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Maharashtra

Prior to meeting Rahul Gandhi, Sanjay Raut declares ‘MVA a mini-UPA’

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Ahead of his meeting with Congress MP Rahul Gandhi later on Tuesday, Shiv Sena MP and Chief Spokesperson Sanjay Raut has declared that the “Maha Vikas Aghadi government is like a mini-United Progressive Alliance” which is doing well.

He said there has been a lot of media speculation whether the Sena is joining the UPA and if it would support the Congress in the upcoming Assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh, Goa and other states.

“The Congress is in power along with Sena and NCP in the MVA and the state government is doing very well. We function on the basis of a Common Minimum Programme, similar to the UPA or even the NDA where parties with different views come together for the national cause,” Raut pointed out.

He said in the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), during the leadership of the late Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee, there were many having ideological differences and some even opposing the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, but they all worked together.

“The MVA also has three parties with dissimilar views working on a common minimum programme. It is an experiment and the MVA is like a mini-UPA… Such experiments must be emulated elsewhere in the country,” Raut urged.

Whether the UPA or the Opposition parties, they should come forward and provide alternatives, and this is the viewpoint of both Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray as well as NCP President Sharad Pawar, he asserted.

Raut’s statements assume significance, coming barely a week after All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) chief and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had loudly hammered coffin-nails for the UPA following her meetings with Sena and Nationalist Congress Party leaders in Mumbai, while the Congress was kept out.

As a seething Congress reacted furiously, the Sena not only reiterated — akin to the NCP — that “no opposition unity was possible in the country without the Congress”, but Raut also decided to mend the fences by meeting with Rahul Gandhi and possibly even Priyanka Gandhi Vadra.

On his upcoming rendezvous with Rahul Gandhi, he said the Sena strongly believes in dialogue with its allies and they would discuss Maharashtra, the functioning of the MVA and the future course for the country as a whole.

To a query whether the Sena will join the UPA and unitedly fight the oncoming Assembly elections in different states, Raut shot back that for all these issues, CM Thackeray will take the final call after considering all factors and discussing with the MVA partners.

Maharashtra

Mumbai: Ruckus over Aurangzeb’s picture being hoisted during protest at Dadar Chetana Bhoomi, police ordered to investigate, 8 FIRs registered so far

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Mumbai: A ruckus has erupted once again over the hoisting of Aurangzeb’s portrait at the CJP protest demonstration at Dadar Chetana Bhoomi in Mumbai, which has further escalated the situation, while politics has now started under the guise of Aurangzeb, while the police are investigating the matter. Mumbai Police has intensified its action against those protesting in support of the Delhi Jantar Mantar protest in Maharashtra and Mumbai. So far, about 8 FIRs have been registered against the protesters, of which four FIRs have been registered in Shivaji Park, Chetna Bhoomi, along with one FIR in Marine Drive and Azad Maidan. Now, politics has started in Mumbai over the hoisting of a poster of Aurangzeb (may Allah be pleased with him) during the protest. The police have started an investigation in this matter. Aurangzeb’s picture was hoisted during the protest in Dadar Chetna Bhoomi, which was later removed. However, in this matter, the police are investigating who had included this picture in the protest and what was the purpose behind it. The police have started an investigation in the matter of hoisting Aurangzeb’s picture in Mumbai and are formally finding out who was the one who hoisted this picture and what was the purpose behind it. DCP Mahendra Pandit said that in this matter, through social media, The identity of the accused is being ascertained, along with a case registered for illegally blocking the road and protesting without prior permission. In this case, an investigation is also underway as to why Aurangzeb’s picture was brought and what was the purpose behind it, while politics has started after this incident and the paper leak case has become Aurangzeb’s responsibility. The Home Ministry has ordered the Mumbai Police to investigate this matter and the police are conducting an inquiry into this matter. In the FIRs registered by the police so far, 600 accused have been named.

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Maharashtra

Raj Thackeray criticises Centre over CJP protest clashes

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Mumbai, July 21: Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray on Tuesday launched a scathing attack on the Central Government over the forcible hospitalisation of climate activist Sonam Wangchuk and the violent lathi-charge on protesting students.

Taking to X, Thackeray condemned the government’s heavy-handed response, remarking, “This government itself has become mentally ill and needs to be admitted to a hospital.”

Expressing displeasure over the action against peaceful demonstrators, the MNS chief said the Central Government forcibly picked up Wangchuk and admitted him to a hospital. He added that the ruthless lathi-charge on protestors showed the government took pride in crushing legitimate protests.

Reiterating his demand for the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, Thackeray questioned the government’s reluctance.

“Who is Dharmendra Pradhan that accepting his resignation feels like a failure to the government? The outrage of the nation’s students is far more important than the ego of Dharmendra Pradhan and the government,” he said. He asked why the Prime Minister, who conducts ‘Pariksha Pe Charcha,’ was not engaging directly with students on the streets.

Criticising the ruling dispensation’s attitude toward grievances and the opposition, Thackeray asserted that the administration had developed an arrogant mindset.

He alleged that the ruling party believed it had won the elections through central agencies and EVMs rather than through public votes.

Drawing parallels with historical and global student movements, Thackeray cited the Arab Spring (2011), the Sri Lankan crisis (2022), anti-government protests in Nepal, and Jayaprakash Narayan’s ‘Sampoorna Kranti’ (Total Revolution) in India, noting that student unrest has historically triggered major political shifts.

“This movement isn’t restricted to just one exam. It is an outburst of public despair against inflation, contract culture, suffocating urban development, and broader governance failures,” he said.

He added that the courage shown by students stemmed from deep despair over the state of affairs in the country, warning that power gained through historic movements would slip away if the government relied on brutality rather than wisdom.

Reaffirming his party’s stance against centralised entrance exams like NEET, Thackeray urged the administration to show wisdom rather than force.

“An incompetent minister must resign, and complete transparency must be brought into examinations. There is no bravery in ruthlessly crushing protests; true wisdom lies in resolving them through dialogue. MNS extends its full support to these students and their demands,” he noted.

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Maharashtra

There is no opposition to peaceful protests, but violence broke out during protests in Delhi, conspiracy to create unrest during protests: Devendra Fadnavis

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Mumbai: Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has made a serious allegation and termed the violence in the peaceful protest of the CJP at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar as a political agenda. He said that behind it, many political parties are trying to gain political benefits, while many sincere people are also involved, but the way violence was unleashed in this protest is completely wrong. Stone pelting on the police and breaking vehicles is absolutely not right. Fadnavis has also supported the action of the Delhi Police and said that the police have shown patience and restraint. Regarding the protest, Devendra Fadnavis has made it clear that everyone has the right to protest in the Constitution and democracy, but no one has the right to disrupt the situation by protesting without permission. If someone protests without permission or creates violence and tension, action will be taken against him. He said that some elements have also joined the JCP protest who have nothing to do with the protest, they are only involved in their own benefit and a conspiracy to create unrest in the country. Devendra Fadnavis has said that action is taken against protest demonstrations only when they are ready for violence or are part of a conspiracy. He said that no action is taken against those who protest with permission, while everyone has the right to protest and no one can be deprived of it. Fadnavis said that in the backdrop of the JCP protest, an attempt is being made to spoil the situation, which is intolerable. He added that everyone has seen what happened in Delhi and how violence was unleashed here. Along with this, the police have also taken action against the protest demonstrations in Maharashtra and Mumbai, while Fadnavis has also supported the police action against the protesters.

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