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PAAS members level graft allegations against Hardik Patel, misuse of platform

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Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS) convener and former Gujarat Congress working president, Hardik Patel is under attack from his one time associates and fan followers. They have also accused him of indulging in corruption. Hardik is not reachable for comment.

The latest allegation has been made by Hardik Patel’s one time associate Bhavesh Somani from Bhavnagar, who said that he had hurled ‘Chappal’ on Hardik Patel’s instruction on the then Union Minister of State Mansukh Mandaviya.

Somani has also levelled serious allegations of corruption against Hardik Patel. He said that Hardik took Rs 23 lakh bribe to give ticket for the Gariyadhar assembly constituency election in 2017. “Rs 10 lakh cash was delivered to his father Bharatbhai at his Ahmedabad flat and the rest was paid through Angadia services in two instalments,” Somani said.

Hardik Patel is tight-lipped on the issue. When IANS contacted him over phone and through text message, he did not respond.

While Hardik is cornered with various allegations, his one time associate Vandana Patel has come out in his support. She has appealed Patidars and PAAS workers to stop making allegations against Hardik Patel in public. She cited the unwritten rule of the tribal community, where no one makes allegations against their leaders if they switch sides. She said Ashwin Kotawal and Keval Joshiyara joined BJP, but the tribal community did not criticise them.

“These allegations can’t be termed baseless,” said Rajendrasinh Gohil, president of the Bhavnagar District Congress Committee. Gohil said, “I know Bhavesh Somani was one of the trustworthy and confidant of Hardik Patel in Bhavnagar. I have heard about him demanding money to organise Hardik’s public meeting in Bhavnagar district, in the run up to the elections. Gariadhar Congress candidate Paresh Kheni was a party worker as well as the PAAS worker too.”

People will question and make such allegations, argues Dhanji Patidar, PAAS worker from Unava in the Mehsana district, and said, “why is Hardik Patel not disclosing his family’s annual income before and after he headed PAAS movement. What is his source of income? Does he do a job anywhere? Does he have investment in any industry? How is he meeting his expenses and living a lavish lifestyle?”

“Once a Patidar leader joins politics, such allegations will keep cropping up,” said Varun Patel, PAAS convener and now BJP leader, on specific corruption allegations against Hardik Patel. He said, “It is difficult to either call it baseless or true, but one thing is sure, where there is a smoke, there is a fire.”

Maharashtra

The post of Joint Police Commissioner for Intelligence is under consideration… Decision to assign a senior officer the responsibility of gathering information in connection with the Pahalgam attack

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Mumbai: State Government first introduced the post of Special Commissioner in Mumbai city and now there is a national possibility of creating the post of Joint Police Commissioner Intelligence. This decision has been taken by the government after the Pahalgam terror attack, so that intelligence can be collected proactively. After the Pahalgam terror attack, a new post of Joint Police Commissioner will be created in Mumbai to monitor the miscreants and terrorist modules and sleeper cells, so that he can monitor the intelligence and keep an eye on the sleeper cells. Weeks after the Pahalgam terror attack and to keep an eye on the ‘sleeper cells’ of terrorist groups, the Maharashtra government has decided to create the post of a sixth Joint Commissioner for Mumbai, who will be in charge of intelligence in addition to the five posts that already exist.

The decision was taken amid the need to be at the forefront of intelligence gathering, especially in the wake of the recent Indo-Pak tensions. A senior source confirmed that the government has decided to create a new post of Joint Commissioner Intelligence in the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack and the history of such attacks in Mumbai. The sixth Joint Commissioner will primarily collect intelligence, and is likely to be by upgrading the post of Additional Commissioner (Special Branch) that currently exists. After the post of Special Commissioner in Mumbai, the government has now upgraded the post of Special Branch officer to the level of Joint Police Commissioner. Earlier, the head of SB-1 used to be the in-charge of intelligence, but now this post is likely to be upgraded to Joint Police Commissioner, which will now have six Joint Commissioners in Mumbai instead of five.

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Maharashtra

Strongly condemning Minister of State Vijay Shah’s derogatory statement against Colonel Sofia Qureshi, demanding apology and action, Muslim women protest in Mumbai

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Mumbai: Muslim women have also staged a protest against BJP Minister of State Vijay Shah in Mumbai after Indian Army Lieutenant Colonel Sofia Qureshi made an insulting and derogatory remark. Prominent women social workers from Madanpura area of ​​Mumbai’s Byculla, who run a popular NGO like Rais Area Level Federation, along with the women’s wing of Samajwadi Party South Mumbai district, staged a strong protest against BJP Minister Vijay Shah.
The protesters, while addressing the protest, said,
We, as conscious citizens, express our deep sorrow and anger over the condemnable and false statement made by Madhya Pradesh Minister Vijay Shah in which he called Colonel Sofia Qureshi the ‘sister of a terrorist’.
The women protesters paid tribute to the services of Colonel Sofia Qureshi, saying:
Colonel Sofia Qureshi is a patriotic and respected Indian Army officer who made history in 2016 by becoming the first Indian woman to lead an international military exercise. Her services, patriotism and sacrifice are a source of pride for our country.
They further said that

This statement by Minister Vijay Shah is not only an insult to a dutiful woman officer but also a blatant insult to the Indian Army, the Constitution and our secular values.

The women made the following demands:

An immediate and unconditional apology should be sought from Vijay Shah.

Strict disciplinary action should be taken by the Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister and the BJP leadership.

A resolution should be passed in the Madhya Pradesh Assembly to acknowledge the dignity of military officers and condemn communal statements.

The protesters also demanded that the Governor of Madhya Pradesh and, if elections are near, the Election Commission take serious note of this objectionable statement.

They said

Colonel Sofia Qureshi is a symbol of India’s inclusive and democratic strength. Her being a Muslim and being a patriot is not only possible together but is a practical proof of our constitutional ideology. We express complete solidarity with her and stand with every individual who serves the country by donning the military uniform. — No matter what their religion, caste or gender.
During the protest, women have also enthusiastically raised slogans in which we are with Sofia Qureshi… Shame on Vijay Shah, shame on you. Respect and honor our army.

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Maharashtra

Relocation of Mumbai Deonar Dumping Ground is a relief for residents, BMC’s decision is welcomed, Govindi residents should have access to basic facilities including a hospital: Rais Shaikh

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Mumbai: The Mumbai BMC has decided to shift the Deonar dumping ground, which will bring relief to the residents of Deonar and Shivaji Nagar, and is also a welcome move for the people of Govind. After the BMC invited bids for a major legacy waste bio-remediation project at the Deonar dumping ground, Samajwadi Party legislator and former BMC group leader Rais Shaikh welcomed the move, saying it is the first step towards fulfilling the long-standing demand of Govind residents.

A former Govind corporator, Shaikh said that the residents had faced hardship for decades due to the presence of the dumping ground and now they should get essential social infrastructure like hospitals and schools on the part of the land that will be reclaimed after the removal of legacy waste.

MLA Rais Shaikh said that this was a fundamental, long-standing demand of the residents of Govandi for decades and it is a welcome step for them. Scientific closure of the dumping ground should be ensured, and the civic body should maintain transparency in the entire process. He added that the civic body should take all stakeholders into confidence during the process of removing the legacy waste. Shaikh said, “It should be ensured that the residents of Gowandi face minimum inconvenience during the transportation of waste, as thousands of trucks will pass through the area daily.” Highlighting that Gowandi is a hotspot for tuberculosis (TB), cancer and other respiratory diseases, MLA Rais Shaikh said, “Gowandi, often called the TB and malnutrition capital of the city, is consistently ranking well below average on all socio-economic development indicators. Therefore, social infrastructure in hospitals and schools should not be damaged. After removing the legacy waste, the land reclaimed for them should be prepared,” demanded MLA Rais Shaikh.

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