Mumbai, Jan 21: Shiv Sena MP Milind Deora on Tuesday appealed to the Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to undertake a thorough audit of illegal Bangladeshi immigrants across the state.

In a letter to the Chief Minister, he suggested that strict action be taken against staffing agencies which fail to verify documents before giving jobs to individuals. His letter comes in the wake of the arrest of a Bangladeshi immigrant in connection with the attack on Saif Ali Khan.

“The recent tragedy involving Saif Ali Khan highlights the urgent need to address this issue. Maharashtra’s safety and security must come first,” said Deora.

He further added that in light of the recent tragic incident involving Saif Ali Khan, which has sparked widespread concern across Maharashtra, ‘I am writing to draw your attention to an urgent issue that demands immediate action.’

“It is imperative that the state government conducts a comprehensive audit of illegal Bangladeshi immigrants residing and working in Maharashtra. This initiative should involve district collectors, local municipalities and law enforcement agencies working in coordination to identify, verify and act against undocumented individuals,” he added.

Deora argued that equally important is the need to hold staffing companies accountable for their role in employing and placing illegal immigrants without verifying their documentation.

He has therefore urged that the state government should implement stringent regulations mandating staffing agencies to verify the authenticity of all documents before giving jobs to the individuals.

“Further, there is a need to introduce penalties for non-compliance including fines and cancellation of licenses for agencies found guilty of neglecting this responsibility,” he wrote.

He has also called for conducting regular inspections to ensure compliance with these regulations.

“Maharashtra has always been a beacon of opportunity and inclusivity but it is critical to balance these values with the necessity of ensuring safety, security and legal accountability. A concerted effort to address this issue will not only bolster public confidence but also safeguard the interests of law-abiding citizens and businesses in our state,” said Deora.

On Sunday, the BJP leader Kirti Somaiya visited the Labour Camp at Kavesar Thane, where Mohammad Shehzad was staying for three months and demanded that the Thane Police Commissioner conduct the combing operation.

Mumbai: The 74th Foundation Day of the National Association for the Blind (N.A.B), which is working for the education, rehabilitation and employment of visually impaired persons, was celebrated with great pomp at the auditorium in Worli, Mumbai on Monday (January 20). Governor C.P. Radhakrishnan was present as the chief guest in this program.

The Governor explained the importance of eye donation on this occasion. He said, “Through eye donation, many blind persons can get new vision. I and my family have pledged to donate eyes, and I appeal to everyone to also take this pledge.”

Inspiring initiative for eye donation

The Governor mentioned that during his services in Jharkhand, on the 73rd birthday of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, a pledge of eye donation was taken from 73 people. He also told that in Maharashtra, on the occasion of the Prime Minister’s birthday in 2024, a pledge of eye donation was taken from 740 people. He said, “This year, a target has been set to take pledge of eye donation from 7500 people on the occasion of 75th birthday of the Prime Minister.”

Contribution and Importance of N.A.B

The Governor appreciated the role of N.A.B and said that cricketer Vijay Merchant has made a significant contribution in the establishment of this institution. He said, “N.A.B guarantees to empower the blind and visually impaired persons.” Through various programmes like Braille Printing Press, Talking Books, Perfumery Training and Teacher Training, N.A.B is enabling visually impaired persons to lead a self-reliant life.

Support of Raj Bhawan

The Governor mentioned the financial assistance extended by his predecessor Ramesh Bais for purchase of Braille Printing Press and said, “Raj Bhawan will provide firm support to the work of N.A.B in future also.”

Prize Distribution and Other Attendees

During the programme, the Governor distributed various awards. On this occasion, N.A.B. President Hemant Takle, Honorary General Secretary Harinder Kumar Mallick, Executive General Secretary Dr. Vimal Dengda, Executive Director Pallavi Kadam and the patrons and students of the organization were also present.

The Governor wished N.A.B to continue working for the weaker sections of the society in the future as well.

Mumbai: Senior Congress leader Vijay Wadettiwar has reacted sharply to the allegations of corruption of Rs 350 crore in the state government’s “One Rupee Peak Insurance Scheme”. Wadettiwar said, “This corruption in the Agriculture Department is the Beed pattern and the decisions taken by Agriculture Minister Dhananjay Munde should be investigated.”

Questions and allegations on Beed pattern

The “One Rupee Peak Insurance Scheme” was promoted by the Mahayuti government, but major irregularities have come to light in this scheme. The committee headed by the Agriculture Commissioner has made complaints of bogus applications and corruption in this scheme, and recommended the closure of this scheme. 4 lakh applications were found to be bogus in the Kharif season of 2024, out of which 1 lakh applications were from Beed district, which is a shocking information.

Serious allegations against Agriculture Minister

Wadettiwar has made serious allegations against Dhananjay Munde and his close associates. He said that while being the Agriculture Minister, Munde had made changes in the agricultural material purchase policy, which was also questioned by the High Court. Apart from this, Valmik Karad, who is considered a close associate of Munde, has been accused of extorting money in the name of subsidy from the harvester drivers in Baramati.

Demand for fair investigation from the Chief Minister

Vadettiwar appealed to Chief Minister Eknath Shinde to form a committee to investigate the matter thoroughly. He said, “If the people in power are cheating the farmers, then where will the farmers get justice?” He also made it clear that strict action should be taken against those involved in corruption and farmers should not be punished for this corruption.

Demand for strict action on corruption

Vadettiwar also said that the Congress Party demands strict action from the government on the corruption in the “One Rupee Peak Insurance Scheme”. He said, “Congress will not sit quiet until strict action is taken against the culprits.”

Political stir

These allegations have heated up the political situation in the state, and all eyes are on the investigation against Dhananjay Munde and his associates.