Mumbai: Samajwadi Party MLA from Bhiwandi East Raees Sheikh has demanded that the committee announced by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis in the Legislative Assembly on Thursday (9th) to draft the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) Act has not given adequate representation to all minority communities and the Muslim community should be represented in this committee.

Speaking in this regard, MLA Raees Sheikh said that the minority community in Maharashtra is 20 percent. It includes six communities namely Muslims, Christians, Buddhists, Jains, Sikhs and Parsis. Among these communities, the largest number is only the Muslim community which constitutes 11 percent of the total population of the state. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis today announced a 7-member committee in the Legislative Assembly. Not a single Muslim representative has been included in it. The Uniform Civil Code is most closely related to the Muslim community. There is confusion and fear among the Muslim communities regarding this code. Therefore, there is a need to give representation to the Muslim community in this committee. The state government cannot implement a uniform civil code without taking the Muslim community or the minority community as a whole into confidence. The government should not take a unilateral decision regarding this law. Raees Sheikh demanded that the committee be reconstituted by including a representative of the Muslim community in the 7-member committee headed by former Justice Ranjana Desai. MLA Raees Sheikh also said that we will soon meet Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis in this regard.

Mumbai: The Maharashtra Legislative Assembly has passed an amendment aimed at strengthening the legal framework governing dance bars across the state. The move seeks to address regulatory gaps that authorities believe have been used by some establishments to operate under different categories of entertainment licences instead of obtaining licences specifically meant for dance bars.

According to the government, the amendment is intended to ensure that all establishments offering dance performances or similar entertainment activities are regulated under a single legal framework. The revised provisions are expected to enhance transparency in the licensing process and improve enforcement by the concerned authorities.

The government stated that the amendment is designed to prevent misuse of orchestra or live performance permissions for activities that fall within the scope of the dance bar law. Officials said the changes will help create uniform standards for licensing, monitoring and compliance across hotels, restaurants and bar rooms where such performances are conducted.

During the Assembly proceedings, the government maintained that the legislation aims to uphold the law while safeguarding public order and ensuring that entertainment venues function within the prescribed legal framework. It also emphasized that the amendment seeks to protect the dignity and rights of women working in the sector while discouraging illegal practices.

The amended legislation will come into effect after completing the required legislative and legal formalities. The state government is expected to issue detailed implementation guidelines for licensing authorities and enforcement agencies in the coming weeks.

Mumbai: Maharashtra Samajwadi Party leader and MLA Abu Asim Azmi, opposing the FDA’s action against milk vendors and milk sellers and the ban on the sale of unpasteurized milk, today held a banner on the steps outside the Assembly and protested against it, saying that the FDA’s action is commendable, but the way in which the order to stop the sale of unpasteurized milk by banning the sale of unpasteurized milk has been issued is unfair to these milk sellers, which has increased unemployment. Azmi held a banner in his hands that read: Millions of unemployed, failed government, stop injustice with Tabila people. Addressing reporters, Azmi said that Tabila milk is better than one and a half and closed milk. In our house, milk is provided from Aarey Colony, which is better than dairy milk, while buffaloes and animals are raised for Tabila milk and its pure milk is sold. If open milk is to be banned, guidelines should be issued regarding this. Along with this, action should be taken if there is adulteration in milk. However, the government should consider this by suddenly banning Tabila milk. Unemployment will increase due to this. Azmi said that action against adulterators is necessary because adulteration is now common in everything from vegetables to milk, but along with this, milk dairies should be given a six-month time and allowed to supply milk as per the guidelines, Azmi demanded. He said that the FDA’s ban on open milk has created a livelihood problem for dairies owners and their associates.