Mumbai, Aug 31: Mounting a sharp offensive against Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh chief Mohan Bhagwat, the Shiv Sena Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray on Monday said that if the RSS leadership expects its global message of “one humanity” to carry credibility abroad, the tolerant principles articulated on international soil must be actively practised and enforced within India’s domestic socio-political landscape. ​

In an editorial published in the Shiv Sena (UBT)’s mouthpiece ‘Saamana’, the Thackeray camp scrutinised Bhagwat’s recent address in New York, where the RSS Sarsanghchalak invoked ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ and declared that “if a Hindu feels that there should be no Muslims in India, then he is not a Hindu at all.” ​

The editorial characterised Bhagwat’s measured vocabulary in the United States as a carefully calibrated effort to align with Western democratic norms and global human rights frameworks, arguing that these statements stand in sharp contrast to ground-level developments inside India. ​

​The Thackeray faction accused Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders at the Centre and across various states of fostering an environment where minority communities face systematic exclusion, claiming their actions directly contradict Bhagwat’s public stance on Hindu-Muslim coexistence.

It cited a recent alleged “purification ceremony” conducted by local BJP activists in Haldwani, Uttarakhand, following a public address by Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, pointing to it as evidence of a starkly polarised domestic atmosphere driven by political motives.

​”Such is the extreme nature of religion, caste, and inhumane behaviour within the BJP,” the editorial stated. “Do these antics fit into the Krishna Consciousness articulated by Bhagwat in America? Come to India and speak a bit about this as well.” ​

The editorial also drew attention to what it described as the RSS’s selective global posture, criticising its silence on major international humanitarian crises, including civilian casualties in Gaza, as a reflection of changing geopolitical calculations rather than universal human rights. ​

Taking aim at the ideological narratives presented during the American tour, the editorial alleged that the RSS chief deliberately shifted his focus away from Lord Ram to avoid uncomfortable questions regarding domestic governance and financial accountability.

​The Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena claimed that the political utility of the Ram Temple movement had been exhausted for the ruling apparatus, accusing supporters tied to the Sangh ecosystem of financial mismanagement surrounding the Ayodhya temple project.

​”The Hindu community in America donated heavily for the construction of the Ram Temple, which was looted in Ayodhya. Neither PM Modi nor the Sarsanghchalak commented on this loot,” the editorial alleged, adding that Bhagwat “escaped accountability on American soil by speaking about Krishna’s ideas instead of Lord Ram”.

The Thackeray camp underscored the striking parallel between political developments abroad, noting that while Prime Minister Narendra Modi engaged in high-level talks in Tashkent to elevate India-Uzbekistan ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, Bhagwat’s US visit — organised as part of the RSS centenary outreach — drew active demonstrations, political pushback, and intense scrutiny over the gap between international rhetoric and domestic reality.

​Concluding with a reference to core tenets of the Bhagavad Gita, the editorial noted that true spiritual authority demands selflessness, equanimity, and the elimination of ego rather than social division or political posturing, urging the RSS leadership to match its global preachings with meaningful action at home.

Mumbai, Aug 31: The Indian Navy is set to commission INS Nipun, the second Diving Support Vessel (DSV) built by Hindustan Shipyard Limited (HSL), Visakhapatnam, in a move aimed at strengthening the force’s deep-sea diving, underwater intervention and submarine rescue capabilities.

The Navy said the commissioning of the indigenous vessel marks another significant milestone in strengthening India’s maritime capabilities. Chief of the Naval Staff, Admiral Krishna Swaminathan, is presiding over the commissioning ceremony.

The Navy spokesperson said in a post on X: “Nipun is set to be commissioned into the Indian Navy today, with the Chief of the Naval Staff, Admiral Krishna Swaminathan, presiding over the ceremony.

“The commissioning marks another significant milestone in strengthening India’s maritime capabilities.”

Speaking to media about the vessel and its capabilities, INS Nipun’s Commanding Officer, Captain L.S. Subramanian, highlighted its high level of indigenous content and its specialised role in deep-diving and submarine rescue operations.

“It is one of the indigenous platforms with more than 75 per cent indigenous content. This ship is one of its kind in the Navy, built for deep-diving operations and submarine rescue capabilities,” Captain Subramanian said.

He explained that the equipment installed aboard the vessel has been designed to support specialised diving operations and enable the ship to function as a platform for submarine rescue systems.

“Whatever has been fitted is meant for undertaking saturation diving, and it will serve as a mothership for embarking submarine rescue systems,” he said.

Captain Subramanian also spoke about the vessel’s operational role when asked about its weapons and equipment.

“When you talk about weapons, divers are our weapon and our rescue system. This ship is one of its kind, wherein we operate primarily for deep-diving operations,” he said.

INS Nipun is the second Diving Support Vessel constructed by HSL for the Indian Navy. The vessel has been designed to undertake specialised underwater operations, including deep-sea diving and underwater intervention, while providing a platform to deploy submarine rescue systems.

The induction of the vessel is expected to add to the Navy’s ability to respond to underwater emergencies and conduct complex diving missions in deeper waters. Its saturation-diving capability will allow trained divers to undertake prolonged underwater operations with the support of specialised equipment.

The commissioning also underlines the Navy’s focus on indigenous shipbuilding and development of specialised platforms for critical maritime missions. With more than 75 per cent indigenous content, INS Nipun reflects the growing role of domestic industry in building advanced platforms for the Indian Navy.

The vessel’s primary focus remains underwater intervention, deep-diving operations and submarine rescue, making its induction significant for enhancing the Navy’s specialised maritime support capabilities.

Nashik, Aug 29: A tragic road accident occurred near the eighth mile area on the Nashik-Mumbai highway when a speeding container truck hit four members of the same family who were walking along the road, police officials said on Saturday.

The accident left the father critically injured, while his three children also sustained injuries.

The injured were immediately taken to Nashik District Hospital in a free ambulance operated by the Jagadguru Narendra Maharaj Sansthan.

However, doctors declared the father dead after examination.

The deceased has been identified as Bhagirath Devaram Made, 45. His children — Mayur Bhagirath Made (16), Shyam Bhagirath Made (6), and Devyani Bhagirath Made (8) — were injured in the accident. The three children are currently undergoing treatment.

According to preliminary information shared by the police, Bhagirath Made was walking along the road with his three children when a speeding container truck struck them.

All four sustained injuries in the collision, the police said.

After receiving information about the accident, emergency assistance was provided and the injured were transported to Nashik District Hospital in a free ambulance, police added.

Despite all the efforts to take the injured to hospital timely, Bhagirath Made was declared dead by doctors, the police said.

Police reached the spot soon after the accident and took the container driver into custody.

Authorities are investigating the circumstances that led to the crash.

The investigators are also trying to determine whether negligence or any other factor was responsible for the accident.

According to officials, the accident has once again raised concerns about pedestrian safety on the busy Nashik-Mumbai Highway.

Officials said that heavy traffic moves throughout the day on the highway where pedestrians are always at the risk.

Motorists have been urged to control their speed and drive carefully, particularly in areas where pedestrians are present, the police officials said.

Meanwhile, people who were there insist that patrolling needs to be increased.