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”.

Senior advocate Iqbal Chagla, 86, passed away on Sunday afternoon after a period of ill health. The son of Mahommedali Currim Chagla, the first Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court of independent India, he leaves behind a remarkable legacy in the legal fraternity.

Chagla, father of sitting Bombay High Court judge, Justice Riyaz Chagla, served as the president of the Bombay Bar Association (BBA) three times.

Born in 1939, he earned an MA in History and Law from Cambridge University before beginning his practice at the Bombay High Court. He trained under the renowned Kharshedji Hormasji Bhabha and was designated a Senior Advocate in 1979. Between 1990 and 1999, he served as the BBA president and held other prominent roles, including as a Member of the Executive Committee of the Bar Association of India and the National Legal Services Authority (NLSA).

Despite being offered a judgeship thrice — twice by the Bombay High Court and once by the Supreme Court — Chagla declined, potentially forfeiting an opportunity to become the Chief Justice of India.

During his tenure as BBA president, Chagla played a pivotal role in calling for the resignation of four Bombay HC judges over allegations of impropriety. The BBA passed a resolution under his leadership, resulting in some judges resigning and others being transferred.

Chagla was highly regarded for his expertise in civil litigation, company law, and international arbitration. Known for his integrity and gentle demeanor, he was a sought-after counsel who often argued complex and high-profile cases.

BBA president Nitin Thakker described Chagla as a stalwart of the legal fraternity and a champion of human rights. “He has been an inspiration for so many young lawyers due to his court demeanor, his fairness and his integrity. He has been a champion of defending human rights and a fierce fighter for upholding rule of law. Above all he was a gentleman and a great human being. Bombay Bar Association has lost a stalwart and his loss is immense.”

Former BBA president Rajiv Chavan lauded Chagla’s legal brilliance and sportsmanship. “He was an outstanding lawyer, humane, and a cricket enthusiast. His loss will be deeply felt in the legal community and beyond. Despite his perfectionism, he was always kind and approachable.” Reminiscing how, Chagla had been kind to him, Chavan said the late senior advocate guided and inspired everyone to achieve greater things. 

The BBA issued a statement mourning Chagla’s demise: “Mr. I.M. Chagla’s contributions to the legal field are immeasurable. His dedication, integrity, and excellence have inspired generations of legal professionals. We extend our condolences to his family in this difficult time.”

Chagla’s funeral will take place at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, January 13, 2025, at the Worli Crematorium in Mumbai.

Notable Cases 

Chagla represented Nestlé India during the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India’s (FSSAI) ban on Maggi noodles, successfully arguing for the export of the product despite the ban in the Indian market.

He also handled the high-profile legal dispute between corporate lawyers Cyril and Shardul Shroff over their mother’s will, leading to the amicable division of their firm, Amarchand Mangaldas, into two entities.

In 2004, he represented Dr. Anahita Pandole in a pioneering Public Interest Litigation (PIL) against illegal hoardings in Mumbai.

After the 26/11 terror attacks, Chagla, representing the Society of Indian Law Firms, filed a PIL seeking the establishment of a Citizens Coordination Committee to monitor and advise on safety measures in Mumbai.

A towering figure in Indian law, Iqbal Chagla will be remembered for his legal acumen, unwavering integrity, and his dedication to upholding the rule of law.

Thiruvananthapuram: Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on Saturday condemned Maharashtra minister Nitesh Rane’s remark on EVMs, describing it as “shocking” and contrary to the inclusive values upheld during India’s freedom struggle.

Stating that targeting any particular community is wrong, Tharoor asserted that everyone is an equal citizen of the country and that’s the only way for the country to progress.

Speaking to Media, Tharoor said, “This kind of thing is quite shocking. In our country, we really have to understand the basic lesson of the freedom struggle, which is that when one set of people said that religion is the basis of their nationhood. They went away and created Pakistan. Mahatma Gandhi onwards, our leader said we have fought for the freedom of everybody. We will create a country for everybody, we will write a constitution for everybody, and everybody will live here with equal rights.”

“I must say that people picking on any one community, whether it’s against Muslims, Hindus, Christians, or any caste, that is all wrong. We are all equal individual citizens of India, and that is the only basis on which our country can progress,” he added.

This comes after Maharashtra’s Fisheries and Ports Minister Nitesh Rane, addressing a Hindu Garjana Sabha in Sangli on Friday, reportedly made derogatory remarks saying, “EVM means, Every Vote against Mullah.”

Meanwhile, Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader, Brinda Karat also condemned the minister’s remarks and called for the arrest of Rane.

“This is a hate speech and this man should be arrested. This man is a threat to India as this is not the first time he has made such an outrageous communal statement… The fact that he continues as a minister is a reflection of the hypocrisy of the BJP and the RSS… Prime Minister talks of the Constitution and here his minister is destroying the basic foundation of the Constitution through this hate speech, so he must be removed from his post,” Karat said.