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Frowning at Congress’ ‘leakage’, Shiv Sena whacked by a ‘political cloudburst’!

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Uddhav-Thackeray

Exactly a month ago (May 21), the Shiv Sena had expressed serious concerns over the badly “leaking” Congress with so many leaders deserting the party, and how the youth of India would lose confidence in the grand old party.

A month later, the Sena has been knocked down and practically washed out, by an unexpected “political cloudburst” that hit the saffron party last Monday (June 20-21) night, with a series of nightmarish developments in quick succession.

The Sena was rudely shaken, when it became clear by early Tuesday morning that a major storm in the form of a “MLAs’ revolt” was raging and threatened to uproot the 30-month-old Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government of Sena-Nationalist Congress Party-Congress.

Ironically, on May 21, the Sena was distressed over the desertion by leaders like Sunil Jakhar and Hardik Patel in quick succession, preceded by Jyotiraditya Scindia and Jitin Prasada.

“The Congress’ condition is like a cloudburst. The problem is where to put the patch and seal it. The leaks started on the concluding day of the party’s recent Chintan Shivir in Rajasthan,” the sagely Sena had said.

Perhaps unknown to the Sena, it was around that time the group of rebels led by senior party leader and Minister Eknath Shinde were busy hatching their own little political deluge – with a flood of outgoing MLAs – that now threatens to sink the MVA.

Sena’s anxiety for its ally came on a day when the Congress observed the death anniversary of the late ex-Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi (May 21), and ironically, the “Hindutva” party’s own countdown to a probable diminution started on the Summer Solstice Day (June 21).

There is seething rage and helplessness at various levels in the Sena, how it failed to catch the signals of a rebellion brewing up right under its noses, why it could not plug the “leaks” in time after they were belatedly detected and finally culminated into a flash flood within barely 48 hours.

There are reports that the State Intelligence Department (SID) and other agencies had sounded out drab warnings around March-April on the developments, but the MVA failed to take them seriously or react.

Some Congress and NCP senior leaders were visibly irked over how such a large chunk of MLAs could “disappear” into the dark night of June 20-21 at a single shot, undetected and unsuspected, and by the time the grim reality dawned on them the next morning, it was already “too late”.

A Congress leader pointed out that the most shocking aspect was the “Sena MLAs’ quietly slipping off”, taking advantage of the fracas witnessed during the MLCs polls results on Monday and the boisterous celebrations that followed.

One leader said that it has now surfaced how the MLAs sneaked out citing bland reasons like “going to the loo,” “getting a headache”, “not well”, “upset tummy” etc, and vanished from the “party scene” altogether.

A Congress leader even questioned how the MLAs’ police escorts got no whiff of the murky goings-on, why they did not alert the police control or other authorities especially while crossing the district or state borders, and perhaps helped nip the rebellion in the bud.

The current status is the Sena is left with around 18 MLAs, the rebel group is claiming the support of around 40-plus MLAs, enough for a vertical split and joining any potential new dispensation that may materialise.

Barely 48 hours after the shock revolt, the Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray quietly vacated his official residence and shifted to his private home, amid speculation that he would rather quit – to save the party from a split and the government from a downfall.

Watching the party and government slipping out of the hands like sand, the Sena, along with NCP-Congress are making all-out efforts to salvage the situation or prepare to sit in the Opposition – a classic scenario of hoping for the best and preparing for the worst!

Maharashtra

Samajwadi Party will contest Mumbai BMC elections alone Abu Asim Azmi

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Mumbai: The Samajwadi Party will contest the Mumbai Municipal Corporation elections with full vigor, this was claimed by Maharashtra Samajwadi Party leader and worker assemblyman Abu Asim Azmi in a press conference held at Islam Gymkhana here today. He said that the situation in Govindi is very bad, there is a shortage of funds here and difficulties have arisen in providing funds. If any funds are sought, the excuse is given that the funds have been spent on the Ladli Behan Yojana and the funds are not available. He said that the Samajwadi Party is also participating in the Zilla Parishad and Gram Panchayat elections in Maharashtra. Along with this, Abu Asim Azmi has also announced to contest the elections alone on about 150 seats in the BMC elections.

Abu Asim Azmi said that from November 20, the Samajwadi Party will distribute AB forms to its candidates and this process will continue till December 5. The Samajwadi Party will field its candidates in the constituencies where its candidates will be able to participate in the elections with strength. He said that the way the Samajwadi Party had made an agreement with the Congress and Maha Vikas Aghadi last time, but it has been betrayed, he said that the Samajwadi Party was not provided a seat until the date of filling the form in the assembly elections ended and then two seats were given and no discussion was even held with us regarding this. The Samajwadi Party is free to take decisions for the elections in Maharashtra. National President Akhilesh Yadav has given full responsibility for this. He has made it clear that he is free to compromise with secular parties in Maharashtra to keep communal forces away from power. However, despite this, the attitude of a big party like Congress towards its allies is not appropriate and compromises are broken in the very elections. Therefore, the Samajwadi Party has now decided to contest the BMC elections alone. He said that in Maharashtra, a Samajwadi Party candidate is also in the fray in the Gram Panchayat Zilla Parishad elections, along with this, the Samajwadi Party will contest the elections on development works. He said that Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar had visited Govindi once and expressed concern about the plight of the streets here. After that, we demanded funds from Ajit Pawar and he promised to provide more funds, but when we talked to him, he said that the funds have been spent on the Ladli Behan Yojana. He said that elections have not been held for four years, so the condition of other districts including the corporation is very bad. He alleged that funds are not being provided to former members of our party, but if someone joins the Ajit Pawar group or Shinde Sena, it does not matter whether he was a corporator or not, funds are provided to him immediately. In such a situation, this discrimination should end and all former corporators should be provided funds because they understand the problems of their areas.

He said that the lives of the people have become unbearable due to the SMS company in Govindi Shivaji Nagar. The High Court has given more time to the company, due to which there is disappointment among the people. The issue will be approached in the Supreme Court. Abu Asim Azmi has once again strongly demanded from the government to close the SMS company and has also assured to take all necessary steps for this and has requested the people to strengthen the Samajwadi Party. Samajwadi Party leader Advocate Yousuf Abrahani, MLA Raees Sheikh, and other leaders were present in this press conference.

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Maharashtra

Mumbai: Massive Fire Breaks Out At Kurla’s LIG Colony Due To Gas Pipeline Burst

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Mumbai: A massive fire broke out on November 19 in Kurla West near the Mubarak Complex at LIG Colony, reportedly triggered by a gas pipeline burst. Videos circulating on social media captured thick black smoke coming into the air as flames spread rapidly.

According to the visuals, the blaze was seen in the shop located on the ground floor of a residential building and firefighting officials were present at the spot trying to douse the fire. Several residential buildings are seen in the lane where the fire took place, bringing in security concern for residents.

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Maharashtra

Pune Zubair Hangekar’s Pakistan connection, hope for new conclusions in the investigation… ATS releases him after questioning 19 people so far

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Mumbai: Pune Suspected terrorist Zubair Hungakar’s contact list has Pakistani numbers. Zubair Hungakar’s mobile contact list has 5 international numbers. Numbers of Gulf countries were found in Hungakar’s old and used handset. The old handset has 1 number for Pakistan, 2 for Saudi Arabia, 1 number for Oman and 1 number for Kuwait. It has been found that 1 Omani and 4 Saudi Arabian numbers are stored in the mobile phone used.

When asked about this number, Zubair said in response to a question during interrogation that he did not know. Suspected Al-Qaeda member Zubair Hungakar has been sent to judicial custody. Zubair Ilyas Hungakar was arrested on charges of spreading jihad in support of the terrorist organization Al-Qaeda in the Indian subcontinent and threatening the unity and security of the country.

Zubair is originally from Solapur and currently works in a software company in Kalyani Nagar. He is married and has two children, and his family resides in the Kondwa area. Meanwhile, the ATS is thoroughly investigating the matter and is investigating whether Zubair had any links with Al-Qaeda members, why he had these materials and for what purpose. The police will also question his friend and examine his mobile and other electronic devices. It is also being investigated whether he was in contact with any other terrorist organisation. All these international numbers are important to Zubair and it is being speculated that he has terrorist connections and links. However, when questioned about these numbers, he gave vague answers that he did not know who they belonged to or what they were related to.

ATS officials said that investigations are being conducted to find out whether Zubair had any links with Al-Qaeda members and what was the purpose of this contact. We are also investigating why and for what purpose he had the Al-Qaeda material. His friend in his custody will be questioned and his mobile and other electronic devices will also be examined. It is also being investigated whether he came in contact with any other terrorist or not. Meanwhile, the ATS had earlier this month conducted search operations in different parts of the city. The operation was related to the investigation of an old ISIS module. At that time, suspected radical individuals were kept under surveillance. During this operation, 19 people were detained for questioning, but they were released after questioning. During these raids, the police have also seized some important documents along with electronic devices.

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