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Maharashtra

Uddhav vs Shinde: SC allows EC to decide which faction is real Shiv Sena

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In a big setback to Uddhav Thackeray’s faction, the Supreme Court on Tuesday declined to stop the Election Commission from deciding the claim of Eknath Shinde group to be the real Shiv Sena.

After a day-long hearing, a constitution bench headed by Justice D.Y. Chandrachud dismissed the interlocutory application filed on behalf of Thackeray’s faction. The apex court’s decision is very significant in view of the impending Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation elections, where both Shinde and Thackeray factions would like to contest the poll.

The bench — also comprising Justices M.R. Shah, Krishna Murari, Hima Kohli, and P.S. Narasimha — said there would not be any stay on the proceedings before the Election Commission on intra party dispute and ‘bow and arrow’ symbol of the party. “We direct that there would be no stay of the proceedings before the Election Commission of India,” it said.

Senior advocates Kapil Sibal, A.M. Singhvi and Devadatt Kamat represented the Thackeray’s faction. Sibal submitted that Shinde cannot approach the EC once he has incurred disqualification, saying “I challenged the very locus of the person who moved the EC”.

Sibal clarified that Shinde has incurred disqualification as his various acts amounted to “voluntarily giving up membership of the party” under the Tenth Schedule, and he also violated the party whip, which is also covered by the Tenth Schedule.

The Thackeray camp vociferously argued that since disqualification of Shinde and the MLAs supporting him was pending, therefore EC cannot consider their application over the party and the symbol. However, the top court declined to entertain this contention.

Senior advocates Maninder Singh, Neeraj Kishan Kaul, and Mahesh Jethmalani, assisted by advocate Abhikalp Pratap Singh, argued for the Shinde faction.

Senior advocate Arvind Datar represented the Election Commission.

Shinde’s faction counsel argued that under Article 324 of the Constitution, the EC possesses plenty of powers to deal with any situation which arises in relation to political parties and several party members have sent their representations to the EC supporting the Shinde group.

Kaul submitted that the nature of enquiry under Tenth Schedule and the Symbols Order are different.

Shinde’s faction counsel claimed a hopeless minority sought to remove him from the party, and contended that the Speaker, under the Tenth Schedule, has to exercise power to determine disqualification of a member and he cannot decide on the split or merger within a political party. Shinde faction counsel vehemently argued that a party member’s right to move the EC cannot be taken away.

The EC counsel argued that it worked independently, and its functions are different when compared with the Speaker. The counsel added that it can decide who held the majority in the party.

Shinde and his faction had rebelled against Thackeray, which forced him to resign as Maharashtra Chief Minister.

Shiv Sena’s General Secretary Subhash Desai had moved the apex court saying that Shinde and other MLAs, have purportedly initiated proceedings under para 15 of the Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order, 1968 (Symbols Order) seeking to be recognised as the “real Shiv Sena” by the EC. Desai added that they are also claiming the right to use the election symbol of “bow and arrow” allotted to Shiv Sena.

Thackeray faction claimed that since the disqualification matter is pending in the apex court, Shinde faction are trying to illegally cobble up numbers and fabricate an artificial majority in the organisation.

The apex court, on July 11, asked the newly appointed Maharashtra Assembly Speaker not to go ahead with proceedings on the disqualification petitions.

Maharashtra

Amrauti MP Anil Bonde receives threat from Hyderabadi Muslim over email, anger over removal of IIC banner and anti-Islamic rhetoric, situation tense

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Mumbai: A Muslim organization called ICC had put up a banner at Panchoti Chowk in Amrauti, Maharashtra, which sparked a controversy, due to which communal tension has arisen in Amrauti. MP Anil Bonde has demanded a case to be registered against the putting up of the banner. Today, Anil Bonde has received a threatening email in this matter, after which the police have registered an NC in this matter and started investigating. This email has been said that Anil Bonde’s anti-Islamic statement has created hatred and the atmosphere of resentment against him among the Muslims of Hyderabad is very hot. The personal secretary of the complainant Anil Bonde has complained that when he was checking his email as usual in the morning, he received a threatening email. The following email was received on Bonde’s official email from an unknown email ID. Dr. Sahib, the language you used against Islamic teachings has ignited such a fire in the hearts of the Muslims of Hyderabad that the atmosphere here has become dangerously hot. This is anger, which turns into a storm with a spark. Every word of yours is feeling like an open wound to the Muslims, so control your language and your speech because Dr. Sahib, this time emotions have flared up so much that even a wrong word is enough to make the entire atmosphere uncontrollable. A threatening email has been received in the name of the angry Muslim community of Hyderabad. Bonde had filed a complaint in Panchavati Chowk regarding the banner of the Islamic organization. That is why the threat has been sent through email on the official email ID. After which an NC has been registered. Abel Bonde is identified as a hardline Hindutva leader and he had opposed the putting up of an Islamic banner at Panchavati Chowk. The situation is extremely tense due to this incident. The police are on immediate alert.

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Maharashtra

Abu Asim Azmi demands immediate help from Indian government after pilgrims were involved in a bus accident during Umrah in Saudi Arabia

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Mumbai: Maharashtra Samajwadi Party and MLA Abu Asim Azmi has expressed grief and sorrow over the martyrdom of Indian pilgrims in a road accident during Umrah in Saudi Arabia and has demanded that the Indian government help bring the bodies of the deceased pilgrims to India. Muslims are saddened and mourning after the video of this tragic accident went viral on social media. Abu Asim said that after visiting the house of Allah, Mecca, the pilgrims’ bus met with an accident while traveling to Medina and this accident was so terrible that 42 pilgrims died in it. Abu Asim said that this tragedy with Indian pilgrims who went for Umrah is very sad. We express our heartfelt condolences to the families of all the martyrs. May Allah Almighty grant them a high place in Paradise, grant patience to the bereaved families and grant a speedy recovery to the injured Amen.

‎We demand Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Jaishankar to immediately provide all possible assistance to the families who have to bring the bodies of their loved ones back to India.

‎And if anyone wishes to go to Saudi Arabia to perform the last rites of their loved ones, they should be issued emergency visas immediately and the injured should be provided with the best medical facilities.

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Maharashtra

Byculla Redevelopment Site Accident Claims Two Lives

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Mumbai: A tragic incident occurred on saturday afternoon at the proposed redevelopment site of Habib Mansion in Byculla (West). During piling work, the ground suddenly caved in, resulting in the death of two labourers on the spot.

Two to three other workers suffered serious injuries and were rushed to a nearby hospital. The accident took place at the Sundar Galli stretch between Haines Road and Tank Pakhadi Road, where redevelopment work is being undertaken by Ibrahim Jusab Sopariwala & Others. The project is linked to architects A2 Associates and Rajpurkar Associates, with ZZ Consultants reported as the structural advisors.

Local residents claimed that adequate safety measures were missing at the worksite, raising concerns about negligence. Police and BMC officials have cordoned off the area and launched an investigation.

Authorities said a detailed probe will determine whether safety protocols were violated during the redevelopment work.

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