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Maharashtra

Fadnavis rakes up stalled Nanar mega-refinery issue, embarrasses MVA

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Under a vicious onslaught from opposition parties over the Vedanta Group-Foxconn loss, the Maharashtra government on Thursday attempted to corner the Maha Vikas Aghadi by raking up the stalled Nanar oil refinery mega-project.

As Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and his team attempted to hit out at the MVA, Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis fired a missile from Russia questioning the proposed mega-oil refinery project in Maharashtra which has been stuck for over three years.

“It is disappointing that negative, false, and baseless claims are being spread to gain political mileage (on the Vedanta-Foxconn project shift to Gujarat). This is only to hide their own incompetence,” said Fadnavis, hitting out at the MVA.

“I want to ask the Opposition leaders, who sent back the Rs 3.5 lakh crore refinery project from Maharashtra?… My advice to these leaders is to focus on becoming competent and efficient, not negative and desperate,” he added.

The oblique reference was to the Ratnagiri Refinery & Petrochemical Ltd (RRPCL) which was planned to be set up at Nanar (Ratnagiri) in 2015, as a joint venture between the Saudi Arabian oil company, Saudi Aramco and India’s consortium of oil majors like Hindustan Petroleum (HPCL), Bharat Petroleum (BPCL) and Indian Oil (IOCL).

Former MVA CM and Shiv Sena President Uddhav Thackeray was opposed to the proposed super-refinery project on 15,000 acres land at Nanar in Ratnagiri owing to stiff resistance from the local farmers and fishers.

In March 2021, Thackeray had announced that in view of strong local sentiments, the mega-oil refinery would be shifted out of Nanar to an alternative site somewhere in Maharashtra.

With a capacity of 60 million tonnes, and 20,000 direct jobs in the complex, the RRPL plant would have been the world’s single largest oil refinery complex, but it was plagued by massive opposition from the local communities with several agitations carried out against it in the past.

Commenting on the Shinde-Fadnavis government’s charge, Leader of Opposition Ajit Pawar said that they have never opposed any projects including RRPCL, that are in the interest of the state’s progress.

As the Vedanta-Foxconn issue boiled, unconfirmed reports suggested that the RRPCL has reportedly issued a deadline to Maharashtra government to take a final call on it or they could scout some other state, but state officials have denied any such development.

Maharashtra

Mumbai: Amid Rains, People Throng For Both Sena Factions’ Dussehra Melava, Aaditya Thackeray To Address At Shivaji Park;

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Mumbai: Amid the surge of political activities in Maharashtra as the assembly election come close, the state is witnessing a ‘Super Saturday’ as both the factions of Shiv Sena will soon start their Dusserah melavas in Mumbai. The Shiv Sena (Udhhav Thackeray) faction is holding the melava at the traditional space, Shivaji Park in Dadar. While, Eknath Shinde will hold the melava at Azad Maidan in South Mumbai. Amid light rains, both Sena faction supporters have started thronging at the grounds.

The authorities and the party workers are busy with preparations and security measures. The politically heavyweight Shiv Sena Dusserah rallies have traditionally seen over 1 lakh attendees, per rally.

Aaditya Thackeray To Address At Shivaji Park

For the first time, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader and Uddhav Thackeray’s son, MLA Aadity Thackeray will be addressing the traditionally important and politically heavyweight Dusserah rally at Shivaji Park today. The Dusserah melava at Shivaji Park, has traditionally have been addressed by Balasahen Thackeray and later party president Uddhav Thackeray.

The Shiv Sena (UBT) supporters started thronging the Shivaji Park ground since noon. As the light rains have behab in parts of the city, the enthusiasm of the attendees has not dwindled.

Status At Azad Maidan

After the split in Shiv Sena, Eknath Shinde held his first Dusserah rally at BKC, however for last two years the rally is been conducted at Azad Maidan. Shiv Sena expects that around 2 lakh people will be present, and the party has also arranged 3,000 buses to bring the supporters from across Maharashtra.

On the Shiv Sena Dussehra rally, leader Manisha Kayande said, “Lakhs of people and Hindutva supporters will come ahe rally at Azad Maidan to hear the ideas of Balasaheb Thackeray.”

To facilitate smooth transit for the attendees and maintain law and order, the Mumbai Traffic police have announced road diversions and heavy bandobast of security forces is implemented.

As the Election Commission of India will announce the assembly election schedule any day, the Dusserah rallies play a crucial role in election campaign strategies. The melavas will be seen as the platforms for both Sena factions to start their poll campaigns.

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Crime

Mira Road Murder: Husband Slits Wife’s Throat In Broad Daylight Minutes After She Leaves Naya Nagar Police Station

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Mira Road Murder: Husband Slits Wife's Throat In Broad Daylight Minutes After She Leaves Naya Nagar Police Station

Mira Bhayandar: In a horrifying incident, a woman was brutally murdered in broad daylight by her husband, minutes after she left the Naya Nagar police station in Mira Road on Friday afternoon. The accused has been arrested and booked for murder.

According to the police, the deceased who has been identified as Amreen Nadeem Khan was entangled in a marital dispute with her husband Nadeem Ahmed Khan. The dispute between the estranged couple was regarding domestic violence and custody of their two-year-old son.

About The Dispute

Amreen who was staying away from her husband had moved the district sessions court, Thane under the relevant sections of the Guardians and Wards Act, 1980 seeking custody of her minor son as a natural guardian. Considering the aspect of better company and care, the district judge in his order had awarded custody of the child to the mother, while directing the police to provide adequate protection to ensure that no obstacles are created by the opposite party in the handover process. Amreen had gone to the police station on Friday seeking intervention.

“I noticed the woman sitting in the waiting area awaiting her turn to meet the senior police officer. When enquired she narrated her ordeal following which I assured to help her out. However, when I came back she had already left. A few minutes later I learnt that a woman was brutally attacked near the N.H.High School. And to my shock and disbelief, the victim turned out to be Amreen. Had the police shown some sensitivity in the matter, the gruesome incident could have been averted,” alleged social activist Dr. Suresh Yewle. 

Prakash Gaikwad, DCP (Zone-1) Refutes The Allegations

Refuting the allegation as vague and baseless, DCP (Zone I)-Prakash Gaikwad said, “After receiving the order, we promptly provided police protection to the woman to get custody of the child. Our team had gone to their apartment on Thursday. However, neither he nor the child were present at home, so our team had to return empty-handed.”

After leaving the police station, the woman had apparently gone to meet her elder daughter at the nearby N.H. High School, where the accused accosted her, stabbed and slit her throat with a knife.” While the woman succumbed to her injuries, Nadeem who was caught by locals and handed over to the police later claimed that his family including the child had gone to Ajmer.  With no remorse for his gruesome act, Nadeem has confessed to the crime. 

Further investigations were underway. 

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Crime

Mumbai: FIR Lodged Against BMC’s S-Ward Officials For Carrying Out Illegal Demolition Of Jai Bhim Nagar Slum

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Mumbai: FIR Lodged Against BMC's S-Ward Officials For Carrying Out Illegal Demolition Of Jai Bhim Nagar Slum

The Powai police have registered an FIR against officials from the BMC’s S-ward, HPG Communication Company, and four associates for allegedly carrying out an illegal demolition in the Jai Bhim Nagar slum in Powai on June 6.

The S-ward officials have not been named in the FIR but the associates have been identified; they are Namit Keni, Aniket Kirdat, Sanjay Pandey, and Ranvijay Varma.

The slum dwellers had approached the Bombay High Court against the demolition in the middle of the monsoon, which is in contravention of the law. As per the court’s direction, the police established a Special Investigation Team (SIT), which submitted its report that was accepted and registration of a case was ordered.

The Powai police registered the case on October 5 and the Bombay High Court was informed that they will register an FIR against errant BMC officers and policemen who were responsible for the demolition of 650 tenements.

According to the FIR that has been registered against civic officials, the accused allegedly conspired and provided false information to the police, claiming they had obtained an order from the State Human Rights Commission for the demolition and requested police protection. On June 6, the civic workers arrived at the slum for the demolition, in which the dwellers opposed, leading to the alleged attack on the police.

Several police officers reportedly sustained injuries in the incident. After the SIT was constituted by the crime branch, the team led by Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime) Gautam Lakhami found out that the demolition had been carried out illegally.

After the SIT report was submitted before the court, Assistant Commissioner of Police Chenak Kakade filed a case at the Powai police station. The charges against the accused include sections 120~ B (criminal conspiracy), 167 (public servant framing an incorrect document with intent to cause injury), 177 (furnishing false information), 182 (false information intending to cause a public servant to misuse lawful power), and 218 (public servant framing an incorrect record) of the Indian Penal Code.

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