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Maharashtra

Thackeray-Shinde groups’ tug-of-war for Shiv Sena Dassehra Rally at Shivaji Park

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The historic Shivaji Park ground here has become the new bone of contention between the two rival Shiv Sena factions, both clamouring to hold the annual calendar event, the Dassehra Rally.

The Shiv Sena President and ex-Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray is facing competition from the rebel faction led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, and even the Raj Thacekray-led Maharashtra Navnirman Sena is toying with the idea of a rally at the Shivaji Park.

The annual mega-rally held on Vijaya Dashami or Dassehra Day each year is expected to be a litmus test on the Shiv Sena and the Shinde Group’s claims that it is the ‘real Shiv Sena’.

Both the factions have applied to the BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) for permission to hold the public rally there on October 5.

Rajya Sabha MP Anil Desai, close to Thackeray has sought permission on behalf of the Shiv Sena, while Dadar MLA Sada Sarvankar has submitted an application on behalf of the Shinde Group.

When asked about it, CM Shinde skirted a direct reply and said: “There is still time now… We are now celebrating Ganeshotsav and Anant Chaturdashi, then Navratri and Dassehra will come… How can I predict everything now? You will come to know in some more time.”

Nationalist Congress Party President Sharad Pawar said while anybody has the right to hold their rally at Shivaji Park, he urged Shinde “to avoid a confrontationist approach” with the Opposition.

Shiv Sena’s fomer mayor Kishori Pednekar slammed the turncoats, claiming they are apparently suffering from a ‘Ghajini-syndrome’ – referring to the 2008 blockbuster starring Aamir Khan in which he suffers a rare type of amnesia.

“They are trying to erase history. They have forgotten it is the Shiv Sena which started the tradition and has been holding the annual Dassehra rallies at Shivaji Park from 1966. They are attempting to fuel a law-and-order situation,” said Pednekar agitatedly.

Hoping to cash in on the sentiments, MNS Spokesperson Sandip Deshpande said on Saturday that many party activists want Raj Thackeray to address the rally this year, but said the final call would come only from the party chieftain.

NCP’s Leader of Opposition Ajit Pawar said since they (Shinde Group) have power, they will try everything to get the Shivaji Park for their rally, and it is possible both (Thackeray and Shinde) may be allotted the venue for back-to-back rallies.

Shiv Sena’s Spokesperson Dr. Manisha Kayande, senior leader Ambadas Danve and others have slammed the Shinde Group for attempting to hijack the traditions initiated by the late Balasaheb Thaceray.

Founding the Shiv Sena on June 19, 1966, Balasaheb Thackeray had held his maiden Dassehra Rally at Shivaji Park – also known as the ‘Cradle of Indian Cricket’ – and since then it became his signature event.

Since the past 55 years, it has remained an unbroken tradition – except twice, in 2006 owing to torrential rains and in 2009 as it clashed with the Assembly elections – and a ‘must attend’ for all Shiv Sainiks in the state.

After Balasaheb Thackeray passed away on November 17, 2012, he was accorded a public funeral with his last rites performed in a corner of his favourite venue with several lakhs in attendance.

In 2020, the Dassehra rally was held online and in 2021, it was at the Shanmukhananda Hall, addressed by the former chief minister Uddhav Thackeray owing to the coronavirus pandemic restrictions, but this time he has cracked the whip on the Shiv Sena to make full preparations at Shivaji Park — a stone’s throw away from Sena Bhavan, the party landmark headquarters since 1977.

Maharashtra

Mumbai News: Body Of 20-Year-Old Recovered Hours After Juhu Drowning Incident; Friend Rescued

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Mumbai: Nearly 14 hours after two young men were swept into the sea at Silver Beach near Godrej Gate in Juhu, the body of one of the missing individuals was recovered late Friday night. The deceased has been identified as 20-year-old Vighnesh Murgesh Devendram.

Details On The Drowning Incident

The incident was first reported around 10:24 am on Friday by the Mumbai Fire Brigade (MFB), which stated that the duo had ventured approximately 200 metres into the water when they were caught in a powerful current around 8:30 am. While one of them, 22-year-old Rajkumar Govind Subba, was pulled to safety by on-duty lifeguard Jitendra Tandel from Drishti Marine before the fire brigade arrived, Vighnesh went missing in the waters.

A large-scale search operation was immediately launched by the fire brigade in coordination with local police, civic staff and fishermen. Despite continuous efforts throughout the day, there was no sign of the youth until later that night.

According to officials, both youths were residents of a slum in Vile Parle. Preliminary reports indicate that they may have been under the influence of alcohol at the time of the incident. The Mumbai Fire Brigade had to halt the search operation at 1:36 pm due to high tide conditions. Authorities had earlier appealed to the public to alert the nearest police station, the BMC, or the fire brigade in case they spotted the missing individual.

Body Of Missing Youth Found At Night

According to the updated report received on Saturday morning, local fishermen and the Juhu Police were able to recover Vighnesh’s body at approximately 10:30 pm on Friday. He was rushed to Cooper Hospital, where he was declared, brought dead. The confirmation came from Dr. Niranjan, Assistant Medical Officer at the hospital. Rajkumar Subba, the survivor in the incident, was rescued in time and is believed to be recovering.

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Maharashtra

Tesla To Open First Charging Station In Mumbai Next Week: All Details

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US-based electric car maker Tesla will open its first charging station in India next week in Mumbai, the company announced on Friday.

The station will have four V4 Supercharging stalls for DC charging and four destination charging stalls for AC charging.

The Superchargers will offer a peak charging speed of 250 kW, priced at Rs 24 per kWh, while the destination chargers will provide 11 kW at Rs 14 per kWh.

“This will be the first of the eight Supercharging sites that were announced during the launch in Mumbai, with more planned across the country, to provide the optimal cross-country experience,” the company added.

Tesla said this will be the first of eight Supercharging sites announced during its Mumbai launch last month, with more planned across the country to make cross-country travel convenient for Tesla owners.

The company had entered the Indian market in July with the launch of its Model Y, priced from Rs 59.89 lakh, along with its first experience centre at Maker Maxity Commercial Complex in Bandra Kurla Complex in Mumbai.

The BKC facility offers both fast-charging and regular options, catering to the needs of different EV users.

According to Tesla, the Model Y can gain up to 267 kilometres of range in just 15 minutes using its Superchargers — enough for five round trips between Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport and the Gateway of India.

“Model Y can add up to 267 kilometres of range in just 15 minutes with Tesla Superchargers, enough for 5 return trips between Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, Mumbai and Gateway of India,” the US-based carmaker said.

As part of its customer offer, Tesla will also provide a free wall connector with every new car purchase, which will be installed at the buyer’s residence.

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Maharashtra

Maharashtra ACB Registers Four Disproportionate Assets Cases This Year Involving ₹4.17 Crore

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Mumbai: The Maharashtra Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) this year, has registered four cases related to disproportionate assets (DPA) against corrupt public servants and private persons. The total amount of money involved in these cases is Rs 4.17 crore. The statistics also revealed that two Class I officials and one Class II and Class III officials each were booked under these cases.

The statistics revealed that maximum (three) disproportionate assets cases were registered against officials of the police department and one against municipal corporation official. The total amount of money involved in these four cases is Rs 4.17 crore, of which Rs 3.82 crore were related to the officials of the police department and Rs 35.16 lakh were related to municipal corporation official.

As far as entrapment cases are concerned, from January till July 29, Maharashtra ACB has registered total 418 cases. The statistics further revealed that most corruption related trap cases were registered against officials of Revenue and Land Records department (117), followed by the Police (66) and Panchayat Samiti (42). Further analysis of the statistics revealed that most officials involved in trap cases are Class III government officials (292), followed by Class II officials (75), Class I (48) and Class IV (22). Total amount involved in these corruption cases is Rs 1.50 crore.

The Maharashtra ACB has sent information about nine corruption related cases to the state government seeking permission to freeze assets worth Rs 16.88 crores of the accused persons allegedly involved in these cases. The highest amount of assets involved are related to the officials of the Urban Development Department (Rs 3.13 crore), Water Resources Department (Rs 2.82 crore) and Public Works Department (Rs 2.48 crore).

Mumbai zone has a maximum (4) number of such cases, followed by Pune (2) and one each from Nashik, Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar and Nanded zones, from where the ACB wants assets to be frozen.

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