Connect with us
Sunday,09-February-2025
Breaking News

Maharashtra

Maharashtra: More Than 360 Booked For Violence Over Maratha Quota In Jalna

Published

on

A day after a protest over Maratha quota turned violent in Maharashtra’s Jalna, leading to some police personnel and others getting injured, the situation is under control on Saturday and the police have filed a case against more than 360 persons, of whom 16 have been identified, for their alleged involvement in violence, an official said.

Police used baton-charge and fired teargas shells to disperse a violent mob at Antarwali Sarathi village on Dhule-Solapur road in Ambad tehsil, around 75 km from Aurangabad, on Friday.

The protesters, led by Manoj Jarange, had been staging a hunger strike demanding reservation for the Maratha community at the village since Tuesday. The trouble began when police tried to shift Jarange to a hospital on doctors’ advice, officials said.

The agitation turned violent as some persons targeted state transport buses and private vehicles, police said. Villagers claimed that police fired some rounds in the air, but officials did not confirm it.

Agitators remain firm on their demand

On Saturday, the agitators remained firm on their demand and said they would continue with the stir till the government provides reservation to the community. They also questioned the police action against their “peaceful” agitation and asked why they fired bullets in the air and lathi-charged the protesters.

According to police, around 40 police personnel and some other persons were injured in the violence. The protesters torched at least 15 state transport buses and some private vehicles, they said.

“An offence was registered at Gondi police station in Jalna against 16 agitators, who have been identified, and around 350 others for their involvement in violence on Friday,” a senior police official said.

The case was filed under Indian Penal Code (IPC) sections 307 (attempt to murder), 333 (voluntarily causing grievous hurt to deter public servant from his duty), 353 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty) and others, he said.

Police personnel are now deployed at the village

Police personnel and a company of the State Reserve Police Force (SRPF) are now deployed at the village, the official said.

Jalna Superintendent of Police (SP)Tushar Doshi told, “Nearly 40 police personnel were injured in the violence yesterday. Police used plastic bullets and tear shells to disperse the protesters and bring the situation under control. No arrest has been so far and the situation is under control now.” Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Friday made an appeal for peace and announced that a committee will be set up for a high-level probe into the violence, while Deputy Chief Minister and Home Minister Devendra Fadnavis claimed that the police were forced to use baton-charge due to stone pelting.

Reservation was quashed by SC earlier

The reservation provided by the state government for the politically dominant Maratha community was quashed by the Supreme Court earlier.

Talking to reporters in Antarwali Sarathi village this morning, protest spearhead Jarange said, “The hunger strike won’t be called off now. Our sisters and the entire village have been protesting in a peaceful manner. The CM has formed a committee over the Maratha reservation, but it has not submitted a report and hence we are agitating.”

Showing a bullet in hand he said, “These bullets were fired and we were lathi-charged inhumanly. Women were also beaten up. Are we Pakistanis or do we have relatives in that country? Why did they fire? We will not stop until we get a reservation, let (CM) Shinde fire as many bullets as he wants.”

A woman, who has also been on a hunger strike with Jarange, sought to know why the police lathi-charged the protesters. “What was the need (for the police) to disturb the atmosphere here. If we wanted to beat someone, then we would have come with lathis in our hands…The government should provide reservation to the Maratha community,” she said.

Former MP Sambhaji Chhatrapati, a descendant of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and prominent Maratha leader, visited Antarwali Sarathi village on Saturday morning and extended his support to those agitating for the quota demand.

Addressing media persons, he said, “Those on hunger strike here are followers of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and not of Mughals or Nizams. Firing on people and using lathis against them used to happen during the era of Mughals and Nizams.” “For how many more years the community will have to fight for the reservation demand. The government must tell when they will provide reservation. The same party rules the state as well as at the Centre,” he said.

The government should withdraw the cases registered against the protesters, the founder of ‘Swarajya’ organisation said, adding that 58 peaceful marches were taken out across the state over the Maratha quota demand in the past.

Sharad Pawar to visit Sarathi village on Saturday

Meanwhile, an official said that Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) supremo Sharad Pawar is scheduled to visit Antarwali Sarathi village post-noon on Saturday. He will arrive in Aurangabad and then go to the village. He will also visit the sub-district hospital in Ambad and a primary health centre.

In the wake of the violence in which several state transport buses were torched, the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) has decided to run buses only on selected routes in the division for the time being.

MSRTC’s Divisional Controller Sachin Kshirsagar said, “Nearly 350 buses have been kept off roads in different depots of the division. Buses are not being operated on Aurangabad-Ahmednagar-Pune, Beed, Jalna, Paithan routes (from Aurangabad). Limited number of buses are being released on certain routes.” 

Maharashtra

Mega Block On Sunday, Feb 9: Services To Remain Suspended On Harbour, Central & Western Lines; Check Details

Published

on

Mumbai: Central Railway’s Mumbai Division will operate a mega block on its suburban sections on Sunday, February 9, as well as on western and harbour routes, to carry out various engineering and maintenance works. On central, mainly UP and DOWN fast services will be affected, which will use the slow track between a few stations below. In western, some trains will be cancelled.


Down Fast Line (CSMT to Mulund):

From 10:58 am to 3:10 pm, DN fast line trains departing from CSMT Mumbai will be diverted on DN slow at Matunga halting in line with their respective halts between Matunga and Mulund station. The train is expected to be delayed by 15 minutes. At Mulund station, fast trains heading beyond Thane will be diverted onto the DN fast line.

Fast Trains Services:

UP fast line services leaving Thane From 11:25 am to 3:27 pm, diverted on a slow line at Mulund, arriving 15 minutes late.

Harbour Line Services:

DOWN Harbour line services to CSMT to Vashi/Belapur/Panvel (11:16 am – 4:47 pm) and CSMT to Bandra/Goregaon (10:48 am – 4:43 pm) are cancelled.

UP Harbour line services from Panvel/Belapur/Vashi to CSMT (9:53 am – 3:20 pm) and Goregaon/Bandra to CSMT (10:45 am – 5:13 pm) are also cancelled.

Special Panvel-Kurla-Panvel services will run during the block. Passengers can travel via Main/Western Lines from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm.

Transharbour Line

No Block

Uran Line

No Block

Western line services:

From 10:00 pm on February 8 to 11:00 am on February 9 all UP/DN Fast line trains between Grant Road and Mumbai Central will run on slow lines.

Some trains will be cancelled or short-terminated at Bandra/Dadar.

Continue Reading

Maharashtra

‘BJP Would Have Lost In 1st Hour Of Counting If..’: Sanjay Raut On 2025 Delhi Election Results

Published

on

Mumbai: As the BJP leads in the Delhi Assembly election trends, Shiv Sena UBT leader Sanjay Raut has pointed out the impact of a divided opposition. He remarked that the competition remains tight but suggested that a Congress-AAP alliance could have changed the outcome. He stated that both parties aimed to keep the BJP out of power but failed to unite, which might have secured the BJP’s defeat in the first hour of counting.

On BJP’s lead in Delhi Election trends, Raut said, “… The early trends show a sharp competition. Had Congress and AAP been together, the results may have been different… The political opponent of AAP and Congress is BJP. Both of them fought to keep BJP from coming to power, but they fought individually. If they had been together then BJP’s defeat must have been confirmed in the first hour (of counting)…”

Omar Abdullah’s Dig At INDIA Bloc Allies

Meanwhile, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah took a swipe at his India bloc allies, Congress and AAP over their separate contest in Delhi. Sharing a popular meme on X, he sarcastically suggested that the two parties continue fighting amongst themselves. The meme, which read, “Jee bhar kar lado. Samaapt kardo ek dusre ko!” was accompanied by his caption, “Aur lado aapas mein!!!” implying that their disunity had cost them dearly in the elections.

Abdullah’s remark follows the BJP’s lead in 45 out of 70 seats in the Delhi legislature, as per ECI trends. His criticism comes in light of Congress and AAP contesting separately, despite being allies under the INDIA bloc. This division seemingly played into the BJP’s hands, allowing them to consolidate their position in the capital. Abdullah had earlier questioned the INDIA bloc’s effectiveness and the Delhi elections appear to have further fueled doubts about its unity and strategy.

BJP’s Comfortable Lead Over AAP & Congress

As per early trends from the Election Commission, the BJP has now crossed the majority mark in Delhi. The party is leading in 45 seats, while AAP is ahead in 25. With 36 seats needed for a majority, the BJP appears set to return to power in the capital after over two decades.

The AAP, which won 62 out of 70 seats in the last election, was hoping for a third consecutive term. However, the BJP’s resurgence and Congress’ inability to make a major impact have reshaped the political landscape in Delhi.

Continue Reading

Maharashtra

Navi Mumbai: 8,000 Contractual Workers Announce Indefinite Strike Over Wage Dispute, NMMC Refutes Allegations

Published

on

Navi Mumbai: The ongoing dispute between contractual employees and the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) over wage regularization under the Minimum Wages Act has intensified. While the employee union has announced to go on indefinite strike,  civic administration denies the allegations made. 

Indefinite Strike Announced

More than 8,000 contractual workers have announced an indefinite strike starting February 10, citing NMMC’s failure to address their long-standing grievances. “Our demands for equal pay for equal work have been consistently ignored by the administration, leaving the workers with no choice but to go on strike,” said a union member affiliated with the Samaj Samata Kamgar Sangh,

A month-long chain hunger strike had been initiated last year by the union, during which several workers reportedly fell ill and required hospitalization. “Despite this, no concessions were made by the municipal administration,”  claimed a union representative.

NMMC Refutes Allegations

However, NMMC has refuted these claims, maintaining that workers’ welfare has always been prioritized. ” Since its inception, contractual workers have been engaged through contractors for essential services such as sanitation, water supply, and healthcare, with wages being paid as per legal provisions, ” said an official.

Administration further revealed that representations were submitted to the state government on July 25, 2022, and July 18, 2023, seeking guidance on implementing equal pay for equal work for contractual employees. “In response, on September 25, 2024, the state government refused to provide financial assistance, citing existing laws and regulations, and advised NMMC to take necessary action independently,” informed the official. 

Following this, a committee was established to examine legal provisions, prevailing rules, and judicial rulings from the High Court and Supreme Court. A fact-based report is informed to have been  prepared and shared with all workers’ unions “but it was not accepted by the protesting employees. Despite multiple meetings between senior municipal officials and protestors, attempts to convince them to withdraw the strike have been unsuccessful,” said the official. 

The Municipal Commissioner is reported to have personally met the protestors and subsequently ordered the formation of a special committee, led by a retired Additional Chief Secretary of Maharashtra Government. “The committee has been instructed to submit its findings at the earliest, considering the concerns of sanitation workers. The details of this process have been shared with Samaj Samata Kamgar Sangh and seven other workers’ unions.Continuous discussions are said to be underway with all concerned unions to prevent the mass strike and ensure that essential services remain unaffected,” said the official.

Continue Reading

Trending