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Monday,20-April-2026
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Day after resignation, Hardik slams Congress, calls it casteist

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A day after resigning from the Congress party, Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS) leader Hardik Patel slammed the grand old party and called it a casteist.

Speaking at a press conference on Thursday here, Hardik Patel levelled a series of allegations against the Congress and its leaders. Calling the party casteist, he said it never had vision for the development of Gujarat, on the contrary its party leaders are full of negativity.

Without naming any senior leaders, Patel alleged that only eight to ten leaders control the party and they are misleading the national leadership. Citing examples of the late Chiman Patel, Narhari Ami and Vitthal Radadiya, Hardik Patel said injustice was done to them just because they were patidars. He also alleged that Congress leaders believe in dividing Patel’s Leuva and Kadva sub groups.

He also alleged that one family controls the state unit of the Congress party for the last 12 years, though he did not name it, but hinted towards Madhavsinh Solanki, whose son Bharatsinh Solanki was made GPCC president twice in the last one decade, then his cousin Amit Chavda was made state unit president.

Hardik Patel said state Congress leaders do not have guts, spine and fighting spirit to take on the BJP. He questioned how can such a party take up people’s issues, fight for them and get justice.

According to Hardik, state congress leaders are more interested in keeping Rahul Gandhi happy by arranging diet coke or Chicken Sandwich for him.

He said, he realized that he wasted three years of his career by joining the Congress. He appealed to the people not to vote for the Congress as the party is not interested in serving the people. He said after state elections in 2022, the Congress may not be visible on opposition benches, and people may try some other option.

He said he believes that there should be strong opposition in the country or the state, but according to him, Congress does not deserve that status. Hardik Patel also endorsed the ‘Congress Mukt Bharat’.

Hardik Patel has started playing Hindu card for the last one month, but at the same time claimed that his belief about Hinduism is not for show off. “I am born a Hindu and believer of Hinduism. But Congress does speak out its policy on finding Shivling in Gyanvapi mosque.”

Maharashtra

Massive Blaze Erupts Inside Bus At Mumbai Wadala RTO; No Injuries Reported

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Mumbai: A fire broke out in a private bus parked by the roadside near the Wadala RTO at Wadala TT on Monday, April 20, prompting a quick response from multiple emergency agencies. The blaze has since been brought under control.

According to the information, the fire was reported at 2 pm and was extinguished by 2.10 pm. The incident was reported by the Mumbai Fire Brigade (MFB).

Visuals from the spot show firefighting personnel engaged in efforts to douse the remaining flames. Two buses are seen burnt from the outside. A small fire is still visible inside the second bus as firefighters continue operations at the location.

Emergency response teams, including the Mumbai Fire Brigade, police, 108 ambulance services and ward staff, were mobilised to the spot. No injuries have been reported in the incident.

Three minor fire incidents were reported across the city on Sunday, including two at commercial establishments and one on a road following a Mahanagar Gas Ltd (MGL) pipeline burst, triggering panic among residents. No injuries were reported in any of the incidents, and all three were brought under control by the Mumbai Fire Brigade (MFB).

The first incident was reported around midnight near Navjeevan Society, opposite Reliance Mall in Mumbai Central. According to the disaster management cell, the blaze affected five large shops and seven small shops. The fire was confined to electrical wiring and installations spread across nearly 5,000 square feet and was extinguished at 3.50 am.

Another fire broke out in the early hours of Sunday at Crawford Market. As per the disaster management cell, the blaze was restricted to Badshah Cold Drinks in Umarikar Building on LT Marg in Fort. Around four to five shops were gutted and the area was engulfed in smoke. The incident was reported at 6.44 am and the fire was brought under control by 10.30 am.

In a separate incident, flames erupted in the middle of a road in Khar West after an MGL pipeline reportedly leaked during ongoing road repair work. The fire was reported at 4.16 pm on Road No. 24 near Agarwal Nursing Home. A BMC disaster management official said the matter was immediately conveyed to the CP Control Room, following which the MFB, police and ward staff rushed to the spot. The fire was later extinguished and the situation was brought under control.

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Maharashtra

Mumbai’s Mayor Ritu Tawde Announces Live Broadcast Of BMC Meetings To Ensure Accountability

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Mumbai: Citizens can now directly witness how the corporators they elected from their respective wards speak in the house and raise pressing civic issues. For the first time in its history, the general body meetings of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) are being telecast live on its official YouTube channel, “@MyBMCMyMumbai,” starting Monday. 

While the BMC had been working on live-streaming its proceedings for some time, the official rollout appears to have been accelerated following a significant uproar during a recent general body meeting. The controversy stemmed from alleged remarks about Bal Thackeray made by opposition leader Kishori Pednekar. She made these comments while addressing a point of order raised by former mayor Vishakha Raut, who highlighted the absence of proper protocol to honour the mayor at public events. Pednekar was reportedly referring to a civic function linked to Asha Bhosle, where she was seated in the second row.

Announcing the move, Mayor Ritu Tawde said that live telecasts would enhance transparency and allow citizens to observe firsthand how their elected representatives address civic concerns. The initiative also follows a demand raised by Amrin Shehzad Abrahani, who had written to the mayor advocating for live coverage of BMC proceedings and had circulated a supporting video.

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International News

Trump says US has intercepted, taken custody of Iranian-flagged cargo ship

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New York, April 20: US President Donald Trump said that US forces have intercepted and taken custody of an Iranian-flagged cargo ship that tried to bypass its blockade in the Gulf of Oman.

“Today, an Iranian-flagged cargo ship named TOUSKA, nearly 900 feet long and weighing almost as much as an aircraft carrier, tried to get past our Naval Blockade, and it did not go well for them,” Trump wrote in a post on his social media Truth Social.

A US destroyer intercepted the TOUSKA in the Gulf of Oman, and “gave them fair warning to stop,” Trump added. “The Iranian crew refused to listen, so our Navy ship stopped them right in their tracks by blowing a hole in the engineroom. Right now, US Marines have custody of the vessel.”

Iran has attacked US military ships in retaliation for the US seizure of its vessel, according to latest news reports.

The announcement came after the White House confirmed US Vice-President JD Vance would lead another delegation for a second round of talks with Iran in Pakistan.

Tehran has not yet confirmed its attendance. Iranian state media has reported that officials will not participate while the US blockade remains in place.

Earlier, Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters warned that it will “soon respond” to the US “armed maritime piracy,” Xinhua news agency reported quoting Iran’s Press TV.

Iran’s official news agency IRNA said on Sunday that the country has rejected taking part in the second round of the peace talks with the United States, which were reportedly to be held in Pakistan soon.

Trump said on Friday that the naval blockade of Iranian ports would continue until a deal was agreed by the two countries.

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