Connect with us
Friday,31-October-2025
Breaking News

Maharashtra

Maharashtra BJP marches on the road seeking Nawab Malik’s ouster

Published

on

The Opposition Bharatiya Janata Party on Wednesday conducted a rally at Azad Maidan followed by a procession (morcha) to Metro Cinema, demanding the resignation or sacking of arrested Minister Nawab Malik.

The rally was addressed by top leaders including state President Chandrakant Patil, Leaders of Opposition Devendra Fadnavis (Assembly) and Pravin Darekar, who said they would not rest till Malik was out of the cabinet.

The Mumbai Police, present in strength, stopped the procession wending its way from Azad Maidan to Metro Cinema and detained a majority of the top leaders who were subsequently taken to the police station.

They included Patil, Fadnavis, Darekar, Ashish Shelar, Nitesh Rane, Manoj Kotak, Chandrashekar Bawankule, Ashish Shelar, Kirit Somaiya, Mohit Bharatiya, and others, who were whisked off in a police van to Yellow Gate Police Station and released a few minutes later.

On stepping out, Fadnavis vowed that the BJP’s ‘struggle’ will continue till Malik is ousted and other leaders warned of similar protests or processions across Maharashtra.

In late-February, Minority Affairs Minister Nawab Malik was detained by Enforcement Directorate (ED) in an early morning swoop at his home and after 8 hours of interrogation, arrested.

The action against Malik came in an alleged money-laundering case arising out of a purportedly ‘tainted’ land deal two decades ago, reportedly involving the absconding mafia don Dawood Ibrahim Kaskar and his kin.

Though Malik – currently in judicial custody till March 21 – has rubbished the ED’s contentions and challenged his ‘illegal arrest’, the ruling Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) allies Shiv Sena-Nationalist Congress Party-Congress have stood behind him solidly.

Dismissing the BJP demands for Malik’s removal from the cabinet, the MVA leaders have countered by asking whether Union MSME Minister Narayan Rane had resigned after he was arrested in August 2021 by Maharashtra Police in a case pertaining to a slur on Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray.

The BJP has been clamouring for Malik’s scalp, labelling him ‘anti-national, traitor, having mafia links, etc’, both inside the Legislature and outside and has threatened to continue its agitation till ‘truth prevails’ and the Minister is out of the Cabinet.

On Monday, Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut created a sensation in political circles, labelling the ED as “an extortionist” and the BJP’s “ATM”, both running an extortion racket, and demanded an investigation into the central agency’s officials, but the BJP has outrightly rejected the allegations.

Maharashtra

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

Published

on

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.

Continue Reading

Maharashtra

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

Published

on

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.

Continue Reading

Maharashtra

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

Published

on

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.

Continue Reading

Trending