Mumbai: Homeless residents today staged a protest at the Agripada police station against the builder over the redevelopment project in Kalapani Mominpura, accusing the builder of hooliganism and sending women to break the lock of the site and illegally carrying out illegal activities. The ruckus started at the Agripada police station when Samajwadi Party corporator Ambrain Abrahani reached the police station and requested the police to intervene in the matter and take action. Instead of listening to her, the senior police officer instructed her to sit outside and said that this is not a Mahanagar Palika office. After that, Ambrain sat on a dharna along with the residents inside the police station itself. Residents say that the contract for the Mominpura Kala Pani project was awarded to builder Bhpesh, but Bhpesh did not abide by the stipulated conditions and did not pay the rent and arrears to the residents for a year, after which first the residents suspended his contract, then the BMC also suspended his contract. Despite this, today, bouncers, women and men, on behalf of the builder entered the site and created a ruckus. In this matter, the local residents and the victims called the police and the police brought the situation under control. While the residents are angry with the builder on this issue, a resident, Naseem Bano, alleged that the builders Bhpesh and Obaid had sent these women and wrongdoings are happening on the site. She said that if anyone breaks the lock of the site, action will be taken against him. Naseem Bano alleged that the residents were also targeted by these fifty to forty women and there was an incident of beating along with scuffles. Local Corporator 212 Ambrain in Agripada Police has expressed his anger over the behavior of the builder and the police. He said that the builder was given a redevelopment contract for three years but he did not pay rent to anyone after which his contract was suspended and the BMC Commissioner had also suspended the contract four months ago. That is why today the builder sent male and female bouncers to the site. That is why the residents called me and I We inspected the site and then reached the police station. We staged a sit-in at the police station to register an FIR against the builder. The police assured that necessary action would be taken on the issue, after which the sit-in was called off. They further said that the residents have been displaced from their homes and are not even being provided rent, so an FIR should be registered against the builder.

The builder termed all the allegations baseless
Bhpesh Builder acquired the project through the Agripada BMC plot rehabilitation project and a formal agreement was completed with all the residents and the work is also underway. In such a situation, only some residents are obstructing the work, along with politicians, they are also obstructing this project. Bhpesh Builder said that he has all the approvals and permits related to the project and the residents are also ready for it, but some residents are opposing it under the guise of a private builder and a politician. He denied that his project has been canceled and that the BMC Commissioner has suspended it. He termed all the allegations baseless and said that we have provided rent to all the residents till March and we also have the receipts for it, yet some residents are making allegations. When asked that your people have reached the site and committed hooliganism, he called it a false and misleading allegation and said that we have CCTV footage and no such incident has taken place. According to the Agripada police, no case has been registered in this matter so far, however, the police have assured the people after the sit-in that necessary action and investigation will be taken on this issue.

Mumbai, Sep 2: Amid voters exclusion during the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) drive, the Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) on Wednesday urged the State Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) S. Chockalingam to extend the deadline for submitting claims and objections, streamline the hearing process, and ensure complete transparency in updating the electoral rolls.

State Congress General Secretary Sandesh Kondvilkar submitted a formal representation to the Maharashtra CEO highlighting critical lapses and key demands to safeguard voting rights.

According to data cited in the letter, out of Maharashtra’s total registered voter base of 9,78,54,049, names of 2,06,88,487 voters (21.14 per cent) have been excluded from the draft electoral roll under the “ASDD – Uncollectable” (Absent, Shifted, Dead, Duplicate) category.

The current draft list includes 7,71,65,562 voters (78.86 per cent), which still contains a significant number of “Anomalies” and “Unmapped” voter entries.

Despite prior representations and discussions in all-party meetings, several critical concerns remain unaddressed.

“The current window from August 31 to September 30 for submission of claims and objections is inadequate, especially given the upcoming Ganeshotsav festival when many citizens travel to their hometowns. The party has demanded an extension until November 30, 2026,” the letter said.

It also demanded that a complete booth-wise list of voters identified under “Anomalies” and “Unmapped” categories — who are scheduled to receive notices — should be published immediately and provided to representatives of political parties.

Notices to voters who submitted enumeration forms should be delivered physically in person rather than solely through digital platforms like WhatsApp.

Hearings should be organised at respective local polling stations rather than restricting them to just three to four centralised locations per Assembly constituency, the letter said.

According to the Congress, minor differences between English and Marathi spelling variations of voter names should not be classified as “Anomalies”.

“Clear operational guidelines must be issued regarding anomaly corrections without subjecting voters to notices. If a voter listed under the ASDD category re-claims their status, verification should be conducted directly via the Booth Level Officer (BLO) or Assistant Electoral Registration Officer (AERO) without calling them for redundant formal hearings,” the Congress said.

The Congress has also demanded that independent desks should be established for fresh registrations to provide Form-6, Declaration forms, and Form 8, along with clear guidelines on the maximum number of applications a Booth Level Agent (BLA) can submit at once.

If a claim or objection is rejected after a hearing, a written order stating the official grounds must be issued to the voter within two days to enable timely appeals.

Senior citizens served with notices should be granted priority during the hearing sessions where entries for deceased or duplicate voters persist despite submitted enumeration forms and evidence, thorough re-verification must be conducted.

Kondvilkar noted numerous complaints regarding the non-compliance of Election Commission directives by BLOs and Assistant Electoral Registration Officers on the ground.

To restore public faith, the Congress has requested regular information sharing with political party representatives to ensure no eligible citizen is disenfranchised from the electoral process, he added.

Mumbai: The Kailash Mansarovar Yatra is not just a journey to reach a sacred site; it is a voyage of faith, patience, self-discovery, and spiritual transformation. Senior journalist Priti Sompura shared her experiences from her recently concluded 13-day Kailash Mansarovar Yatra with fellow journalists at the Mumbai Press Club.

Sharing her emotional journey, Priti Sompura remarked that the pilgrimage to Kailash tests not only physical endurance but also an individual’s mental strength, patience, and faith. Treacherous paths, extreme altitudes, unpredictable weather, and low oxygen levels make every step of the journey challenging. Yet, it is the divine energy of Kailash and the profound spiritual realization that empower pilgrims to press on.

Priti Sompura also recounted her experience of the three-day Kailash Parikrama (circumambulation), describing it as one of the most arduous yet spiritually enriching and memorable experiences of her life. The grueling trek, coupled with extreme cold and high altitude, compels individuals to transcend their physical limitations.

She noted that upon reaching Kailash, one begins to question oneself and finds the opportunity for introspection. The journey connects us to our inner peace, distancing us from the noise, stress, and hectic pace of daily life.

“Kailash is not just a journey; it is a divine experience,” said Priti Sompura. “Standing before Mount Kailash evokes a sense of total surrender. In that moment, one realizes how insignificant we are in the face of the power of nature and the Divine.”

She added that the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra imparts vital life lessons—patience, humility, courage, gratitude, and the willingness to shed one’s ego. According to her, the journey holds the power to instill inner peace and transform one’s perspective on life.

During the interactive session at the Mumbai Press Club, Priti Sompura shared photographs, videos, and personal anecdotes from her trip, offering the audience a chance to intimately experience the natural beauty and spiritual atmosphere of Kailash. She spoke at length about the majestic, snow-capped Mount Kailash, the breathtaking natural beauty of the Himalayas, and the profound sense of peace experienced during the journey. The program also covered the challenges pilgrims face during the expedition and the necessary mental and physical preparations required before undertaking the Kailash Yatra.

Priti Sompura remarked that while the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra is physically extremely demanding, the experience and spiritual fulfillment gained at the end of the journey are priceless.

“You do not return from Kailash with mere memories,” she said. “You return with a new perspective on life. Kailash grants you strength, peace, and the courage to face challenges. It teaches you surrender, how to let go of the ego, and how to become a better human being.”

She emphasized that everyone should experience the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra at least once in their lifetime—not merely as a pilgrimage, but as a journey into one’s own inner self.

For those who undertake the journey to Kailash with true devotion and faith, the mountain ceases to be just a destination; it transforms into a divine experience that remains with their heart and soul for a lifetime.