Maharashtra
MVA rips into and demands dismissal of Maha BJP Minister for labelling Kerala ‘mini-Pakistan’

Mumbai, Dec 30: The Maha Vikas Aghadi on Monday slammed a Maharashtra Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Minister, Nitesh N. Rane, for alleging that Kerala is a ‘mini-Pakistan’ and claiming that Congress leaders like Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Vadra get elected from there as terrorists vote for them.
MVA leaders like the Congress’ Pawan Khera, Atul Londhe, Shiv Sena (UBT)’s Anand Dubey and Kishore Tiwari, besides Nationalist Congress Party (SP)’s Clyde Crasto, and more have termed Rane’s utterances as ‘unconstitutional’ and arising out of an ‘illiterate mind’.
Rane, the son of former Chief Minister and ex-union minister Narayan Rane, drew the comparisons at an event last night in Pune to commemorate Shiv Pratap Din – marking Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s killing of the Bijapur Sultanate’s General Afzal Khan (1659) at Pratapgad Fort in Satara.
While praising Hindu activists from Kerala, he said that they had saved the lives of 12,000 Hindu girls, a huge feat considering how difficult it was to rescue even one sister.
“Kerala is nothing but a ‘mini-Pakistan’. That is why Rahul Gandhi and his sister (Priyanka Vadra) get elected from there. All the terrorists are ones who vote for them. I am speaking the facts… These persons (the Gandhi siblings) become MPs with support from the terrorists,” claimed Rane.
The references to the Gandhis was pertaining to Rahul Gandhi winning the Lok Sabha polls in Wayanad (Kerala), while losing Amethi (2019). However, in 2024, he won both Amethi and Wayanad, and later Priyanka Vadra won the Wayanad seat in 2024 Lok Sabha bypolls.
“What else can be expected from him. But we have to ask Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis how can somebody calling one of our own states ‘mini-Pakistan’ continue to be a Cabinet Minister? We take the pledge of unity…I expected both (PM & CM), who give patriotic speeches, to ensure that such persons are not allowed to remain in the ministry,” said Londhe sharply.
Crasto dubbed Nitesh Rane as a “motormouth who needs to be controlled by the BJP” and who has insulted and demeaned an important state of India, which was a highly deplorable act.
“Does the BJP endorse his opinions? What comes to the fore is that a mentally illiterate Nitesh Rane is shamelessly berating the most literate state of India. The BJP must answer to all,” demanded Crasto.
Tiwari said that with such irresponsible and shameless words, “Nitesh Rane is making blatant attempts to incite communities against each other in Kerala which has always rejected the BJP”, and should be sacked for violating the oath of office.
Khera bluntly said, “Ask BJP President J.P. Nadda whether his party will contest the next elections from Kerala or not. These unconstitutional statements by the BJP leaders made repeatedly are against the Constitution.”
“If what Rane claims is true, then why has the Kerala Governor, appointed by the President, not submitted a report to the Centre of how that state has become a ‘mini-Pakistan’.
“What are the Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Fadnavis – whose ‘laadla’ (favourite) Nitesh Raje is, doing in the matter,” asked an irked Dubey.
The NCP (SP) has called upon the state BJP to take cognisance of statements by Rane, known for stirring controversies in the past, and do the needful.
The first-time Minister also assured the Hindutva workers that “you are not alone and we are with you as the government.”
“The state has a saffron-clad CM, Hindutva activists should not fear anything. If anyone acts illegally against Hindus or Hinduism, we will not spare them,” warned Rane, adding that though he has ministerial responsibilities and constraints, the “work of Hindutva must continue in full steam.”
Present on the occasion at the Sant Dnyaneshwar Maharaj Palkhi in Saswad (Pune) organised through the Sarsenapati Hambirrao Mohite Gaushala, Gaurakshak Dal, were Vishwa Hindu Parishad Organising leader Dadaji Vedak, plus Prathish Vishwanath, Sanjay ‘Kaka’ Sharma who were given awards for various services.
Maharashtra
Maharashtra Govt Forms Committee To Review Shakti Criminal Law Bill Amid Centre’s Objections

Mumbai: The state government has announced a committee under the Director General of Police (DGP) to review the Shakti Criminal Laws (Maharashtra Amendment) Bill pending in the state legislature.
The committee will compare the provisions made in the Bill with the new legal framework of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Bharatiya Nagrik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS). The formation of the committee follows a statement made by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis a few months ago.
The statement came after objections raised by the Union Home Ministry over some provisions that were in conflict with a few judgments of the Supreme Court. The CM had said the state would review the Bill and reintroduce it, if required.
On Wednesday, the state government issued orders to form a six-member committee under the DGP, with the following members – Principal Secretary to the Law and Judiciary Department, Secretary of the Women and Child Development Department, Additional DG (Law and Order), Deputy Secretary in the Law Department and the Additional DG (prevention of crimes against Women and Children) as member secretary.
The committee will work on two points – a comparative study of the state bill with the BNS and BNSS – and will recommend if more specific legal provisions are needed compared to the Central Act. The report of the committee is expected in two months.
Maharashtra
Will BMC Wake Up? Eastern Freeway Becomes Mumbai’s Most Dangerous Road At Night Due To Defunct Street Lights

Mumbai: Motorists on the Eastern Freeway, which connects south Mumbai to Ghatkopar, are yet again suffering from blackouts as the street lights at several stretches of the road are defunct. The 16.8 km signal-free road connects south Mumbai from P D’mello Road to the Ghatkopar-Mankhurd link road and is preferred by lakhs of motorists to reach the eastern suburbs.
However, instead of providing basic facilities like street lights, the BMC departments concerned are busy passing the buck. “The speed limit is 80 kmph and the absence of streetlight makes the road very dangerous. Accidents can happen any time,” said Hemant Vichare, a daily user.
“It has been at least six months since the road lights have been non-functional, especially from the Wadala to Chembur section. I have never seen all the lights working in the tunnel as well. During the rains, the water accumulates on the roadside and without lights, it becomes very risky to drive,” said D Pinto, a daily user of the Freeway and resident of Chembur.
“The least BMC could have done is install working street lamps. Earlier, it was only the Wadala section that was dark; now even the flyover towards Ghatkopar (after Chembur exit) has gone dark. The freeway has heavy vehicular flow with cars running at high speeds. It is very unsafe,” said another commuter.
The flyover was built by the MMRDA and fully handed over to the BMC for operations and maintenance in 2015. When the FPJ contacted BMC’s Chief Engineer (Bridges), Uttam Shrote said that he reminds his staff regularly to follow up. “I am aware the lights at certain sections of the freeway are not working. The tender and quotations to install or repair lights is in process by the Mechanical & Electrical department.”
However, Chief Engineer (Mechanical & Electrical) Krishna Perekar said that his department has neither floated any tender nor is in the process of installing new lights or repairing he existing ones.
“It is not possible that stretches of freeway are without road lights. However, the lights are always purchased in bulk and not for a particular section in the city. The ward offices in the concerned stretch need to look at the issue. The BEST and Adani Electricity supply power to the road,” he said.
When contacted to the spokesperson of Adani Electricity, he said that there is no interruption of power supply in the area, including the freeway from their side.
Notably, this is not the first time that stretches of the Eastern Freeway have gone dark. In July 2023, the media had highlighted the issue of non-functional street lights on the eastern freeway and how it is fast emerging as the most dangerous road in Mumbai, especially at night, primarily because of gross laxity on the part of the civic body.
Maharashtra
Maharashtra Dy CM Ajit Pawar Meets Muslim Leaders & Senior Police Officials Over Mosque Loudspeaker Controversy In Mumbai

Mumbai: Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and NCP leader Ajit Pawar on Wednesday chaired a crucial meeting at the Sahyadri Guest House to address growing concerns over the removal of loudspeakers from mosques in Mumbai. The meeting was attended by State Director General of Police Rashmi Shukla, Mumbai Police Commissioner Deven Bharti and several prominent Muslim leaders and MLAs, including Nawab Malik, Zeeshan Siddique, Abu Azmi, Waris Pathan, Sana Malik, Jallal Uddin and Siddharth Kamble.
The delegation expressed alarm over what they claim is police overreach in removing mosque loudspeakers, allegedly under pressure from a campaign launched by a former BJP MP. The leaders argued that the issue of Azaan is not new and has existed peacefully for generations. “Someone, some Somaiya, has created pressure in Mumbai. Because of one person, Muslims are being harassed,” said Samajwadi Party’s state president Abu Azmi after the meeting. “All sides were heard, and both the Commissioner and the DGP were present,” he said.
AIMIM leader Waris Pathan also echoed the sentiment, stating that the delegation included Muslim legislators, social workers, and community representatives. “We raised the issue of police forcibly removing loudspeakers from mosques and issuing notices without due process. This is creating unnecessary tension in the city,” Pathan said.
Muslim organisations from South Mumbai had earlier met with Pawar and submitted their concerns. They alleged that police were harassing mosque committees despite their compliance with High Court-decided permissible noise levels between 45 and 56 decibels. “There is no court order to remove loudspeakers outright,” the organisations pointed out. Action should be taken only if a violation is proven, such as issuing a notice or cancelling a licence. But instead, police are dismantling systems without proper verification, demanded the organisations.
The controversy is said to have intensified following visits by a BJP leader to areas like Govandi, where he reportedly pressured local police to act against mosques using loudspeakers. Muslim leaders have demanded a fair and transparent resolution to prevent communal disharmony and urged the government to issue clear directives to law enforcement based on legal parameters, not political pressure.
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