Mumbai: In the last three years, not a single complaint has been received from citizens or members regarding the seating arrangements of corporators in the main hall of the Mumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). Moreover, there has been no change in the seating arrangement in the hall during the last five years. This information has come to light through data obtained under the Right to Information (RTI) Act, 2005. This shows that no complaint has been registered with the administration regarding any shortcomings in the seating arrangements of corporators in the hall.

RTI activist Anil Gilgali had sought information on various aspects related to the seating arrangements in the municipal corporation hall. These details have come to light in the reply provided by the office of the Executive Engineer (Headquarters). As per the information received, a total of 237 seats are currently available in the Mumbai Municipal Corporation hall. This includes seating arrangements for 227 elected corporators and 10 nominated corporators. The corporation also clarified that there has been no change in this seating arrangement in the last five years. Anil Gilgali, in his application, had also sought details about the seating classification of corporators, officials, media representatives, audience and others. The date from which the current arrangement has been in force and details of any changes made in the last five years were provided. However, the corporation, in its reply, said that these matters do not fall under the purview of the concerned department, hence information related to them is not available. Further, details were sought about any complaints filed by citizens or members regarding the seating arrangements. In its reply, the corporation clarified that not a single complaint regarding the seating layout has been received in the last three years.

RTI activist Anil Gilgali commented that the Mumbai Municipal Corporation Hall is the centre of the highest democratic decision-making process of the city. In this context, making public information about its seating arrangements, capacity and administrative setup is an important step towards transparency.

Mumbai, July 18: The Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) on Saturday came down heavily on the central government for allegedly ignoring and defaming climate activist Sonam Wangchuk.

In an editorial published in the party mouthpiece Saamana, it said Wangchuk, along with a student named Neha, has been on a hunger strike at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar for the past 21 days, demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the widespread NEET-UG question paper leak scandal.

The editorial strongly defended Wangchuk, saying he had travelled from Ladakh to New Delhi to “save the nation”. It also lashed out at alleged corporate land grabbing in Ladakh, claiming the region’s fragile tribal ecosystem was being destroyed.

“When Wangchuk raised his voice against this institutional looting, he became undesirable to PM Modi. Fighting for one’s rights has effectively become a crime in independent India,” the editorial remarked, adding that Wangchuk’s fight belongs to every citizen.

The Thackeray camp also sharply criticised BJP leaders for allegedly trying to malign Ramon Magsaysay and Padma awardee Sonam Wangchuk. It specifically targeted BJP MP Manoj Tiwari for describing Wangchuk as a member of the “Aam Aadmi gang” and calling him an “obstacle” to India’s growth.

Retorting to Tiwari’s remarks, the editorial criticised his background in Bhojpuri cinema and accused the ruling party of harbouring individuals who justify theft, even drawing parallels to corruption surrounding the Ram Temple funds. It further noted that the BJP had no qualms about aligning with the Aam Aadmi Party during Anna Hazare’s historic anti-corruption movement at Ramlila Maidan in New Delhi years ago.

Highlighting the gravity of the NEET paper leak, the editorial pointed out that the scam has driven millions of students into deep depression, resulting in 20 to 25 student suicides.

“In this regime, human life has lost its value. Let students die, let farmers die, let soldiers perish in Pulwama, or tourists in Kashmir—this government remains completely unfazed,” said the editorial.

It added that doctors have expressed extreme concern for the life of Neha, the student fasting alongside Wangchuk, yet the government has shown zero empathy.

The Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena drew a sharp contrast between PM Modi’s international public relations and his domestic apathy. It mocked the Prime Minister for travelling abroad to meet Italian PM Giorgia Meloni with “Melody chocolates” while refusing to walk just a few furlongs from his residence to offer a glass of water to a dying activist.

The Thackeray camp hailed Wangchuk’s invaluable contributions to national security —specifically his invention of solar-powered insulated tents that keep Indian soldiers warm at +15°C even when outside temperatures plummet to -14°C in high-altitude border zones.

Concluding with a stern warning, the editorial stated that the “arrogance and cruelty” currently displayed by the BJP echoes the hubris of historical tyrants like Ravana, Duryodhana, Hitler, Idi Amin, and Aurangzeb.

“History shows that such arrogance eventually turns to dust. The bubbling ego of the BJP over Wangchuk’s hunger strike will meet the same fate,” the editorial commented.

Nagpur, July 18: Shiv Sena (UBT) leader and MP, Sanjay Raut, on Saturday launched a scathing attack on the Central Government, labelling the police action against innovator, educationist and climate activist Sonam Wangchuk as sheer authoritarianism and a ploy to divert attention from the Ram Raksha protest in Maharashtra.

He claimed that Wangchuk was removed to deliberately divert public attention away from the Shiv Sena’s ‘Ram Raksha’ protest scheduled in Nagpur on Saturday to protest against the alleged corruption and looting involving the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya.

Condemning the police intervention, Raut stated that the government’s actions expose its dictatorial nature.

“This is pure tyranny. The government failed to resolve the core issues for which Sonam Wangchuk was fasting for 21 days,” he told reporters.

“His strike demanded the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, but the government refused to act. Instead, Wangchuk—who was ready to sacrifice his life for the future of millions of students in India—was forcibly picked up by the police and hospitalised. This shows the authoritarian path this country is being dragged onto,” he noted.

Raut further slammed the administration’s indifference, stating, “If the government truly valued Wangchuk’s life, they would have addressed his demands weeks ago when the hunger strike began. Instead, they maintained absolute silence.”

Raut directly linked the Delhi Police’s early morning action to Maharashtra politics. He alleged that the crackdown was strategically timed to eclipse the Shiv Sena (UBT)’s mass agitation in Nagpur, led by Uddhav Thackeray, against the alleged corruption and looting involving the Ram Mandir.

“The second motive behind this brutal suppression of Sonam Wangchuk is to divert the spotlight from the massive ‘Elgar’ (protest call) being launched in Nagpur today under the leadership of Uddhav Thackeray against the looting of the Ram Mandir. He was forcibly detained and hospitalized just to shift the media and public gaze,” Raut claimed.

Defying the government’s alleged tactics, Raut confirmed that the party’s plans remain unchanged. “Uddhav Thackeray has already left for the venue. He will arrive in Nagpur by 12:00 PM and head to the Ramnagar Ram Mandir at 4:00 PM to lead the agitation,” he concluded.

Earlier, NCP(SP) MP, Supriya Sule, on Friday launched a scathing attack on the Central Government, labelling it “highly insensitive” for ignoring the ongoing protest by renowned social reformer and environmentalist Sonam Wangchuk.

She visited Jantar Mantar to support Sonam Wangchuk and activist Abhijit Dipke; urged Wangchuk to end his fast due to health concerns. Sule strongly condemned the NEET-UG paper leak malpractice, calling it a nationwide crime affecting millions of students.

Expressing solidarity, Baramati MP Supriya Sule stated that Wangchuk is an invaluable asset to the nation. “The government is showing absolute insensitivity. Someone from the ruling side should have reached out to him to initiate a dialogue, but no one bothered to show up. The irregularities in the NEET exam are not isolated incidents; it is a grave injustice perpetrator against lakhs of innocent children across the entire country,” she said.

Sule added that her decision to support Wangchuk and youth activist Abhijit Dipke received overwhelming praise and encouragement from hundreds of citizens within her own constituency. While she requested Wangchuk to break his fast considering his health, she noted his unyielding determination to see his demands met.