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Lingayat community seeks OBC status, BJP in a fix

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The ruling BJP is in a fix over the demand of the Veerashaiva-Lingayat community seeking its inclusion in the Other Backwards Classes (OBC) list by the Centre. The community leaders have also warned that if the demand is not fulfilled, they would start agitation on a large-scale.

Sources in the BJP said that it is not good news for the party, which is preparing to face the upcoming 2023 Assembly elections. Shamnur Shivashankarappa, President of the Akhila Bharatha Veerashaiva-Lingayat Mahasabha, who is also a veteran Congress leader from the state has stated that a decision in this regard has been taken in the general body meeting.

Veerashaiva-Lingayat community, considered as a dominant community in the state comprising 18 to 20 per cent of the population, is firmly standing behind the ruling BJP in Karnataka. Former Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa and present Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai hail from the Lingayat community.

It would be a tricky situation for the BJP-led Central government to accord Veerashaiva-Lingayat community the OBC status. According to sources, the decision has to be taken at the national level. Vokkaliga community, another dominant community from Karnataka was accorded OBC status during the tenure of former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda.

Eshwar B. Khandre, Mahasabha General Secretary and also a senior Congress leader stated that though Veerashaiva- Lingayat community is considered as a forward caste, it is one of the most backward communities in terms of socio, economic and academic scenarios.

The share of Veerashaiva-Lingayats is negligible in terms of recruitments in the UPSC, banking sector, railway, Staff Selection Commission and Public Sector enterprises run by the Central government, he said.

However, sources said that the timing of the demand by the Veerashaiva-Lingayat Mahasabha is intended to put the ruling BJP in a fix. If BJP commits to the fulfillment of the demand, it will have to address such demands from across the country which will open the Pandora’s box.

If the BJP doesn’t commit to the fulfillment of this demand, the opposition Congress can target them, sources said.

The BJP has not reacted over the issue and is treading cautiously.

Maharashtra

Shooting at Mumbai filmmaker and director Rohit Shetty’s house, five shooters arrested, terror in Bollywood, police alert.

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Mumbai: A sensation has spread after the firing at the house of Mumbai filmmaker and director Rohit Shetty. After five rounds of firing, the forensic teams of the police inspected the scene. Unknown shooters opened fire at Rohit Shetty’s house in Juhu area at 12:40 pm. Gangster Lawrence Bishnoi has also accepted the responsibility of the firing, but the police have claimed to have arrested the shooters within a few hours. The Mumbai Police has claimed to have arrested five shooters, who have been identified as Aman Anand Marut (27) of Moole Aali, Karvenagar, Pune, Aditya Gyaneshwar Gayaki (19) of Gali No. 2, Karvenagar, Pune, Siddharth Deepak Yenpure (20) of Flat No. 7, Amrapali Building, near Trimurti Hospital, Dhiyari, Pune, Samarth Shivsharan Pumaji (18) of Raikar Mala, Gulmohar Society, Dhiyari, Pune, Khabeel Bindu Sakat (23) Aru Vriya Kamri, a resident of Pune. The Mumbai Police is investigating the five accused arrested from Pune. Pune Police has handed them over to Mumbai Police. After the shooting at Rohit Shetty, the Lawrence Bishnoi gang has started trying to create terror in Bollywood. Earlier, this gang had also targeted Kapil Sharma. Along with this, it also fired at Salman Khan’s house on April 14 last year. After the shooting at Rohit Shetty’s house in Juhu, the police have arrested all the five accused. Along with this, many Bollywood film stars reside in Juhu. After this shooting, terror has once again spread in the film world. Earlier, the Lawrence Bishnoi gang had also targeted Salman Khan’s friend and close friend Baba Siddiqui. In the case of Baba Siddiqui’s murder, the police have also arrested Lawrence Bishnoi’s shooters. Along with this, now five shooters have been arrested from Pune in the case of Rohit Shetty, this has been confirmed by the police. The police are also investigating the involvement of Lawrence Bishnoi gang in the Rohit Shetty shooting case. Currently, Mumbai Police has also started questioning these shooters. After Salman Khan, Baba Siddiqui’s murder, Kapil Sharma and now Rohit Shetty are on the target, so the police have also tightened security along with the investigation in this case.

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Maharashtra

Mumbai: Cleanliness of Narelwadi graveyard since Shab-e-Barat, restoration of closed pillars in the graveyard, cleaning of the graveyard by Corporator Waqar Khan’s team

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Mumbai: Ahead of Shab-e-Barat, the process of cleaning the graveyard is underway. South Mumbai Ward No. 211 Corporator Waqar Khan met the trustees of Narelwadi graveyard recently. During this meeting, it was revealed by the trustees that the six high-mast lights installed in the graveyard had been switched off for the last eight months, due to which severe difficulties were being faced at night.

Taking the issue seriously, Waqar Khan spoke to the concerned officers of the BMC and demanded an immediate solution to the problem. Initially, the officers told that a fund of about Rs 24 lakh was required for this work, which is not available at the moment and it has to be approved.

Later, Waqar Khan maintained constant contact with senior officers and ward officers, as a result of which all the high-mast lights were reactivated within just two days.

During the visit to the graveyard, it was also observed that there is a need for serious cleaning. So within two to three days, under the leadership of Waqar Khan, about 40 to 50 locals of Madanpur Hanagpada personally took up the task of cleaning the graveyard without any political motive. In two to three hours, the area around about 50 graves was cleaned.

Taking forward this spirit, it was decided that a major cleaning drive would be launched on Sunday, February 1, in which 100 to 150 local, non-political people would participate.

This cleaning drive would continue from 11 am to 3 pm, with the aim of making this final resting place of Muslims clean, tidy and dignified. This drive is being carried out purely as a public service and religious and social responsibility, which does not involve any political motive.

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Maharashtra

Crackdown on illegal street vendors in Andheri, Mumbai Municipal Corporation’s ‘K-Waste’ department takes action, citizens are relieved

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Mumbai: Around 200 unauthorised hawkers and additional structures on footpaths in Ram Ganesh Gadkari Marg (Arla Marg) area of ​​Andheri (West) in Mumbai were evicted by the Mumbai Municipal Corporation’s ‘K-West’ department yesterday (January 29, 2026). The operation, as per the instructions of Municipal Corporation Commissioner and Administrator Bhushan Gagrani, was conducted under the guidance of Deputy Commissioner (Zone-4) Bhagya Shri Kapse, and Assistant Commissioner (K-West Division) Chakrapani Ale. Unauthorised additional structures were found on footpaths connecting Swami Vivekananda Marg and Gulmohar Marg in Andheri (West) and on Ram Ganesh Gadkari Marg (Arla Marg) adjacent to the entrance of Dr. No. Cooper Hospital. It was also observed that unauthorised hawkers have set up shops in this area. It was creating obstacles for ambulances bringing patients to Cooper Hospital in case of emergency and for pedestrians to walk on the footpaths.

In this context, an eviction drive was launched by the ‘K-West’ administrative department of the Mumbai Municipal Corporation. Under this, around 200 unauthorized hawkers and unauthorized additional structures established on the footpaths in this area were evicted.

The eviction was carried out with the help of 04 encroachment removal vehicles, 03 JCBs and other equipment. During this operation, an adequate police force including 100 officers and employees of the Municipal Corporation were deployed. Local representatives and citizens are expressing satisfaction over this action. The Municipal Corporation administration has made it clear that regular evictions against unauthorized structures will continue in the future.

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