Mumbai, Aug 24: Heavy police security was deployed in Mumbai Mazgaon area after a clash broke out between two groups during a procession organised for bringing a Ganesh idol on Sunday night.

The situation became tense after Ganesh festival organisers alleged that eggs were hurled at their procession while the idol was being brought into the area, triggering an escalation between the groups.

Following the incident, police personnel were deployed in large numbers across Mazgaon to prevent any further escalation and ensure that the situation remained under control. Security was strengthened in the area as authorities worked to maintain law and order and prevent the clash from leading to further tension.

The incident occurred during a procession held in connection with Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations. The allegations of eggs being thrown at the procession led to anger among those participating in the event, following which the situation reportedly turned tense.

Reacting to the incident, Maharashtra Minister Nitesh Rane launched a sharp attack on those allegedly involved and questioned claims of communal harmony.

“In Mazgaon, during the rally that was being held on the occasion of Ganesh Chaturthi, they have shown their true colours. This is why we call them ‘green snakes’; it was proved once again yesterday. Those who talk about Ganga-Jamuni Tehzeeb, brotherhood and communal harmony — where have they disappeared now? Where are they hiding? They should explain,” Rane said.

He further questioned whether Hindus should be able to celebrate their religious festivals without disruption, comparing the situation with celebrations during Eid.

“The same rules that are imposed during Eid, when all Eid celebrations are conducted peacefully — do Hindus in this Hindu nation not have the right to celebrate their festivals? Can anyone point to a single incident where Hindus caused any trouble during an Eid celebration?” he added.

BJP MLA Ram Kadam also condemned the alleged incident and said that throwing eggs at a religious procession would amount to an act by anti-social elements.

Speaking to media, Kadam said, “If someone is throwing eggs at a procession welcoming Lord Ganesha, it is naturally the act of anti-social elements. The police are investigating the building and its towers. Whoever is found responsible will not be spared.”

He also appealed to people to respect the religious beliefs and sentiments of others, adding, “We also want to warn that no individual has the right to hurt the faith and religious sentiments of any community.”

Shiv Sena spokesperson Shaina NC termed the incident unfortunate and said that the government would take the matter seriously.

Speaking to media, Shaina NC said, “It is very, very unfortunate… The government is going to take this very sternly, and any miscreants, irrespective of who they are or who they are propagated by, must be brought to task.”

She also reiterated the importance of maintaining communal harmony and peaceful coexistence, saying, “Having said that, we have always believed in unity and diversity.”

BJP national spokesperson R.P. Singh also expressed hope that the authorities would take stringent action against those responsible for the alleged disruption during the Ganesh procession.

Speaking to media, Singh said, “We are hopeful that the government will take strict action against the miscreants who did this.”

Police have increased their presence in the Mazgaon area following the clash and are taking steps to prevent any further disturbance.

Nagpur, Aug 24: NCP (SP) MLA Rohit Pawar, reacting to the Amravati hospital fire, called it “very unfortunate” and demanded that the administration conducts fire audit of all government hospitals and also prepare a six-month action plan.

Rohit Pawar, speaking to media, said, “This is a very unfortunate incident. Three children, all from poor families, lost their lives. A similar incident had occurred in 2021, after which a special committee was formed and tasked with auditing hospitals across Maharashtra and recommending measures that needed to be taken.”

He demanded that the government prepares a six-month action plan.

“The committee submitted its report to the government, but unfortunately, we understand that no action was taken on it. Therefore, the government should prepare a six-month action plan based on that report and inform people about the measures that will be implemented in every government hospital in every taluka of Maharashtra,” he said.

The NCP (SP) MLA further alleged that the government does not value the lives of the poor.

“Whenever such incidents occur, it is the poor who lose their lives. We feel that this government does not value the lives of the poor. If you look at the figures, around 44,000 children have died in the last three years due to various reasons, including malnutrition, serious illnesses, accidents, and snakebites, in schools and hostels for tribal children. This issue also needs to be addressed,” he said.

BJP leader Navneet Rana raised questions over the fire audit at the hospital and demanded strict action.

“How many times has the fire audit been conducted? Many poor children come to the government hospital, and we have lost three children today. I think strict action will be taken in this matter. I have just spoken to the minister and requested that an immediate letter be issued. If the fire audit was not conducted, then who is responsible for this?” she said.

According to preliminary reports, an explosion in a ventilator sparked the blaze, which quickly engulfed the unit. The ventilator explosion led to the rapid spread of fire and smoke inside the ward. The exact cause of the blaze remains unknown, and authorities are investigating the site to determine what triggered the fire.

Duty doctors, nurses, and hospital staff managed to rescue several infants from the unit as soon as the fire was detected. The third floor houses three NICU wards with a combined capacity of 39 beds (13 in each). The unit where the fire broke out reportedly had 9 to 12 high-risk, premature infants under critical care at the time.

The tragic event has sparked intense outrage and raised severe questions regarding the emergency preparedness of the medical facility. Despite the building being newly constructed — inaugurated just a year ago by the late Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar — the automated fire suppression system reportedly failed to activate. Authorities are investigating whether the ventilator that exploded was outdated, poorly maintained, or suffered from a critical technical failure.

Mumbai, Aug 24: The Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) launched a fierce broadside against the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Monday, accusing the state administration of financial improprieties in youth outreach events and severe corruption in Maharashtra’s school midday meal scheme.

An editorial in the party’s mouthpiece, ‘Saamana’, targeted CM Fadnavis over the quality of food served to school children and questioned the financing behind the BJP’s political rallies aimed at young voters. It centred on the school nutrition programme in Ambegaon, Pune district, where children were reportedly served rock-hard dried peas that failed to cook even after 13 pressure cooker whistles. The editorial alleged that the supply contractor, identified as a Nagpur-based businessman, shares close ties with CM Fadnavis.

The Thackeray camp further claimed that the said businessman provided financial backing for the BJP’s recent Gen Z youth outreach event held at the Reshm bagh Ground in Nagpur. “Supply contractors eat up millions by serving substandard food to school children, risking their lives… Moving forward, his peas of falsehood will certainly not cook,” said the editorial.

The scathing editorial comes against the backdrop of intense political manoeuvring for the youth vote across Maharashtra. Opposition Leader Rahul Gandhi recently hosted the “Chatron Ki Goonj” event in Pune, drawing thousands of students.

The Thackeray camp claimed that local authorities initially resisted granting police clearance for Gandhi’s event before issuing permission bound by 30 to 35 strict conditions. It further alleged that political agitators attempted to cause disruptions prior to the event, while police filed cases against Congress workers instead.

“What is certain is that Gandhi has outsmarted the entire BJP, leaving them utterly paralysed. The youth are not merely angry with the BJP; they are enraged. They have lost interest in the repetitive speeches of PM Modi, HM Shah, and Fadnavis. People are tired of the same old promises, the intoxicating dose of Hindu-Muslim tension, startup rhetoric, and fake patriotism. These leaders remain intoxicated with self-praise and self-obsession,” remarked the editorial.

In response to CM Fadnavis calling Rahul Gandhi’s interactive sessions “paid publicity events” subject to state investigation, the Thackeray camp demanded that the BJP first audit its own event expenditures and contractor funding sources.

However, the Thackeray camp claimed that Fadnavis does not address roads and pothole scams. Among the 12 people who lost their lives falling into potholes in Nashik, seven belonged to Gen Z. Furthermore, there is a massive scam in the procurement and supply of midday meals in state schools.

The editorial accused the administration of ignoring graduate unemployment, pushing educated youth towards low-tier jobs while ignoring systemic corruption in public contracts.

The Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena concluded that public discontent among the youth is reaching a boiling point over repetitive political promises, calling on CM Fadnavis to engage in self-reflection before launching selective investigations.