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Maharashtra

Toll-Free Mumbai: MNS Chief Raj Thackeray Welcomes Decision, Says ‘Our Longstanding Demand Is Finally Met’

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Mumbai: The Maharashtra cabinet of Monday surpirsed Mumbaikars by its decision to waive off tolls for all light motor vehicles entering Mumbai from all five entry points from 12 am tonight. As the commuters are taking a sign of relief with this announcement, the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray has welcomed cabinet’s decision and said that the long-standing demand has been finally fulfilled. Raj Thackeray has been demanding a toll-free Mumbai from 2013.

“After a long fight, Mumbaikars will finally get relief now. I hope this decision is permanent and the new government does not resume toll collection after the elections,” Raj Thackeray said, a reporter a Marathi news channel. Raj Thackeray has been raising the issue of toll collection in Mumbai for several years, highlighting the increasing costs. The MNS workers too at several incidents created uproar at the toll plazas.

“This is a victory of our MNS workers across Maharashtra, who have fought on ground to stop toll collection, many of them have cases registered against them and some have been to jail. They fought for people and I congratulate them. I Congratulate Thanekars, who have paid Rs 45 each to travel reach side for last 25 years,” said MNS leader Avinash Jadhav.

Ahead of Maharashtra assembly elections, the toll waiver is another major decision taken by the Mahayuti government too impress the voters. Toll waiver has been the longstanding demand of Mumbaikars. The five tolls at the Mumbai entry points where no toll will be collected from tonight are- Mulund-Eastern Expressway, Mulund LBS Road, Dahisar, Airoli, and Vashi.

Welcoming the decision, Minister Dada Bhuse said, “It is a big relief to Mumbaikars. Toll of Rs 45 and Rs 75 was been collected. The deadline to pay the toll was up to 2026 and was likely to be extended. The decision has benefited 2 lakh 80,000 vehicles. The government has taken into considering the financial load the toll waiver will bring while making this schedule.”

Toll free entry into Mumbai given in “last cabinet meeting” before polls.

86 similar measures were passed on Thursday’s cabinet, also announced as the final one before EC announced election.

Speaking with the media, Minister Sudhir Mungantiwar said, “Considering the integrated road development plan, the toll waiver for light vehicles is a welcoming decision.”

Maharashtra

Mumbai: Ferry Travelling From Gateway Of India To Elephanta Island Capsizes; Rescue Operation Underway 

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Mumbai: In a shocking incident, a ferry which was travelling from Mumbai’s Gateway of India to Elephanta Island started sinking in the Arabian Sea on Wednesday. There are reports that around 30 passengers onboard the ferry when the incident occurred. Rescue operation is being carried and the passengers are being taken out from the sinking boat.

As per reports, the boat named Neelkamal was traveling with 30 to 35 passengers onboard. Currently, a rescue operation is underway by the defense forces. Neelkamal ferry boat was hit by the Pilot vessel at stern which led to the capsize of the boat. The incident occurred near Uran, Kunja.

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Maharashtra

Maha Congress: BJP trying to ‘murder’ Indian democratic system through EVMs, ONOE

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Nagpur (Maharashtra), Dec 17: Continuing to take potshots at the government, Maharashtra Congress President Nana F. Patole claimed that the Bharatiya Janata Party-led NDA is attempting to ‘murder’ the Indian democratic system through Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), here on Tuesday.

Speaking to the media, Patole said that the EVMs used in the Lok Sabha elections were not utilised for the Maharashtra Assembly elections, for which EVMs were allegedly brought here from Gujarat.

“There is a gross misuse of EVMs. BJP members are sitting on the board of directors of the companies manufacturing EVMs. The EVMs deployed during the Lok Sabha polls were not used for the state Assembly polls and for this, the EVMs were sent from Gujarat,” contended Patole.

He again slammed the Election Commission of India (ECI) for “failing to exercise its constitutional powers” and alleged that all its operations are conducted at the behest of the BJP, “thus revealing their (ECI’s) mindset” – though the government and ECI have rubbished all anti-EVM allegations.

Taking a swipe at the One Nation-One Election, Patole added that the BJP-RSS’ machinations to end the country’s democracy are evident by the ‘One Nation, No Election’ bill brought before Parliament on Tuesday.

Earlier, the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) legislators continued their strong protests for the second day against EVMs, the plight of farmers, the custodial death of a Parbhani Dalit man Somnath Vyankat Suryawanshi in judicial custody, and the killing of a Beed Sarpanch Santosh Deshmukh.

The MVA legislators of Congress-Shiv Sena (UBT)-Nationalist Congress Party (SP) raised slogans and carried placards condemning the MahaYuti government, targeted the police for alleged atrocities in Parbhani and protecting the culprits in the Beed case, plus sought action against the officials concerned in both matters.

Amid the growing clamour from the Opposition, the Speaker said that the Parbhani matter would be taken up for discussion on Wednesday by the Assembly.

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Maharashtra

Rare bonhomie on display between Uddhav Thackeray and Devendra Fadnavis

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Nagpur, Dec 17: After a bitter fight and war of words during the recently held Assembly election, Shiv Sena-UBT chief Uddhav Thackeray on Tuesday met Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis in Vidahan Bhavan and congratulated him for MahaYuti’s victory.

Thackeray, who was accompanied by his son and former minister Aaditya Thackeray and party legislators, spent a few minutes in the CM’s chamber and gave him a bouquet wishing him his successful tenure. Both exchanged their views in a lighter atmosphere. A rare bonhomie between Thackeray and Fadnavis was on display.

“I wished Fadnavis for taking over as the chief minister and also congratulated him for MahaYuti’s victory in the state Assembly. There is a rich tradition in Maharashtra for a healthy dialogue between the ruling and opposition party leaders. I also wished him under his chief ministership Maharashtra will further progress,” said Thackeray.

Thackeray also met the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar and congratulated for his election as the Speaker.

The Shiv Sena-UBT chief has clarified that there was nothing political about his meeting with the chief minister.

Ahead of the Assembly election, Thackeray had slammed Fadnavis, likening him to an “insignificant dhekun (bed bug)” and stressing on the need “to get rid of it”. In another public meeting, Uddhav called him “tarbuz (watermelon)” that “should be dumped in potholes”.

Fadnavis hit back saying that something had affected Uddhav Thackeray’s health and he should get well soon.

Thackeray had recently targeted Fadnavis saying “Either you will remain, or I will.” However, after taking over the CM’s charge on December 5, Fadnavis downplayed Thackeray’s statement and said, “Both are in politics.”

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