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Tuesday,09-September-2025
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Attacks on RTC drivers in Maha: Bandh evokes mixed response in K’taka; activists slam cops’ high-handedness

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Bengaluru, March 22: The Karnataka bandh, called on Saturday to condemn the attack on RTC drivers for not speaking Marathi in Belagavi and Maharashtra, evoked a mixed response across the state. Thousands of Kannada activists staged protests at district headquarters, and police detained hundreds of them.

The protestors have also placed about 20 demands before the government in the interest of Kannada language and state.

Authorities made tight security arrangements in Bengaluru and denied permission for Kannada activists to stage a protest at Town Hall, a major junction in the city.

Police personnel outnumbered the protesters at the venue and transported them to Freedom Park in RTC buses. Fifteen RTC buses were stationed at the spot, and as protesters gathered, they were boarded onto these buses and dropped off at Freedom Park.

Permission for a protest march from Town Hall to Freedom Park was also denied. Since Town Hall is located in a key junction within Bengaluru’s Central Business District, any disruption there was expected to have widespread effects.

In Belagavi, where the attack on Karnataka RTC staff for not speaking Marathi initially occurred — triggering similar attacks on drivers from Maharashtra in Karnataka and vice versa — the bandh was total.

Buses from Maharashtra did not enter Karnataka, and authorities increased security to ensure the safety of the large Marathi-speaking population in the bordering region.

The bandh was also total in Mandya, Chikkamagaluru, Bagalkot, Hubballi-Dharwad, Chamarajanagar, Bidar, and other districts. In some parts of the state, the response was partial and mixed.

Vatal Nagaraj, Chairman of Kannada Okkuta (Federation of Kannada Organisations), an umbrella body of pro-Kannada and other groups, declared on Saturday that the state-wide bandh was successful.

“I congratulate all activists and organisations across the state for participating in the protest. The bandh has been total in all districts,” he stated.

“We have presented our demands to the government, the people, and the nation. The Bengaluru police acted with highhandedness to obstruct the bandh, arresting about 3,000 Kannada activists on Friday night alone. They also indiscriminately served notices,” he alleged.

He further criticised the Bengaluru Police Commissioner, stating, “It seems he has taken it upon himself to ensure the bandh does not succeed. The previous Commissioner, Bhaskar Rao, entered politics after retirement. If the current Commissioner has similar plans, he is welcome to pursue them,” he chided.

“The police insist that protests be staged at Freedom Park, which cannot accommodate even one percent of Bengaluru’s population. The Police Commissioner should conduct himself with dignity. I strongly disapprove of the attempts made to suppress the bandh,” he added.

“We have the capability to ensure that not even a drop of water is available to people during a bandh. This agitation will not stop here — it is a warning to the government. The authorities systematically used the police to prevent the bandh. But why are we protesting? Who are we protesting for? It is for the welfare of the state. Yet, the government has gone to the extent of trying to suppress the bandh,” he alleged.

Finally, he thanked the media and the people of Karnataka, stating, “I congratulate the media and the people of the state for making this bandh a success despite all the challenges.”

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Mumbai Weather Update: City Wakes Up To Sunny Skies After Relentless Rains For Past Few Weeks; Light Drizzles Expected

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Mumbai: Mumbai woke up to sunny skies on Tuesday morning after a stretch of relentless rains since the past few weeks. Unlike the past few days saw heavy and persistent rainfall, today’s forecast signals quieter conditions.

While the sky will remain overcast throughout the day, only light drizzles are expected in certain parts of the city. The maximum temperature is predicted to hover around 30°C, while the minimum will remain close to 25°C.

Thane and Navi Mumbai, both of which dealt with waterlogging in several pockets due to heavy showers earlier this month, are also likely to experience milder weather today. The forecast suggests occasional light rain but no significant downpours. Skies will stay cloudy, with temperatures ranging between 24°C and 30°C.

Palghar district, which has also endured continuous rainfall, is likely to see only light drizzle today. Overcast skies will dominate, with occasional spells of humidity causing a mild rise in discomfort. Temperatures are forecast between 24°C and 29°C. While the rainfall intensity is expected to remain low, residents can still anticipate damp and cloudy conditions.

In Raigad, Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg, districts that bore the brunt of torrential rains over the last two months, conditions have finally eased. For the first time in weeks, there are no alerts for heavy rainfall. Instead, the day will see scattered drizzles in some places and moderate showers in others.

Overall, the weather will remain mild, offering some respite to coastal towns that have faced flooding and travel disruptions. Daytime temperatures are set between 29°C and 31°C, a touch warmer than in recent weeks.

After two months of relentless downpours along the Konkan coast, a noticeable shift in the weather has finally brought much-needed relief to residents. Districts including Mumbai, Thane, Navi Mumbai, Palghar, Raigad, Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg, which have been under continuous heavy rainfall warnings, are now experiencing a break from the intense showers.

The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has confirmed that no fresh weather warnings are in place for the Konkan belt today. Although skies remain gloomy and the air humid, the absence of heavy showers is providing a much-needed breather to residents and civic authorities alike.

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Thane News: Concerns Raised Over Navratri Pandal Construction At Tembhi Naka Chowk Causing Traffic Delays

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Thane: The construction of a pavilion for the Navratri festival at Tembhinaka Chowk in Thane commenced today, causing significant traffic congestion. Although the Ghatsthapana is scheduled for September 22, the pavilion work will take approximately two weeks. The area, home to Thane Court, District Collector’s Office, and several schools and colleges, is expected to experience disruptions. Congestion is anticipated to peak during nighttime.

The Shri Jai Ambe Mata Public Navratri Festival, initiated by late Shiv Sena leader Anand Dighe, continues to be celebrated at Tembhinaka, which has seen increased urbanisation over time, necessitating the erection of an elaborate pavilion for the event.

Citizens from Thane, Mumbai, suburbs and various districts come to Tembhinaka for this festival to have darshan of the goddess. Due to this, this area takes on the form of a fair. Since Ghatsthapana is on September 22 this year, the work of erecting a pavilion here has been undertaken by the board from today. Therefore, the road open for traffic from Tembhinaka Chowk towards Court Naka has been closed.

A few meters away from Tembhinaka are the Thane Court, Thane District Collector’s Office and other government offices. Therefore, citizens from various parts of Thane district come here for work. Schools and colleges are also a few meters away from this area. Therefore, school buses also ply from here.

This road is also important for passengers and drivers traveling towards Thane Railway Station. But now that Tembhinaka Chowk is closed, the possibility of traffic jams is being expressed at Charai, Court Naka, Anand Ashram Road. Although the festival lasts for 11 days, the time required to erect the pavilion and remove the pavilion after Dussehra means that citizens are likely to be stuck in a jam for at least a month.

When the traffic police was asked about this, they said that temporary traffic changes have been implemented here. They clarified that traffic at Tembhinaka Chowk has been diverted to an alternative route.

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US Open 2025 Prize Money: Carlos Alcaraz Pockets ₹44 Crore After Beating Jannik Sinner In The Final

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Carlos Alcaraz on Sunday defeated Jannik Sinner in the US Open men’s singles final 6-2 3-6 6-1 6-4 at Arthur Ashe Stadium in New York and took home the largest prize money purse ever in tennis. Alcaraz claimed his second career Grand Slam title in the US Open, having earlier won in 2022, and a sixth overall in his career.

By winning the 2025 US Open title, Carlos Alcaraz won 44 crore ($5 million) as prize money a record in the tournament’s history. This year’s prize money went up from $3.6 million compared to last year. The event also upped the overall prize money to $90 million, up 20% from 2024.

Alcaraz claims his sixth major title and is the second youngest male player (22 years and 125 days) to reach six major titles, older only than Bjorn Borg. The Spaniard reached his seventh major final, and is tied with Jim Courier and Mats Wilander for second on the all-time list for major finals reached before turning 23.

The 22 year old has now won two Wimbledon titles on grass (2023 and 2024), two Roland Garros titles on clay (2024 and 2025) and two US Open titles on hard courts (2022 and 2025)

Sinner and Alcaraz have combined to win each of the last eight Grand Slam singles titles, the longest such streak since Federer and Nadal compiled 11 consecutive major titles from 2005-2007.

By reaching the final without dropping a single set, Alcaraz became the fourth men’s singles player to do so in the last 25 years, along with Lleyton Hewitt (2005), Rafael Nadal (2010) and Roger Federer (2015). Alcaraz has dominated the 2025 season with a tour-leading seven titles and the best record in men’s tennis at 61-6.

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