New Delhi, Feb 10: Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi strongly criticised the delay in Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh’s resignation, following a two-year-long period of violence and unrest in the state and taunted that eyes opened quickly and Biren Singh resigned only after political embarrassment.

She criticised the political motivation behind the resignation. Speaking to media Chaturvedi remarked, “The resignation came after a No Confidence Motion was to be raised in the Assembly. The CM knew that his own MLAs might support the motion, and he realised that he was losing political support. To avoid embarrassment, the resignation was forced.”

Chaturvedi added, “After that the eyes opened quickly, and it became clear through the ears.”

“Two years have passed, and Manipur has been waiting all this while for the Chief Minister to resign. Over the last two years, so many incidents have occurred. Two factions in Manipur have been divided, leading to violent clashes among the public, many lives lost, and women subjected to exploitation,” she added.

Chaturvedi pointed out the continued violence and division in the state that escalated over time.

“There was so much violence, so many lives lost, and women were subjected to exploitation for two years, but only after all this did the government act,” she said, expressing her frustration over the government’s delayed response.

Earlier on Sunday Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh submitted his resignation to Governor A.K. Bhalla.

The ethnic violence between Meitis and Kuki-Zos that broke out in May 2023 in the state had cast a cloud over his second term and on Sunday he submitted his resignation to Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla a day before the crucial Assembly session.

A Raj Bhavan official said that the Governor accepted the resignation letter and requested Biren Singh to continue as the caretaker Chief Minister until alternative arrangements are made.

He was accompanied by BJP’s northeast in-charge Sambit Patra who came to Imphal from Delhi. In the national Capital, he held a meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah and party president, J.P. Nadda.

Regarding Congress and Aam Aadmi Party’s recent Delhi election results, she emphasised, “This fight is between AAP and BJP, with Congress in the middle. In the process, we’ve allowed others to benefit. While Congress may have gained some ground, ultimately, the BJP managed to win, and they did so with a focussed campaign.”

Navi Mumbai: Over 8,050 contractual workers employed with the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) have gone on an indefinite strike from today, leading to a halt in garbage collection across the city. The workers on strike are demanding equal pay for equal work, as per a policy adopted by the NMMC in 2007.

About The Protest

The protest stems from a long-standing issue regarding disparities in wages and benefits between contractual workers and permanent employees. The workers are demanding that their salaries be brought on par with those of fourth-class permanent employees, as per directives issued in 2007. They are also insisting on receiving benefits such as gratuity, earned leave, medical leave, provident fund, and uniforms, which are currently given only to permanent staff.

Statement Of The Union Leader Of The Contractual Workers

“Even after years of legal battles, committee reports, and government assurances, no final decision has been implemented. In 2022, a committee led by the Additional Commissioner was set up to assess the financial and legal feasibility of granting equal pay to contractual workers. The committee concluded that implementing equal pay would cost the NMMC an additional Rs 20.43 crore annually. However, despite proposals being sent to the state government for financial approval, no action has been taken,” Mangesh Ladh, the union leader of the contractual workers, said.

Workers have alleged that while the municipal administration spends crores on other projects, their demand for rightful wages is being ignored. They argue that while permanent employees hired in 2024 are receiving significantly higher salaries, many contractual workers who have served for over 29 years are still underpaid.

The strike is expected to severely impact the city’s sanitation, particularly garbage collection, vector control measures, and maintenance of public gardens. The workers have vowed to continue their protest until a written assurance is given.

If the strike continues, the city could face mounting waste accumulation, leading to severe public health concerns.

“Road sweeping, garbage collection, sewage complaint will all be unattended and various NMMC Services will be affected if the strike continues. I hope the NMMC Commissioner takes the necessary decision to resolve the strike,” former corporator Divya Vaibhav Gaikwad, said.

Mumbai: A family in Andheri fell victim to a major investment scam, losing over Rs 1.25 crore after being promised high-interest returns. The MIDC Police have registered a case against three individuals, Rohan Shinde, Hemali Shinde and Sudip Shinde, on charges of cheating and embezzlement. Summons for their questioning are expected soon, as per reports.

Details On The Fraud

The complainant, a 63-year-old retired woman from Andheri, became acquainted with the accused four years ago. Over time, the Shinde family gained her trust and persuaded her, along with her son and daughter-in-law, to invest in a company that supposedly offered a lucrative 2.5% monthly interest rate. They further claimed that the company was planning to expand across Maharashtra with nearly 100 new branches, promising even higher returns for larger investments.

Convinced by these assurances, the complainant and her family transferred Rs 1.25 crore. However, instead of depositing the funds into the company’s official bank account, the accused redirected the money into their personal accounts, as reported by Lokmat Times. Initially, the investors received regular interest payments, maintaining their confidence in the scheme. However, in February 2024, the payments suddenly stopped.

Accused Avoided Victim’s Demands Of Fund Recovery

When the family tried to reach out for explanations, the accused began avoiding them. Their repeated attempts to recover the invested amount were ignored, raising suspicions about fraudulent activity. Realizing they had been deceived, the complainant approached the MIDC Police and filed a complaint.

Following an initial investigation, the police registered a case against the accused for cheating and embezzlement. Local police os now probing the matter further and action is expected against those involved.