Maharashtra
BJP leader warns NCP of fresh ‘expose’, Oppn denounces him
Virtually setting the cat among the pigeons, a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) activist Mohit Kamboj-Bharatiya, hinted that he would soon ‘expose’ a senior Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader, attracting loud howls of protests from the Opposition, here on Wednesday.
Kamboj-Bharatiya’s tweets came late on Tuesday — strategically, on the eve of the monsoon session of Maharashtra Legislature — “One NCP Big-Big leader will meet Nawab Malik and Anil Deshmukh soon!”
He followed up with another missive – “The irrigation scam case should be investigated again which was closed in 2019 by Param Bir Singh”.
Kamboj-Bharatiya said he would soon hold a press conference and reveal the NCP leader, his assets in India and abroad, benami properties, assets in his girlfriend’s name, corruption done as a minister in various ministries, and his family income and assets details.
He also urged Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and BJP’s Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis to reopen the irrigation scam which had muddied the state politics a few years ago.
“Har Har Mahadev… Ab Tandaav Hoga,” added Kamboj-Bharatiya.
With the reference to the irrigation scam, the needle of suspicion immediately pointed at current NCP Leader of Opposition Ajit Pawar, the bete-noire of the ruling alliance, who has not yet reacted to the tweets.
However, other leaders of the Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) from NCP, Congress and Shiv Sena, besides anti-corruption activist Anjali Damania, slammed Kamboj-Bharatiya for the tweets.
“It’s a mystery… How does he (Kamboj-Bharatiya) come to know what the Enforcement Directorate (ED) is planning to do… Is he an agent of the probe agency,” an NCP MLC Amol Mitkari said.
Congress state President Nana Patole said all that the BJP is doing is threaten and terrorise the political opponents to silence them.
“The BJP has been consistently intimidating the Opposition parties by misusing the ED, CBI, IT, etc. Terrorising and blackmailing the political opponents has become the main business of the BJP but we are not scared and it will not last long in a democracy,” Patole said sharply.
Sena leaders like Ambadas Danve, Aditya Thackeray, Vinayak Raut, Sacin Ahir and others slammed Kamboj-Bharatiya, questioned his links with the probe agencies, whether he was ‘authorised’ to speak on behalf of the ED, and demanded an investigation into his activities, too.
Later, for more effect, Kamboj-Bharatiya chronologically listed the NCP-Shiv Sena leaders and an ex-top cop — Deshmukh, Malik, ex-DGP Sanjay Pandey and Sena MP Sanjay Raut — all currently in custody in different alleged corruption cases filed by the ED.
At the bottom of the list with the 5th position shown as vacant, he appeared to gloat: “Our strike rate is 100 per cent!”
Damania, who had earlier campaigned to book the irrigation scam accused, while welcoming Kamboj-Bharatiya’s statement, questioned his motives and locus-standi as the warning came ahead of the assembly session, probably to subdue the Opposition.
Maharashtra
Mumbai: 3 Feared Dead After Ferry Travelling From Gateway Of India To Elephanta Island Capsizes
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.
As per reports, another speed boat which is said to be a patrolling boat collided with the ferry from behind due to which the ferry capsized. The collision led to the boat overturning, with around 50 passengers onboard. Rescue operations were immediately launched in coordination with the Navy, Coast Guard, and Marine Police.
A total of 15 boats have been deployed in the area, including 11 Navy boats, 3 Marine Police boats, and 1 Coast Guard boat. Additionally, four helicopters are actively conducting search and rescue (SAR) missions to locate and assist survivors. So far, 66 people have been rescued from the waters. Unfortunately, three casualties have been confirmed, with their bodies recovered. The exact number of missing persons and potential casualties remains uncertain as the rescue efforts continue.
Maharashtra
Maha Congress: BJP trying to ‘murder’ Indian democratic system through EVMs, ONOE
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.
Maharashtra
Rare bonhomie on display between Uddhav Thackeray and Devendra Fadnavis
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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