Mumbai, Jan 9: In a scathing revelation during the second part of the joint interview in ‘Saamana’ with Uddhav Thackeray, the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray on Friday alleged a deep-rooted “strategic plot” to strip Mumbai of its wealth and territory.

He warned that the threat to Mumbai’s autonomy is now greater than it was during the Samyukta Maharashtra movement of the 1950s.

Raj Thackeray noted a significant shift in the motives of those opposing Mumbai’s interests. While past conflicts were primarily about the city’s wealth, he claimed the current objective is to physically break off pieces of the city.

“During the Samyukta Maharashtra movement, a few non-Marathi wealthy elites wanted Mumbai to go to Gujarat. Today, those five people have grown into five hundred,” he stated. He emphasised that the manner in which the Central and state governments are coordinating projects suggests a level of danger never felt before.

Questioning the intent behind infrastructure projects in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR), Raj Thackeray asked why airports are being planned adjacent to the Vadhavan Port near the Gujarat border. He suggested these are not just development projects but “strategic manoeuvres” to connect Maharashtra’s economic hubs more closely with Gujarat while hollowing out Mumbai’s core.

Raj Thackeray claimed that the development of the Navi Mumbai International Airport and the Vadhavan Port are part of a larger plan to vacate prime land in the heart of Mumbai. He alleged that the government has already begun the process of shifting cargo operations from Mumbai’s “rightful” airport to Navi Mumbai. He predicted that eventually, all domestic and international operations would be moved out.

“The current Mumbai airport area is so vast that at least 50 Shivaji Parks could fit inside it. The plan is to move all flights to Navi Mumbai and then put this massive tract of Mumbai’s land up for sale,” he claimed.

“The math is clear: they want the wealth of Mumbai to flow to a specific class and eventually to Gujarat, while the physical land of the city is carved up for real estate exploitation,” he said.

Thackeray framed this move not as urban development, but as a “strategic dismantling” of Mumbai’s assets. He suggested that by shifting the city’s core infrastructure, the administration is clearing the way for a specific class of developers and business interests to take over Mumbai’s most valuable real estate.

Mumbai, Jan 9: The Indian benchmark indices posted mild losses early on Friday amid rising geopolitical tensions and renewed threats of 500 per cent US tariffs on Indian goods under the provisions of the Russia Sanctioning Act.

As of 9.29 am, Sensex slipped 107 points, or 0.13 per cent to 84,073 and Nifty eased 26 points, or 0.10 per cent to 26,850.

Main broad cap indices posted stronger losses compared to benchmark indices, with the Nifty Midcap 100 down 0.29 per cent, while the Nifty Smallcap 100 lost 0.84 per cent.

ONGC and Bharat Electronics were among top gainers on the Nifty pack. Nifty realty and media were the top losers, down 2.14 per cent and 1.34 per cent, respectively. All sectoral indices were trading in red, except IT and PSU Bank.

Immediate support lies at 25,700–25,750 zone, and resistance placed at 26,150–26,200 zone, market watchers said.

After the sharp correction on Thursday triggered by the possibility of about a 500 per cent tariff on India under the provisions of the Russia Sanctioning Act approved by US President Donald Trump, the market will be focused on the verdict, expected from the US Supreme Court on the legality of Trump tariffs, analysts said.

On Thursday, Nifty extended its losing streak for a fourth consecutive session, falling 263 points to close at 25,876.

Asia-Pacific markets traded mixed in the morning session as investors parsed China’s inflation data which accelerated in December to the fastest pace in nearly three years.

In Asian markets, China’s Shanghai index gained 0.3 per cent, and Shenzhen added 0.57 per cent, Japan’s Nikkei advanced 1.14 per cent, while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index dipped 0.07 per cent. South Korea’s Kospi advanced 0.69 per cent.

The US markets were mostly in the green zone overnight even as Nasdaq lost 0.44 per cent. The S&P 500 gained 0.01 per cent, and the Dow moved up 0.55 per cent.

On January 8, foreign institutional investors (FIIs) sold net equities worth Rs 3,367 crore, while domestic institutional investors (DIIs) were net buyers of equities worth Rs 3,701 crore.

Mumbai: woke up to a brief spell of winter charm on Friday, with cool breezes, clear blue skies and a noticeable dip in temperatures bringing momentary relief to residents. The early morning hours felt crisp and pleasant, raising hopes of a comfortable day ahead in the otherwise humid metropolis. However, the sense of respite proved short-lived as a thick layer of smog gradually settled over the city, reducing visibility and showing Mumbai’s worsening air pollution problem.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) had forecast a bright and pleasant day, with temperatures expected to range between 20 degrees Celsius and 31 degrees Celsius. While weather conditions remained favourable, air quality quickly emerged as the city’s most pressing concern. By morning, haze was visible across several parts of Mumbai, dampening the initial optimism sparked by the cool start.

Data from air quality monitoring platform AQI.in showed that Mumbai’s overall Air Quality Index (AQI) touched 204 in the early hours, placing it in the ‘unhealthy’ category. Health experts cautioned that prolonged exposure to such pollution levels can have serious health consequences, particularly for children, senior citizens and individuals with respiratory or cardiac conditions. Residents were advised to minimise outdoor activities and avoid prolonged exposure to polluted air.

The deteriorating air quality has largely been attributed to dust and fine particulate matter released by widespread construction activity across the city. Mumbai is currently witnessing multiple large-scale infrastructure projects, including metro rail corridors, flyovers, coastal road extensions and extensive road-widening works.

Alongside these public projects, rapid private real estate development continues to add to the pollution load. Vehicular emissions, especially during peak traffic hours, further exacerbate the situation, posing a major challenge for civic authorities tasked with managing air quality.

Several areas in the city emerged as major pollution hotspots. Chembur recorded a dangerously high AQI of 342, placing it in the ‘severe’ category where health risks extend even to otherwise healthy individuals. Wadala East followed closely with an AQI of 327, while Wadala West reported 320. Sewri and Kurla also registered alarming AQI levels of 308 and 306 respectively, firmly within the severe pollution bracket.

Suburban areas fared relatively better but were far from pollution-free. Andheri East reported ‘good’ air quality with an AQI of 48, while Bandra West and Kandivali East recorded AQI readings of 83 each, categorised as ‘moderate’. Santacruz East registered 87 and Jogeshwari touched 100, indicating that moderate air pollution remains widespread rather than restricted to specific pockets of the city.

As per standard classifications, AQI levels between 0 and 50 are considered ‘good’, 51 to 100 ‘moderate’, 101 to 200 ‘poor’, 201 to 300 ‘unhealthy’, and readings above 300 fall under the ‘severe’ or ‘hazardous’ category, levels Mumbai continues to breach with worrying regularity.