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Congress Launches ‘Laapataa Ladies’ Campaign Ahead Of Crucial Maharashtra Assembly Elections

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4 months ago

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Congress Launches 'Laapataa Ladies' Campaign Ahead Of Crucial Maharashtra Assembly Elections

Mumbai: Congress has launched a ‘Laapataa Ladies’ campaign, inspired by the Kiran Rao-directed film of the same name, to highlight the Eknath Shinde government’s performance on women’s safety in the lead-up to the Maharashtra elections.

Posters featuring the words ‘Laapataa Ladies’ have reportedly appeared across the state, accompanied by the alarming statistic, ‘64,000 women missing in a year,’ in Marathi. These posters also include silhouettes that resemble Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, along with Deputy Chief Ministers Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar.

The movie Laapataa Ladies, released last year, received widespread praise for its critique of patriarchy delivered through a comedic lens. It has since been selected as India’s official entry for the Oscars. Congress’ use of the film’s title shows the party’s message about the government’s inability to protect women.

Campaign Specifically Targets Devendra Fadnavis

This campaign follows the recent case of sexual abuse of two schoolgirls in Badlapur, which has sparked outrage across the state. Congress’ campaign specifically targets Devendra Fadnavis, who is responsible for the Home portfolio in the state government. During an Assembly session in August of the previous year, Fadnavis acknowledged that 10 percent of the women who go missing in Maharashtra do not return home.

He stated, “Women’s safety is a cause of concern for the country. In Maharashtra, around 64,000 girls and women go missing every year. During the Covid years of 2019 and 2020, the number was consistent, and in 2021, 61,000 cases were registered. While 87 percent of them returned home in 2021, in 2022, the percentage was 86%. We are working to reduce these numbers further.” The Congress has seized upon these figures to criticize the current government’s record on women’s safety.

Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana Introduced For Women

In response to the growing focus on women’s safety and to appeal to female voters, the state government has launched the ‘Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana’. This program offers financial assistance of ₹1,500 per month to eligible women aged 21-65, provided their family’s income is less than ₹2.5 lakh annually.

Tough Fight In Crucial Upcoming Polls

The upcoming election is expected to be a challenging battle between the ruling BJP-Shiv Sena-NCP alliance and the Opposition’s Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), composed of Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT), and Sharad Pawar’s NCP faction. In the recent Lok Sabha elections, the MVA performed strongly, winning 30 of Maharashtra’s 48 seats, and will aim to build on this momentum. Meanwhile, the ruling coalition will seek to regain ground in the upcoming state elections.

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Maharashtra

Maharashtra Govt Forms SIT To Investigate Alleged Conspiracy Against CM Devendra Fadnavis & Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde

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36 mins ago

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February 1, 2025

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Mumbai: In a sudden development on Friday, the Mahayuti government decided to appoint a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the alleged conspiracy to frame Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy Chief Minister Ekanth Shinde, who were the opposition leader and Urban Development Minister when the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) was in power.

About The Alleged Conspiracy

The alleged conspiracy involved registering false criminal cases against the duo. The SIT will be headed by Satyanarayan Chaudhary, who oversees the law-and-order wing of the Mumbai Police, according to a Government Resolution (GR) issued by the State Home Department. The decision to constitute the SIT follows information shared by BJP MLC Pravin Darekar in the state legislative council during the winter session in December 2024, according to the GR.

According to Darekar, a conspiracy was hatched to register false cases against Fadnavis and Shinde. He stated that he had evidence in the form of an audio clip. It is also significant that the home department was under the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) when the MVA was in power. The department was headed by Anil Deshmukh until early July, followed by Dilip Walse Patil. While Deshmukh is with the Sharad Pawar-led faction of the NCP, Walse Patil joined the Ajit Pawar-led group that rebelled in July 2023.

The SIT includes Rajiv Jain, DIG of the State Reserve Police Force; Navnath Dhavle, DCP, Mumbai Police; Adikrao Pol, ACP, Mumbai; and Satyanarayan Chaudhary. The SIT has been instructed to complete its probe within 30 days.

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Crime

Mumbai: Speeding Dumper Hits 2 Bikers Near Birla Centurion Mill, One Killed

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45 mins ago

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February 1, 2025

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Mumbai: A tragic accident occurred in Worli, where a speeding dumper rammed into two bikers, killing one on the spot. The deceased has been identified as Rohan Gupta (21), while the other rider, Sanket Virendrakumar Sharma (21), sustained serious injuries. Based on Sharma’s complaint, the N.M. Joshi Marg Police have registered a case against the dumper driver, Darshan Subhash Kasdekar (27) and arrested him. Further investigation is underway.

According to the N.M. Joshi Marg Police, the accident took place around 9:30 PM on January 30 near Birla Centurion Mill Gate No. 01 to 07. Complainant Sanket Sharma and his friend Rohan Gupta were riding a bike on Pandurang Budhkar Marg when a speeding and negligent dumper driver hit them near Birla Centurion Mill. The impact threw both riders off their bike, causing severe injuries. Gupta succumbed to his injuries on the spot, while Sharma survived with serious wounds. The police have registered a case and are continuing their investigation.

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Maharashtra

‘Plastic Flowers Not Banned Due To Low Littering Potential’: Union Government Says To Bombay High Court

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19 hours ago

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January 31, 2025

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Mumbai: The Union government has informed the Bombay High Court that plastic flowers are not included in the list of banned single-use plastic items as they do not meet the criteria of “high littering potential and low utility”. The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), in an affidavit, stated that the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) had forwarded the matter for consideration but without any supporting analysis.

The affidavit was filed in response to a public interest litigation (PIL) by the Growers Flowers Council of India (GFCI), which sought a ban on plastic flowers in Maharashtra. The PIL argued that plastic flowers, particularly those less than 100 microns thick, contribute to environmental pollution and should be included in the list of prohibited singleuse plastic items.

The High Court had earlier issued notices to the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB), CPCB, and MoEFCC, seeking their response on the demand for a ban. In October 2024, the court had asked the Centre whether it had considered CPCB’s recommendations for banning plastic flowers.

The MoEFCC, in its affidavit, clarified that an expert committee constituted by the Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals (DCPC) had identified 40 single-use plastic items for detailed analysis. However, plastic flowers were not among them.

Refuting the petitioner’s claims, the affidavit stated that the Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016, do not specify a minimum thickness requirement of 100 microns for plastic flowers.

The government argued, “The petitioner states that… violation of this thickness requirement has resulted in difficulties in decomposing. This is wrong and misleading. There is no such provision in Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016,” the MoEFCC affidavit emphasises.

The plea also highlighted that the Maharashtra government had issued a notification on March 8, 2022, banning several single-use plastic items.

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