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Maharashtra

Bypoll victories signal complete change of wind: Shiv Sena(UBT) in ‘Saamana’

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Mumbai, Aug 5: The Shiv Sena(UBT) has launched a sharp political commentary targeting the Centre, alleging that recent developments and youth-led protests signify growing public discontent.

An editorial in the party’s mouthpiece ‘Saamana’ on Wednesday asserted that electoral outcomes across various regional contests, especially in Bankipur and Datia, reflect shifting voter sentiments regarding governance and socio-economic issues.

The editorial critiqued the ruling party’s legislative approach and claimed that public dissatisfaction is mounting across both national and state levels.

Analysing recent Assembly and regional contests, the editorial highlighted gains by alternative political forces and argued that traditional vote banks are being re-evaluated based on local priorities, employment, and regional development.

According to the editorial, youth have already mounted a challenge against the BJP-led government’s dictatorial functioning. The Assembly by-election results in Bankipur and Datia represent a clear mandate against their corrupt government. The public has taken revenge for the ‘pellet guns’ through these by-election defeats. The beginning of the end of BJP’s politics under the leadership of PM Narendra Modi and HM Amit Shah has commenced.

The editorial said that the ‘Jantar Mantar’ agitation has rattled the Modi government and the results of the by-elections have struck a blow to the BJP’s high-handedness. While the arrogance of the BJP leadership was defeated in the Bihar and Madhya Pradesh by-elections, the BJP managed to retain the Manjalpur Assembly seat in Gujarat. These results mirror the growing restlessness in the Indian public.

“Calling these by-elections ‘mini general elections’ or a ‘mirror of the public mood’ might be an exaggeration. Nonetheless, the results clearly illustrate the current trajectory of political developments,” remarked the editorial.

The editorial further stated that the Bankipur seat was vacated by BJP National President Nitin Nabin and it had been a traditional BJP stronghold since 1995. Prashant Kishor breached this impenetrable fortress of the BJP, while the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) candidate was pushed to third place. Notably, the BJP’s National President failed to retain his own home turf, which must be viewed as a defeat for the entire BJP.

“BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad had brazenly boasted that even if the BJP fielded a dog or a cat in Bankipur, the people would vote for them. They took the voters for granted and tried to fool them, but it backfired. This victory earned Prashant Kishor’s Jan Suraag Party a presence in the Assembly. The public rejected Tejashwi Yadav due to his lack of consistency and because the people of Bihar have grown tired of caste politics, prioritising education and employment instead. In the Bankipur constituency, where Muslims and Yadavas form a majority, voters chose to back Prashant Kishor over the Rashtriya Janata Dal. This transformation in Bihar’s politics sets a new direction,” observed the Thackeray camp.

The editorial argued that the young voters in Bankipur dismantled the BJP’s prospects following the ‘Gen Z’ movement at Jantar Mantar. This serves as a stern lesson for the party. Some analysts might suggest that the BJP itself enabled Prashant Kishor’s victory to douse the burning issues surrounding ‘Jantar Mantar’ and the Ram Temple loot, but such claims lack substance.

“What transpired in Bankipur was mirrored in Datia constituency, where Congress’ Ghanshyam Singh defeated the BJP candidate. This seat had fallen vacant following the disqualification of a Congress MLA. Despite the BJP deploying every trick in the book — by hook or by crook — the public rejected them. While it comes as no surprise that the BJP retained Gujarat’s Manjalpur seat, its reputation suffered irreparable damage in Bankipur and Datia,” claimed the editorial.

“The BJP suffered these defeats despite being in power in both Madhya Pradesh and Bihar. While by-election victories cannot be deemed an absolute national mandate, history shows that several by-elections in Indian politics have brought about a complete change of wind,” said the editorial.

The Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena said that the current defeats in Bankipur and Datia have shown that the BJP’s confidence appears shaken over issues like the attacks on Jantar Mantar protesters and temple financial improprieties. “PM Modi and Home Minister Shah have virtually retreated from parliamentary debate. While the BJP has engineered splits in opposition parties and built a majority by poaching regional MPs, the opposition continues to stand firm,” it noted.

The editorial concluded that with young voters taking to the streets against authoritarianism, the purchased majority holds little weight in Parliament or among the public. “These by-election results are a clear verdict against a corrupt administration. If the opposition sets aside its internal ego, the downfall of this authoritarian power is inevitable,” it said.

International News

Govt in touch with Centre to assist tourists stranded in Nepal floods: Maha Minister

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Mumbai, Aug 27: Following severe flooding, landslides and earthquakes in the Nepal-Tibet region, the Maharashtra government is actively gathering information regarding tourists from the state currently stranded in the affected areas.

Disaster Management Minister Girish Mahajan on Thursday confirmed that state authorities are in constant communication with the Union Government and that relief mechanisms are operating round the clock.

Mahajan said officials had successfully contacted four tourists so far, confirming they were safe. The administration had collected details for roughly 80 individuals. However, communication remained severely impaired because damaged mobile networks and landline outages cut off the affected regions.

A group of tourists travelled to Mansarovar via two vehicles organised by Richard Tours & Travels. Approximately 37 passengers in one vehicle have been confirmed safe. Operations are ongoing to track down the remaining travellers despite severe transportation disruptions caused by landslides, he said.

Mahajan urged families not to panic, emphasising that both central and state agencies were leaving no stone unturned to locate and assist every traveller from Maharashtra. He further stated that all District Collectors across Maharashtra had been instructed to compile lists of residents who recently travelled to the Nepal-Tibet region.

The state government has appealed to relatives and the general public to share any available details regarding stranded individuals.

To streamline information collection and facilitate immediate relief, the Maharashtra State Disaster Management Authority (Control Room, Mantralaya) has launched a dedicated online portal and 24/7 helpline numbers. Relatives can register details of stranded family members at https://geospatial.mahaseoc.in/Sahayata_gulf/.

The government has released the following numbers: State Control Room Toll-Free Number 1070 and Direct Control Room Line +91-9321587143. The official email is controlroom@maharashtra.gov.in. Family members of tourists currently in Nepal are strongly encouraged to submit complete details through the official link or contact the control room immediately, said Mahajan.

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Maharashtra

Mumbai Police conducts major operation against call center, 9 arrested, further investigation begins

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Mumbai: Police has unearthed a call centre where people were being duped in the name of courier companies and other companies and franchises. The police received information that a call centre was being run at Room No. 90, Karar, “Internet Transfer Visa Private Limited”, Axis Bank Mobile Colony Road, Malad (Mumbai) in which people were being duped. The police conducted a raid from August 25 to August 26. The people present in the said call centre used to contact the citizens of Mumbai and Maharashtra using the names of various courier and commerce companies and collected money from them by tricking them into giving courier/franchises with well-known courier and commerce companies like Amazon, Flipkart, Mantra, Blue Dart, DTDC, Veena Market etc. During the said operation, a case was registered under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code as well as the Information Technology Act under Case No. 98/26 of Karar Police Station, Mumbai. A case has been registered under relevant sections. 09 people, including the director of the company involved in the said crime, have been arrested and permission has been obtained to keep them in police custody till August 28. During the said operation, 10 high-end desktop computers, 22 laptops, 30 mobile phones, 5 TVs, more than 100 fraudulent agreements worth a total of 24,00,000/- were seized. During further investigation of the said crime, it has been revealed that more than 20 people have been cheated, while more complaints are being received. Citizens who have been cheated by the said company can contact the police and file a complaint. The said operation has been conducted by Police Commissioner, Devan Bharti, Police Joint Commissioner (Crime), Anil Kanbhare, Additional Police Commissioner (Crime), Krishan Kant Upadhyay, DCP Vinonath Dhole.

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Maharashtra

Violence on return from Eid Milad-un-Nabi procession in Mumbai Lalbagh Parel

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Mumbai: Police have registered a case of rioting and taken five people into custody after communal violence broke out at midnight while returning from the Eid Milad-un-Nabi (PBUH) procession in Lalbagh, Parel, Mumbai, sources in the Mumbai Police confirmed. A case has been registered against the accused under sections 189(1), 189(2), 191(1), 195(1), 118(1), 121 of the IPC, and the Maharashtra Police Act.
Tensions flared in the Lalbagh Parel area when communal violence broke out between two communities. Muslim youths were passing through Lalbagh Parel on their motorcycles during the Eid Milad-un-Nabi (PBUH) procession when youths from other communities gathered and objected to the noise of the motorcycles and rush driving. During this, the police also started taking strict action against several youths. At the same time, youths from other communities insulted the religious flag on the motorcycle of Muslim youths and slogans started being raised from both sides. Youths from the majority community had already set up a guard in the area and when these youths tried to attack the Muslim youths in front of the police, the situation worsened and the matter took the form of violence. The police used light baton charge to control the situation. At present, tension remains here but peace is prevailing.
Various rumors are also circulating on social media regarding the Lalbagh Parel dispute, along with which hateful elements are trying to further worsen the situation by giving it a religious color, which is why now the Mumbai Police has started monitoring social media. Along with this, hundreds of such hateful videos have been viral on social media platforms including Instagram and Facebook, in which hateful elements have targeted a specific community. In this matter, the Bhoiwara police has registered a case of rioting and has taken about 5 accused into custody. Along with this, the police is also talking to the other party and there is a possibility of registering a cross-FIR in this regard. The way the situation is being tried to worsen in Mumbai city, after which the police has issued an alert here. After the attack on Muslim youth on their way back from the Eid Milad-un-Nabi procession, the police have registered a case of violence and rioting and are also examining CCTV footage. Along with this, the police have requested to maintain law and order. Not only that, an alert has been issued, social media is also being monitored. This riot took place due to the mischief of miscreants. Now provocation has also become common on social media, on which the police can take action.

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