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Maharashtra

Congress should not undermine regional parties: Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena

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Mumbai, Jan 13: Amid talks of the disintegration of INDIA bloc and the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), the Shiv Sena(UBT) in its mouthpiece ‘Saamna’ editorial took a dig at the Congress party saying that it should not undermine the regional parties as it alone cannot fight on its own in many states.

“Congress does not have the strength to fight, but it does not stop putting its fingers in the bowl of the regional parties. Its results were seen in a state like Maharashtra. One truth that should be accepted is that the allies who entered the BJP’s “cave” have lost their existence. Congress should not behave with that attitude. Congress is and will remain a national party. There is no reason for anyone to have any doubts about that,” says the editorial.

“The earthworms or frogs formed during the monsoon season are destroyed as soon as the monsoon season ends. We are of the opinion that alliances like ‘INDIA’ formed for elections should not have a short life and should always be dedicated to national service. Congress and AAP may have a face-off in Delhi, but projecting Kejriwal as an anti-national during the poll campaign issue is not in keeping with the Congress culture. If Congress ‘alone’ has the ability to defeat the Modi mentality, no one will stop them. They should definitely do it. Still, winning a state like Maharashtra in a mafia-like manner shows what kind of politics the BJP and its affiliated gangs are winning. To fight this aberration, we need a thunderbolt of unity, leadership of the INIDIA bloc and if possible, a convenor. Otherwise, everything will go to waste. The All India National Congress should think about whether to let that happen,” reads the editorial requesting Congress to take an initiative to further strengthen the opposition alliance.

“There is an INDIA bloc in the country and MVA in Maharashtra but there is a feeling among the people that they are in a mess, who is responsible for it? When these two alliances were formed and started working, enthusiasm was created in every constituent party in the alliance and the public mind as a whole. Indians were confident that a force had been created to fight against the arbitrary administration and corruption imposed on the country. The feeling that Modi could be defeated in the country and the illegal government in Maharashtra started to burn like lightning, but are these two alliances now becoming dull and inactive? This is not good for the country,” reads the editorial.

It further adds, “The tree of INDIA bloc does not seem to be blooming. Omar Abdullah of the National Conference says that the last meeting of this alliance was held on June 1, 2024. After that, the Assembly elections of Haryana, Jammu and Kashmir, Maharashtra, and Jharkhand were held. Congress could not make a big leap in these elections. Congress suffered a major defeat in Haryana and Maharashtra. After that, questions started being asked about the existence of the INDIA bloc. Mamata Banerjee even publicly said that she formed the INDIA Alliance and now if she gets the opportunity, she is ready to lead this alliance. This means that the leadership of the Congress is not acceptable to anyone. Lalu Prasad Yadav also expressed similar views.”

“In various states such as Punjab and Delhi, AAP and Congress are fighting against each other. In Kerala, there is a battle between Congress and the Left. In West Bengal, Congress will continue to fight against Trinamool and there is no alternative. Because every regional party has to maintain its own role, workers and existence, the Congress party is not ready to understand this. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge is a seasoned and experienced leader but asks who will take the responsibility of restoring the disarray that has arisen in the INDIA bloc,” read the editorial.

The editorial mentions that some of the parties in the INDIA bloc today were once members of the National Democratic Alliance. “What does the experience of that alliance then tell us? Whether it was in power or not, when a national issue arose, an ‘NDA’ meeting was called in Delhi. Often, leaders like Pramod Mahajan and L.K. Advani would go to that state and discuss with the party chiefs there. The NDA also had a strong convener. For a long time, a senior leader like George Fernandes was in this position and this convenor would interact and discuss with the heads of all the constituent parties, and convene the meetings with dignity. Sometimes Atal Bihari Vajpayee would chair such meetings or L.K Advani would. Therefore, it must be accepted that the relationship within that alliance was not superficial, but rather built on family ties.”

Against this backdrop, the Shiv Sena(UBT) in the editorial makes a strong pitch for a strong INDIA bloc, saying that “elections will come and go but insisting that there is a need to put an end to jealousy, hatred and gossip to take on those who hijacked the elections and taken control of the country”.

Maharashtra

Maharashtra COVID-19 Update: 6 New Cases Reported, 1 Death In Nashik Due To Comorbidities

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Mumbai: Maharashtra reported six new COVID-19 cases on Tuesday and one death over the past week, the state’s Public Health Department said. A 79-year-old man from Nashik with multiple comorbidities succumbed to the infection, taking the state’s COVID-19 death toll for 2025 to 43.

Fresh Infections Logged

According to the department, the new cases reported on July 29 include two from Mumbai and one each from Thane, Navi Mumbai, and Kalyan municipal corporations.

Single Fatality

The deceased, who passed away on July 24 in Nashik, had a history of hypertension, diabetes mellitus, ischemic heart disease, and had undergone Percutaneous Transluminal Coronary Angioplasty (PTCA), the department noted.

City Tally Climbs

Mumbai’s COVID-19 tally for 2025 now stands at 1,091 cases, with 551 cases reported in June and 99 recorded so far in July. Since January, Maharashtra has recorded a total of 2,726 COVID-19 cases, with 2,650 patients having recovered.

A total of 41,872 COVID-19 tests have been conducted across the state since the beginning of the year.

Ongoing Vigilance

During a recent state-level COVID-19 review meeting, health officials were directed to ensure regular surveillance of Influenza-Like Illness (ILI) and Severe Acute Respiratory Infection (SARI) cases. As per the guidelines, 5% of ILI patients and all SARI patients must be tested for COVID-19, with all positive samples sent for Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS).

All public health institutions, government medical colleges, and municipal hospitals have been instructed to keep COVID-19 testing and treatment facilities ready and updated. The health department has urged citizens to remain vigilant and continue following preventive measures to curb the spread of the virus.

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Maharashtra

Mumbai Eyes Pedestrian Subway Network To Boost Metro Line 3 Connectivity; 1-Km Link Planned Connecting Acharya Atre Chowk Station To Mahalaxmi Racecourse

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Mumbai: As Mumbai gears up for the full launch of Metro Line 3 in August, city planners are shifting focus from just underground transit to creating a seamless pedestrian experience above and below the ground. Officials are now envisioning a citywide network of pedestrian subways that will connect commuters directly from Metro stations to key urban destinations, offices, malls, parks and even the coastline.

Key Meeting Held Between Top Infra Bodies & BMC

In a key development, senior officials from the BMC, Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Limited (MMRCL), Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) and Indian Railways met at the BMC headquarters on Monday evening to discuss last-mile connectivity solutions. The meeting focused on integrating pedestrian infrastructure with the expanding Metro system, particularly around Metro Line 3 stations.

Metro Line 3, also known as the Aqua Line, is Mumbai’s first fully underground metro corridor. It currently operates from Aarey to Acharya Atre Chowk in Worli and is already serving around 60,000 passengers daily. Once fully operational, the 33.5-km line will connect 27 stations, stretching from Aarey in the north to Cuffe Parade in South Mumbai. It will traverse key commercial and transport nodes such as Mumbai Central, Mahalaxmi, Churchgate, CSMT and BKC.

One of the first pedestrian integration projects in the pipeline is a 1-kilometre-long subway connecting the Acharya Atre Chowk station to the Mahalaxmi Racecourse and the Coastal Road parking hub at Haji Ali. A 160-metre side arm is also being planned to provide access to nearby open spaces. BMC and MMRCL have been working on its alignment since June.

The meeting was primarily about identifying nodal agencies that will lead such pedestrian infrastructure projects,” the official added. A senior official confirmed that a Detailed Project Report (DPR) will be drafted within the next four months.

Mega Plan For Subways Around Key Metro Stations

The broader vision includes building pedestrian subways within a 500-metre to 1-kilometre radius of major Metro stations, particularly in high-density zones like malls, corporate parks and business hubs. Equipped with escalators and elevators, these subways aim to be accessible to all, encouraging walking, easing traffic congestion, and redefining Mumbai as a more connected and commuter-friendly city.

If successfully implemented, this pedestrian network could become a game-changer in urban mobility and last-mile connectivity for Mumbai.

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Maharashtra

Ladki Bahin Yojana: 26.34 Lakh Ineligible People Temporarily Suspended Due To Suspicion Of Fraud

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State governments and the Central government have introduced schemes to improve the economic condition of women. Similarly, the Chief Minister Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana is being run in Maharashtra. Under this scheme, financial assistance of Rs 1,500 is provided every month to eligible women beneficiaries.

Ladki Bahin Scheme Fraud

So far, 12 instalments of this scheme have been released. Meanwhile, a scam has been revealed in the Ladki Bahin scheme in Maharashtra. This has created a stir in the state. Many men are also benefiting from this scheme. Now the government is preparing to recover money from ineligible people.

State Women and Child Development Minister Aditi Tatkar has issued a statement saying that during the verification it was found that people are taking advantage of the scheme despite being ineligible. In such a situation, the state government has removed 26.34 lakh ineligible people from the scheme. Let us tell you that in June 2024, the Maharashtra government launched the Chief Minister Majhi Ladki Behen Yojana, intending to promote the economic independence of women in the state.

Under this scheme, eligible women between 21 and 65 years of age in Maharashtra are provided financial assistance of Rs 1,500 every month. Aditi Tatkar said on the social media platform X that investigation revealed that some beneficiaries were taking advantage of multiple schemes. Some families had more than two beneficiaries. In some cases, even men had applied for this scheme. She further said that the Women and Child Development Department had sought information from all government departments to check the eligibility of all applications. The Information and Technology Department said that about 26.34 lakh beneficiaries are taking advantage of this scheme despite being ineligible.

How Many Accounts Were Suspended?

The accounts of 26.34 lakh ineligible people have been temporarily suspended. Apart from this, about 2.25 crore eligible beneficiaries have received the installment for June 2025.

Investigation Of Suspended Accounts

The district officer of the respective district will investigate the accounts of those whose accounts have been suspended. If they are found eligible in the verification, then the suspended accounts will start getting benefits again. It is being said that the state government can take strict action against those who take advantage by giving wrong information.

Can All Women Participate In Ladki Bahin Scheme?

This scheme has been implemented only for women between the ages of 21 and 65. To take advantage of this scheme, women must be residents of Maharashtra. To join this scheme, one has to apply online. All married, unmarried, divorced women can take advantage of this scheme. To take advantage of the scheme, it is very important for women to have an account in a bank. At the same time, the annual income of the woman’s family should not exceed Rs 2.5 lakh. This scheme does not apply to those women who are taking advantage of any other government scheme.

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