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‘Rebels betrayed Shiv Sena when I was fighting for life in hospital’: ex-CM Uddhav Thackeray

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 In a startling revelation, Shiv Sena president and ex-Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Tuesday said that when he was critical and battling for life in a hospital for his spinal issues, the rebels actively hatched a conspiracy to topple the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government.

During his hospitalisation in November 2021 for his neck and spine problems, Thackeray underwent two surgeries in a space of a week, but the anxious family had not disclosed then that the pater-familias was practically pushed into the jaws of death.

“I avoid talking about that terrible experience as I don’t want any sympathy. After my first surgery (Nov. 2021), I recovered well, but after a week or so, I developed some blood clot, and lost all movements below my neck,” Thackeray said, in a marathon interview to the party mouthpiece ‘Saamana’ and ‘Dopahar Ka Saamana’.

Virtually paralysed then, the doctors diagnosed it as a blood clot and suggested emergency procedures… In what is termed the ‘golden hour’, I was operated successfully — and that’s why I am here before you today. During that period, I had lost complete mobility including my arms and legs,” the Sena chief said.

When Thackeray lay immobile, the (future) rebels were apparently hyper-active and were working against the Shiv Sena’s interests, amid canards being spread that “he (Uddhav Thackeray) would never recover again”, and while some wished he should not bounce back, there were thousands of commoners who prayed for his quick recuperation.

“This was the time when I had entrusted them (then minister and current Chief Minister Eknath Shinde) as the No. 2, to look after the party… When I needed them most, they were busy hatching a plot to bring me down. This painful truth will remain with me for my entire life…,” said Thackeray with a bitter tinge in his voice.

He said after he had handed the second-in-command position (to Shinde), “you killed that trust and betrayed the faith to handle the party during my absence”.

Referring to the breakaway faction which ultimately formed the new government with support of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on June 30 – as being the ‘real Shiv Sena’ and proclaiming their faith and loyalty to Balasaheb Thackeray, Thackeray sounded amused.

“Now, they want to ‘steal’ other peoples’ fathers also… beccause they have no worthy idols to look up to! They did the same with Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose… Their intention is to destroy Shiv Sena by delinking it from the Thackerays, just as they are attempting to do with the Congress to sever it from the Gandhi family,” said Thackeray sharply.

He accused the BJP of spending “thousands of crores of rupees” to topple the MVA government of Shiv Sena-Nationalist Congress Party-Congress, and dared the rebels to face the elections.

“Now, they say it was a mistake to ally with the NCP-Congress… If the BJP had kept its promise in 2019, the present crisis would not have arisen… There would be no need for a ‘Bharat darshan’ or spending thousands of crores of rupees… All this would have happened with dignity,” reiterated Thackeray, referring to the June 20 revolt which spanned across Maharashtra, Gujarat, Assam, Goa and then back home.

The Sena chief’s candid remarks came in a marathon interview with the Saamana Group Executive Editor Sanjay Raut, MP and the party’s Chief Spokesperson.

Crime

Mumbai Shocker! Man Shot, Stabbed To Death In Kurla; 3 Arrested

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Mumbai: A shocking incident has come to light from Mumbai’s Kurla, where a man was shot and stabbed to death. According to the Mumbai Police, three accused have been arrested in the case.

the incident took place on April 29 at around 10 pm near Pipeline Block No. 3 in Kurla’s V B Nagar. The deceased, identified as Baba Pawar, was shot by one person while two others stabbed him.

After the information was received, Pawar was rushed to Bhabha Hospital for treatment. However, he succumbed to his injuries while undergoing treatment.

A case was registered at V B Nagar police station under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and Arms Act for murder and other offences. Later, it was reported that the police arrested all the three accused involved in the crime. Currently, further investigation is underway to determine the circumstances and motive behind the gruesome killing.

Meanwhile, in another recent incident, a man allegedly stabbed a shopkeeper five to six times after thinking that he and his brother were laughing at him. The incident occurred in Agripada’s Baby Garden area, where two brothers were chatting and laughing over something in their shop.

When the accused arrived at the shop, he thought the two brothers were laughing and mocking him and in a sudden outburst, Mansuri pulled out a knife and attacked one of the brothers multiple times. 

Prior to this, another stabbing incident took place in Mira Road’s Naya Nagar, where a 31-year-old man, Zaib Zubair Ansari, attacked two security guards after being questioned about their religion. The attack took place near Asmita Grand Mansion in Mira Road East, where two security guards were on duty when Ansari approached them, initially asking for directions to a nearby mosque. Later, Ansari questioned one of the guards about his religion before attacking him with a knife. He then entered the security cabin and allegedly asked the second guard to recite the ‘Kalma’.

Ansari was arrested within hours after police reviewed CCTV footage. He was later produced before a Thane district court, which remanded him to police custody until May 4.

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Maharashtra

Marathi language requirement: Senior drivers should be given concessions for their language skills, no one’s permit should be cancelled immediately on the basis of language: Abu Asim

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Mumbai: Maharashtra Samajwadi Party leader and MLA Abu Asim Azmi has requested Transport Minister Pratap Sarmaik to provide relaxation to rickshaw and taxi drivers in the matter of Marathi language mandatory from May 1 and give them time to learn Marathi. In a letter, Azmi said that the new Marathi mandatory law will come into effect from May 1, 2026. This has created a wave of concern among rickshaw and taxi drivers, especially the elderly. The purpose of any law is reformative, but it should not take away anyone’s livelihood. Maharashtra is a state that provides employment to citizens across the country, and this is the real identity of our state. Many drivers who have settled here from other states have received education in their mother tongue, so we cannot deny the fact that they need time to learn Marathi. From a scientific point of view, it becomes difficult to learn a new language after the age of 45 to 50. Therefore, I demand that this rule be restricted to the youth between the ages of 18 and 45 and that experienced and senior drivers be completely exempted from it. For such drivers who are the sole breadwinners of their families, the government should appoint a special officer and give them an extension of at least two years so that their livelihood is not disrupted. Moreover, the language test format should be simplified and made online, with drivers getting at least four chances every year. It would be unfair to cancel permits just because of language. Another important point is that there is no such strictness on the use of Marathi in the corporate sector, as this sector is considered a major source of income for the state. However, we should not forget that rickshaw and taxi drivers are also an important part of the state’s economy. They serve the public from morning till late at night. When big corporate houses can get relaxation and flexibility in language regulations, why burden these low-income drivers, who toil all day in the sun and rain, with strict regulations? Justice should be equal for all. Therefore, instead of imposing regulations, the government should set up free training centers at the ward level. We should understand that if thousands of drivers become unemployed, the possibility of an increase in crime due to economic hardship in the society cannot be ruled out. According to Article 21 of the Constitution of India, every citizen has the right to live with dignity and earn his livelihood. The Supreme Court has also clarified in the Olga Telles vs. Bombay Municipal Corporation case that the right to livelihood is an integral part of the right to life. Therefore, cancelling someone’s permit just because they do not know the language would be a violation of the Supreme Court’s decision. Azmi requested Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik to consider this principle not as a mere political issue but as an educational and social campaign to maintain the inclusive tradition of Maharashtra by giving adequate time to drivers from migrant migrant states to learn Marathi and by giving appropriate concessions to senior citizens.

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Maharashtra

Bhiwandi Samadia School road in dilapidated condition, Eknath Shinde assures of resolution of public issues and redressal of complaints

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Mumbai: Maharashtra Samajwadi Party leader and MLA Abu Asim Azmi met the Deputy Chief Minister of the state Eknath Shinde and gave him a memorandum and demanded the completion of the project related to public interest and to take necessary steps regarding the problems and development projects of Bhiwandi. He gave details of the problems faced by the people of Bhiwandi and demanded their solution. Azmi said that the main road from Samadia Bagh to Samadia School is completely dilapidated and only potholes and mud tracks are visible on the road. More than 1,000 children are studying in Samadia School, due to which the students, their parents and passers-by are facing a lot of problems. Keeping in mind the rainy season, Azmi requested that all the work be completed before the rains to avoid mud and accidents. He said that the VP Stadium of Bhiwandi West is a big stadium for local players and senior citizens, but today it is also in a dilapidated condition. The condition of the ground is very poor, the jogging track is broken, and during the rains it becomes difficult to practice due to waterlogging. Therefore, the Sports Department should be directed to immediately provide necessary funds for the reconstruction and repair of the stadium, so that the youth can get better sports facilities. Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has assured positive steps on public interest issues.

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