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Maharashtra

Maharashtra Oppn slams gas price hike, terms it fallout of new ‘ED govt’

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The Opposition Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and the Congress on Wednesday attacked the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government at the Centre for the steep hike of Rs 50 in the prices of LPG cooking gas cylinders, terming it as a “fallout” of the new government assuming power in Maharashtra.

NCP Chief Spokesperson Mahesh Tapase said 50 MLAs from the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) rebelled against the then Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray and a week later, the cooking gas prices were increased by Rs 50.

“The 50 MLAs were taken to Surat, flown to Guwahati and then to Goa, everywhere pampered in deluxe hotels… The ‘invisible force’ behind that operation to topple the MVA government must have cost a huge amount. Is there any connection between the 50 MLAs and Rs 50 spike in gas cylinder prices,” Tapase asked.

He also referred to the development as a consequence of the ‘E.D.’ government — of Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis — as pointed out by the latter (Eknath-Devendra) last week.

In a sharp attack, Congress state President Nana Patole asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi how can the masses afford the huge hike of Rs 50 for domestic gas cylinders in the all round inflation.

“The Modi government has a new slogan now – ‘Na khaunga, Na pakaane doonga’. With the latest hike, the domestic gas cylinder prices have touched Rs 1,053,” Patole pointed out.

Tapase pointed out that barely 24 hours ago, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde had promised to reduce taxes on petrol-diesel and today, people got a shock when the BJP government hiked the gas cylinder prices, indicating that the reality is very different from perceptions.

Patole recalled how, ever since the Modi regime came to power, the inflation graph has been rising and the government has “failed to control” the price rise.

“Owing to the continuous price hikes, essential commodities have also gone out of reach of the common masses. In 2014 ,during the Congress-led UPA government, the gas cylinder cost Rs 450, ensuring the commoners were not hit by inflation,” said the Congress chief, adding: “The subsidies extended by former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh have also been removed by the Modi government, and Indians are using the most expensive gas in the world.”

Claiming that it is impossible to get a new gas connection, Patole said it cost Rs 2,200, plus Rs 4,400 security deposit, regulator price has gone up by Rs 100, and then highly-priced monthly refill cylinders costing Rs 1,000-plus.

Referring to the Centre’s figures of 9-crore gas connections given under the Ujjwala Yojana, Patole demanded to know how many of those beneficiaries can afford the revised cylinder prices, and now they cannot go back to kerosene which has been stopped to them.

“The economy is on downslide, the Indian Rupee falling daily against US Dollar, but the government has already looted the people of Rs 26 lakh crore on fuel taxes and filling its own coffers as the masses continue to suffer in the whirlpool of inflation,” said Patole.

The fresh increase in cooking gas prices has attracted severe flak even on the social media groups.

Maharashtra

Mumbai Ghatkopar dispute over Qurbani, police security increased, situation tense after objections to Qurbani, police monitoring

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Mumbai: A controversy has arisen over the Qurbani in Damodar Society in Mumbai’s Ghatkopar area. So far, the BMC has not granted permission for a temporary slaughterhouse in the society. Society member Bharatiya has alleged that before the sacrifice, goats are brought into the society and spread dirt and an atmosphere of fear is created here during the sacrifice because Hindus are migrating from this society while the sacrifice process has been going on in the society for the past twenty-five years. Society member Ishtiaq said that all festivals are celebrated in the society but only two women have objection and they are spoiling the atmosphere here because they have a personal issue with the society and therefore this issue is being given a Hindu-Muslim color.

He said that for the sacrifice, a canopy is prepared in the ground and the sacrifice is performed and cleanliness is also taken care of. Along with this, the meat is taken covered. He said that after the announcement of the mischief of Kirit Somaiya and the announcement of not allowing the sacrifice in the society, these two women have also complained here while the BMC society has contacted and if the society does not get permission, it will approach the court because the court has allowed the sacrifice before too. Muslims say that these two women are spoiling the atmosphere here due to the sacrifice issue. While there is peace and order and Hindu-Muslim unity here, only these two women have objections to the sacrifice. We will also knock on the door of the court to perform the sacrifice legally. After this controversy, the Vikhroli Park Site Police have tightened security arrangements.

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Crime

BMW-Borne Dacoity Foiled In Bhiwandi; 4 Held With Weapons, Arms Worth ₹17 Lakh Seized

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Mumbai: The Shantinagar Police arrested four dacoits before they could execute a planned dacoity in Bhiwandi. The police seized a pistol, a knife, an iron rod, four country-made revolvers, a rope, three masks, chili powder, and a BMW car from their possession. The accused have been identified as Soeb Shaheed Shaikh (23), Naushad Maqsood Alam Khan (22), and Aftab Afsar Shaikh (21), all residents of Bihar, while Shahabuddin Ansari (20) is a resident of Bhiwandi.

According to officials, on May 31, a patrolling team was on duty from the Shantinagar area to Shandar Market. Police Constable Prashant Barve received information that four to five men were seated inside a BMW car parked in an isolated spot at Shandar Market in Bhiwandi, and that they were carrying weapons.

Barve alerted his senior officials, who rushed to the location. Upon questioning the suspects, the police discovered weapons and other tools typically used for dacoity. The items seized included a car, country-made revolvers, an iron rod, a knife, and other items valued at over ₹17 lakh. The accused were brought to the police station after it was learned that they were preparing to commit a dacoity, which was foiled thanks to the alertness of Constable Barve.

An FIR has been registered against the accused under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. All four have been arrested and produced in court, where they were remanded to police custody for further investigation.

Vinayak Gaikwad, Senior Police Inspector of Shantinagar Police Station, stated, “We arrested the owner of the BMW car on Saturday night. During the investigation, it was revealed that a bodily offence had already been registered against Shahabuddin a year ago. He was released on bail. Further investigation is ongoing.”

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Maharashtra

Saudi-based Airline Ordered To Pay ₹1.25 Lakh To Mumbai Woman For Lost Baggage After Negligence, Absence In Consumer Panel Hearing

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Mumbai: A consumer disputes redressal commission has directed Saudi-based low-cost airline Flynas to pay Rs 1.25 lakh, along with applicable interest, to a passenger for the loss of her baggage. Additionally, the commission ordered the airline to pay Rs 10,000 as compensation for mental agony. The judgment was passed ex parte after Flynas failed to send any representative for the hearing.

The incident occurred in January 2024, when the complainant was flying back to Mumbai from Turkiye via Istanbul. While checking in at Istanbul airport, she handed over five bags to Flynas staff, but noticed that only four were tagged. When she raised the issue, she was handed a physical baggage tag for the fifth bag and reassured it would be sent to her destination along with the others.

However, upon arrival in Mumbai, the fifth bag was missing. Despite repeated attempts to communicate with the airline and locate the luggage, the bag was never found. Frustrated by the airline’s lack of assistance and inadequate response, the passenger approached the consumer commission seeking redressal.

After reviewing the case, the commission found that Flynas employees and officials had acted negligently while approaching the complainant. “The opposite party did not give any conclusive reply to the complaint made by the complainant. The actions of the opposite party in the said incident were not satisfactory,” the panel said in its April order, according to media reports.

The commission further criticised the airline for failing to take basic steps to resolve the issue. It pointed out that Flynas could have easily accessed CCTV footage or conducted an internal investigation to trace the missing bag, but made no visible effort. “The opposite party purposely avoided all the logical actions to find the lost bag,” the order noted.

The commission also referenced international aviation regulations, highlighting that the Montreal Convention of 1999 governs compensation for lost baggage on international flights between ratifying countries. The complainant had followed due legal procedure in filing the case, but the airline chose to ignore the proceedings, despite having prior knowledge. In light of these factors, the commission held Flynas accountable and passed the compensation order in favour of the complainant.

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