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Maharashtra

Maha: Jilted AIMIM says ‘katti’ to Raj Thackeray for ‘iftar’ rebuff!

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An irked All India Majlis-E-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) on Tuesday said it has cut off relations with Maharashtra Navnirman Sena President Raj Thackeray after he rebuffed its offer to join the ‘Iftar’ on Sunday.

AIMIM MP from Aurangabad Syed Imtiaz Jaleel said that ahead of his rally in that city three days ago (May 1), he had extended a personal invite to Raj to partake in their ‘Iftar’ (breaking the Ramzan fast with evening prayers) that evening.

“However, he did not honour our invitations… Now, we wish him ‘Eid Mubarak’ from afar only… We shall not invite him to savour our delicious ‘Sheer Korma’ today,” a dejected Jaleel told mediapersons after performing the Eid-ul-Fitr ‘namaz’ here this morning.

He said the ‘Iftar’ gesture to Raj was intended to foster and nurture communal harmony and harmony among the Hindu-Muslim brethren ahead of his public meeting that had created huge apprehensions among the minorities with his campaign to remove mosque loudspeakers by May 4 (today).

“Unfortunately, there was no response from him. If he had come a very positive message would have gone to the masses. I had insisted that he should join our ‘Iftar’ and all could have appreciated. Yet he remained aloof,” said Jaleel.

The AIMIM MP made it clear that it was the good security arrangements by the Aurangabad Police which ensured the MNS rally went off peacefully without untoward incidents.

“We did our duty… We extended a hand of friendship to Raj Thackeray, but he doesn’t deserve it, and he proved it in his speech also,” the MP said with a smile.

He said now there’s no question of any negotiations nor sup ‘Sheer Korma’ with him… and the AIMIM would greet him ‘Eid Mubarak’ from a distance and the party congratulated the Aurangabad Police for its excellent security arrangements that day.

It may be recalled that in his rally, Raj thundered ‘Now or Never’ and demanded that all loudspeakers must be yanked off mosques and after that even from other places of worship.

He had earlier issued a May 3 (today) deadline, but in view of Eid-ul-Fitr postponed it by a day till Wednesday (May 4), as the Maha Vikas Aghadi geared to face the possible ramifications of the MNS campaign.

On his part, Raj has been fervently claiming that the anti-loudspeakers matter is not a religious one directed at any particular community, but a social issue that has been hanging for long.

Calling upon the Aurangabad Police to take immediate measures and remove the loudspeakers from mosques, he warned that if this was not done, the MNS workers would blare out ‘Hanuman Chalisa’ at double volume and he would not be responsible for the consequences.

Major parties in the state, including the ruling MVA allies Shiv Sena-Nationalist Congress Party-Congress leaders, Abu Asim Azmi of Samajwadi Party, Raju Shetti of Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatana, Pravin Gaikwad of Sambhaji Brigade, Kishore Tiwari from Vidarbha Jan Andolan Samiti, Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi and India Against Corruption were those who slammed Raj for his utterances with hidden threats.

Interestingly, after Raj announced his anti-loudspeakers campaign, the AIMIM President Asaduddin Owaisi had clamped a gag order on his partymen from making any comments on the issue, last month.

Maharashtra

Rohit Arya, who held 20 children hostage, died during treatment after being shot.

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Rohit Arya, the accused who held 20 children hostage inside a studio in Mumbai’s Powai area, has died. The accused, Rohit Arya, had taken the children hostage and also fired at the police. Police retaliated, injuring him, and he died during treatment.

Rohit Arya was mentally ill. He had taken 20 children hostage at RA Studios in Powai. Upon receiving information, police immediately arrived at the scene and attempted to apprehend him. During this, Rohit Arya opened fire on the police, who retaliated, injuring him. He was immediately taken for treatment, but died during treatment.

Earlier, the accused, Rohit Arya, had released a video admitting to holding the children hostage. Police had stated that Rohit Arya was mentally ill. Police had safely rescued all the children from his custody.

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Maharashtra

Making Vande Mataram compulsory is illegal: MLA Raees Shaikh writes to the Chief Minister and Education Minister, demanding withdrawal of the order

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Mumbai: Samajwadi Party’s Bhiwandi East MLA Raees Sheikh has demanded that the Chief Minister and the Education Minister should revoke the ban imposed on all schools in the state on making the national song ‘Vande Mataram’ written by ‘Bankam Chandra Chatterjee’ mandatory on October 31.

In this regard, MLA Raees Sheikh said that ‘Jan Gana Man’ written by Rabindranath Tagore is the national anthem of India. However, the government’s order to sing the song in all schools in the state on October 31 and organize a song exhibition between October 31 and November 7 in the context of the 150th anniversary of the national anthem ‘Vande Mataram’ is illegal. Any organization should write a letter to the Minister of State for School Education Pankaj Bhuyar and the Education Department should immediately declare ‘Vande Mataram’ a mandatory song for all schools in the state, this is not good governance in a progressive state like Maharashtra.

The condition of schools and education in the state is deteriorating. It is the duty of the government to provide quality education. However, the government is discriminating by including religious issues like ‘Vande Mataram’ in the education sector. Making ‘Vande Mataram’ a mandatory song is a violation of the rights granted by the Constitution. There have been many discussions on the issue of ‘Vande Mataram’ till date. MLA Rais Sheikh said in the letter that ‘Jan Guna Man..’ is the national anthem of India and the national anthem should be given a place of honor, sanctity and respect everywhere, it has been agreed upon.

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Maharashtra

Maharashtra Govt To Scrutinise Vasantdada Sugar Institute’s Funds For First Time; Move Seen As Setback For Sharad Pawar

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For the first time in Maharashtra’s political history, the Vasantdada Sugar Institute (VSI), headed by NCP (Sharad Pawar) chief Sharad Pawar, will come under state government scrutiny over the utilisation of its funds. The institute, based in Pune, is engaged in research, development, and training for the state’s cooperative sugar industry.

The VSI’s operational funds are generated through a levy of ₹1 per metric tonne (MT) collected from sugar cooperatives across Maharashtra. These contributions are meant to support the institute’s ongoing research and training activities for the sugar sector.

According to sources, the decision to review the VSI’s funds was taken during a recent meeting of the ministers’ committee, chaired by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, which oversees decisions related to the sugarcane crushing season.

The move follows dissent among sugar mills after the BJP-led Mahayuti government decided to impose an additional ₹5 per MT levy on crushed sugarcane to contribute to the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund.

Reacting to the reports, Sugar Commissioner Sanjay Kolte confirmed that during the September 30 meeting, instructions were issued to form a committee to examine the utilisation of VSI’s funds. He, however, denied receiving any complaints regarding fund misuse.

Interestingly, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar a member of the VSI’s Board of Trustees was present during the meeting where the decision to review fund utilisation was made. Other key trustees include Dilip Walse Patil, Vijaysinh Mohite Patil, Jayant Patil, and Balasaheb Thorat.

According to data from the State Cooperation Department, VSI has received approximately ₹55 crore over the last five years through the cooperative contributions.

Never before has any state government verified the utilisation of VSI’s funds, despite its significant influence over Maharashtra’s sugar industry.

Political observers view this decision as a setback for Sharad Pawar, who serves as the lifetime chairman and head of VSI’s governing council.

Speaking to reporters, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis stated that the move was not a probe, but a routine request for financial transparency.
“The notice only seeks financial information regarding the funds collected from sugar factories,” he clarified.

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