Connect with us
Friday,15-August-2025
Breaking News

Maharashtra

Balasaheb Thackeray saved Modi after 2002 riots: Uddhhav slams BJP over ‘divisive’ Hindutva

Published

on

Maharashtra: Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray on Sunday targeted the BJP, saying Prime Minister Narendra Modi wouldn’t have come this far had Bal Thackeray not “saved” him when the then PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee had asked him to follow “rajdharma”.

He said Shiv Sena protected a political leadership for 25-30 years but they (BJP) didn’t want Sena and also the Akali Dal- the erstwhile members of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA).

“I fell out with BJP but I never abandoned Hindutva. The BJP is not Hindutva. Uttar Bharatiyas want answers on what Hindutva is. Hating each other is not Hindutva,” he told a gathering of north Indians in Mumbai.

“I fell out with BJP but I never abandoned Hindutva. The BJP is not Hindutva. Uttar Bharatiyas want answers on what Hindutva is. Hating each other is not Hindutva,” he told a gathering of north Indians in Mumbai.

Thackeray accused the BJP of creating a rift among Hindus

“For 25-30 years, Shiv Sena protected a political friendship. Hindutva meant warmth amongst us. They (BJP) didn’t want anyone. They didn’t want Akali Dal… Shiv Sena,” he said.

 “It was Balasaheb Thackeray who saved the current prime minister when Atalji (then prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee) wanted him to honour ‘Rajdharma’. But Balasaheb intervened saying it was the need of the hour. Had that not happened he (Modi) wouldn’t have reached here,” Thackeray said in an apparent reference to Vajpayee’s remarks asking then Gujarat chief minister Modi to follow “rajdharma” after the 2002 communal riots.

He said the Shiv Sena founder never nurtured hatred. “Being Hindu never meant being Marathi and hating north Indians. Balasaheb was against those who were anti-India irrespective of their religion,” he added.

Walked out of alliance to protect dignity: Uddhav Thackeray

Thackeray said he walked out of the alliance with BJP to protect his dignity and joined hands with the NCP and Congress to form the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) after the 2019 Maharashtra Assembly polls.

“…..Otherwise I would have been a slave with a belt around my neck just like some of my people have now become,” he said in an apparent reference to the rebel Shiv Sena MLAs who belong to the Balasahebanchi Shiv Sena faction led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.

Thackeray said he becomes a victim of the smear campaign whenever he meets north Indians or Muslims and questioned are raised on his Hindutva.

Thackeray spoke on PM Modi’s visit to Mumbai

“My meeting with you has been criticised. If I meet Muslims, it is said I have given up Hindutva. When PM Narendra Modi came to Mumbai two days back, whose kitchen did he go to? If I had done that I would have been called anti-Hindu.

“But if the prime minister does that then it is said he has a big heart. I want to make it clear we have nothing against the Bohra community. They are with us,” he said.

During his latest visit to Mumbai, the prime minister inaugurated the new Marol campus of the Aljamea-tus-Saifiyah Arabic Academy, a prominent educational institution of the Bohra community, and said he had come there as a family member of the community.

Maharashtra

₹3,000 Crore Cyprus-Based Betting Fraud: ED Freezes Mule Accounts Worth ₹110 Cr

Published

on

Mumbai, Aug 14: In a multi-city crackdown against a Cyprus-based illegal online betting platform, the ED has frozen Rs 110 crore parked in mule bank accounts as part of a Rs 3,000 crore fraud, an official said on Thursday.

Celebrities Linked to Promotion

Cricket stars Sunil Narine and Nicholas Pooran, a Bollywood actress and an Indian rap star were among the brand ambassadors of the platform Parimatch.

The ED initiated an investigation on the basis of an FIR registered by the Cyber Police Station, Mumbai, against Parimatch.com on complaints that it defrauded investors by luring them with high returns, generating over Rs 3,000 crore in a year.

Rejected Payment Aggregators Aided Transactions

The probe also uncovered that payment companies whose applications for Payment Aggregator licenses were rejected by the RBI, offered their services to Parimatch in the garb of technology service providers (TSPs) and offered their API (Application Programming Interface) to facilitate user fund collections, said an ED statement.

ED Seizes Evidence Across Multiple Cities

During the multicity searches, the Directorate of Enforcement (ED), Mumbai Zonal Office, seized incriminating documents and digital devices on Tuesday under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002 from 17 locations in Mumbai, Delhi, Noida, Jaipur, Surat, Madurai, Kanpur and Hyderabad.

The probe against Parimatch revealed that the platform gained visibility through aggressive marketing, including sponsorship of sports tournaments and partnerships with well-known celebrities

The ED said the platform also set up Indian entities to run surrogate advertisements under the names “Parimatch Sports” and “Parimatch News”. Payments to these agencies were made via foreign inward remittances.

Searches revealed that Parimatch routed users’ funds through mule accounts using different strategies across the country.

Complex Money Laundering Network Exposed

In one case, funds deposited by users into mule accounts were withdrawn in cash in a specific locality in Tamil Nadu. This cash was handed over to hawala operators, who used it to recharge virtual wallets of a UK-based company.

These wallets were then used to buy USDT cryptocurrency in the name of mule crypto accounts, operated by Parimatch agents.

Continue Reading

Maharashtra

Meat Ban Row: Security Heightens At Kalyan-Dombivli After Government Calls For Slaughterhouse Shut In Maharashtra

Published

on

Mumbai: Municipal corporations across Maharashtra, including Kalyan-Dombivli, Nagpur, Nashik, Malegaon, and Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, have ordered the closure of slaughterhouses and meat shops on August 15. These closures are part of a broader restriction that encompasses certain Hindu and Jain festivals. In Kalyan, heightened security has been implemented in response to potential protests from political parties and butcher associations against these local orders.

Reports and detail that officials are on alert due to warnings of agitation, including the possibility of setting up meat stalls and organizing gatherings near the Kalyan Dombivli Municipal Corporation (KDMC). Deputy Commissioner of Police, Atul Zende, mentioned that those engaging in such activities will be served notices, with prohibitory orders possibly issued to maintain public order.

The KDMC’s directive mandates all licensed slaughterhouses and butchers to remain closed from midnight on August 14 to midnight on August 15, under threat of legal action per the Maharashtra Municipal Corporation Act, 1949. In response to criticisms, KDMC Commissioner Abhinav Goel noted that such restrictions are not new, having been in place annually since 1988, and apply to other significant days, including Gandhi Jayanti and Mahavir Jayanti, based on recommendations by health officials.

Political responses have varied, with the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), led by Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, expressing disagreement with the closures. The BJP, part of the ruling coalition, has supported the directives referencing a 1988 state government resolution that empowers local bodies to enforce these restrictions. Questions have emerged regarding the historical context, as the initial implementation of the policy dates back to when NCP leader Sharad Pawar was chief minister.

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis asserted that the government is not concerned with regulating dietary choices, labeling the controversy unnecessary. Conversely, Pawar deemed the bans inappropriate and highlighted that such restrictions typically arise from religious sensitivities. Former Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA Aaditya Thackeray argued for the commissioner’s suspension, advocating against dietary regulations imposed by local authorities.

Opposition parties have criticized the Mahayuti government for creating distractions with “nonsensical” issues while neglecting more pressing matters. Allegations have surfaced that the BJP incites caste and communal tensions as a political strategy.

NCP (SP) MLA Jitendra Awhad announced he would host a mutton party on August 15 to showcase personal dietary freedoms. AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi has contended that the municipal orders are unconstitutional, questioning the connection between meat consumption and Independence Day observances.

Continue Reading

Maharashtra

E20 Petrol Rollout Races Ahead, Here’s How It Will Affect Mumbai’s Roads & Fuel Costs

Published

on

Mumbai: Mumbai motorists are set to experience a major change at fuel pumps as E20 petrol, a blend of 20 per cent ethanol and 80 per cent petrol, is now available across the city, well ahead of India’s original 2030 target. The move is part of the central government’s aggressive strategy to cut crude oil imports and curb carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from vehicles.

Benefits Of E20 Petrol

India, which had moved from E5 in 2003 to E10 by 2022, has now fast-tracked the E20 rollout by five years. Ethanol, typically made from sugarcane, corn or surplus grain, is considered a low-carbon fuel because the plants used in its production absorb the CO2 emitted when it is burned. This makes it cleaner than conventional petrol while reducing the country’s dependency on fossil fuels.

For Mumbai, a city where vehicular emissions contribute heavily to deteriorating air quality, the shift could help marginally improve pollution levels over time. The city has lakhs of registered vehicles, with traffic congestion ensuring that tailpipe emissions are a persistent environmental challenge. Cleaner-burning E20 could reduce this burden, though the impact will be gradual as older vehicles remain in circulation.

However, not all motorists will benefit equally. Owners of newer, E20-compatible vehicles may find the transition smooth, with some even experiencing marginal performance gains. But those driving older models could face reduced fuel efficiency, higher maintenance costs, and faster wear and tear on certain engine components. Mechanics in Mumbai have already reported queries from customers about potential retrofitting or adjustments needed to handle the new fuel.

Why Is India Pushing Towards E20?

Economically, the E20 push is aimed at cutting India’s massive oil import bill, which exceeds USD 130 billion (over Rs 1.1 lakh crore) annually, The move is aimed to boost the rural economy through increased ethanol demand. Maharashtra, with its extensive sugarcane belt, stands to gain from higher ethanol production, potentially benefiting farmers in western and central districts.

Fuel retailers in Mumbai, such as BPCL and IOCL, are reportedly ready for the shift, with most pumps already dispensing E20 alongside regular petrol. While prices are expected to remain close to current petrol rates, motorists could see varying mileage figures, especially during the early adaptation phase.

In the long run, policymakers hope that widespread adoption of E20 will make Mumbai’s roads greener and the nation’s energy security stronger, even if some drivers will have to adjust their budgets to accommodate the change.

Continue Reading

Trending