Mumbai: Around 250 passengers travelling to Dubai have been stranded at the Mumbai Airport as Air India flight gets delayed by more than four hours. Passengers reported that the airline claimed of a technical snag but ultimately asked the passengers to deboard and wait at transit lounge until further announcement.

About The Situation

Air India flight AI 909 scheduled to depart at 8.25am from Mumbai Airport was delayed by more than four hours leaving the passengers stranded at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport. While the flight was supposed to reach Dubai at 12.45pm, passengers were asked to deboard the airplane at 12pm and asked to wait at the transit lounge for two hours.

According to the details received from passengers, boarding had started for the flight at 7.30am. However, it was paused for some time claiming a small snag which resulted in a delay of one hour. Passengers were finally boarded by 9.30am but there was no announcement inside the airplane until 11.15 when the airline announced that the software would be updated in 15 mins.

Passengers On The Situation

Passengers alleged that the airline absurdly asked the passengers to deboard the flight without any proper reason. Passengers were asked to wait in the transit lounge for two hours until further update.

Shweta Powar, one of the passengers on the flight, told Media that, “There are kids and elderly people on the flight. Many started feeling nauseous and suffocated as they were packed inside a grounded plane for more than three hours. Nobody from Air India is available to answer our doubts and we have been left stranded. The airline needs to sense the responsibility towards their passengers.”

Mumbai: A young man demanding the use of Marathi was forced to apologise by a mob recently, sparking a major controversy. The incident took place on Thursday in Mumbra when a Marathi youth, Vishal Gawli, asked a non-local fruit vendor to converse in Marathi.

In retaliation, the vendor and a crowd compelled him to apologise in Hindi and hold his ears. The Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) has expressed outrage over this incident, while the Mumbra police, instead of supporting the Marathi youth, filed a non-cognizable offence against him based on the complaints of the fruit vendors.

Avinash Jadhav Expresses Frustration Over Language Dispute Incidents

Speaking to Marathi news channels, MNS leader Avinash Jadhav said, “This is the fourth incident in the Thane district alone, following similar cases in Kalyan, Thane, and Nalasopara. If a boy asking someone to speak in Marathi has to apologize in Maharashtra, it is deeply unfortunate. What is the point of granting Marathi the status of a classical language if no laws are in place to protect its dignity?”

Jadhav stressed the need for laws alongside recognition of Marathi as a classical language. “If Marathi is not respected in Maharashtra, then what use is this status? There must be a law stating that derogatory remarks or refusal to acknowledge Marathi will result in legal action. I will approach the DCP about this incident. It is appalling that those opposing the youth had the audacity to shout slogans at the police station and demand action against him,” he stated. He also demanded immediate action against the mob, highlighting that the youth was threatened and humiliated for defending Marathi.

Jadhav’s Warning To Anyone Who Tries To Harm The Youth

Expressing strong support for Vishal Gawli, Jadhav declared, “The boy is scared now, but the MNS stands firmly by him. If anyone dares to harm him, we will enter their homes and show them what the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena is capable of.”

What Exactly Led To The Controversy?

The incident occurred when Vishal, visiting a fruit vendor to purchase goods, inquired about prices in Marathi. The vendor, Shoaib Qureshi, became agitated, stating he could only speak Hindi. When Vishal questioned why the vendor, living in Maharashtra, didn’t know Marathi, a heated argument broke out, drawing a large crowd. The mob forced Vishal to apologise, and a video of the incident went viral. The youth was eventually handed over to the police, who registered a case against him.

Mumbai: The Bombay High Court had directed the State government to ensure smooth implementation of Mukhyamantri ‘Majhi Ladki Bahin’ Scheme while disposing of a PIL by NGO Prameya Welfare Foundation.

The plea filed by the NGO sought directions to the state government for the effective implementation of the Scheme. The NGO highlighted challenges faced by eligible women in filing and uploading applications for the scheme, which was introduced in June 2024 and subsequently revised twice.

The state government, through an affidavit filed by the Deputy Secretary of the concerned department, informed the court about steps taken to address the initial difficulties. The affidavit stated that 11 agencies across various departments were assigned to assist women in submitting their applications. Of the 2.51 crore applications received, over 2.43 crore were deemed eligible, while approximately 90,000 were rejected.

However, the petitioner raised concerns over a new Government Resolution (GR) dated September 6, 2024, which limited the process to Anganwadi Sevikas at Anganwadi centers. Previously, 11 agencies facilitated the application process, but the GR reduced this support, raising fears of fresh hurdles for applicants, especially as the scheme had been revised multiple times.

During the hearing, the petitioner’s advocate argued that the reduction in facilitation agencies might discourage eligible women from applying, especially in rural areas where technological and logistical challenges persist.

A bench of Chief Justice DK Upadhyaya and Justice Amit Borkar acknowledged the efforts made by the state to streamline the application process but emphasized the need to ensure that eligible women do not face difficulties due to changes in the scheme.

It directed the government to take appropriate measures to assist women in filing fresh applications, ensuring their access to the scheme’s benefits under the revised provisions. “State shall take appropriate steps so that all eligible women are able to exercise their right of seeking benefit under the altered/new scheme,” the bench said.