Mumbai, June 19: The Shiv Sena Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray on Friday, on the occasion of the 60th anniversary, said that over the last six decades, multiple attempts have been made to tear apart and fracture the Shiv Sena, driven purely by the constant fear the party instils in its opponents. Many rival ‘Senas’ emerged and dissolved during this period, but the foundation and pinnacle built by Balasaheb Thackeray remained unshaken, it said.

The Thackeray camp, in an editorial in the party’s mouthpiece, ‘Saamana’, without directly mentioning the rebellion by six MPs, stated that even today, though imitation outfits driven by a commercial mindset continue to mushroom, the establishment of the Shiv Sena was never a commercial transaction. The Sena chief never allowed it to become one. “Consequently, opportunistic elements and deal-making contractors were shown the exit door at regular intervals to keep the movement pure — a flowing stream of Marathi and Hindutva pride that continues to echo through the valleys of Maharashtra,” it noted.

“The Shiv Sena taught the Marathi man to stand tall with self-respect. It instilled the confidence in their hearts and wrists to declare, ‘This Mumbai is mine’. The party turned ordinary citizens into municipal councillors and built a massive network of Shakhas (local offices) that functioned as the public’s own family courts. From resolving street-tap water disputes to managing school admissions, hospital assistance, and ration cards, Shiv Sainiks sat day in and day out to serve the people, rushing to any spot where injustice occurred,” said the editorial.

The Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena said that in recent times an intense effort has been underway to chop down this crowning glory and strip Maharashtra of its self-respect. “Since its inception, individuals driven by severe political ambition have stabbed the party in the back. The Shiv Sena has reached this milestone by absorbing all these blows on its back — as none of its adversaries ever had the courage to confront it face-to-face. The Sena chief had once expressed this pain in anguish, saying, ‘So many wounds have been inflicted on my back that there is no space left to take a new one’,” it remarked.

According to the editorial, the Shiv Sena completely redefined social work. Whether it was a local accident or a bomb blast, Shiv Sainiks were always the first to rush to aid. Through blood donation drives, educational initiatives, health camps, and the free distribution of books and notebooks, the party reached every household. Operating with absolute selflessness, it became the ultimate support system for labourers and workers.

Through this relentless public service, the Shiv Sena went on to capture municipal corporations, the state Assembly, and Parliament, building a mountain of public welfare through governance. Only the Shiv Sena could pull off the miracle of turning the most ordinary citizens into MLAs, MPs, and Ministers, making the party the crowning glory of Maharashtra’s pride, said the editorial.

It is with this inherent pain that the Sena enters its 60th year. Along this journey, while a loyal army of followers stood firm, a few opportunists, helpless dependents, and defectors also emerged, fleeing for personal gain — a stark reflection of the death of morality in modern politics, noted the editorial.

“Just as the Shiv Sena echoed the ‘Marathi’ wind through the valleys of the Sahyadri mountains, it blew the conch shell of Hindutva to awaken the entire Hindu community. Whether it was the battle for Malanggad or Ayodhya, the Shiv Sena sacrificed immensely in the great ritual fire of Hindutva. Have today’s counterfeit champions of Hindutva achieved even a fraction of that work? asked the Thackeray camp.

“As the historic saying goes regarding Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj — that if he hadn’t existed, Hindus would have lost their identity — the Shiv Sena Chief carried that very legacy forward, while firmly preserving the territorial integrity of the nation. ‘Nation First’ is the mantra the Shiv Sena has permanently upheld. The chanting of that mantra continues today and will continue forever. The Shiv Sena is immortal,” commented the editorial.

New Delhi, June 19: In a major breakthrough against vehicle theft and street crime, the East District Police on Friday arrested an auto-lifter and recovered two stolen two-wheelers along with two stolen mobile phones. The arrest has helped police solve four theft cases registered across different police stations in Delhi.

The accused, identified as Rohit alias ‘Pistol’, was apprehended by a team from Police Station Madhu Vihar following a targeted operation based on specific Intelligence inputs. Police said the accused was found to be involved in multiple criminal cases related to robbery, snatching and theft.

According to officials, the operation was carried out as part of the East District Police’s ongoing drive to curb vehicle theft, snatching and other street crimes.

A dedicated team was formed under the supervision of Inspector Sandeep Arya, Acting SHO of Madhu Vihar Police Station, and under the overall guidance of the ACP of Madhu Vihar Sub-Division. The team comprised Head Constables Arun, Sachin Tyagi and Neeraj.

On June 16, while conducting routine patrols in the Madhu Vihar area, the police team received a tip-off from a reliable informer. The informer disclosed that an auto-lifter would arrive near Tarawati Hospital in Joshi Colony to sell a stolen scooter at a heavily discounted price of around Rs 8,000.

Acting swiftly on the information, the police laid a trap near the hospital and kept the area under surveillance. At around 6.30 P.M., a suspect arrived riding a TVS N-Torq scooter without a registration number plate. The police intercepted and apprehended him on the spot.

During questioning, the suspect identified himself as Rohit alias ‘Pistol’, a resident of Mandawali in East Delhi. Verification of the scooter through the ZIPNET database revealed that the vehicle had been reported stolen from the Shakarpur area. The scooter was linked to an e-FIR registered on June 15 under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).

During a search of the vehicle, police also recovered two mobile phones. Further verification established that both phones had been reported stolen in separate theft cases registered at Madhu Vihar Police Station earlier this year. The recovered property was seized and the accused was formally arrested.

During sustained interrogation, Rohit allegedly disclosed that he had hidden another stolen motorcycle near the Community Centre in Joshi Colony, Mandawali. Acting on his disclosure, the police team recovered a Yamaha motorcycle from the location.

Subsequent verification confirmed that the motorcycle had been stolen from the Pandav Nagar area and was linked to an e-FIR registered on May 19, 2026. Police said the recovery further strengthened the case against the accused and helped solve another pending vehicle theft case.

The accused was produced before the court on June 17 and was subsequently remanded to judicial custody. Further investigation is underway to ascertain his possible involvement in other cases of vehicle theft and street crimes across the city.

Police said Rohit, 27, is a daily wage labourer who studied up to Class 10. Originally from Anna Nagar in Daryaganj, he is currently residing in Mandawali. During the investigation, it emerged that he is a drug addict and a habitual offender with a criminal record.

According to investigators, Rohit primarily targeted parked two-wheelers in different parts of Delhi. To avoid detection, he would remove the registration number plates of stolen vehicles before attempting to sell them at throwaway prices. Police also said he frequently retained or disposed of stolen mobile phones to earn quick money, which was allegedly used to fund his drug addiction and meet daily expenses.

Officials further revealed that the accused has previously been involved in at least four criminal cases related to robbery, snatching and theft registered in Delhi.

The recovered property includes a stolen TVS N-Torq scooter linked to a theft case registered at Shakarpur Police Station, a stolen Yamaha motorcycle linked to a case registered at Pandav Nagar Police Station, and two stolen mobile phones connected with separate cases registered at Madhu Vihar Police Station.

With these recoveries, police have successfully worked out four cases, including two mobile phone theft cases from Madhu Vihar and two vehicle theft cases registered at Shakarpur and Pandav Nagar police stations.

Lucknow, June 19: Amid a controversy of an alleged sting operation, Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati on Friday dismissed it as part of a “well-planned conspiracy” to defame the party and its leadership ahead of the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections.

In a statement on X, former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati said political opponents and a section of the media, unsettled by the BSP’s growing activity and support base ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections in the state, were running misleading and defamatory campaigns.

She asserted that the party’s candidate selection process is transparent and multi-layered. Party functionaries, she said, regularly interact with and screen prospective candidates, assessing their social standing, political background, organisational capability, loyalty and long-term commitment.

Urging cadres not to be swayed by rumours, Mayawati called upon party workers to remain focussed on preparations for the 2027 polls.

The BSP chief said the party represents the interests of the Bahujan Samaj as well as economically weaker sections among upper castes, and works in line with the ideals of Dr B.R. Ambedkar for constitutional rights and justice. She maintained that the BSP functions independently, without relying on big capitalists, drawing strength instead from the support of its members.

Mayawati alleged that such independence does not suit “narrow, casteist, communal and capitalist forces”, which, she said, often resort to attempts to malign the party, particularly as elections approach.

She further claimed that a section of the media was raising questions over the BSP’s candidate selection process to divert attention from electoral manoeuvres of other parties.

“All office-bearers, including Uttar Pradesh unit president Vishwanath Pal, are currently engaged in strengthening the organisation, expanding its support base across communities, and preparing a list of potential candidates with thorough screening,” she said.

Mayawati added that interactions with ticket aspirants involve detailed questioning, similar to cross-examination in a court, to evaluate their suitability — a process that should not be misrepresented at face value.

Appealing to both the media and party workers, she urged them not to fall prey to “sponsored conspiracies” by rival parties, and instead remain focussed on the BSP’s ‘Mission 2027’.