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Maharashtra

Two years of MVA: No downfall, Humpty-Dumpty sits firmly on the wall

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 Last week, Shiv Sena MP, the outspoken Sanjay Raut contemptuously dismissed yet another statement by Bharatiya Janata Party state President Chandrakant Patil predicting the downfall of the 2-year-old Maha Vikas Aghadi government, saying he has said it “at least 28 times before.”

Another senior Sena leader, Dr Raghunath Kuchik – accorded MoS status – said all the BJP leaders are crying over spilt milk, how “the Sena betrayed BJP” at least five times daily – or over 3,500 times in the past two years after the MVA government with Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray took office on November 28, 2019.

“This must be some sort of a world-record… In May 1996, the late PM Atal Behari Vajpayee said – in a dignified manner – how he felt disappointed only once and gave up office, but never uttered it again,” Kuchik pointed out.

A couple of days ago, when Union MSME Minister Narayan Rane acted soothsayer claiming the BJP will form the government in March, the usually stern Nationalist Congress Party state President and Minister Jayant Patil broke into a grin and asked why “such a long time-limit”.

Congress state President Nana Patole reacted sarcastically saying how “the BJP’s never-ending forecasts of the MVA fall are perpetually proving wrong.”

As the MVA celebrates its second anniversary on November 28 it is conscious of the hawkish Opposition counting the days, weeks or months for the Shiv Sena-NCP-Congress government’s collapse.

For, the Opposition is not limited to the belligerent BJP in the state and Centre alone — there’s a motley collection of various central agencies, several Bollywood personalities, some industrialists, a few social influencers and even the friendly neighbourhood Raj Bhavan with which there have been infrequent ‘letter wars’ – not exactly the soulful ingredients for a smooth sail!

Barely had the MVA emerged unscathed from the ghost of the late actor Sushant Singh Rajput on its first birthday last November (2020), it was haunted by others in the form of the abandoned SUV with 20 gelatin sticks and a threat note near the home of industrialist Mukesh Ambani in February, followed by the murder of the vehicle owner Mansukh Hiran.

This kicked off a series of political developments that rocked the 3-party government, the unceremonious transfer of the then Mumbai Police Commissioner Param Bir Singh, his letter bomb hurling allegations of extortion against the then home minister Anil Deshmukh, who was forced to quit and was nabbed by the Enforcement Directorate, and now Singh himself facing corruption charges.

Besides Deshmukh, minister Sanjay Rathod forfeited his post. At least another half-a-dozen Sena-NCP ministers or senior leaders like Hasan Mushrif, Anil Parab, Eknath Khadse, MP Bhavana Gawli, ex-MP Anandrao Adsul, Sanjay Raut’s kin and the family of Deputy CM Ajit Pawar are under the scanner of the central agencies, plus a dozen more ‘potential’ future targets, as BJP leaders watch gleefully.

Despite the “betrayal, downfall” cacophony all around, Thackeray continued to make waves with his handling of the Covid-19 situation, the state earned laurels from the Centre and abroad, it continued to attract investments and — despite occasional hiccups – the 3-partners maintained camaraderie.

At one point, a bemused Thackeray shot back at the BJP, saying “the MVA will not only complete five years, but is here to stay for 25 years”.

NCP’s Malik further rattled the Opposition saying that many of the erstwhile defectors from the Sena-NCP-Congress to the BJP would make a ‘ghar-wapsi’ and return to the parental fold soon.

After the Narcotics Control Bureau’s raids on the Cordelia cruise ship on October 2, Malik became the face of the MVA’s blitzkrieg against the central agencies with his sting(ing) operations against the NCB Zonal Director Sameer Wankhede.

As the luxury ship swoop practically lost credibility, Wankhede came under pressure with Malik’s exposes on his alleged fake caste certificate and other fraudulent documents, and the Bombay High Court also frowning at the raids and the NCB’s intentions. It also said the Minister’s charges were not ‘totally false’.

The MVA struggles on other fronts too, like the pending GST dues from the Centre, the elusive promised aid for natural calamities that befell the state in the past two years, the Kanjurmarg land for the Mumbai Metro car shed.

After straddling multiple crises over the past 24 months, another Big Test is coming up in early 2022 for both the MVA and the BJP — the elections to some big civic bodies like Mumbai, Thane, Navi Mumbai, Vasai-Virar, Pune, Pimpri-Chinchwad, Nashik, Aurangabad, Solapur, Amravati and Nagpur.

Though the Sena-NCP are firm on a pre-poll alliance, the Congress state and Mumbai leaders keep thumping chests like Tarzan and sing the ‘Ekla Chalo’ (Go Alone) tune, dismaying the other two allies but sounding sweet music to the BJP.

Senior ruling alliance leaders are aware that these are rough times calling for tough decisions to prevent a mass exodus or even a rebellion in their ranks — as witnessed recently in Panvel with many Congressmen joining the NCP — particularly with the BJP fox lurking menacingly around the MVA flock.

Perturbed by its unsuccessful toppling games, the BJP is vying for big wins in the civic polls to re-sharpen its sword to eject what it calls the ‘Maha Vinaash Aghadi’ regime, though privately many leaders admit it’s a futile exercise.

Maharashtra

Samajwadi Party is not part of Mumbai Municipal Corporation Vikas Aghadi: Abu Asim Azmi

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Mumbai: The Samajwadi Party will not enter into an electoral alliance with the Maha Vikas Aghadi in the Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections, not will it be part of this alliance. Those who objected to the release of innocent Muslims imprisoned for 19 years but remained silent on the release of the accused in the Malegaon blasts. Those who express pride in the demolition of the Babri Masjid, take the names of Lord Ram and Lord Vishwanath, but call the holy water of the Sangam smelly and make Uttar Bharatiyas and North Indians a target for violence. This is a province where the Pawars go to do their country’s panddan. Those belonging to such provinces insult and subject North Indians and Biharis to violence.

If such people are part of the Maha Vikas Aghadi, the Samajwadi Party will never be part of it.

The Samajwadi Party does politics of justice, secularism, constitutional values ​​and Ganga-Jamuni culture. Therefore, we cannot be part of any alliance that includes forces that spread hatred and divide the country. This kind of explanation has been given by Mumbai Maharashtra Samajwadi Party leader and MLA Abu Asim Azmi. Elections are approaching, in such a situation, Mahayoti and Maha Vikas Aghadi are very serious about their allied parties. In such a situation, the Samajwadi Party has clearly refused to enter into an understanding with Maha Vikas Aghadi and has called it biased. Now there is curiosity about the expected entry and entry of MNS in Maha Vikas. In such a situation, the Samajwadi Party has denied it and said that it is unable to participate in the elections with those who incite violence on the basis of regionalism.

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Maharashtra

Controversy over ban on photography in the guise of Shivaji Maharaj at Vasai Fort, verbal clash with non-Marathi guard, attempt to create Hindi-Marathi controversy

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Mumbai: The Marathi-non-Marathi conflict in the ancient fort of Mumbai’s Vasai has once again intensified the atmosphere. Due to which tension has spread in the area and after allegations of obscenity and immoral behavior of young couples in the fort, the police have issued an alert around the fort. A Marathi-Hindi conflict broke out in the ancient fort in Vasai Virar when a non-Marathi migrant guard opposed a photo shoot in the guise of a Maharaj, after which the video went viral on social media and now there is a flood of comments on it. The migrant guards of Bhayander Center stopped the artists who were getting a photo shoot and filming in the guise of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, Vasai Fort, which is located within the limits of Vasai Police Station.

Social media influencer actor Rupesh Dilip Halawale has shared an incident that happened to him on social media. Rupesh Halawale was getting a photo shoot in the guise of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in the Vasai Fort. However, a person present there stopped them from taking photos. Moreover, since he was a migrant, he could not speak Marathi. On this, Rupesh consoled the man.

In the video, Rupesh first says in Hindi to a man dressed as a security guard, “I respected you by speaking Hindi, then you should also respect me by living in Maharashtra and speaking Marathi.” Then he asks him, “How many years have you been working here? Why haven’t you learned Marathi in all these years? Why don’t you know Marathi? When will you learn Marathi?” Then he shows the man’s identity card. On which the name of Brijesh Kumar Gupta is written.

Then Rupesh says, “This man works as a security guard in Vasai Fort. When we were taking photos in the attire of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, he stops the Marathi people and says in a very adamant manner, I don’t know Marathi.”

Then the security guard brings another person. On this too Rupesh says, “You want to be famous.. You have brought this man here to do bhai giri, if you do not respect Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj here then you will have to leave this job, there is a shooting of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj here. We should know what is the condition of the forts, how was the fort built, what do couples do when they come here”.
“It is okay for some people to come with their mothers and sisters. But when some people come to do inappropriate and immoral things, what do you do, your eyes get wide open.

“Here we do not do any nonsense, we do not wear Maharaj’s clothes and drink alcohol. We are just taking pictures. When the couples are doing nonsense, you do not say anything to them. This will not be tolerated. Then you respect them, and start learning Marathi from tomorrow.

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Maharashtra

Mira Road Violence: 65 Booked After Violent Clash Over Parking In Dachkul-Pada, Several Injured & 30 Autos Damaged

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Mira Road: Tensions flared in Mira Road’s Dachkul-Pada area early Tuesday morning after a violent clash broke out over a parking dispute, leading to multiple injuries and extensive property damage.

The Kashigaon police have booked 15 identified individuals and around 50 unidentified others for their involvement in the attack, which left at least three to four people injured and nearly 30 to 35 autorickshaws damaged.

According to officials, the incident occurred around 6 am on Tuesday when a group of locals got into an argument with a few autorickshaw drivers who were washing their vehicles by blocking the road. The situation quickly escalated when one of the complainants, who had objected to the road being blocked, was allegedly attacked. Within minutes, the accused reportedly called in reinforcements from nearby areas, and around 50 men armed with axes, bamboo sticks, and sickles stormed into the lane.

“They attacked the complainant and a few others with sharp weapons and sticks. One of the victims suffered a head injury requiring stitches, while others escaped with bruises and scratches,” a police officer said. The crowd also went on a rampage, damaging several autorickshaws parked in the vicinity.

Locals alleged that the police arrived at the scene nearly an hour after the assault, by which time the attackers had fled. They also claimed that a group of miscreants regularly create nuisance in the area under the pretext of cleaning their autos and have been involved in drug-related activities. Residents have urged for stricter patrolling and police presence in the locality to prevent further incidents.

In response, Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik and MLA Narendra Mehta visited the site of the clash and assured residents that swift and strict action would be taken against those responsible for the violence.

Senior Police Inspector Mahesh Togarwad of Kashigaon Police Station confirmed that around 65 people have been booked under serious charges, including attempt to murder (Section 307), causing grievous hurt with weapons, rioting, unlawful assembly, and relevant sections of the Maharashtra Police Act for carrying prohibited weapons.

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