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Uddhav Thackeray has betrayed Balasaheb’s ideals, says Bawankule on Waqf Bill

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Pune, April 5: Maharashtra BJP president and Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule here on Saturday launched a sharp attack on Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray, accusing him of betraying the ideals and vision of his father, Balasaheb Thackeray, by opposing the Waqf Amendment Bill.

Bawankule claimed that Thackeray’s stance was driven by vote-bank politics ahead of the upcoming Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections.

“Uddhav Thackeray’s position on the Waqf Amendment Bill is not even acceptable to his own workers. I’ve received messages from across the state suggesting that many Shiv Sainiks are disillusioned and considering quitting the party. His Shiv Sena won’t survive another year,” Bawankule asserted.

He further alleged, “By opposing the Waqf Amendment Bill, Uddhav Thackeray has committed a serious offence.”

On Friday, Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis defended the Bill, stating that it reflects the secular and democratic spirit enshrined in the Constitution.

“The Waqf Board that existed till now was a product of appeasement politics. It neither benefited the minority community nor contributed to any charitable cause. On the contrary, it was used to forcibly grab land. The biggest Waqf land scam in Maharashtra happened during the Congress regime. We had even initiated an inquiry into it,” Fadnavis said.

He added that the amended law would bring much-needed transparency and ensure that the benefits reach the common Muslim.

“The Bill does not infringe upon any religious beliefs. It merely corrects historical wrongs. It also ensures women’s representation on the Waqf Board and removes the earlier provision that barred judicial scrutiny of its actions,” he said.

Fadnavis also alleged that Waqf lands were often taken over by the Board and later by Congress leaders, adding, “The Bill is aimed at ending this loot. Those who truly follow Balasaheb Thackeray’s ideals should support it.”

Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, who also heads a faction of the Shiv Sena, accused Thackeray of abandoning Hindutva and compromising Balasaheb’s principles. “His opposition to the Bill exposes his real priorities — power over people’s welfare,” Shinde said.

National

Kashmiri students safely back to Delhi from Iran, flag poor bus quality to reach home in J&K

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Srinagar, June 19: Ninety-four students belonging to Jammu and Kashmir were evacuated from Iran and reached Delhi safely. While they thanked the Centre for the help, the students expressed displeasure over the buses provided by the Omar Abdullah government to take them home from the national capital.

After they boarded the buses for J&K in Delhi, some students posted pictures alleging the poor quality of buses made available to them to return home in the union territory.

Following these complaints, office of J&K chief minister, Omar Abdullah said on X, “The Chief Minister has taken note of the request of the students evacuated from Iran regarding the quality of buses arranged to transport them from Delhi to J&K. The Resident Commissioner has been tasked with coordinating with the JKRTC to ensure proper deluxe buses are arranged.”

CM Omar Abdullah earlier said on X, “94 of our students evacuated from Iran have safely reached Delhi. Govt is making transport arrangements for their smooth journey home, which will be in place within the next few hours”.

The CM had earlier spoken to Foreign Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, requesting the safety of J&K students stuck in Iran.

Kashmiri Shia leader and MP, Aga Syed Ruhullah, had said earlier that Israel had hit a hostel occupied by Kashmiri students, and some students sustained minor injuries in that strike.

The MEA has made arrangements to evacuate all Indian students from Iran and also ensure the safety of Indian professionals engaged in various professions as doctors, engineers, etc., in Iran.

A good number of Kashmiri students are studying medicine in Iran. The Valley has a sizeable Shia Muslim population with close religious affinity with the predominantly Shia Muslim majority of Iran.

Most of the Shia scholars of Kashmir have had their religious learning in Iran. Both Sunni and Shia Muslim religious leaders of Kashmir have condemned Israeli strikes against Iran.

They have called for the immediate cessation of hostilities from both sides. Iran and Israel are locked in the worst hostilities against each other, and both countries have carried out missile strikes against civilians.

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Crime

Honeymoon murder case: Sonam made 239 calls to Raj, saved number as ‘Sanjay Verma’

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Shillong, June 19: In a chilling twist to the murder of Raja Raghuvanshi during his honeymoon in Meghalaya, police investigations have revealed that his wife, Sonam Raghuvanshi, the prime accused, was in regular contact with her lover Raj Kushwaha — whom she had saved in her phone as “Sanjay Verma” — both before and after her marriage.

According to Meghalaya Police, Sonam made and received over 239 calls from the number in just 39 days.

The police confirmed that the so-called Sanjay Verma is, in fact, Raj Kushwaha, who worked as an accountant in the furniture sheet unit owned by Sonam’s family in Indore.

He is now identified as the co-conspirator and the mastermind behind the murder plan.

Police suspect that Sonam deliberately saved Raj’s number under a different name to avoid arousing suspicion. His mobile phone has remained switched off since the case unravelled.

Sonam’s brother, Govind, reacting to the revelations, stated, “I don’t know anything about Sanjay Verma. I just got to know that Sanjay’s name is also coming up.”

He further emphasised that the family has cut all ties with Sonam and stands with the victim’s family in their fight for justice.

The murder has sent shockwaves across the country. What initially appeared to be a case of a missing couple took a dark turn when the body of Raja Raghuvanshi was discovered in the forested terrain of Meghalaya, not far from Nongriat village, where the couple was last seen.

The two had checked out from a homestay on May 23, just 12 days after their wedding in Indore, only for Raja’s body to be recovered on June 2.

According to police, Sonam had a long-standing relationship with Raj even before her marriage. Despite the ongoing affair, she went ahead with the wedding and planned a honeymoon trip to the northeast.

But the trip was part of a sinister plot to eliminate Raja. Police investigations have revealed that Sonam hired three contract killers — Akash Rajput, Vishal Singh Chauhan, and Anand Kurmi — to carry out the murder.

Her cousin, Jitendra Raghuvanshi, is said to have facilitated the first payment instalment to the hitmen.

After days of being untraceable, Sonam surfaced on June 8 in Uttar Pradesh’s Ghazipur district and surrendered at the Nandganj police station.

Her surrender came hours after the three hitmen were nabbed from different locations in Uttar Pradesh, Indore, and Sagar. Raj Kushwaha was arrested shortly after.

On June 11, during police interrogation, Sonam reportedly confessed to orchestrating the murder of her husband.

The murder, laced with deception and betrayal, has gripped national attention, particularly due to the elaborate planning and the disturbing involvement of multiple individuals close to the accused.

Govind, her brother, reiterated the family’s resolve to stand by Raja’s family.

“We have no relation with Sonam anymore. What she has done is beyond forgiveness. Our full support is with Raja’s family, and we will help them in their legal battle for justice,” he had said.

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Business

Air India crash: Centre issues draft rules to tighten control over physical obstructions

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New Delhi, June 19: In a key step after the deadly Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner crash, the Ministry of Civil Aviation has released new draft rules to tighten control over physical structures that may pose risk to aircraft safety.

The aircraft, en route from Ahmedabad to London’s Gatwick airport, had crashed into the B.J. Medical College Hostel shortly after take-off on June 12 and burst into a fireball, killing nearly all on board and several on the ground.

The draft, titled ‘Aircraft (Demolition of Obstructions) Rules, 2025’, will come into force once published in the Official Gazette. The rules aim to give authorities the power to take prompt action against buildings and trees that exceed height limits in designated aerodrome zones.

The move is seen as a proactive step to prevent potential accidents caused by obstructions in flight paths.

Under the draft rules, any structure found exceeding the permissible height limits around notified aerodromes will receive a notice from the officer-in-charge.

Property owners must submit key details, including site plans and structural dimensions, within 60 days of receiving the notice. Non-compliance could trigger enforcement action, including demolition or trimming of the structure.

If the Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) or an authorised officer determines that the structure is in violation, an official order may be issued mandating demolition or height reduction.

Property owners will have up to 60 days to comply, with a possible second extension of another 60 days granted only on valid grounds.

According to the draft rules, officials will also be allowed to physically verify the site during daylight hours, after notifying the property owner. If the owner refuses to cooperate, the officer may proceed using available information and escalate the case to the DGCA.

The draft rules also outlined a clear appeals process, where property owners may challenge the demolition or trimming orders before the First or Second Appellate Officer by submitting the prescribed form, supporting documents, and a fee of Rs 1,000.

The rules further stated that only those who comply with official orders will be eligible for compensation under Section 22 of the Bharatiya Vayuyan Adhiniyam, 2024. Any structures erected in violation of the rules after the notification date will not qualify for any compensation.

The Civil Aviation Ministry has invited objections and suggestions from the public within 20 days of the draft’s publication.

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