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Is OBC leader Alpesh Thakor feeling uncomfortable in BJP?

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OBC leader and former MLA Alpesh Thakor’s recent statements can’t be ignored. If read between the lines, it seems that Thakor is unhappy in the Bharatiya Janata Party.

Recently while attending a mass-marriage function organised by the Gujarat Thakor Sena, Alpesh Thakor said, “I am going to contest the Radhanpur Assembly seat (Patan district). If any one tries to oust me, I will ensure that those leaders too don’t get chance to contest the elections.”

His remarks were directed at former MLA and BJP leader Lavingji Thakor, who is a contender for the seat in the run-up to the Assembly elections scheduled at the end of this year.

Alpesh Thakor also said, “The state government has failed to strictly implement prohibition.”

Playing down the controversy, Alpesh Thakor told IANS that some party leaders are playing dirty politics and instead of uniting the Koli Thakor community, they are dividing it.

His statements were message to such leaders, and he has no intention of quitting the party, Alpesh Thakor said.

Alpesh Thakor had won from Radhanpur in 2017 on Congress ticket. In 2019, he quit the Congress and joined the BJP. He had contested bypolls from Radhanpur in October 2019, but lost to Congress’ Raghubhai Desai.

Refuting Alpesh Thakor, Lavingji Thakor claimed that if there was any substance in what the former said, people would not have elected him as an Independent MLA from Radhanpur in 1995. He also claimed that he is a local leader, whereas Alpesh Takor is a native of Ahmedabad district.

After 1995, Lavingji Thakor contested from Radhanpur thrice, once each on the ticket of All India Rashtriya Janata Party, Congress and BJP, but lost on all three occasions.

In fact, Radhanpur is a curious constituency. Barring Congress’ Khodidan Zula (1975, 1980 and 1985) and Shankar Chaudhary of the BJP (1998, 2002, 2007), no other leader has ever got re-elected from this seat.

Even veteran leader and former Chief Minister Shankarsinh Vaghela, who won the bypolls here in 1997, never contested from Radhanpur again.

For the last few months, there were rumours that the Gujarat Kshatriya Thakor Sena is searching for a safe seat for Alpesh Thakor, who though claims that the outfit launched by him has presence in 176 talukas.

“Gujarat Thakor Sena has around 9,200 committees, and at least 50 families in each village with whom I have direct contact. So the question does not arise of looking for a safe seat,” he said.

The OBC leader has also claimed that he is not just leader of Thakors or the OBC community, but members of other communities as well.

“Under my leadership, Patidars have formed the Patidar Sena in 76 villages of Karamsad Taluka, while Patels from Saurashtra also attend my public meetings in large numbers,” he claimed.

There is no doubt that Alpesh Thakor can influence voters from his community and change the results where Thakors are in dominance, feels Suresh Vanol, senior journalist from Mehsana district.

Vanol said the party did not call Alpesh Thakor to campaign for one seat in Satlasana Taluka panchayat elections which it lost. Even in Gandhinagar municipal elections, the BJP had asked Alpesh Thakor to campaign at last moment.

According to Vanol’s assessment, Alpesh Thakor may change constituency and contest either from Becharaji or Kheralu in Mehsana district.

Maharashtra

Hateful statements, obscenity in the name of entertainment will not be tolerated, strict action will be taken: Mayor Ritu Tawde

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Mumbai: The hospital administration has formed an inquiry committee in the case of hate speech made by Sejal Pawar, a medical student of KEM Hospital, in the live show of stand-up comedian Preneet More. Hate speech in the name of entertainment will not be tolerated. The hospital administration has been directed to take strict action in this matter, Mumbai Mayor Ritu Tawde has clarified.

Mumbai Mayor Ritu Tawde has reacted strongly to the entire incident and has appealed to artists and content creators to be aware of social responsibility. Two clips of stand-up comedian Preneet More’s show that are going viral on social media are causing great anger among the citizens. In the first clip, a man named Himanshu Jagda narrated an incident of degrading treatment of a woman, while in the second clip, Sejal Pawar, a medical student of KEM Hospital, made extremely hateful, obscene and offensive comments about the bodies of men who had donated their bodies for medical education. In both these cases, comedian Praneet laughed and clapped instead of objecting. Taking notice of the insensitivity in both these clips, the Maharashtra Cyber ​​Police took immediate action and registered a case. Clarifying the municipal corporation’s stand on the matter and fully supporting the legal action, Mumbai Mayor Ritu Tawde explained that the Maharashtra Cyber ​​Department has taken action. Apart from this, the KEM Hospital administration has also appointed a committee to investigate Sejal Pawar. The Mayor clarified that the hospital administration has been directed to take strict action in this matter. Mayor Tawde further said that freedom of expression is a very important part of democracy, but in the name of this freedom, content that insults women, obscenity, hate speech, hateful content or content that sends the wrong message to the society cannot be accepted under any circumstances. Everyone should respect boundaries while discussing sensitive issues related to women, consent and the medical sector in a public forum. Mumbai is a city of culture, art and freedom of thought. However, it is the collective responsibility of all to ensure that no one’s dignity is violated in the name of entertainment. Since social media has a great influence on the youth, the impact of such content on society should be seriously considered. Everyone should be sensitive to this. All artists, digital content creators and social media influencers should preserve their creative talents while maintaining a sense of social interest, sensitivity and morality. Citizens should also behave responsibly on social media and strongly oppose things that promote hatred, obscenity and anti-women mentality, Ritu Tawde has also appealed on this occasion.

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Maharashtra

MLA Abu Asim Azmi demands Interior Minister to allow Muharram sermons and gatherings until 9pm

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Mumbai: In view of the importance of the holy days of Muharram, the time of public religious speeches, sermons and gatherings held during this period should be extended from 10 am to 12 pm, MLA Abu Asim Azmi has sent a memorandum to the state Home Minister Devendra Fadnavis, making this strong demand.

MLA Azmi has said in his letter that public speeches, sermons and gatherings are organized in different areas at night during Muharram, in which a large number of devotees participate. Currently, Maghrib prayers are offered at around 7 pm, after which a lot of time is spent until the Isha prayers are completed. The police administration is currently allowing only up to 10 pm, due to which very little time is required for the actual program after the prayers. Due to this shortage of time, there is anxiety among Muslims and they are not able to fully benefit from these religious speeches.

In view of this situation, with full respect for law and order, this time should be extended till 12 midnight for the scheduled dates of Muharram. MLA Abu Asim Azmi has demanded that the Home Minister himself intervene in the matter and immediately issue positive orders to the police administration. Copies of this memorandum have also been sent to the Chief Minister and Mumbai Police Joint Commissioner (Law and Order) Devin Bharti for necessary action.

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Maharashtra

Mira Road C-Queen Palace Orchestra Bar raided, 12 women recovered, 9 arrested

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A team led by DCP Rahul Chavan of Mira Road Police Commissionerate, Circle 1, raided the Sea Queen Palace Orchestra Bar in front of Daraz Dhaba on Mumbai-Ahmedabad Highway under the limits of Kashigaon Police Station on Mira Road. During the raid, the police rescued 12 women. A cashier and 8 waiters were arrested, including the driver, owner and manager of the bar who are absconding. During the raid, Rs 50,000 in cash was seized. Along with this, illegal stocks of whiskey and beer were seized. Further investigation is underway in the case. It is said that an illegal dance and entertainment party was going on in the bar. During this, the police raided and arrested the accused and also released 12 dancers.

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