Mumbai: Maharashtra’s Deputy Chief Minister, Eknath Shinde, was honoured with the Mahadji Shinde Rashtra Gaurav Award on Tuesday. The award was presented in Delhi by former Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar. However, this event has sparked political controversy in Maharashtra. Sanjay Raut, spokesperson for Shiv Sena Uddhav Thackeray faction, has strongly criticised Pawar for honouring the person responsible for splitting their party.

Sanjay Raut Expresses Dissatisfaction On Sharad Pawar’s Actions

Speaking to the media, Raut expressed his disappointment, stating, “Maharashtra’s politics is taking a strange turn. We need to reassess who is deceiving whom and who is being deceived. Eknath Shinde, who toppled Maharashtra’s government and betrayed us, should not have been honoured by Sharad Pawar. That is our sentiment.”

He further added, “How will we face the people of Maharashtra now? While it’s true that there are no permanent friends or enemies in politics, those who have harmed Maharashtra and whom we consider its enemies should not be honored in this manner. It is a blow to Maharashtra’s pride and self-respect. This might be Pawar’s perspective, but the people of Maharashtra do not agree. We respect Sharad Pawar, but this decision has deeply hurt us.”

Raut stated that the honour given to Shinde was painful for Shiv Sena (UBT). “Those who split Shiv Sena are being felicitated, and this is causing us great anguish. Politics in Delhi might be different, but this has hurt us. Some things should be avoided in politics. Even if there are ongoing discussions between you and Ajit Pawar, we tread carefully before taking any step forward,” he said.

Literary Festivals Are Marketplace For Political Deals: Raut

He also criticised the political environment in Delhi, claiming that what was happening there was not a literary gathering but political bargaining. “This is not a literary festival; it’s a marketplace for political deals. Awards and honours are being handed out arbitrarily. What connection do these people have with literature? I question the organizers, did you go to Delhi for literary service or for political brokerage? What service have you done for Marathi literature? Instead of honouring those who uphold Maharashtra’s dignity, you are felicitating those who trample upon it. This is not a literary event but a political deal in Delhi,” Raut remarked.

Despite his criticism, Raut revealed that he had received an invitation to the event and planned to attend. “I have been invited, and I will go. Any true Marathi individual will not stay away,” he concluded.

Mumbai: Mumbai reported its first death due to Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) on Wednesday. A 53-year-old resident of Wadala, who worked at the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s BN Desai Hospital passed away after battling GBS. The patient was receiving treatment at Nair Hospital in Mumbai, where he ultimately succumbed to the illness.

In Pune, Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) has been actively affecting residents. A 37-year-old driver from Pune recently passed away due to GBS. The number of suspected and confirmed GBS cases in Pune has risen to 197, with five new cases reported.

As of yesterday, there were 192 reported cases of GBS, with 39 patients from the Pune Municipal Corporation area, 91 from newly added villages in the civic region, 29 from Pimpri Chinchwad, 25 from the rural Pune area and eight from other districts. Today, Pune has reported 5 new GBS cases bringing the total to 197, while the death toll remains at 7.

GBS Management in Maharashtra

With the rise in cases of Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) in Maharashtra, the Central government recently issued guidelines for the people of the state.

According to public health officials on Thursday, a high-level, multidisciplinary team from the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has provided the GBS guidelines to the state government.

Press Release Issued on January 27, by Ministry of Health and Family Welfare

The guidelines state that the Ministry has deployed a multi-disciplinary team to Pune, Maharashtra, to assist state health authorities in implementing public health measures and managing the growing number of suspected and confirmed GBS cases in the area.

The central team includes seven experts from the National Center for Disease Control (NCDC) Delhi, NIMHANS Bengaluru, the Regional Office of Health & Family Welfare and the National Institute for Virology (NIV), Pune. Three NIV experts had already been supporting local authorities, and the team has now been expanded.

The team will work closely with the state health departments to assess the situation on the ground and provide recommendations for necessary public health actions. The Union Health Ministry is actively monitoring the situation and coordinating with the state.

Deputy Director of Health Services and Rapid Response Team (RRT) who is managing the GBS situation. Dr.Radhakishan Pawar stated, “The guidelines are detailed and focus primarily on patient management. These will be shared with all local bodies, including the Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporations, Pune Rural, and other local authorities across the state.”

Mumbai: The examination centres where mass copying for classes 10 and 12 board exams is reported will be barred permanently, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has said.

Forty two cases of copying were reported on the first day of the HSC examination for class 12 on Tuesday, according to the Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education (MSBSHSE).

Maharashtra CM Asks Officials To Monitor Sensitive Examination Centres

Fadnavis on Tuesday asked officials to monitor sensitive examination centres through drones and video cameras. He directed the sacking of school employees or teachers if they were involved in facilitating copying.

The decision was taken in the state cabinet meeting on Tuesday.

Fadnavis also interacted with all district collectors and police officials and took stock of the preparation for exams.

The chief minister said district collectors should form special squads which should reach examination centres an hour before the exam starts and wait until the answer sheets are submitted to the custodian.

It is the joint responsibility of the district collector, superintendent of police, and chief executive officer of the Zilla parishad to prevent copying in exams. Similarly, in urban areas, it will be the responsibility of the municipal commissioner and police commissioner, he said.

Fadnavis also directed district collectors, superintendents of police and chief executive officers of Zilla Parishads to visit sensitive examination centres on the days when English, Mathematics and Science papers are scheduled.

About The Exam

The Class 12 board exams commenced at 3,373 centres in the state. The exams will continue till March 18.

Fadnavis said any unauthorised person should not be allowed in 100 metres from the examination centre. Steps should be taken to ensure students do not carry any material that can lead to copying in exams, he said.

It is also expected from the flying squad to effectively take steps to ensure copy-free examination, the CM said.

The State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education stated, “42 cases of copying were reported on the first day of HSC examination.” More than 15 lakh students appeared for the first paper, English, at more than 3,000 exam centres in the state.

Out of 42 cases of copying (malpractices), 26 were reported from Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, eight in Pune, three in Nashik, two each in Amravati and Nagpur and one in Latur.

Mumbai, Konkan, and Kolhapur registered zero cases of malpractice.

Meanwhile, a student appearing for the exam at a centre in Pune’s Narhe area tried to jump from the second floor. He suffered minor injuries and was taken to hospital, officials said.