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Maharashtra

Maha Speaker, BJP’s Rahul Narwekar is India’s youngest in the august seat

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Mumbai lawyer and first-time legislator, Rahul Narwekar, 45, has been elected as the youngest Speaker of Maharashtra Legislative Assembly and also becomes the youngest ever in India to hold this august Constitutional post, here on Sunday.

A Bharatiya Janata Party MLA from Colaba, Narwekar was elected to the high office at a Special Assembly Session, trouncing his sole Maha Vikas Aghadi-backed Shiv Sena nominee Rajan Salvi.

Interestingly, Narwekar is married to Sarojini, the daughter of Nationalist Congress Party’s Ramraje Naik-Nimbalkar, who is the Chairman of the Maharashtra Legislative Council.

Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, pointing out at the happy familial coincidence, said that now the ‘relation between the Upper House and Lower House is akin to a father-in-law and son-in-law’, amid cheers, as the new Speaker smiled.

However, Narwekar had served as a Governor Nominated MLC (Upper House) from 2016 before becoming MLA in 2019.

Hailing from a political family, the soft-spoken but sharp legal eagle Narwekar started his career with the Shiv Sena around late-1990s, but felt stifled due to lack of leadership opportunities.

After he was denied a ticket to the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, he quit the Sena in a huff and threw his lot with the NCP, where his father-in-law was already a senior leader.

The NCP rewarded Narwekar with a ticket from Maval Lok Sabha constituency in 2014, but he came a distant third to Shiv Sena’s winner Shrirang Barne and the runner-up PWP’s Laxman Jagtap and was compensated as an MLC.

Ahead of the 2019 Maharashtra Assembly elections, he hopped from the NCP to the BJP, which fielded him from Colaba in South Mumbai and secured his maiden victory to the Lower House.

Barely 31 months later, Narwekar scripted history to become the youngest legislator to be elected as the 16th Speaker (since 1960) and also is now the youngest ever lawmaker to occupy the coveted top legislative post in the country.

His father, Suresh Narwekar was a BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation Municipal Corporator, his brother Makarand Narwekar is a two-term independent Municipal Corporator, and his sister-in-law Harshita Narwekar is also a BJP Municipal Corporator.

Shortly after his election was declared formally by the Deputy Speaker Narhari Zirwal, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Congress President Nana Patole, NCP leader Ajit Pawar, and other senior Members escorted Narwekar to the Speaker’s ‘hot seat’ from where he would crack his Constitutional whip to run the House in order and legislative decorum.

Hailing Narwekar, top leaders of various parties expressed hopes that he would function in a judicious and impartial manner and carry forward the glorious traditions of the state Speakers, some of whom have gone ahead to many higher offices in public life.

Usually, the post of Speaker is held by senior legislators with years of experience and multiple tenures in the Lower House of Assemblies or Parliament, but a first-time lawmaker Narwekar’s elevation to the plum post has set a new trend in the country.

Maharashtra

Samajwadi Party will contest Mumbai BMC elections alone Abu Asim Azmi

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Mumbai: The Samajwadi Party will contest the Mumbai Municipal Corporation elections with full vigor, this was claimed by Maharashtra Samajwadi Party leader and worker assemblyman Abu Asim Azmi in a press conference held at Islam Gymkhana here today. He said that the situation in Govindi is very bad, there is a shortage of funds here and difficulties have arisen in providing funds. If any funds are sought, the excuse is given that the funds have been spent on the Ladli Behan Yojana and the funds are not available. He said that the Samajwadi Party is also participating in the Zilla Parishad and Gram Panchayat elections in Maharashtra. Along with this, Abu Asim Azmi has also announced to contest the elections alone on about 150 seats in the BMC elections.

Abu Asim Azmi said that from November 20, the Samajwadi Party will distribute AB forms to its candidates and this process will continue till December 5. The Samajwadi Party will field its candidates in the constituencies where its candidates will be able to participate in the elections with strength. He said that the way the Samajwadi Party had made an agreement with the Congress and Maha Vikas Aghadi last time, but it has been betrayed, he said that the Samajwadi Party was not provided a seat until the date of filling the form in the assembly elections ended and then two seats were given and no discussion was even held with us regarding this. The Samajwadi Party is free to take decisions for the elections in Maharashtra. National President Akhilesh Yadav has given full responsibility for this. He has made it clear that he is free to compromise with secular parties in Maharashtra to keep communal forces away from power. However, despite this, the attitude of a big party like Congress towards its allies is not appropriate and compromises are broken in the very elections. Therefore, the Samajwadi Party has now decided to contest the BMC elections alone. He said that in Maharashtra, a Samajwadi Party candidate is also in the fray in the Gram Panchayat Zilla Parishad elections, along with this, the Samajwadi Party will contest the elections on development works. He said that Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar had visited Govindi once and expressed concern about the plight of the streets here. After that, we demanded funds from Ajit Pawar and he promised to provide more funds, but when we talked to him, he said that the funds have been spent on the Ladli Behan Yojana. He said that elections have not been held for four years, so the condition of other districts including the corporation is very bad. He alleged that funds are not being provided to former members of our party, but if someone joins the Ajit Pawar group or Shinde Sena, it does not matter whether he was a corporator or not, funds are provided to him immediately. In such a situation, this discrimination should end and all former corporators should be provided funds because they understand the problems of their areas.

He said that the lives of the people have become unbearable due to the SMS company in Govindi Shivaji Nagar. The High Court has given more time to the company, due to which there is disappointment among the people. The issue will be approached in the Supreme Court. Abu Asim Azmi has once again strongly demanded from the government to close the SMS company and has also assured to take all necessary steps for this and has requested the people to strengthen the Samajwadi Party. Samajwadi Party leader Advocate Yousuf Abrahani, MLA Raees Sheikh, and other leaders were present in this press conference.

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Maharashtra

Mumbai: Massive Fire Breaks Out At Kurla’s LIG Colony Due To Gas Pipeline Burst

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Mumbai: A massive fire broke out on November 19 in Kurla West near the Mubarak Complex at LIG Colony, reportedly triggered by a gas pipeline burst. Videos circulating on social media captured thick black smoke coming into the air as flames spread rapidly.

According to the visuals, the blaze was seen in the shop located on the ground floor of a residential building and firefighting officials were present at the spot trying to douse the fire. Several residential buildings are seen in the lane where the fire took place, bringing in security concern for residents.

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Maharashtra

Pune Zubair Hangekar’s Pakistan connection, hope for new conclusions in the investigation… ATS releases him after questioning 19 people so far

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Mumbai: Pune Suspected terrorist Zubair Hungakar’s contact list has Pakistani numbers. Zubair Hungakar’s mobile contact list has 5 international numbers. Numbers of Gulf countries were found in Hungakar’s old and used handset. The old handset has 1 number for Pakistan, 2 for Saudi Arabia, 1 number for Oman and 1 number for Kuwait. It has been found that 1 Omani and 4 Saudi Arabian numbers are stored in the mobile phone used.

When asked about this number, Zubair said in response to a question during interrogation that he did not know. Suspected Al-Qaeda member Zubair Hungakar has been sent to judicial custody. Zubair Ilyas Hungakar was arrested on charges of spreading jihad in support of the terrorist organization Al-Qaeda in the Indian subcontinent and threatening the unity and security of the country.

Zubair is originally from Solapur and currently works in a software company in Kalyani Nagar. He is married and has two children, and his family resides in the Kondwa area. Meanwhile, the ATS is thoroughly investigating the matter and is investigating whether Zubair had any links with Al-Qaeda members, why he had these materials and for what purpose. The police will also question his friend and examine his mobile and other electronic devices. It is also being investigated whether he was in contact with any other terrorist organisation. All these international numbers are important to Zubair and it is being speculated that he has terrorist connections and links. However, when questioned about these numbers, he gave vague answers that he did not know who they belonged to or what they were related to.

ATS officials said that investigations are being conducted to find out whether Zubair had any links with Al-Qaeda members and what was the purpose of this contact. We are also investigating why and for what purpose he had the Al-Qaeda material. His friend in his custody will be questioned and his mobile and other electronic devices will also be examined. It is also being investigated whether he came in contact with any other terrorist or not. Meanwhile, the ATS had earlier this month conducted search operations in different parts of the city. The operation was related to the investigation of an old ISIS module. At that time, suspected radical individuals were kept under surveillance. During this operation, 19 people were detained for questioning, but they were released after questioning. During these raids, the police have also seized some important documents along with electronic devices.

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