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Maharashtra

Maharashtra winter session: Lokayukta Bill unanimously passed today

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Nagpur: The Maharashtra Legislative Assembly on Wednesday unanimously passed the Lokayukta Bill, 2022 through a voice vote.

The bill will empower Lokayukta to investigate even the state’s Chief Minister and members of the Council of Ministers if two-thirds of the Assembly votes for such an inquiry. The bill was passed in the absence of opposition which had earlier staged a walkout to protest against the state government protecting the minister in the alleged TET scam.

The Deputy Chief Minister Mr Devendra Fadnavis after the passage of the bill said that it has been a revolutionary move adding that Maharashtra will become the first state in tabling such a crucial bill which will become a trendsetter. 

Any present or former Chief Minister of Maharashtra can be investigated by the Lokayukta if a motion for such a probe is passed by the Legislative Assembly by a two-thirds majority.

However, the Lokayukta will not inquire into any charges of corruption against the Chief Minister if the matter relates to internal security or public order in the state. ‘The Lokayukta may investigate complaints against the Chief Minister, ministers, ministers of state, members of the Maharashtra State Legislature, All India Services officers, State Government employees (excluding Group D), members of local authorities, officers and employees of the Board, Corporation, Authority or Society, wholly or partly financed by the State Government or controlled by the Government,’ the Bill said.

The Lokayukta consists of five members with a retired chief justice of a high court or a retired justice of the Supreme Court or the Bombay High Court as chairperson and four other members, two of whom have to be judicial members. The Lokayukta will have two benches.

The bill proposes to allow the Governor to give additional functions to Lokayukta with the aim of attacking corruption.

The Lokayukta bench will be as powerful as a civic court and will be able to direct the Government to file a charge sheet before a special court in corruption matters.

It can also conduct a preliminary inquiry into any corruption case before a government agency and supervise state agencies tackling corruption cases.

Further, the Lokayukta will have powers of superintendence and can issue directions to state agencies to probe cases. It can also recommend a departmental inquiry and make a special report and submit it to the Government for action.

It is also empowered to take penal action. A person insulting or causing interruption to the chairperson or a member of the Lokayukta can be punished with a maximum of six months in jail and/or fine.

In case of false and vexatious complaints, the Lokayukta may impose a penalty of up to Rs2 lakh but only after hearing the person.

Maharashtra

Panvel: 3 Vehicles Collide, 1 Dead, 2 Injured In Major Accident On Mumbai Pune Expressway

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Mumbai: In another fatal accident on the Mumbai Pune Expressway, on Friday early morning three vehicles collided against each other, overturing a truck and mangling a car. As per reports, one passenger was killed on the spot and two others were severely injured.

The video of the horrifying accident has surfaced on the internet. The incident took place in Panvel.

In the accident, a truck, a tanker and a car smashed on one another. It is said that all the three vehicles were in high speed which lead the truck to overturn and crush the car.

The Panvel police, highway traffic police, ambulances and other concerned authorities reached the spot immediately. The injured are taken to a nearby hospital. As per initial information, the accident occurred on Pune lane of the expressway.

So far, the police have not informed the identification of the victims. The exact time of incident is not clear. Intestigations are underway.

Recent Accident

On July 16, a bus carrying 54 people collided with a tractor and plunged into a ditch on the Mumbai Pune Expressway. The mishap claimed five lives and left 46 injured.

Chief Minister Eknath Shinde later announced Rs 5 lakh compensation for the kin of the deceased and free treatment for the injured.

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Maharashtra

Congress hold state-wide protests against the Taliban-like mindset threatening MP Rahul Gandhi.

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Mumbai : The Congress party staged protests across the state, taking to the streets against the reckless leaders of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Shiv Sena, who issued death threats to Opposition leader MP Rahul Gandhi. During this protest, it was demanded that the BJP-Shiv Sena rein in those who threatened Rahul Gandhi and take strict action against them.

In Mira Bhayandar, protest was held under the leadership of in-charge Ramesh Chennithala and state president Nana Patole, Legislative Party Leader Balasaheb Thorat, Opposition Leader Vijay Wadettiwar, former Minister Satej Bunty Patil, Hussain Dalwai, MLA Bhai Jagtap, along with other leaders, office bearers, and hundreds of workers protested, condemning the Taliban-like attitude of the BJP. In Mumbai, a massive protest was held outside the residence of Assembly Speaker Rahul Narvekar in Colaba under the leadership of Mumbai Congress President MP Varsha Gaikwad. A demand was also made for the suspension of Shiv Sena MLA Sanjay Gaikwad.

In Pune, a protest was organized in front of the District Collector’s office by the Pune City District Congress Committee. City President Arvind Shinde, MLA Ravindra Dhangekar, former Minister Balasaheb Shivarkar, state Vice President and former MLA Mohan Joshi, state General Secretary Abhay Chhajed, former Mayor Kamal Vyavhare, along with other office bearers and a large number of workers, were present.

In Nashik, under the leadership of District Congress President Shirish Kotwal, a protest was held at the Market Committee Gate, where the effigies of Shiv Sena MLA Sanjay Gaikwad, BJP leader Anil Bonde, and Tarvinder Singh Marwah were beaten with shoes to express strong condemnation. Market Committee Chairman Sanjay Jadhav, City President Nandkumar Kotwal, and several office bearers were present.

In Jalgaon, the District Congress Committee led a raasta roko protest at Akashwani Chowk under the leadership of City District President Shyam Tayde. Leaders from Shiv Sena (UBT) and the Nationalist Congress Party (SP) also participated. During the protest, demands were made for the arrest of BJP leaders Tarvinder Marwah, Ravneet Bittu, Anil Bonde, and Shinde faction leader Sanjay Gaikwad. State Vice President Pratibha Shinde, former Jalgaon Mayor Jayshree Mahajan, and other workers were present.

In Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, a roadblock protest was held in front of the District Collector’s office. City District Congress President Sheikh Yusuf, Seva Dal State President Vilas Autade, State General Secretary Jitendra Dehade, Jagannath Kale, Yogesh Masalge, Ibrahim Pathan, Kiran Patil Dongavkar, and Bhausaheb Jagtap, along with several office bearers, participated.

In Nagpur, former Union Minister Vilas Muttemwar, City President MLA Vikas Thakre, MLA Abhijeet Wanjari, along with hundreds of workers, protested, demanding action against the threat-issuing leaders. Under the leadership of Nashik City District Congress Committee President Adv. Akash Chhajed, the Nashik City District Congress Committee also protested, condemning the reckless leaders. The Kolhapur Congress Committee also protested, denouncing those who issued threats.

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Maharashtra

Maharashtra Elections 2024: PM Modi To Reach Wardha Today, Lay Foundation For Amravati Textile Park Ahead Of Polls

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Mumbai: Ahead of the Maharashtra assembly elections, the government is on a spree of project inaugurations, announcements, foundation-laying ceremonies, and other events. On Friday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to be in Maharashtra’s Vidharbha region for number of events.

Notably, the PM is also expected to be in Maharashtra in the first week of October also for the inauguration of Mumbai Metro 3 phase 1 and Thane Creek bridge.

No Drone Allowed Today

On Friday morning, PM Modi will land in Nagpur city and further fly to Wardha. As per police order, no drone flying is allowed in the region today (September 20) and any drone found, offenders will face strict actions.

Modi will attend the first-anniversary programme of the ‘PM Vishwakarma’ scheme in Wardha and lay the foundation stone for 1,000 acre big PM Mega Integrated Textile Regions and Apparel (PM MITRA) Park in Amravati.

To symbolise the tangible support provided to artisans, he will also distribute credit under the Vishwakarma scheme to 18 beneficiaries across 18 trades. As a tribute to their legacy and contributions to society, the PM will release a commemorative stamp to mark first anniversary of the scheme.

Several Project Inaugurations Today

In Amravati, the PM will lay the foundation stone of ‘PM Mega Integrated Textile Regions and Apparel (PM MITRA) Park’. The 1,000-acre park is being developed by the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) as the state implementation agency. The Central government had approved setting up of seven PM MITRA Parks for the textile industry, the official release said.

PM Modi will also launch the ‘Acharya Chanakya Skill Development Centre’ scheme of the Maharashtra government. Skill development training centres will be established in renowned colleges across the state to provide training to persons between the age group of 15 to 45, enabling them to become self-reliant and access various employment opportunities.

Around 1,50,000 youths across the state will receive free skill development training each year, it added. The PM will also launch ‘Punyashlok Ahilyadevi Holkar Women Startup Scheme’, under which early-stage support will be given to women-led start-ups in Maharashtra..

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