A high alert has been issued in Mumbai for the Ganesh Visarjan (immersion) on Anant Chaturdashi, and the police have asserted that robust security arrangements are in place. Manoj Kumar Sharma, Joint Commissioner of Police (Law and Order), stated that necessary security measures have been finalized for the occasion. The deployment includes 6 Joint Commissioners, 9 Additional Commissioners, 38 DCPs, 66 ACPs, 3,100 officers, and over 18,000 personnel, alongside specialized units such as the Quick Response Team (QRT), Anti-Riot Squad, and Delta Force, as well as Home Guards. To enhance surveillance in crowded areas, the police have begun utilizing Artificial Intelligence (AI); compared to last year, AI will be used to manage crowds and monitor Ganpati Mandals and immersion processions more effectively. Additionally, it is mandatory for Mandals to complete the immersion process within the scheduled timeframe.

Compliance with regulations regarding noise pollution and other guidelines is obligatory for everyone; the police will take action against any Mandal found violating these rules. Manoj Kumar Sharma noted that Mumbai has long been a target for terrorists, necessitating stringent security arrangements across the city. Watchtowers have been erected at immersion sites, and special surveillance will be maintained at major immersion locations, including the Lalbaug procession route. Manoj Kumar Sharma further stated that necessary instructions have been issued to the police to prevent chaos or stampede-like situations amidst the crowds during the Ganpati Visarjan; additionally, the police have requested the Ministry of Railways to maintain 24-hour railway services.

Mumbai’s traffic police are also fully prepared for the Ganpati Visarjan. Addressing a press conference in Mumbai, Joint Commissioner of Police (Traffic) Satyanarayan Chaudhary stated that over 3,000 traffic police officers and personnel would be deployed on the roads, with orders to remain alert in congested areas. Cranes will be utilized to prevent traffic jams. During the immersion process, 84 roads in Mumbai have been closed, and 20 roads have been designated as one-way to ensure devotees face no inconvenience; furthermore, ‘no-parking’ zones have been identified, and parking arrangements have been made. Special measures have been implemented at locations including Juhu Chowpatty, Girgaon Chowpatty, and the Gateway of India, and five temporary control rooms have been set up for monitoring purposes.

Mumbai: Retired Justice RC Chavan has resigned from the Maharashtra Uniform Civil Code (UCC) draft committee, and a representative from the minority community should be appointed in his place. Rais Shaikh, the Samajwadi Party MLA from Bhiwandi East, made this demand, stating that such a move would enhance the committee’s prestige and credibility. MLA Rais Shaikh has written a letter to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis regarding this matter. Speaking on this issue, MLA Rais Shaikh pointed out that the Maharashtra UCC Draft Committee was constituted in July under the leadership of retired Supreme Court Justice Ranjana Desai. The committee has a tenure of six months. Not a single representative from the minority community has been included in the committee. Consequently, the committee is viewed with suspicion, and Justice Chauhan’s resignation has further tarnished its credibility. A political agenda drives the BJP’s move to draft the UCC. The BJP-led ‘Mahayuti’ governments at both the central and state levels are pushing for the implementation of this law with an eye on the elections. This law poses a threat to the country’s cultural diversity. Furthermore, it would effectively abolish the personal laws governing divorce, inheritance, marriage, and adoption across various religions. MLA Shaikh stated that it is for these reasons that the minority community views the UCC with skepticism.
Through this UCC law, the BJP is attempting to impose the norms and regulations of the majority community. To dispel doubts regarding the proposed legislation and address objections raised against the draft committee, it is essential to include a representative from the minority community in the committee. MLA Shaikh asserted that the minority community and tribal populations would be severely affected by this law.

Mumbai: In light of the proposed action by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) against slum structures standing 14 feet or taller, Samajwadi Party MLA Abu Asim Azmi met with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and submitted a detailed memorandum. Azmi demanded that residents of these slums be rehabilitated before any displacement occurs, that the proposed action be halted, and that an investigation be launched against the municipal officers and employees responsible for the unauthorized constructions.
The BMC has planned a special drive running from October 1, 2016, to December 31, 2026, targeting slum structures with a height of 14 feet or more. According to municipal data, there are a total of 223,150 slum structures in Mumbai, of which 39,111 have been identified as meeting the 14-foot-or-taller criterion. This figure comprises 31,227 structures in the eastern suburbs, 4,536 in the western suburbs, and 3,348 in Mumbai city.
Azmi drew the Chief Minister’s attention to the fact that this move would jeopardize the housing security of thousands of poor and working-class families in Mumbai. He pointed out that many families have been residing for years in areas such as Govandi, Mankhurd, Shivaji Nagar, and Dharavi, and that sudden demolition action against them would be inappropriate. Consequently, he demanded an individual inspection of each slum structure to verify the residents’ eligibility, available documentation, rehabilitation status, and any structural modifications made to the buildings. The government has periodically formulated various policies and ‘cut-off dates’ to determine the eligibility of slum dwellers. Government provisions regarding eligibility have been applied to slums dating back to 1995, the year 2000, and subsequently up to 2011. Therefore, Azmi argued that—solely on the grounds that a hut exceeds 14 feet in height—it is essential to examine each case individually before initiating any sweeping action. Furthermore, he pointed out that neither can a new hut be constructed nor the height of an existing one increased without the knowledge of local municipal authorities and staff. Consequently, Azmi demanded that, rather than holding only the slum dwellers responsible for unauthorized constructions, the concerned officials and staff who were negligent in performing their duties or who deliberately turned a blind eye during construction should also be held accountable. Presenting his stance to the Chief Minister, Azmi stated, “An investigation must be conducted into what local authorities were doing while unauthorized constructions were proliferating. It is imperative to fix accountability on the concerned officials before taking action against poor residents. No family should be rendered homeless without proper rehabilitation arrangements for eligible residents.” During discussions with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, a demand was made for a decision that takes the sensitivity of the entire matter into account. Furthermore, the memorandum called for a separate survey of huts in Mumbai exceeding 14 feet in height (to compile a list of eligible and ineligible residents), concrete rehabilitation measures, and action against culpable officials and staff in accordance with the rules.
MLA Abu Asim Azmi has demanded an immediate decision on this matter, the issuance of clear and necessary directives to the concerned authorities, and a guarantee from the government that no family is left homeless as a result of demolition operations.