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Maharashtra

Amit Shah’s Ganeshotsav trip to Maharashtra may be devotional-cum-political

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 Over two months after the alliance government of Shiv Sena rebel faction leader and Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Bharatiya Janata Party’s Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis took charge, Union Home Minister Amit Shah is slated to visit Mumbai on September 5, at the height of the Ganeshotsav festival.

Shah’s customary annual visit to the state’s biggest festival for the past few years used to be a largely religious affair – visiting the Lalbaugcha Raja and other important venues, and taking ‘darshan’ of Lord Ganesha at the homes of several BJP bigwigs in the city.

This year, however, the devotional menu may be laced with a subtle political docket intended to strengthen the Shinde-Fadnavis regime – currently bedevilled by internal, external and legal hassles, plus other political ghosts.

Fadnavis acknowledged all the possibilities with a grin, indicating “there will be a political agenda” during Shah’s visit on Monday, but declined to elaborate.

The Shinde-Fadnavis government has been struggling to attain credibility among the masses after it toppled the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) of Shiv Sena-Nationalist Congress Party-Congress, led by Uddhav Thackeray.

The MVA has viciously targeted and vituperatively lampooned them for the manner in which the government came to power, with embarrassing choruses of “Khoke Ok” (boxes, implying Rs 50 crore), “traitors”, etc. haunting the “ED sarkar” and needling the 40-odd legislators of the rebel group who sneaked out from June 10 onwards.

The Thackeray-led Shiv Sena even went a step ahead comparing them with a famous Arabian Nights tale of 40 dubious characters, attracting howls of protests and bitter counter-attacks from the “turncoats”.

Shinde faced flak for the massive delays in the cabinet expansion with 18 Ministers – which took place 41 days after he and Fadnavis took oath on June 30 – followed by the hiccups in allocating portfolios, and the hanging swords of the legal tussle in the Supreme Court.

Now, he confronts discontent afresh with many MLAs from his and BJP side clamouring for ministerial berths, and while a second round of expansion may take a while, Shah may cast a benign “glance” and placate the restless legislators.

There is the pending issue of the proposed tie-up with Maharashtra Navnirman Sena President Raj Thackeray, which the BJP has been hoping for since the past over a couple of years.

Once a sharp BJP-baiter, Raj Thackeray apparently sobered up his pilgrimage to the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in August 2019, and now the “ED sarkar” is “after” him for a much-anticipated partnership, ahead of the upcoming crucial civic polls.

After recovering from a hip surgery, Raj Thackeray has been the flavour of the season for the BJP with a host of leaders calling on him, like Shinde, Fadnavis, state and city party heads Chandrashekhar Bawankule and Ashish Shelar, respectively, and others.

There’s intense speculation that Shah may home in on the reluctant Raj Thackeray and nudge him into a cooperative alliance – for the mutual benefit of MNS-BJP-Shinde Group – in the civic elections, to begin with, and get a “Thackeray” on the BJP side.

In recent weeks, some prominent Congressmen like ex-CM Ashok Chavan, have been doing multiple rounds of several BJP leaders, rattling the party’s state unit.

However, Congress leaders and Chavan have been claiming that these meetings pertain to “official or constituency-related works”, but the political grapevine is furiously spreading into a vineyard!

It is not immediately clear whether Shah will devote any attention to this new political development – that may well spell further doom for the MVA.

Maharashtra

‘Not What Indians Expected’: Sena UBT MP Priyanka Chaturvedi Raises Concerns Over India-US Trade Deal

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Mumbai: Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi on Tuesday, February 3, raised concerns over the trade deal signed between India and the United States, calling it significant but expressed disappointment over its terms. She said the manner in which tariffs and trade barriers were reduced was not what Indians expected. Her statements came as India and the United States agreed on a $500 billion-dollar trade deal under which Washington will bring down the reciprocal tariff on Indian goods to 18 per cent from the current 25 per cent.

While speaking to news agency media, she raised questions on the way tariffs were brought down, “The way we have brought tariffs and trade barriers down to zero… we agree to buy Venezuelan oil, stop buying Iranian oil, stop buying Russian oil, the trade barriers on agricultural goods have been removed from our markets.”

While the Sena UBT MP reiterated that the India-US trade agreement is important, she added that “what has come from Trump’s side doesn’t seem like a win-win situation at all.” Meanwhile, the announcement of the trade deal was made by US President Trump on Monday after a phone call with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

A late night tweet also came from PM Modi thanking Trump on behalf of the 1.4 billion people of India for the announcement. Taking to X, the Prime Minister wrote, “Wonderful to speak with my dear friend President Trump today. Delighted that Made in India products will now have a reduced tariff of 18%. When two large economies and the world’s largest democracies work together, it benefits our people and unlocks immense opportunities for mutually beneficial cooperation.”

Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal is likely to make a statement in Parliament on Tuesday on the India-US trade agreement, sources as reported by media. The sources added the minister is returning to Delhi from Mumbai to make the statement.

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Maharashtra

Over 1,250 Kg Of Waste Cleared From Nerul Mangroves On World Wetlands Day 2026 Drive

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Navi Mumbai: In a major boost to coastal conservation efforts, over 1,250 kg of waste was removed from the mangrove ecosystem at Sarsole Jetty, Nerul, during a large-scale clean-up drive organised on World Wetlands Day 2026 as part of CSR Project HARMONY – Henkel and Rotary for Mother Nature and You, in collaboration with Rotary Club of Navi Mumbai Joy of Giving (RCNM JOG) and Navi Mumbai Shapers.

The mangrove clean-up drive, held between 8 am and 10.30 am on Monday, witnessed the participation of over 120 volunteers, including 80 students from Karmaveer Bhaurao Patil (KBP) College, Vashi, along with representatives from NMMC, the Forest Department, Henkel employees, Beach Please India, Rotarians, and local environmental volunteers. The collected waste was systematically handled with the support of the NMMC Solid Waste Management Team.

The initiative highlighted the growing concern over waste accumulation in mangrove belts, which play a crucial role in protecting coastlines, supporting biodiversity, and mitigating climate impacts in urban regions like Navi Mumbai.

Alongside the clean-up, an awareness programme on wetlands and ecosystems was conducted at Jewels of Navi Mumbai, Nerul, engaging over 320 students and teachers from various schools. The session featured talks by noted environmentalist Stalin D and marine biologist Kshitija from the Mangrove Foundation, emphasising the importance of wetlands in climate resilience and sustainable urban development.

Adding a powerful cultural dimension to the programme, 20 children from the tribal belt of Tansa performed a street play titled “Saviours of Life”, presented by the Vanashakti Living Theatrical Group, drawing attention to environmental degradation and the urgent need for conservation.

The event was supported by key knowledge and on-ground partners including Vanashakti Foundation, Mangrove Foundation, and NMMC, and was graced by senior officials such as Dr Ajay Jaishree Siddheswar Gadade, Deputy Municipal Commissioner, Dnyaneshwar Rakshe, ACF Mangrove Division, and Sanjay Sandanshiv, Scientist Grade II-cum-Under Secretary, Environment and Climate Change Department, Government of Maharashtra.

Speaking on the occasion, Rtn Rekha Sankhala, President, Rotary Club of Navi Mumbai Joy of Giving, said wetlands are among the most vulnerable ecosystems despite their immense ecological value. “Through this Rotary–Henkel CSR initiative, we aim to create awareness and inspire collective action to protect wetlands that are vital for our cities and future generations,” she said.

The World Wetlands Day programme reaffirmed the role of citizen participation, youth engagement, and corporate–NGO collaboration in safeguarding Navi Mumbai’s fragile mangrove and wetland ecosystems.

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Crime

Mumbai Accident: 3 Injured As Speeding Mercedes Driven By 17-Year-Old Boy Crashes Inside Coastal Road Tunnel

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Mumbai: Three members of a family were injured after a speeding Mercedes, allegedly being driven by a 17-year-old boy, rammed into a car inside the Coastal Road tunnel in South Mumbai, police said.

The accident occurred in the early hours of Sunday.

The D B Marg police have registered a case against a businessman from the Agripada area, the Mercedes owner, his 18-year-old granddaughter and the latter’s 17-year-old male friend, who was driving the luxury car, an official said on Monday.

The accident took place inside the tunnel on the road when the speeding Mercedes, going towards South Mumbai, rammed into another vehicle from behind. The high-end four-wheeler then hit another car going ahead, he said.

Three members of a family, including a senior citizen woman, suffered injuries when the Mercedes hit the second car, the official said.

During the probe, it came to light that the Mercedes was being driven by a 17-year-old boy. He lost control of the vehicle inside the tunnel, leading to the accident, the official stated.

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