Mumbai: Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA Aaditya Thackeray on Wednesday opposed the Maharashtra government’s decision to hand over the open spaces along South Bound Coastal Road to builders for development.

Taking to X, Aaditya said, “Hearing that some dalaals (brokers) of builders are asking for the open space of the South Bound Coastal Road we planned and initiated for Mumbai.”

Disapproving the government’s move, he said, the land belongs to Mumbaikars and it must remain with the BMC.

“The open space MUST remain with the BMC only and only for open spaces and urban forest plantations, as we Mumbaikars have planned. We will not allow the government to hand it over to builders or for hoardings as it wishes to!” he said.

Notably, last month, the BMC received only one bid for the development of approximately 70 hectares of open space along the Coastal Road Project.

Mumbai, March 26: Shiv Sena legislator Sanjay Gaikwad on Wednesday demanded the resignation of Shiv Sena-UBT MLA Aditya Thackeray in connection with the Disha Salian death case.

Gaikwad raised the issue after Disha Salian’s father, in his complaint to the Mumbai Police Commissioner, named Thackeray, Dino Morea and Suraj Pancholi.

Meanwhile, Shiv Sena leader Bhavana Gawli raised the issue in the Legislative Council and demanded Thackeray’s narco test in connection with the case.

Gaikwad demanded that Thackeray should resign while appealing to the state government to make its stand clear on this issue.

Even before Gaikwad was to conclude his speech, the Mahayuti legislators entered the Well of the House demanding that Thackeray should resign.

Amid din, Assembly Speaker Rahul Narvekar adjourned the House for 10 minutes. After the House reassembled, the members from the treasury benches continued to demand Thackeray’s resignation.

Shiv Sena Minister Sambhuraj Desai stood up and told the Assembly that Disha Salian’s father filed a complaint with the Police Commissioner in which he named Thackeray.

“In the case of the killing of Massajog sarpanch Santosh Deshmukh, the state government since day one has said that it would not spare anyone. Similarly, the government is quite clear that no one will be spared in the Disha Salian death case,” said Desai.

He added that a SIT probe is underway, and the petition has been pending in the High Court for hearing.

The government will submit the SIT report to the court, and based on it and the court order, necessary action will be taken in this case, the minister added.

After the minister’s statement, the ruling alliance members did not pursue the issue, and thereafter, the proceedings started smoothly.

On Tuesday, lawyer Nilesh Ojha, appearing for Disha Salian’s father, told reporters that a written complaint to the police commissioner’s office was accepted by the Joint Commissioner of Police (crime). The complaint was incorporated in the FIR.

He further stated, “Aditya Thackeray, Dino Morea, Suraj Pancholi and his bodyguard, Parambir Singh, Sachin Vaze and Rhea Chakraborty are all accused in the FIR.”

He claimed that Parambir Singh was the main mastermind for the “cover-up” in the case.

Patna, March 26: The protest launched by the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) against the Waqf (Amendment) Bill in Bihar’s capital, Patna, on March 26 has sparked significant political discourse. Shamim Akhtar, the state Secretary of the All India Majlis-E-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM), declared that the protest against this Bill would become a bigger movement than the anti-CAA and NRC protests in Independent India.

Speaking to media, Shamim Akhtar emphasised the growing potential of the movement, asserting that it would eventually have a considerable impact on the government.

“So far, the government has not felt any major impact, but this protest will soon evolve into a mass movement. The CAA-NRC protests were a landmark moment for Muslims in Azaad Bharat, and it shook the government. But after that, the pandemic came, and the momentum slowed down. However, I believe this movement will be even more powerful than the anti-CAA/NRC protests in Independent India,” he remarked.

Akhtar further stated that the protest would galvanise a larger section of the population and bring the government’s policies into sharper scrutiny.

He also criticised Rahul Gandhi, Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha, for not participating in the protest.

“Rahul Gandhi is far away in Delhi, a thousand kilometres from Patna. When the protests were taking place at Jantar Mantar, he was absent. Even Sonia Gandhi, who is only three to four kilometres away from the protest site, did not attend,” Akhtar pointed out, questioning why the Congress was silent on such an important issue.

“The Muslims of the country, and SP chief Akhilesh Yadav, want to know why Congress is not showing any support. Why are they not opposing the Bill openly, and why aren’t they speaking up against it, considering it undermines both Muslims and the Constitution of India?” he added.

As the protest continues to gain traction, Akhtar further said that it would intensify over the coming weeks.

“I can’t predict the exact course of events, but I hope that after Ramzan and Eid, this movement will gain momentum. There is talk of a nationwide movement, with Gardani Bagh-style protests expected in every district of Bihar and across the country, similar to the indefinite sit-ins during the CAA-NRC protests,” Akhtar said.

Asked whether the protest could garner attention and support from Islamic countries, Akhtar emphasised the importance of focussing on the issue within India.

“I will speak about Islamic countries later. But as for the situation within our own home India, it is our responsibility to address the fire within before seeking help from outside,” he explained.

He further stated, “This country belongs to all its citizens, regardless of their religion, class, or community. There are people from various social organisations and political parties, including the Bhim Army, Jan Suraaj, RJD, and others, who are supporting us. This shows that the issue transcends just the Muslim community — it’s about protecting the Constitution and safeguarding the rights of all people.”

“The Modi government is trying to marginalise minorities. The Waqf Board issue is one that directly concerns Muslims. It is our right to manage our own Waqf properties and make decisions about them,” he said.

He used the analogy of a temple to illustrate his point, stating, “If I were to give the keys of a temple to someone from another community instead of a Hindu priest, how could I expect the temple’s interests to be protected? Similarly, the Waqf Board is a Muslim matter, and we have the right to decide on it.”

Akhtar also criticised the introduction of the triple talaq Bill, accusing the Modi government of interfering with Muslim personal law.

“When the triple talaq Bill was passed, Modi Ji didn’t tell us how to maintain our marriage, but he wanted to dictate how we should divorce. Our Shariat already provides a clear framework for marriage, divorce, and other personal matters. Now, with the Waqf Bill, the government is trying to interfere in our community’s affairs, and this attempt will fail,” Akhtar claimed.

He concluded by stressing that the Waqf Bill was a larger conspiracy to undermine the Constitution, which would be resisted by people across India.

Meanwhile, the RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav and Leader of Opposition in the Bihar Assembly, Tejashwi Yadav, joined the AIMPLB’s demonstration against the Waqf (Amendment) Bill.