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BMC polls: Thackeray cousins came together to ‘save Mumbai’, says Sanjay Raut

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Mumbai, Jan 10: Shiv Sena (UBT) MP and national spokesperson Sanjay Raut on Saturday said that the coming together of the Thackeray brothers for the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections is aimed at “saving Mumbai” and that their alliance has “built trust” among the people of the city.

Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray have joined hands to contest the BMC elections together.

Earlier on Sunday, the two parties unveiled their joint manifesto titled ‘Vachan Nama’, which prominently features photographs of the Thackeray cousins along with Shiv Sena founder Balasaheb Thackeray.

Speaking to Media on the significance of the civic polls, Raut said, “The point is, this election is not just about the Thackeray brothers. Mumbai is a city that is like a country in itself. Mumbai is often referred to as the financial capital of the country, and additionally, it serves as the capital of Maharashtra. And, in the capital of Maharashtra, Balasaheb Thackeray and the Shiv Sena have always been in power.”

He further pointed out that while the city has undergone major changes over the past few years, the Shiv Sena’s influence in the civic body remains strong.

Raut maintained that the party would once again assert its dominance in the BMC, as it has done for nearly three decades.

However, notably, the Shiv Sena has never secured an absolute majority on its own in the civic body. For most of its tenure in the BMC, the party governed Mumbai in alliance with the BJP, which remained its junior partner until the two parted ways in 2014.

“These elections are being conducted after seven years; the entire demography of the state has changed; the entire city has changed. However, Uddhav Thackeray and Raj Thackeray have come together to save Mumbai,” the Shiv Sena (UBT) leader said.

“Shiv Sena has always been there to protect the Maharashtrians. Every section of Mumbai is with Shiv Sena. Whenever there is a talk about Mumbai, its issues and problems that it is facing, then everyone’s first thought is that Shiv Sena will protect us,” Raut said.

Emphasising the public response to the alliance, he added, “Thackeray brothers uniting has built a trust in the hearts of people.”

Meanwhile, in their joint manifesto, the Thackeray brothers have promised affordable housing and major improvements in infrastructure, including healthcare facilities, public transport and the education sector.

The document also includes welfare measures for women, with a proposal to provide a monthly allowance of Rs 1,500 to women employed as domestic workers and Koli women under the proposed ‘Swabhiman Nidhi’ scheme.

The manifesto was released at a joint press conference held at Shiv Sena Bhawan, an event that marked Raj Thackeray’s return to the party headquarters after nearly 20 years.

Raj Thackeray had quit the Shiv Sena in 2005 following differences with his cousin Uddhav Thackeray over the future leadership of the party, after Balasaheb Thackeray handed over the reins to his son.

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Two killed, 3,200 houses damaged in floods at Sabang in West Midnapore: Bengal CM

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Two persons have been killed and 3,200 houses have been damaged so far in the devastating flood at Sabang in West Midnapore district of West Bengal, Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari told on Thursday.The Chief Minister made an aural review of the flood situation at Sabang in the afternoon and thereafter had an administrative review meeting at the local block development office with the district officials and all the MLAs and Ministers from the district.

Thereafter, CM Adhikari spoke to the media persons and told about the number of human death and houses damaged so far.”Two persons have died so far and 3,200 houses have been damaged. Each affected family whose house had been damaged will be provided with a compensation of Rs 30,000 by the state government,” the Chief Minister said.According to CM Adhikari, besides the compensation for those houses damaged in the flood, the state government will also stand by the farmers whose crops were damaged because of the flood.

“The farmers who are covered under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana will get the opportunity to get compensation. However, the state government will have to work out a strategy for providing compensation for the affected mat-stick makers by any insurance scheme,” the Chief Minister added.He also claimed that during his interaction with the local flood-affected people, many told him that any Chief Minister had physically visited the flood affected areas for the first time after 1986.

“The previous (Trinamool Congress-led state) government did not consider the people of this area as human beings. I have a human connection with them. That is why I came here. My life begins with rural Bengal and will also end with rural Bengal,” the Chief Minister said.He also added that the state administration is also keeping a close watch on the situation in Arambagh in Hooghly district.”Although, there is not any flood-like situation in Arambagh as yet, things might worsen if Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC) releases fresh water from their dams. I have asked the Hooghly district administration to remain alert,” the Chief Minister said.

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Tejashwi attacks JD-U leader Sanjay Jha, alleges leaders like him entrapped Nitish Kumar for Rajya Sabha

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Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) National Working President and Bihar Leader of Opposition (LoP) Tejashwi Yadav launched a sharp attack on the Janata Dal-United (JD-U) National Working President and MP Sanjay Jha on Thursday, while leaving Patna for Madhubani.

Responding to Sanjay Jha’s criticism of the Wednesday’s Lok Bhavan march led by the Bihar LoP, Tejashwi said that Jha should first save his own position, alleging that there was considerable opposition to him within the JD-U.

He also accused Sanjay Jha of having entrapped Nitish Kumar and alleged that Jha and others were close to Home Minister Amit Shah.

Tejashwi also targeted the Bihar government over the death of 19-year-old Roshan Yadav in jail in Madhubani.

He claimed that the youth had been forcibly taken away by police and that serious questions had arisen regarding the circumstances of his death.

Tejashwi said he had spoken to Roshan’s family and was travelling to Madhubani to meet them personally.

He said he would also speak with the concerned officials and seek justice for the family.

The RJD leader made allegations regarding the treatment of Roshan, claiming that the youth had been assaulted and subjected to electric shocks while allegedly being kept in police custody.

These allegations are claims made by Tejashwi Yadav and would require investigation and independent verification.

The LoP alleged that Bihar was being transformed into a “police state” under Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary and said that the RJD would not allow such a situation to develop.

He also referred to a murder in Hajipur, saying he planned to meet the victim’s family as part of his visit to several locations in the state.

He accused the state government of failing on the law-and-order front and alleged that criminal activity was increasing across Bihar.

Asked about the ongoing student protest at Patna’s Gardanibagh, Tejashwi reiterated his support for the demonstrators, particularly those on hunger strike.

He urged the Bihar government to seriously consider their demands and warned that continued inaction could intensify the students’ agitation.

His remarks came a day after the RJD’s Lok Bhavan march in Patna, during which Tejashwi was detained by police before later being released.

The RJD-led march had focused on student issues, unemployment, examination irregularities and the controversy surrounding alleged AK-47 firing during a student protest in Siwan.

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‘Matter between two nations’: J&K CM Omar Abdullah on US-Pakistan row over Sergio Gor’s remarks

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Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, commenting on Pakistan summoning the US envoy over US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor’s statement, said on Thursday that the ambassador had made his remarks and the matter was now between the two countries.

Omar Abdullah was reacting to reports that Pakistan had summoned the US envoy over Gor’s statement on Wednesday that Kashmir is an important part of India.

When asked about Pakistan summoning the US envoy over US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor’s remark that Jammu and Kashmir is an important part of India, Omar Abdullah said the matter was between Pakistan and the US.

“Whatever the US ambassador said, he said. Now it is between the two countries,” the CM said.

Hours after Gor’s remarks, Pakistan’s Foreign Office had summoned the US envoy in Islamabad and lodged protest over the remarks.

Speaking to reporters after the meeting Omar Abdullah on Wednesday, Gor said that the US would reconsider its travel advisories on Kashmir, noting that Kashmir is an important part of India.

This was Sergio Gor’s maiden visit to J&K after he took over his assignment as the US ambassador to India.

Earlier, Omar Abdullah had said he would discuss issues with the visiting US ambassador, but would not complain about anything since it was the central government that could address issues in J&K and not the US.

Gor graduated from George Washington University, where he was involved in conservative causes, participating in College Republicans and founding the university’s chapter of Young America’s Foundation.

He was an activist for Arizona senator John McCain’s 2008 presidential campaign and worked for the Republican National Committee, later serving as the spokesman for representatives Steve King, Michele Bachmann, and Randy Forbes.

In May 2013, Gor began working for Kentucky senator Rand Paul’s political action committee, RANDPAC, eventually serving as Paul’s spokesman, communications director, and deputy chief of staff.

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