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Maharashtra

Mumbai’s famed ‘dabbawalas’ mourn the demise of Queen Elizabeth

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The famed ‘dabbawala’ (tiffin-carrier) community of Mumbai mourned the passing away of Great Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II at 96 after a brief illness, here on Friday.

The Nutan Mumbai Tiffin Box Suppliers Association Charitable Trust Chairman Ulhas Muke said the Mumbai dabbawalas shared a close association with Britain’s royal family.

“We are extremely sad to hear about the passing of Queen Elizabeth II… There was a wave of shock and disbelief among the dabbawalas community last night when they heard the devastating news. We all pray that her soul rests in peace,” said Muke in a statement.

As a token tribute, the dabbawalas paid homage to the Queen at the Borivali railway station in north Mumbai, since Friday is a public holiday, NMTBSACT spokesperson Ritesh Shantaram Andre told IANS.

Maharashtra and Mumbai are currently immersed in the immersion ceremonies of gigantic, big, medium and small idols of Lord Ganesh on the occasion of Anant Chaturdashi, marking the curtains on the 10-day long Ganeshotsav festival.

The dabbawalas enjoyed a close rapport with the British royalty ever since the Prince of Wales — now King Charles — visited and interacted with them first in 2003.

Highly impressed by their work and sheer dedication, later the British royal family had invited the dabbawalas’ leaders to Prince Charles and Camilla’s wedding in April 2005.

Two dabbawalas’ representatives — Raghunath Medge and Sopan Mare — attended the royal wedding, rubbing shoulders with other VVIPs from across the globe.

At the wedding, the dabbawalas had gifted a kurta set to Prince Charles and a sari to his wife Camilla, plus one trademark ‘dabba’ (tiffin).

In April 2016, during the first visit of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge Prince William and Kate Middleton, the Mumbai dabbawalas had welcomed them as warmly as they would welcome a ‘mulga’ (son) and ‘suon’ (daughter-in-law).

At that time, the dabbawalas presented the Duchess with a coveted Paithani sari, considered an auspicious gift for a Maharashtrian bride, and a ‘pheta’ (headgear), a picture and statuettes of Lord Vithoba and his consort Rukmini.

Lord Vithoba and his consort are the presiding deities of the state as also the dabbawalas, whose main temple is in the pilgrimage centre of Pandharpur in Solapur district.

Later, in May 2018, during the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, the dabbawalas sent a gift of a traditional ‘pheta’ (turban) for the groom and a special kurta-lehenga for his bride.

In May 2019, another body, the Mumbai Dabbawalas Association had presented a special set of silver jewellery to Prince Archie — the son of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.

At that time, MDA spokesperson Subhash Talekar had excitedly told IANS: “We feel as if we have all become ‘Ajoba’ (grandpa). We have presented them with a silver ‘kamarpatta’, ‘toda’ and ‘wala’ (waist-band, wrist-band and anklets), gifted to a grandson.”

The dabbawalas are grateful that it was owing to the respect given to them and their humble trade by King Charles two decades ago that their 132-year-old tribe attained global fame and accolades.

Instantly recognized in their simple but iconic attire — a white kurta, loose pyjama and a cap — since 1890, the 5,000 dabbawalas deliver over 2,00,000 lunch tiffin boxes to hungary government or private companies’ staffers and even students daily all over the city, and post-Coronavirus pandemic, diversified into other related service sectors.

Maharashtra

Why is there a ceasefire at the behest of the US? asks SP leader and MLA Abu Asim Azmi

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Mumbai: Maharashtra Samajwadi Party leader and MLA Abu Asim Azmi said that America’s arrogance is unbearable. A ceasefire at the behest of America and a war at its behest are not right. He said that Pakistan had carried out terrorist and destructive acts in the country before, why did the Modi government not respond to it at that time? He said that after the Pahalgam terrorist attack, the country stood with the government like a lead wall, but a ceasefire was declared at the behest of America. He said that our country will decide whether to have relations with Pakistan or not. Who gave America the authority to do so? He said that they were brought to their knees at the behest of America.

Abu Asim Azmi said that when there were terrorist attacks earlier, where was America? Why didn’t it mediate? Once, it happened that Narendra Modi suddenly went on a visit to Pakistan for no reason. There is anger against Pakistan in the country and the people are adamant about continuing the war until the end of Pakistan. Narendra Modi says that negotiations and terrorism cannot go together, blood and water will not flow together, so why has no concrete step been taken against terrorism so far? Relations with Pakistan have been maintained repeatedly, now why was a ceasefire declared at the behest of America and the US President is also announcing it? Azmi said that if a war is fought across the border, then why was the war left incomplete?

Modi’s statement that blood and terrorism and water and blood will not flow together is just a dialogue. If there was to be a ceasefire, then there should have been mediation and intervention in this matter already. Why was it done now? He said that terrorism has not ended even after the abrogation of Article 370 and demonetization. Modi ji had said that if terrorism is not ended in 50 days, then the punishment given to me will be acceptable. Abu Asim Azmi said that India is the biggest power but America will teach us a lesson that when to go to war and when not, India will decide. He said that communalism is on the rise in the country and a burqa-clad woman was forced to chant the slogan of Jai Shri Ram and was mistreated. Muslims are being targeted. This is completely wrong. This kind of communalism should also end. The government also needs to put a stop to this.

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Maharashtra

Maharashtra: Conspiracy to spread religious hatred foiled, one arrested

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Mumbai: Uncovering a conspiracy to spread religious hatred in Mumbai, Maharashtra, the cyber department has claimed to have arrested a chartered accountant who tried to disturb law and order by circulating derogatory images of Hindu deities on social media. After this, the police took the matter seriously and solved the case. Maharashtra Cyber ​​has claimed to have arrested a person for insulting Hindu deities and making obscene images viral on social media. The arrest has been made in the case of spreading religious hatred and trying to create unrest on social media. Maharashtra Cyber ​​has registered a case under sections 1963, 294, 299 of the BNS and the IT Act. The accused has also shared obscene and nude images and videos of Hindu deities on social media and websites, which created a problem of order and discipline.

After the arrest of the accused, his mobile phone has been sent for forensic examination. Along with this, 6 X-accounts have also been identified on which Hindu deities were insulted and obscene images were made viral. In this case, 7 Twitter X-accounts have also been identified, which are fake accounts. This action was taken to spread religious hatred and unrest in Maharashtra, along with disturbing law and order. Maharashtra Cyber ​​has taken action in this case where pictures and videos of deities were made viral to deify them. The accused has been identified as a 39-year-old chartered accountant and further investigation has been initiated, informed Additional DG of Maharashtra Cyber ​​Cell, Yashasvi Yadav.

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Maharashtra

BJP leader Navneet Rana in a state of shock after receiving death threats from Pakistan

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Mumbai: BJP leader and former MP Navneet Rana has received a death threat from a Pakistani number, after which the Mumbai Police has started investigating the matter. The threatening message states that the Hindu lioness who recites Hanuman Chalisa is a short-term guest and will be flying soon. Navneet Rana has informed the Mumbai Police about this and the police have taken steps in its investigation. All the phone calls have been received from a Pakistani number. Navneet Rana has reported this to the Khar Police Station.

Last year, Navneet Rana had also received a threat. This threatening message was sent on WhatsApp in the form of a video clip and this threat was received from Afghanistan, Pakistan. Now Navneet Rana has received a threat again from Pakistan. Two days ago, Navneet Rana had issued a statement against Pakistan praising Operation Sindoor and said that they have entered the house and killed you, they have dug your grave, After this, Navneet Rana has now received threatening calls from a Pakistani number. The police have started investigating and are trying to find out from which number the call was made and whose number the call was received from. After receiving the threatening message, the Mumbai police has now increased Navneet’s security and security has also been tightened at her house in Mumbai.

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