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Maharashtra

Clamour for Old Pension Scheme confronts cash-strapped Maharashtra govt

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Ahead of the state budget, over two million government employees and pensioners in Maharashtra are demanding a revival of the Old Pension Scheme (OPS), posing a tough challenge to the ruling Shiv Sena-Bharatiya Janata Party combine.

Various employees’ organisations are building pressure on the government in the form of marches and protests across the state to compel a return to the OPS that was discontinued here in 2005.

The move gained momentum after at least five states – Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Punjab – announced their plans to revert to the OPS last month.

Over five dozen unions of various state employees under the banner of Rajya Sarkari Karmachari Madhyavarti Sanghatana (RSKMS) has warned of a state-wide indefinite strike from March 14 if the ruling alliance fails to concede the demand and does not makes the announcement in the upcoming Budget 2023-2024 this week.

The Maharashtra Rajya Castribe Karmachari Kalyan Mahasangh has launched a Nagpur-Mumbai long march traversing through 20 districts which will reach the Maharashtra Legislature and join a protest on March 14.

The demand for OPS has secured the support of several opposition parties like the Congress which is also organising or participating in protests in different cities securing huge support.

On its part, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde in February announced setting up a high-powered panel to study the feasibility of bringing back the OPS, and Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis has also given positive indicators in this regard, though earlier he was reluctant as it would entail a massive burden of Rs 1.10 lakh crore on the cash-strapped government, with problems likely to compound after five years.

Incidentally, in January, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) had cautioned states on reverting to the DA-linked OPS which existed till 2004 as it would add to the states’ financial burden in the coming years.

The OPS entitled retired government employees to get 50 percent of their last drawn salary as monthly pension which keeps increasing with hike in DA, thereby considered unviable since the burden on the exchequer keeps increasing.

Maharashtra

Chembur shootout case solved, two arrested

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Mumbai: Mumbai Police has solved the Chembur shootout case. The zonal team of Mumbai Police has arrested a shooter from Dharavi, who has been identified as 20-year-old Afsar Khan. The Crime Branch has arrested the second accused in this case from Mira Road. He is a resident of Santa Cruz. He has been identified as Firoz Khan.

The shooter arrested by Mumbai Police had shot at Sadruddin alias Sadru. DCP Nunath Dhole has confirmed this. This shooter had a property dispute with Sadru. Along with him, Firoz of Mira Road had conspired to kill Sadru and he was riding a Pulsar motorcycle. The case has been solved in a joint operation by the Crime Branch and Mumbai Police.

Crime Branch DCP Datta Nalawade has confirmed this. Several teams were formed to solve the case. Finally the police have solved the mystery. The accused attacked Sadru due to property and personal issues and the murder of Sadru was planned, according to Mumbai Crime Branch sources.

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Maharashtra

Jamiat Ulema Maharashtra (Arshad Madani) provided assistance to the heirs of Mohammad Irfan Ansari, martyred in Nagpur violence

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Nagpur, April 11: Violence broke out between two communities in Nagpur last month over the demand to remove the tomb of Aurangzeb Alamgir, in which people of the majority community attacked Muslims and damaged their property.

It is worth noting that on March 17, communal tension erupted after a holy shawl containing verses from the Quran was burnt during a protest by Hindutva organizations in Nagpur city and minor clashes also took place between the two communities. Mohammad Irfan Ansari was seriously injured in this incident and died during treatment.

Late Mohammad Irfan Ansari belonged to the working class and was the sole breadwinner in his family. He is survived by a 16-year-old student and his wife.

The late father had a heartfelt desire that his daughter should progress in the field of education and become a successful doctor, but this dream could not be realized in life.

Jamiat Ulema Maharashtra (Arshad Madani) presented a cheque of Rs 1 lakh to the student to continue her education.

On this occasion, Mufti Muhammad Sabir Shashat (President of Jamiat Ulema District Nagpur), Haji Ijaz Patel (Vice President of Jamiat Ulema District Nagpur), Atiq Qureshi (General Secretary of Jamiat Ulema District Nagpur), Sharif Ansari (Treasurer of Jamiat Ulema District Nagpur), Bari Patel, Majid Bhai, Haji Safiur Rahman, Muhammad Ashfaq Baba, Salman Tajamul Hussain Khan, Athar Parvez, Javed Aqeel, Mufti Fadil, Muhammad Abid, Shoaib Muhammad, Arshad Kamal, Dr. Shakeel Rahmani, Haji Imtiaz Ahmed, Fayyaz Akhtar and other members of Jamiat Ulema were present in large numbers.

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Maharashtra

Waqf Security Week begins as per instructions of Muslim Personal Law Board – Statements and black bands tied in mosques

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Mumbai, April 11: Auqaf Security Week began today, Friday, April 11, as per the instructions of the All India Muslim Personal Law Board. Under this, statements were given by scholars and imams on the importance, necessity and effectiveness of Auqaf in most of the mosques in the city. The shortcomings of the current Waqf Amendment Act 2025 were highlighted. It was said that this new law of the government regarding Auqaf could put thousands of acres of land dedicated by our elders in India in danger. After this law, those who illegally occupy Auqaf will be considered legal after twelve years. Similarly, attention was also drawn to other dangerous aspects of this act.

The scholars told the people that we have to fight this struggle according to the fundamental rights given in the Constitution and the law in the light of the instructions of the All India Muslim Personal Law Board. Our fight is not against any religion or caste, but we are fighting to get back our snatched rights and we will continue this struggle till the end without accepting any provocation.

Due to late information, the Black Belt program could not be organized in many mosques. However, in many mosques, Namazis raised their voice against this cruel law by wearing black belts. Officials from various areas have said that with the will of God, the Black Belt program will be organized next Friday with full preparation.

Maulana Mahmood Ahmed Khan Dariyabadi, Maharashtra convener of the Board’s Waqf Suraksha Abhiyan, has said that although the first phase of the Waqf Suraksha Abhiyan will continue till July 7, a big press conference and several meetings with non-Muslim brothers will be organized during this Waqf Suraksha Week. Programs will be organized in various areas of the city. Human chains etc. are also being organized by taking the police and administration into confidence. Arrests will also be made as per requirement. Maulana Dariyabadi further said that discussions are also going on with senior officials of the administration for a massive protest program against the existing Waqf law at a major intersection in the city.

Black bands were seen on mosques in most parts of Maharashtra besides Mumbai’s surrounding areas like Mumbra, Bhiwandi and Mira Road and statements were also given by the Imams of the mosques.

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