In a strong reaction, the Maha Vikas Aghadi dispensation asserted that BJP was behind MNS President Raj Thackeray’s agitation and it would take Maharashtra back by five to six years. Minister of State for Home and Information Technology Satej Patil said it may push Maharashtra back by 5 to 6 years. “Raj Thackeray should think if he wants to escalate the problems of inflation, and unemployment and prohibit the investment from coming to the State by announcing such agitations,” said Patil, a senior Congressman. “The State government and police department have been doing their work. The security of the people and ensuring that they do not face any hardship is our prime responsibility. By holding the Home department’s meeting, all steps have been taken to keep the law and order intact. We have deployed 87 units of SRPF, and 30,000 home guards to handle the situation in the wake of the call of protest given by Raj Thackeray.”Also Read | Raj Thackeray tweets old video of Sena founder Bal Thackeray amid loudspeaker row“It is BJP which used Raj Thackeray for the agitation,” Shiv Sena chief spokesperson and Rajya Sabha member Sanjay Raut said.“Maharashtra is a progressive state and it is the responsibility of the state government to protect the freedom of religion that has been given to us by the Constitution,” said Maharashtra Congress President Nana Patole. “Ever since the MVA government has come to power in the state, the BJP has been trying to destabilize the government. This is defaming Maharashtra and affecting investment and job creation. As a result, the future of the youth is at stake. Some people are trying to create unrest in Maharashtra. Attempts to bring swords and other weapons from outside the state have been exposed by the vigilance of the police."Some people are trying to create religious clashes but the administration is vigilant and both the government and the administration will thwart any attempt to spread unrest in the state," he added.Watch the latest DH Videos here:
Sanjay Raut said suitable action will follow if someone give inflammatory speeches. (FILE)Mumbai: In a terse message to MNS chief Raj Thackeray over his May 3 deadline for removal of loudspeakers from mosques, the ruling Shiv Sena on Tuesday asserted Maharashtra does not run on ultimatums and that the rule of law prevails in the state.Raj Thackeray faces possible police action for allegedly giving a provocative speech in Aurangabad on Sunday where he reiterated his demand for removal of loudspeakers from mosques.Talking to reporters, Shiv Sena MP and party's chief spokesperson Sanjay Raut said suitable action will follow if someone give inflammatory speeches.“The government does not run on an ultimatum. There is rule of law in the state. There is a buzz that anti-social elements will be brought to the state for instigating riots,” he said.Asked who are behind allegedly bringing anti-social elements in the state, Mr Raut said, “Those who don't have the strength, such people. This is 'supari' (contract) politics. The state police are capable of handling the situation. So is the home department. The chief minister is keeping an eye on the situation.” At a rally in Aurangabad in the Marathwada region of Maharashtra on May 1, Raj Thackeray said he was firm on the May 3 deadline for removal of loudspeakers, which he termed as a nuisance, from mosques, and added that if this was not done, then all Hindus should play the Hanuman Chalisa outside these religious places.Mr Raut claimed some anti-social elements will enter the state and disrupt the law and order.“Anyone who thinks they can make the government unstable, then they are making a big mistake and they will be exposed. Ultimatum politics will not work in the state,” he said.PromotedListen to the latest songs, only on JioSaavn.comThe Shiv Sena heads the Maha Vikas Aghadi government which also comprises the NCP and the Congress.(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
Nashik: District guardian minister Chhagan Bhujbal on Sunday said history of reforms in Maharashtra is inspiring and it provides inspiration to every citizen to strive for the development of the state.On the occasion of the 62nd Foundation Anniversary of Maharashtra, Bhujbal, who is also the minister of state for food, civil supplies and consumer protection, hoisted the national flag at the Police Parade ground and addressed a gathering. “On May 1, 1960, Pandit Jahawarlal Nehru had laid the foundation of independent Maharashtra and handed over the leadership of the state to Yashwantrao Chavan. Since then, the state has always been actively involved in every constructive initiative of the country. The thoughts of Mahatma Phule, Savitribai Phule, Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj, Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar are inspiring for our progress even today,” Bhujbal said.The minister also lauded the efforts of all government agencies during Covid-19 infection for their efforts to ensure safety of one and all. Bhujbal also congratulated the administration for providing people-oriented services as Nashik division had received nine awards in Rajeev Gandhi Prashasakiya Gatimanta (Pragati) Abhiyan Award, while the Nashik divisional commissionerate bagged third prize across the state on the occasion of Civil Service Day. The minster also inaugurated state-level exhibition titled ‘Maha Vikas Aghadi’s two years of public service” highlighting all the works undertaken by the state government during the past two years. The exhibition put up at the Media Centre near BD Bhalekar Highschool and will be on till Thursday.
Hitting back at Maharashtra Deputy CM's remark that the state would continue to support the fight of Marathi-speaking people residing in border areas of Karnataka to include those places in Maharashtra, Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai said that the 'language bogey' was just a tactic to drive the focus away from political crisis in the state."Whenever there's a political crisis in Maharashtra, and it's there now, their entire govt hits rock bottom. They have created this language bogey now, just to survive politically," Bommai said."The border issue is very clear, we stand firmly by our decisions and they also know it. I strongly urge the politicians of Maharashtra not to use this language bogey in their political acts," he said.The border issue is very clear, we stand firmly by our decisions & they also know it. I strongly urge the politicians of Maharashtra not to use this language bogey in their political acts: Karnataka CM Basavaraj Bommai pic.twitter.com/JrxR7on1PI— ANI (@ANI) May 2, 2022Addressing a gathering in Pune on the occasion of Maharashtra's foundation day on Sunday, Ajit Pawar had said, "While we are celebrating 62 years of formation of Maharashtra, we regret that the Marathi-speaking villages in Bidar, Bhalki, Belgaum, Karwar, Nippani and other places in Karnataka could not be merged with Maharashtra. The citizens of Maharashtra and its government are with their fight to be part of Maharashtra.""I assure that we would keep supporting their fight till these villages become part of Maharashtra," Pawar said.Check out the latest DH videos here:
Maharashtra Day 2022: The day commemorates the formation of the state in 1960.Maharashtra Day commemorates the formation of the state in 1960. On May 1, 1960, the Bombay Reorganisation Act came into effect, creating Maharashtra, following many protests and demonstrations in support of the new state.The Act, in fact, created two new states out of the erstwhile Bombay State -- Maharashtra, for the Marathi-speaking people, and Gujarat, for those whose mother tongue is Gujarati. Both states went on to become business hubs and prospered.Maharashtra Day, which falls on the same day as the International Labour Day, is now a regional public holiday.History and significanceAfter gaining freedom from colonial rule, the provinces and princely states were reorganised into the Union of India through the States Reorganisation Act, 1956. The Act proposed the reorganisation on the basis of the language spoken in a region.Initially, Bombay State was formed for people who spoke Marathi, Konkani, Gujarati, and Kutchi.Two significant groups emerged -- those speaking Marathi and Konkani, and those who spoke Gujarati and Kutchi. This triggered the demand to divide the Bombay State into two. To achieve this, the Bombay Reorganisation Act was passed in the Parliament in April 1960.Thus, Maharashtra Day celebrates not just statehood but the legacy and culture of the people of Maharashtra.CelebrationsMultiple events are held across Maharashtra to mark the occasion. A grand celebration is held at Shivaji Park in Mumbai which is attended by the Governor.PromotedListen to the latest songs, only on JioSaavn.comThe celebrations have remained muted over the past two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This year, events may be held but at a small scale as COVID-19 cases have seen a surge recently in parts of the country.
As we head into the 62nd year of Maharashtra's formation, I wish every Maharashtrian strength and perseverance. The story of our genesis and growth hold values which are becoming increasingly important in these times. Today, in 2022, not for the first time, our state stands at a political crossroads, and I believe we should be inspired to reflect on the true spirit of Maharashtra - a Purogami Maharashtra.In the past few months, I had the fortune to travel across the length and breadth of the State. From Aheri to Dahanu, from Akkalkuwa to Sawantwadi - more than 14,000 km covering 34 districts, 353 takulas and 250 assembly constituencies. I interacted with more than three lakh individuals, hearing stories of humanity, unity and inspiration to last me a lifetime.While I had taken on this immense journey as part of my political duties, these travels have given me a unique perspective, coupled with the history of political and social development of the state. My learnings from this journey have been immense, focusing on the ideals and foundation on which Maharashtra has been built.Our history has been that of social reformists, thinkers, intellectuals, and activists, tackling a vast number of issues over the years, and there lies the essence of our spirit. Maharashtra is more than just a territorial entity; it embodies a set of progressive ideas. What we understand today as "Maharashtra Dharma" is not based on the whims of an individual scholar, saint, or any single intellectual. Many have contributed, layer by layer, over centuries.The concept of a separate state for Marathi-speaking people had been established since Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj's conception of Swaraj in the 17th century, but it was not until after independence in 1956 that the Samyukta Maharashtra Samiti was formed in Pune under the aegis of Keshavrao Jedhe. Many notable activists, like Acharya Atre, Prabodhankar Thackeray, Senapati Bapat, and Shahir Amar Shaikh, have made significant contributions to the state we now call home. It was Yashwantrao Chavan who led us and our newly formed state into the bright future. Yashwantrao Chavan was an ingenious and intuitive leader who was more than a political leader; he was the voice of the people and a true statesman. With planning in agriculture, water resources, small-scale industry, and Panchayat Raj, he led our state to greatness. His beliefs and principles solidified modern Maharashtra's progressive thinking, which paved the way for everything that followed.While we excelled rapidly in industrialization and agriculture, Maharashtra's progressiveness has been distinctly seen through certain prisms. Maharashtra has been a hotbed for women's empowerment. A strong history of prolific women leaders and reformists like Punyashlok Ahilyabai Holkar, Krantijyoti Savitribai Phule, Herabai Tata, Ramabai Bhimrao Ambedkar and so many more have shown the way across generations. Post-independence, Maharashtra has been the pioneer in championing the cause of women's education and emancipation. Journals like 'Baija' and 'Stree' became the mouthpieces of women's liberation in the 1980s. Various women's and public-interest organisations were founded to further the cause. These groups addressed women's health, hygiene, livelihood, and protection needs, especially those who had been abandoned or divorced. New laws were passed to protect women from domestic abuse, female foeticide, and workplace sexual harassment. Maharashtra was the first state in India to enact 30% reservation for women in local bodies under the leadership of Padma Vibhushan Sharad Pawar, and with his untiring efforts over the years, it is now 50%.The awareness that women are an important element of the rural economy and social environment has been a driving force in Maharashtra's development, a fact assured to me in my travels. Constant efforts are being made to ensure their sustainable development and empowerment by providing them a strong social security net and long-term livelihood measures.The path of justice, freedom, equality and rights has been shown by many in Maharashtra. The years under Rajarshi Shahu Maharaj, Mahatma Jyotiba Phule and Babasaheb Ambedkar can be described as ones that saw the dawn of social revolution not only in Maharashtra but in the entire country. However, issues like the state of OBC reservation within our state are almost a disgrace to their contributions.OBCs are on the verge of losing their political reservation in local bodies. The blatant confusion and disregard from the Centre with respect to census data is what has led us to this situation. Maharashtra's MVA government is firm on providing political reservation for OBCs. We have suggested to the State Election Commission (SEC) that any election that omits OBC reservation should be on hold. It is very disheartening to see the waste of time, resources and public money involved in a task that was done 10 years ago but remains hanging just because of the Centre's ill-intentions. But if the history of Maharashtra has taught us anything, it is that any progressive path is paved with struggle and protests, but the end has always been victorious.One characteristic of Maharashtra stood out to me during my travels. In the nexus of politics and society, our values are joined with our will. Many places I visited are going through their own political adjustments since the MVA was formed. Local units of parties are working with each other after being on opposite sides for decades. But political will in Maharashtra has a place of its own; we have always held its syncretic political culture in high esteem. It is best exemplified by the relationship shared by Sharad Pawar and Balasaheb Thackeray. We recall their fierce political encounters but also fondly remember their mutual affection and the ability to keep political differences aside for the greater good of Maharashtra and the country. Over the last few years, I see attempts to do away with this culture grounded in mutual respect and tolerance in public life. The main opposition party of Maharashtra has resorted to means that would have widespread consequences on the social, political and institutional apparatus of the country. The communal disharmony caused by them is dramatically opposite to the culture we have inculcated. This regressive mentality is damaging progressive Maharashtra. Aspects of faith, religion, communities are being misinterpreted, misused and maligned.Maharashtra has been a place for all. People from the land and people who have come to the land - all have been included in the celebration of the Maharashtrian. And to me, that is the spirit of Maharashtra.In 1943 Bharat Ratna Babasaheb Ambedkar delivered an address on "Man and History" on the 101st birth anniversary of Justice Govind Ranade. In this address, he famously said how Henry Thomas Buckle and Karl Marx both articulated half-truths since they never gave man credit for changing his surroundings and affecting the path of history. Dr. Ambedkar claimed that man is the major factor in the shaping of history, and that environmental forces alone are not responsible for it.Today we stand at a juncture where our state and country are undergoing numerous shocks and the environment of positive and progressive discourse is eroding. It may seem to some that as communal and conservative elements gain, the edge in deciding the social agenda and the aggressive progressives appear soft in battle. Preserving the progressive history and politics we have inherited from our forefathers is a challenge. Attempts will be made to turn back the pages, to impose on us a way of life which is regressive, a way of politics which is reactionary. It is up to us to rise to the challenge. We have done it in the past and I am confident we will show the way again. This Maharashtra Day, I would like to assure everybody that this fight for our values and our progeny is ever going. The reflections from our past and the realities of our present are the fuel to drive progressive thoughts.Jai Maharashtra.Jayant Patil is NCP's Maharashtra state president and Cabinet Minister for Water Resources in the stateDisclaimer: These are the personal opinions of the author.PromotedListen to the latest songs, only on JioSaavn.com
MUMBAI: A 48-year-old man, who cheated several people in an investment fraud, was detained at Indira Gandhi airport in New Delhi on Tuesday when he was to take a flight for Sharjah. He was detained by the immigration authorities based on a look-out circular (LOC) notice issued by the Mumbai police. A team of JJ Marg police station went to New Delhi and took the accused Umar Aziz Bhavani alias Sohail Bhavani in custody. “The accused had lured the complainant and his sister to invest in his garments business. The complainant, who is into the sports equipment business, was promised high returns on investment. The accused lured other investors too, saying they would get upto 8% per month profit on their investments,” said a police officer. The complainant and his sister invested Rs 35 lakh in Bhavani’s garments business. The offence took place during December 2018 and March 2021. Bhavani initially paid a profit of Rs 4.35 lakh to the complainant and later stopped. After the maturity of the scheme, the complainant demanded his money back. This is when Bhavani did not return the money and allegedly abused the complainant, leading to an FIR in October last year. Since Bhavani was on the run, JJ Marg police issued an LOC against him at all the airports. “He was trying to go to Sharjah when he was detained,” said Subhash Borate, senior police inspector. “A victim has come to us stating he had invested Rs 3 crore in Bhavani’s business. Besides this, another investor called up saying he had invested Rs six crore,” said PSI Khalil Shaikh, investigating officer. The cops are now checking his bank accounts and collecting other details. Bhavani has been remanded in police custody till February 28..
MUMBAI: One fraudulent call, lure of great discounts or gifts, and lakhs looted within minutes. It may seem like a familiar pattern of e-crimes, but many continue to fall prey to it, the latest victim being an Andheri-based distributor of health and nutritional products who lost over Rs 10 lakh in 21 fraudulent transactions from his credit card in 38 minutes. Worse still, the fraudster had blocked his mobile SIM for the duration of the crime and the private bank too did not block any of the suspicious transactions. The complainant, Sameer Shetty (44), alleged he got a call from a bank tele-executive on February 2, offering him a lifetime free credit card that can be used to avail good discounts on dining and travel bookings. The scamster identified himself as Sandeep Gupta from the credit card department of a private bank in BKC and sought Shetty’s Aadhaar and Pan Card details for the purpose of issuing him the credit card. “The scamster later told me that an e-verification was needed to be done. When I informed him that it is not possible on my iPhone, he asked me to remove my SIM and use it on an Android mobile. He said he could also send an executive to my home to complete the process. But I found my old Android phone and called him back to inform that I could now complete the verification process,” Shetty said in his complaint filed with the bank and the cyber police. Seconds after sharing his confidential card details, Shetty removed the SIM from the Android phone and installed it back in his iPhone. He immediately got a transaction alert for Rs 49,500 carried out from his credit card. “Before Shetty could call the credit card customer care as his SIM was blocked between 8.45pm and 9.30pm. He then called the bank customer care using his wife’s mobile only to find that 21 transactions of Rs 49,500 each were carried out every 1.8 minutes. The bank did not block a single suspicious transfer,” said the cyber police. The cyber police at the Bandra Kurla Complex registered an FIR on February 18 based on Shetty’s complaint and learnt that the fraudster had used the money to make online purchases in Gurgaon. “We have sought details of the fund trails to track the accused. Also, the accused’s internet protocol (IP) address is put on surveillance,” said a cyber police officer. Shetty confirmed to TOI about the fraud. In 2021, Mumbai police registered a total of 1,075 card frauds, of which only 48 cases were cracked. In January 2022 alone, a total of 101 cases of fraudulent card transactions were registered across 94 police stations; cops are yet to solve a single case. Cyber lawyer Dr Prashant Mali said the number of actual credit card frauds may be close to 10,000 in 2021. This is because there are five cyber police stations in Mumbai that record cases only when the fraud amount exceeds Rs 10 lakh. So, the cases registered will not reflect the actual number of frauds taking place. “It’s because of such poor detection rate that actual masterminds of such crimes are still at large,” said Dr Mali.
Even as the Narendra Modi government is persuading Tesla to 'Make in India' instead of exporting its futuristic cars, several states have begun clamoring for Elon Musk's attention and thereby a heavy investment.West Bengal, Maharashtra, Punjab and Tamil Nadu took the lead in the race but first among the lot is Telangana, with its industries and commerce minister K T Rama Rao even offering to “to partner with Tesla in working through the challenges to set up shop in India/Telangana.”Reacting to one tweet asking when Tesla would enter the Indian market, Tesla founder Musk had on 13 January tweeted - “Still working through a lot of challenges with the government."While the Texas-based company has been intending to sell its “eco-friendly” cars in India for some time now, the high import duties India levies on fully assembled cars is stated as a deterrent.The duty on completely built EVs costing $40,000 or less is 60 per cent while it would shoot up to 100 per cent for anything costlier. Tesla understandably thinks the premium price could dissuade the cost-conscious Indian consumer.And given the fledgling state the electric vehicle environment is in the country, Tesla, analysts believe, would opt to test the market first with exported cars coming with an attractive rate tag.Tesla's top executives reportedly approached the PMO a few months back, seeking a meeting of Musk with Modi to resolve the matter.In the case of agreeing to lowering taxes, the government could seek a commitment from Tesla to manufacture its EVs locally later.The race to woo Tesla began in this context.In his tweet on 14 January inviting Musk to Telangana, KTR, as the minister is popularly known, further said, “our state is a champion in sustainability initiatives & a top notch business destination in India.”As KTR was stealing the show on social media, West Bengal's minority affairs minister Md Ghulam Rabbani joined the race a day later, with a tweet asking Tesla to “drop here, we in West Bengal have the best infrastructure & our leader Mamata Banerjee has got the vision. Bengal means business.”On 16 January, Maharashtra's water resources minister Jayant Patil made the same pitch, inviting Tesla to open a manufacturing plant in the state while promising to “provide all the necessary help to get established in India.”Later the same day, Punjab Congress chief Navjot Singh Sidhu also tweeted in response to the then three day old Musk tweet, stating that Ludhiana will be made an EV & battery industry hub, “with time bound single window clearance for investment ...”Tamil Nadu's industries minister Thangam Thenarasu tweeted on Monday evening introducing himself to Musk like KTR. “Tamil Nadu accounts for 34 % share in total planned investments for Electric Vehicles. Welcome to India's EV capital ...”While some state governments have been courting Tesla behind the curtains, the rivalry is now out in the open.While all the fresh appeals are from non-BJP ruled states, Bengal, Maharashtra and Punjab politicians seem so enamored by Tesla that they did not wait for their industries ministers to do the sales pitch.Setting up a car manufacturing plant requires a vast expanse of land, the domain of the states.Watch latest videos by DH here:
