is yet to be arrested, the official informed. Call centre busted in Thane; man held for selling medicines illegally to US citizens A man was arrested for allegedly operating an illegal call centre and selling controlled medications to US citizens without authorisation, a Thane police official said on Saturday, reported PTI. Akash Ravendrasingh Yadav (31) was arrested on Friday after a raid by the Crime Unit of the Wagle Estate police, he added. "Posing as a representative of a legitimate pharmaceutical company, Yadav was selling controlled medications such as Soma, Tramadol, Viagra, Cialis, Tramadol, and Oxycodone. He was using Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP) technology connected to desktop computers to contact American citizens," the Kapurbawdi police station official said, reported PTI. "The illegal sale of controlled medications without proper authorization is a violation of both national and international regulations. We have seized several gadgets and accessories from the call centre. He was charged under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, Information Technology and Indian Telegraphic Act for cheating, impersonation and other offences," the official said. (With inputs from PTI)
12 January,2025 08:55 AM IST | Thane | mid-day online correspondentDays after Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan unveiled the University Grants Commission (UGC) draft policy for the appointment of teachers and academic staff to universities and colleges, it has been criticised as an alleged attempt to centralise and corporatise higher education. The draft, titled Minimum Qualifications for Appointment and Promotion of Teachers and Academic Staff in Universities and Colleges and Measures for Maintenance of Standards in Higher Education (Regulations, 2025), was released on January 6. It will remain in the public domain for feedback until February 5. The Students’ Federation of India (SFI) and the Progressive Students Forum have publicly opposed it and called on other student bodies to reject it. A statement issued by them reads: “Governments in several Opposition-ruled states, such as Tamil Nadu and Kerala, were already in conflict with their Governors—who also serve as Chancellors of several state-run universities—over the appointment of Vice-Chancellors. Now, the revised rules grant state Governors increased authority in the selection of Vice-Chancellors. It is quite evident that the candidate shortlisting and final selection processes remain opaque, lacking clarity on who will be called for interviews.” The statement adds: “Additionally, for the first time, the new draft regulations permit the consideration of industry experts and public sector veterans for Vice-Chancellor roles... This shift introduces corporate culture into the academic realm.” It also flags other concerns regarding promotions as well as reservations. A senior official from the state higher education department said: “This is just a draft policy and has been made open for objections and suggestions from the public. Anyone with doubts or objections can submit them to the UGC. There’s no need to jump to negative conclusions or issue protest warnings preemptively.”
12 January,2025 07:39 AM IST | Mumbai | Dipti SinghADVERTISEMENT
