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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

Large-scale MD drugs racket busted in Agripara high-profile residence, accused investigated, alleged Bangladeshi also suspected, MD worth Rs 51 crore seized

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Mumbai: The Kandivali ANC unit led by Mumbai Anti-Narcotics Cell Shashi Kant Jagdale has busted a major drug manufacturing racket. The accused were allegedly manufacturing MD drugs in a room of a high-profile residential building in Agripara. During the operation, the police seized 14 kg of MD and liquid MD worth around Rs 51 crore. The police have also recovered a pistol and 19 live cartridges from the accused. A total of three people have been arrested in this case, and further investigation is underway. One of these accused belongs to West Bengal. These accused used to make MD in Mumbai city. A pistol has also been recovered from one of the accused. Investigation is also underway to find out where he got this pistol from. Along with this, his documents are also being checked and it is also being ascertained whether this alleged Bangladeshi is not. DCP Nunath Dhole of Mumbai Anti-Narcotics Cell said that the police is investigating this matter from every angle, while the police has got a big success in which MD and liquid MD worth Rs 51 crore have been recovered. Investigation is also underway to find out how many people are involved in this network. The police is further investigating. This operation has been carried out by DCP Nunath Dhole of ANC on the instructions of Mumbai Police Commissioner Devin Bharti. The arrested accused have been identified as Muhammad Shoaib Shaukat Ali Mansoori, 31, of Yasmin Tower, Sufyan Saleem Mansoori, 28, and Reena Akhtar, daughter of Ashraf Al-Sikdar, 22.

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Maharashtra

BMC’s decision to raise funds through bonds in 100 days, demand to withdraw decisions on bonds and appointment of consultant: Raees Shaikh

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Mumbai: The ruling parties have already created a situation where BMC, Asia’s richest civic body, will have to raise funds through bonds within 100 days. This has been criticised by Samajwadi Party legislator and former SP group leader Raees Shaikh. He has targeted the civic administration for ignoring the state government’s directive against appointing consultants as part of austerity measures. MLA Raees Shaikh said that for the first time in its 133-year history, BMC has decided to raise Rs 950 crore through municipal bonds. Shaikh said that a tender was floated on May 22 to appoint a consultant for the process. These bonds are effectively equivalent to loans, and the interest burden will ultimately have to be borne by the corporation itself, which will indirectly put a financial burden on the citizens of Mumbai. He added that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the state government have appealed to all government departments and local bodies to be austerity. The state chief secretary recently issued instructions to discourage wasteful spending by appointing consultants. In this backdrop, the BMC has issued an advertisement for appointment of consultants to issue bonds. Instead of spending money on consultants, the BMC’s own officials can handle the process. Shaikh added that the BMC plans to raise Rs 950 crore through bonds in the first phase, and this amount can go up to Rs 10,000 crore in the future. The municipal commissioner had said that future projects will be approved only after a proper feasibility assessment. In that case, why is the BMC trying to raise funds from the market through bonds? The BMC should immediately withdraw its decision to issue bonds, Shaikh urged the civic body to stop wasting public money by appointing external consultants for the bond raising process.

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Maharashtra

Riot at goat shed on Eid-ul-Adha in Mira Road, Pune Coaster Society, case registered for attempt to spoil the environment, attack on Bajrang Dal worker

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An attempt has been made to spoil the atmosphere before Eid-ul-Adha in Mira Bhayandar, Mumbai. Tensions flared up in the Poonam Coaster building here when Bajrang Dal and Hindu organizations objected to the residents of the society tying and keeping the sacrificial goats in the building’s premises and shed. Meanwhile, Bajrang Dal volunteers reached the society and advised them to file a complaint at the police station to object to the sacrifice. Then, an unknown assailant attacked a Bajrang Dal worker, Nagnath Kamble, Harsh, and a 16-year-old minor. After that, the situation became more tense. The police have deployed additional security. Now the situation is definitely under control, but the tension remains. The residents of the society say that the sacrifice is being forced and there is no permission or permit for the sacrifice or the goat shed here. Despite this, the goats were brought into the society and have been harassed for the past week. Uma Shankar Nath, a building committee member, said that there is no permission to tie up goats and build a shed. Goats were brought from outside. are going and if there is objection to it, controversial comments are made. After this controversy, now it is being said that how will you celebrate Ganpati after Eid? Muslim residents say that sacrifices were performed in the society before but now there is forced objection. Along with this, the situation has deteriorated since last night and today at 12:30 pm, an unknown assailant attacked Bajrang Dal worker Harsh Singh. Now the police have registered a case in this matter but an attempt has been made to give a religious color to this case. When Bajrang Dal volunteers tried to remove the goats, tension increased in the society and the situation deteriorated. The police have issued an alert keeping in mind the situation. On the complaint of complainant Harsh Singh, a case was registered with Kashi Mira police and the search for the attacker is underway. It should be noted that earlier too, a dispute had started in JP North Society over the tying of goats, hence there is a risk of communal tension in Mira Bhayander Commissionerate. In such a situation, the police have issued an alert and the building has been converted into a police cantonment.

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