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YEAREND INTERVIEW: Cong seats won’t grow like Rahul’s beard: Ramdas Athawale

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With the nation set to go to the polls in 2024, political parties have already started preparing for the all-important Lok Sabha elections.

While the Congress is covering the length and breadth of the country with its ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’, the BJP too is in action mode to ensure painting the nation with saffron colour for the third successive term.

Speaking exclusively with IANS, Union Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment, Ramdas Athawale, claimed that the BJP will will win 350 seats in 2024, while the NDA’s tally will touch the 400-mark.

Also targeting Rahul Gandhi and his Bharat Jodo Yatra, the President of the Republican Party of India said that he (Rahul Gandhi) might have grown his beard, but that won’t help the Congress grow the number of seats in 2024, as the Yatra will make no difference.

Here are excerpts from the interview:

Q: The year 2022 is nearing its end. How did the year go for your ministry? What were the achievements?

A: This year, we introduced many policies for the SC, OBC and De-notified Tribes (DNTs). We also introduced policies under the Accessible India Campaign or Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan, which is a programme for the differently-able community of the country.

Similarly, we have pension policies for the elderly. We have three commissions under our ministry — for the Schedule Caste, Other Backward Class and Safai Mazdoor. We keep working on such policies so that people can get benefits from them.

Q: What are the major plans of the ministry for 2023?

A: We have appointed the Rohini Commission under which there is 27 per cent reservation for OBCs, but the DNTs are demanding separate reservation. Though this falls under the OBC category, the DNT community is not getting any benefits from the commission. So there are talks regarding categorisation of this 27 per cent reservation system.

Also, we have given 10 per cent reservation to economically weaker sections in jobs and admission, whose annual family income is below Rs 8 lakh and who don’t fall under SC/ST/OBC categories. Any family from any caste falls in this category and can avail benefits of this policy.

We have also appointed a three-member commission, headed by former Chief Justice of India, K.G. Balakrishnan, to consider the possibility of granting SC status to ‘new persons who have historically belonged to the Scheduled Castes’, but have converted to religions other than Hinduism, Buddhism and Sikhism. He has also been given the responsibility to study Dalit Muslims and Dalit Christians and submit a report within six months.

Q: India is hosting the G20 meet next year. What will be the contribution of the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment?

A: We are in the process of chalking out new programmes for the G20 meet. We will come up with new ideas.

Besides, we have a scheme of overseas scholarship under which we give scholarships to Schedule Caste students to go aboard and study. This year, we sent 125 students abroad and we are targeting to ramp up the numbers next year.

Q: The 2024 Lok Sabha elections are not far away, and the Republican Party of India is in alliance with the BJP. What are you thoughts about the upcoming general elections?

A: In 2024, we are targeting 350+ seats for the BJP, while the NDA should win 400+ seats. In 2019, BJP had got 303 seats alone, so the target is more this time. The Republican Party of India is fully with the BJP. Prime Minister Narendra Modi holds good thoughts about Babasaheb Ambedkar. He has vowed to strengthen the Constitution framed by Ambedkar. His ideology of ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas, Sabka Prayaas’ is appreciable.

The Prime Minister’s vision of ‘Aatamnirbhar Bharat’ is incomparable. He is a global leader. He has taken the country’s economy to a new level. Leaders like Rahul Gandhi cannot even face Modi in 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

Q: The opposition parties seem to be coming together for the next general elections, just like like they formed the Mahagathbandhan in 2019. What is your take on this?

A: It is hard for all the opposition parties to come together. Also, every party wants the PM candidate to be from their party. Even if they come together, facing PM Modi will be tough for them. The Prime Minister not only has the support of the NDA, he also enjoys the support of the common people. He is running a good government.

Q: Rahul Gandhi’s popularity seems to be growing with the Bharat Jodo Yatra that his drawing good crowd. Do you think it will make any difference in 2024?

A: This is not Bharat Jodo Yatra, but ‘Bharat Todo Yatra’. If Congress wanted to do Bharat Jodo, they could have done it during its 70-year rule. But what they did was ‘Bharat Todo’.

Also, Rahul Gandhi should first work on ‘Congress Jodo’ instead. Yes, the Yatra is drawing large crowds, but that will not translate into votes in favour of the Congress. Rahul Gandhi has grown his beard, but Congress’ seats will not grow.

Maharashtra

Municipal Commissioner (Western Suburbs) Dr. Vipin Sharma reviewed Manohar Wiman Desai Hospital in Malad

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Mumbai: Additional Municipal Commissioner (Western Suburbs) Dr. Vipin Sharma today (April 20, 2026) visited the Manohar Wiman Desai Hospital of the Mumbai Municipal Corporation located in Malad East area. During this visit, he visited the outpatient department, intensive care unit and various departments of the hospital. During this visit, he also interacted with the patients coming for treatment at the hospital. Along with this, he also interacted with the doctors, nurses and related officers and employees working in the hospital and got information about the situation there. During today’s visit of Additional Municipal Commissioner Dr. Vipin Sharma, Dr. Chandrakant Pawar, Chief Medical Superintendent and Head of the Suburban Hospitals Department of the Mumbai Municipal Corporation were also present. During today’s visit, Dr. Sharma inspected the machinery, ambulance and various issues related to the hospital and discussed the situation there in detail with the concerned persons. Besides, while interacting with the doctors, nurses and concerned officers and employees providing medical services, Dr. Sharma directed that all the doctors and concerned employees providing medical services in the hospital should speak more politely with the patients coming to the hospital for medical treatment and consult the patients properly. Dr. Sharma expressed satisfaction about the cleanliness and service facilities in the hospital. Manohar Wiman Desai Hospital is a major hospital of the Mumbai Municipal Corporation located in the Malad East area. This 180-bed hospital has been providing medical services to the people of Mumbai since 1976. The hospital administration also informed on this occasion that the outpatient registration of this hospital is open between 8 am and 11 am on office working days.

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Maharashtra

Mumbai: Head of gang who made children dress up as girls arrested, major operation by Crime Branch

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Mumbai: A beggar who forced children to beg by dressing them in girls’ clothes and begging has been arrested by the police in Mumbai. He was the head of a begging and living gang. Mumbai Crime Branch Unit 6 has arrested him. Shivaji Nagar Police Station 237/2026 u/s 139, 142, 352, 351(2) BNS along with Sections 4, 6, 8, 12, 17 POCSO along with Section 5 of the Immoral Trafficking of Children and Protection of Women Act along with Section 7 of the Third Person Act (*Forced Sexual Relations with POCSO) was registered against the accused. In this case, the police have registered a case against Babu Ainal Khan alias Babu Guru alias Babu Zankha, aged 30 years, resident of Gali No. 9, near Bab Rehmat Masjid, Rafiq Nagar Part No. 2, Shivaji Nagar. Govindi has been arrested. The complainant’s minor son was kidnapped and forcibly transformed into a third gender and for his financial gain, the child was forced to beg in a local train and the said minor was also forced to dress up as a girl and have natural sexual intercourse with male customers, for which the said crime was registered in the police station. The Crime Branch has taken the accused into custody for investigation of this matter. Based on its confidential information, the Crime Branch arrested the accused from Vashi Naka, who was hiding here by hiding his identity.

According to the information received, the said team had laid a trap in Vashi Kopri village in Navi Mumbai. But the wanted accused became suspicious and started fleeing towards Mumbai in a motor car by another route along with his other accomplices. Then the said team also chased his motor car and arrested him from Panjrapole Junction, Trombay, Mumbai. At that time, it was confirmed that the said wanted accused is the same and he was brought to the Crime Branch office. When he was questioned in connection with the said crime, it was found that he was actively involved in the crime, he was medically examined and handed over to Shivajinagar Police Station for further investigation. The accused has a criminal record against him.

1) Shivajinagar Police Station G No. No. 718/2024 C 115(2), 118(1), 353,351 BNS Narapoli Police Station No. No. 1704/2024 C 109, 118(1), 352, 351, BNS Kurla Police Station G No. 240/2017 C 365, 342, 348, IPC Deonar Police Station No. No. 150/ 2010 C 324,323 IPC Shivajinagar Police Station 218/2025 C 3(a), 6(a) Section 3 along with cases registered under sections 318(4), 336, 337, 339, 340(2) BNS of the Foreign National Order Act
This information has been given here today by Bharat Ghona, in-charge of Unit 6.

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Maharashtra

BJP leader Nazia Elahi’s misbehavior in Mumbai Lenskart store, appeal to reveal religious identity

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Mumbai: BJP leader Nazia Elahi, who entered a Lenskart store in Mumbai’s Andheri area, not only showed hatred but also argued with a Muslim youth and tried to explain how he wanted to implement Sharia here. After the ban on Hindu dress and customs in Lenskart, Nazia Elahi entered Lenskart on social media and applied tilak to Hindu employees here, after which this matter has now become a cause of religious controversy.

For the past several days, Lenskart owner Piyush Bansal has been asked that if there is so much “love” for Islamic customs and customs, then why is there so much “hatred” for Hindu beliefs in Hindu-majority India? Voices are being raised across the country against Lenskart’s double standards. People are protesting in different ways. In this context, BJP leader and supporter of Sanatan traditions Nazia Elahi Khan visited a Lenskart store and applied tilak to the employees. Nazia Elahi Khan visited a Lenskart store. Nazia appealed to Hindus to be fully aware of their religious and cultural traditions and identity. Sharing a picture of a Lenskart store on social media platform X, she wrote, “Tilak is a source of pride for you. Kalava is your sanskar (sacred thread) your sanskar (culture). Sanatan is your identity. It is your honor to chant the slogan Har Har Mahadev.” After this, she said that wherever Hindus work, they should never compromise on their identity and traditions. Nazia wrote. Whether you work in Lenskart or Air India, wherever you are, never compromise on your identity.” Nazia tagged Maharashtra Chief Minister’s Office, VHP, Bajrang Dal, Maharashtra BJP and Air India in her post.

The campaign to apply tilak to Lenskart employees Nazia Elahi Khan is seen applying tilak to Lenskart employees in the posted photos. The post has drawn a strong response from the former Muslim. Many users have made extremely offensive and vulgar comments that cannot even be mentioned here. Lenskart has been embroiled in controversy amid allegations of double standards. It is worth noting that Lenskart’s internal guidelines regarding dress and image for its employees have been a topic of heated debate for the past few days. Questions are being raised on social media as to why a Hindu national company in a Hindu majority country with a majority of Hindu employees and Hindu buyers is trying to suppress Hindu religious beliefs and Hindu identity. Piyush Bansal has clarified these allegations in two separate posts. He said that the Lenskart grooming guidelines shared on social media are outdated.

Lenskart’s dressing rules criticised
Piyush Bansal admitted that there was a ban on sindoor, bindi and kalava. People are also questioning whether such deeply discriminatory guidelines exist in any. People are also asking, “Where are the new guidelines that allow wearing sindoor, bindi and kalava?” Meanwhile, several former and current employees of Lenskart are reporting how the company is depriving Hindu employees of their basic rights. Some are also claiming that they were fired because they adhered to Hindu religious beliefs or spoke in support of them. Lenskart shares sold off. Following allegations of religious discrimination and the growing controversy surrounding it, Lenskart shares are selling off. On Monday, Lenskart shares fell by about two percent on both the major indices, BSE and NSE. At the time of publishing this news at 2:40 pm, Lenskart shares on the BSE were down 1.83%, or ₹9.80, at ₹524.75. Meanwhile, on the NSE, Lenskart shares fell 1.82%, or ₹9.75, to ₹524.80. The police have not registered any case in this matter so far, while this matter is also related to religious hatred and sectarianism and Nazia Elahi has also targeted a single religion by openly creating religious hatred.

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