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‘Pawar said BJP divisive in 1996, we realised it in 2019’, admits Shiv Sena

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Sharad-Pawar

In a candid admission, Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut said on Saturday that NCP President Sharad Pawar had termed the BJP as a ‘divisive’ party, but the Sena realised this fact only in 2019.

Describing Pawar as a visionary and thinking politician who has given the state and country a direction, Raut recalled the NCP leader’s warning a quarter of a century back as to how the Bharatiya Janata Party adopted divisive methods, which hampered the unity of the country.

“Unfortunately, this realisation dawned on us only a couple of years ago,” Raut said, referring to the decision of Sena to dump the BJP after the 2019 Assembly elections and join hands with the NCP and Congress to form the Maha Vikas Aghadi government headed by Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray.

The Sena chief spokesperson also remembered Pawar’s statements in 1996 calling the BJP’s policies ‘regressive’, which would push the country backwards, but it was the Sena which failed to gauge it then.

Raut’s comments came during the launch of a Marathi book, “Nemkechi Bolane” — a collection of 61 speeches by Pawar at various political meetings over the years, on the eve of his 81st birthday on Sunday (December 12).

Taking a swipe at the BJP, Raut said that the book title (“Precise Talk”) is so apt that its copies should be gifted to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who can learn how to speak concisely from it.

At one point, the Sena MP said the Central Hall of Parliament was famed for meeting between leaders of different parties, and even journalists met top politicians who would talk on various issues facing the country.

“However, in the past few years, we have witnessed how those who attempt to ask questions are opposed and gagged. Such a tendency to deny the rights to raise questions can strengthen majoritarianism,” Raut said, showering praise on Pawar’s ‘far-sighted thinking’, ‘broadmindedness’ and ‘political acumen’.

Also present on the occasion were Pawar’s daughter and NCP MP Supriya Sule, and several top leaders from the Congress, NCP and Shiv Sena.

Maharashtra

BMC’s Cleanliness Enforcement Plan Hits Roadblock Over Uniform Row

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Mumbai: Opposition to uniforms has emerged as a hurdle in the BMC’s plan to deploy Junior Supervisors (JS) for cleanliness enforcement, even as the civic body remains without a dedicated mechanism more than a year after scrapping the Clean-Up Marshal scheme.

The civic body had proposed uniforms for the team, but JS have opposed the move, stating it could hamper their effectiveness in field operations, said civic sources. Officials said JS will be issued official identity cards, with strict authorisation for fine collection limited to designated personnel. Each penalty will be receipt-based to ensure transparency and prevent abuse of power, with JS assigned specific zones for enforcement of cleanliness regulations.

After scrapping the controversial Clean-Up Marshal scheme in April 2025 over allegations of extortion and misconduct, the BMC proposed deploying 246 JS across Mumbai’s 26 wards to conduct street patrols, monitor cleanliness, and take penal action against littering and other violations.

The civic body is working on a permanent, staff-based enforcement model aimed at improving accountability and transparency in civic sanitation operations. However, the plan remains at the planning stage and is yet to be implemented.

A senior civic official said that the JS will be required to carry out street patrols along with their regular duties. “This time, we want to implement the system without any errors. A printing device has already been prepared, and the JS have undergone training on how to interact with citizens while issuing fines, generating receipts, and collecting penalties.

However, the timeline for rollout is yet to be finalised,” the official said. Kiran Dighavkar, deputy Municipal Commissioner said, “There is no plan of drive till date.” Meanwhile, the BMC has revised its Solid Waste Management and Sanitation By-laws, 2025, after two decades, significantly increasing fines for littering, spitting, and other waste-related violations.

The revised penalty chart includes offences such as feeding animals in public places and failing to clean up pet waste. Segregation of wet and dry waste has been made mandatory, while illegal transport of construction debris without permission attracts the highest fine of Rs. 25,000.

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Crime

24-Year-Old Man Attacked With Sharp Weapon At Simba Uproar 2026 In Bandra After Dance Floor Altercation, Case Registered

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Mumbai: Three unidentified individuals allegedly attacked a 24-year-old youth with a sharp object during Simba Uproar 2026, a music concert held in Bandra East. The incident occurred on Saturday at around 9 pm. The attack reportedly took place following a minor altercation after someone was bumped into while dancing. The BKC police on Sunday registered a case against three unidentified individuals.

According to the police, the complainant, Aditya Mukhi, a resident of Sion West, works with a private company. On April 11, he and his friend, Divyang, attended Simba Uproar 2026, a music concert organised at the MMRDA grounds in BKC. They reached the venue at around 7.30 pm.

At around 9 pm, both were dancing along with other attendees when three to four individuals standing nearby were also dancing. During this time, one of the individuals bumped into Aditya. When Aditya objected and asked him not to push, the situation escalated.

Following this, the man began verbally abusing him. Soon after, one of his associates hit Aditya on the back of his head. Another person allegedly assaulted him with shoes, while a fourth individual attacked him with a sharp object, causing injuries to his left hand and stomach. The accused also allegedly threatened him with dire consequences.

Aditya’s friend immediately rushed him to Gurunanak Hospital in Kherwadi by ambulance. After receiving treatment, they approached the BKC police station and lodged a complaint.

The police have registered a case under Section 118 (voluntarily causing hurt or grievous hurt by dangerous weapons or means), along with other relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.

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Crime

Fake Govt Jobs Racket Busted In Mumbai; 13 Accused Named In ₹1.54 Crore Fraud Case

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Mumbai: The Charkop police have registered an FIR against 13 individuals for allegedly cheating. The accused allegedly collected ₹1.54 crore from several people on the pretext of facilitating jobs in Mantralaya, the BMC, the Income Tax Department, and other government offices. The case was registered on April 11.

According to the FIR, the complainant, Sushil Patil, 36, is a resident of Kandivali West and works as a real estate contractor. In 2016, a friend introduced him to Satish Wankhede, and the two gradually developed a cordial relationship. In 2018, Wankhede told Patil that he could facilitate government jobs without any examination, claiming he had strong contacts with government officials. He also claimed to have already secured jobs for several people and showed Patil fake job offer letters.

Patil informed Wankhede that he held a Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering and was seeking a government job. Wankhede assured him that he could arrange a position in departments such as the Revenue Department, Thane Municipal Corporation, the Maharashtra Assembly, the Nagpur Tehsil office, and the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, and demanded ₹60 lakh for the same.

In 2018, Wankhede took ₹10 lakh from Patil and collected photocopies of his documents. However, in 2020, he told Patil that recruitment in the Revenue Department had been put on hold. When Patil inquired about opportunities in other departments, Wankhede assured him of a job in the Thane Municipal Corporation and arranged a meeting with junior engineer Yatin More in Thane Municipality.

More allegedly assured Patil that he would conduct an interview and provide a job. Wankhede then demanded more money, and Patil paid him an additional ₹20 lakh through cash and online transactions.

Wankhede later asked Patil to introduce him to others seeking government jobs. Patil introduced around 10 of his friends to Wankhede, who allegedly collected large sums of money from them as well under the pretext of securing government employment. He claimed that the money would be distributed among officials in various departments. In total, he allegedly took ₹1.54 crore from all the aspirants.

Wankhede’s associates and the accused, who allegedly promised jobs in different government departments, have been identified as Sharad Rajguru, Balasaheb Kamble, Dr Mangesh Patil, Dhawal Patil, Pramod Solapure, Vinod Mali, Ravindra Kamble, Jitendra Chaudhary, Abhay Patil, Kamalesh Gandhalikar, Dinesh Nikale, and Yatin More. Satish Wankhede is the prime accused in the case.

The police have registered the case under Section 316(2) (cheating) and other relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.

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