Chanda and her husband Deepak Kochhar were arrested on December 23. (Express photo by Ganesh Shirsekar)Mumbai News Updates: The Bombay High Court on Friday concluded the hearing and reserved its verdict in pleas by former ICICI Bank CEO and MD Chanda Kochhar and her husband Deepak, claiming their arrest by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), in connection with a case related to alleged irregularities in loans provided to Venugopal Dhoot-led Videocon Group, was “illegal”. The High Court will pass the order January 9.
The Kochhars were arrested on December 23 and Dhoot three days later by the CBI in connection with the Videocon loan case. The court also rejected Chanda’s plea for a chair and mattress and Deepak’s plea for a chair, mattress and compression knee stockings. While Chanda Kochhar is lodged in Byculla women’s jail, Deepak and Dhoot are lodged in the Arthur Road jail.
In other news, Mumbai’s minimum temperature touched 20 degrees on Friday morning as the IMD readings show 20.4 degree Celsius. Till Thursday, the city has been recording minimum temperature between 17-18 degrees, due to which Mumbai was facing a nip in the air.
A Magistrate court on Friday issued a non-bailable warrant against Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut for not attending proceedings in a defamation complaint filed against him by Medha Somaiya, the wife of BJP leader Kirit Somaiya. However, later in the day, Raut appeared before the court and the warrant was cancelled.
Earlier, a warrant was issued by the Sewri metropolitan magistrate against Raut after it recorded the statement of the complainant. As it turned out that Raut was not present and the application for exemption from court hearing was rejected, a non-bailable warrant was issued against him. The court then adjourned the hearing to January 24 when the statement of the complainant will continue.
Speaking to media persons, Raut said, “I had some other matter in the Bombay High Court. Due to traffic, I could not attend the Sewri court proceedings.” However, later in the day he appeared before the court. (Read more)
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut on Friday said his party's organisation was intact in Nashik despite some functionaries joining the rival faction led by Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. The Shiv Sena split into the Uddhav Thackeray and Shinde factions after the CM led a revolt in June and brought down the Maha Vikas Aghadi government on June 29 last year.
Brushing aside the defections as irrelevant, Rajya Sabha MP Raut said, "People of Nashik don't even know their names. Some brokers and contractors must have gone there (Shinde faction). The (Shiv Sena) organisation (in Nashik) remains." Several Shiv Sena (UBT) members had switched sides at an event attended by CM Shinde. (PTI)
Two persons were arrested at Mumbai international airport on Friday allegedly with heroin and cocaine worth Rs 47 crore, an official said.
The operation by the Mumbai Airport Customs Zonal Unit III netted 4.47 kilograms of heroin valued at Rs 31.29 crore and 1.596 kilograms of cocaine worth Rs 15.96 crore, he said.
"They were held in separate cases. In the first case, a man was held with 4.47 kilogram of heroin after he landed here on Kenya Airways flight KQ210 from Johannesburg in South Africa via Nairobi in Kenya. He had concealed the contraband in 12 document folders," he said. (PTI)
The Narendra Modi government was enacting laws to benefit employers and ending the existence of the labour movement, Maharashtra Congress chief Nana Patole said on Friday.
He said India's first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru took several welfare steps after Independence and the Congress made the country powerful with the help of workers, whereas the Bharatiya Janata Party-led Union government was working to finish off these gains.
"The Modi government has ended the labour movement and labour system by bringing in employer-specific laws. It even brought three black laws to alienate farmers but the agitation by citizens forced the Centre to scrap these legislations," Patole said at the state level session of the Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC) in Panvel near here. (PTI)
Disposing of a plea by former Delhi University associate professor and Elgaar Parishad case accused Hany Babu seeking temporary release on medical grounds, the Bombay High Court said that after it allowed the Elgaar case accused to be treated at private hospitals, it has been flooded with similar pleas by many charged under the stringent Maharashtra Control of Organized Crime Act (MCOCA) and Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act 1985.
The division bench of Justices A S Gadkari and Prakash D Naik disposed of the plea by Hany Babu after it was informed that Hany Babu had undergone cataract surgery at Saifee Hospital, a private hospital in South Mumbai, and his discharge papers from the hospital were submitted. It added that the prison authority shall take Babu to the private hospital again on January 9 as mentioned in the discharge summary. (Read more)
A special court in Mumbai this week issued summonses to former Mumbai mayor Kishori Pednekar’s son, a firm linked to him, and three others, observing that they were prima facie responsible for the alleged “submission of forged and false documents” and other offences under the Companies Act.
Those summoned are Kish Corporate Services Pvt Ltd; additional director Saiprasad, who is Pednekar’s son; directors Shaila Gavas and Prashant Gavas; and another additional director, Girish Revankar. In their defence, the five respondents had said the case had been filed because of political reasons.
“On perusal of the complaint and the allied documents and upon… facts and circumstances, prima facie case is made out against Kish Corporate Services Pvt Ltd and its directors mentioned in the complaint as accused,” special judge Dr A A Joglekar said on Tuesday. (Read more)
The Bombay High Court on Friday concluded the hearing and reserved its verdict in pleas by former ICICI Bank CEO and MD Chanda Kochhar and her husband Deepak, claiming their arrest by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), in connection with a case related to alleged irregularities in loans provided to Venugopal Dhoot-led Videocon Group, was “illegal”. The High Court will pass the order January 9. (ENS)
Senior advocate Thakare for CBI on Friday during the hearing said that the Kochhars were remanded for 8 days in total and no application was made before trial court for CBI custody beyond that.
"What is so extraordinary that they could not have application of bail?," he asked
"As far as arrest is concerned, section 41 (1) (b) ( ii) of the CrPC is fully complied with. Police officer was satisfied that arrest was necessary and justified the same. The section doesn't say that all categories in it required to be complied with, but some of them can be considered. The case diary will reflect the reasons mentioned. The arrest memo need not mention what are the grounds. However, it still mentions she has been non cooperative and giving evasive replies and that was sufficient," he added. (ENS)
Senior advocate Vikram Chaudhari representing Deepak Kocchar in the Bombay High Court said: "He (Deepak Kocchar) was granted bail in PMLA case by Bombay HC in March, 2021 and SC had dismissed challenge against it. Proceedings before the trial court have been stayed. He was cooperating arrest and custodial interrogation was not required. (ENS)
Senior advocate Amit Desai representing Chanda Kochhar on Friday compared Enforcement Directorate's and CBI's investigation in the case.
He said: We have to be careful if it is an whimsical and arbitrary arrest. PMLA authority that is ED was also conducting a parallel investigation and petitioner was summoned in the case by ED. Another premier investigation of this country investigates in depth during Covid pandemic, CBI is giving an excuse of no investigation during Covid. ED had recorded 14 statements of the petitioner. CBI also gave reason to arrest as vague replies by petitioner, while she, during investigation by ED had given exhaustive statements. Everytime she was called, she cooperated, went voluntarily and also have statements, may it be in Mumbai or Delhi.
"We have this agency (ED), which the citizens are fearful of, did not think need to arrest the petitioner, CBI felt need to do so," he added.
He also said, "Deepak is an independent businessman. She joined bank as junior officer and then went to become CEO. Both are working independently. She is a senior responsible officer of the bank and I do not discuss what happens in the bank at home. She has been maintaining this position since day one. Her decision making in bank was never conveyed to Deepak. While CBI found this a ground to arrest her, the ED did not feel so." (ENS)
Senior advocate Amit Desai for Chanda Kochhar called the reasons given by CBI as 'arbitrary and whimsical'. He also said that reasons were not borne out from facts of the case.
"If from 2019, there was no interrogation and first notice was issued in July, 2022 despite I fulfilled my duty to comply. Then for five months you remained silent. What prompted you to exercise power to arrest Chanda Kochhar and the reasons for arrest are non cooperation etc, which cannot be believed into," Desai said.
"We fulfilled our duties in law in response to two notices under section 41 A of CrPC and we visited them and extended full cooperation. When such person continues to comply with the notice, he or she shall not be arrested unless the reasons to be recorded that the officer is of opinion if that person is ought to be arrested," he added. (ENS)
Advocate Amit Desai for Chanda Kocchar on Friday sought interim release. He said: "We are seeking interim release. First Preliminary Enquiry was ordered. Chanda had cooperated with the probe. Based on enquiry, on January 22, 2019 CBI registered FIR. She had called officer after she did not get response to her email regarding her cooperation. no further enquiry happened on rest of whole of 2019 till mid 2022 and received notice under section 41A of CrPC to appear before the CBI. Once again from July 2022 till December 2022, there was complete silence from CBI. In December, she was asked to appear and later arrested illegally. Having recognised 41A notice was required to be compiled with, they actually did not comply with it. She had been cooperative throughout and had disclosed all the facts. CBI did not give reasons in arrest memo to believe that the accused Kochhar is non cooperating. All they said is she gave vague answers. While the prosecution had made a statement in a money-laundering case that they did not require her custody, she has been arrested in the CBI case and the same was arbitrary." (ENS)
Non bailable warrant by Sewree issued against MP Sanjay Raut in connection with the defamation case filed by Medha Somiaya, wife of BJP leader Kirit Somaiya. Raut said he was in High Court and hence couldn't appear before the court. He will appear during the next hearing. Next hearing on January 24. The defamation case was filed after Raut said that Somaiya was involved in a 100 crore toilet scam
Union Minister Nitin Gadkari on Friday addressed ongoing Global Marathi Sammelan organised by state government in Mumbai. Gadkari said, " Marathi language, culture and literature should be preserved." He also added that the citizens should bring advanced technology and research from other countries for development and growth in Maharashtra. He addressed the people present and also appreciated the important role played by people of Maharashtra in various sectors in country and abroad.
Mumbai’s overall air quality index (AQI) has yet again fallen to the ‘Very Poor’ category along with a decline in minimum temperature.
On Friday morning, the city recorded an AQI of 306, which is regarded as ‘Very Poor’. The System of Air Quality and Weather Forecast and Research (SAFAR) dashboard has also shown that several pockets of Mumbai are currently recording worse AQI.
According to the dashboard, at 358, Mazagaon in south Mumbai has the worst AQI, followed by 343 in Chembur, 311 in Malad, 306 in Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC) as well as in Andheri. Colaba recorded an AQI of 297, followed by 211 in Bhandup, 156 in Worli and 132 at Borivali. Read more
Mumbai Airport Customs seizes 4.47 kg heroin valued at Rs 31.29 crores & 1.596 kg cocaine valued at Rs 15.96 crores in two separate cases. Heroin was concealed in documents folder covers whereas Cocaine was concealed in cloth buttons as reported by customs officials.
Commuters will have to change trains to travel from one line to the other on the 35-km stretch of Mumbai Metro Line 2A (Dahisar to DN Nagar) and Line 7 (Dahisar E to Andheri E).
Explaining the rationale behind not running common trains on the entire 35-km stretch of both Metro lines, an MMRDA official said, “Metro Line 2A and 7 will run parallel to the Western Express Highway (WEH) and Link Road in the suburbs. So running common Metro trains on both lines won’t serve any purpose as commuters won’t take a Metro for going from east to west or vice versa.” Read more
A court in Maharashtra's Thane district has acquitted a 30-year-old man accused of stalking a girl as the prosecution could not examine her during the trial.
Special judge for cases under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, V V Virkar, passed the order on January 2. It became available on Friday.
As per the prosecution, the girl, who was 16 years old at the time of the incident and worked in a factory in Bhiwandi, knew the accused.
In January 2014, the accused allegedly accosted her at a bus stop and proposed marriage to her. He stalked her even after she rejected his proposal, the prosecution said. (PTI)
Both the resident doctors attacked in Shri Vasantrao Naik Government Hospital in Maharashtra’s Yavatmal district are stable today, as informed by MARD Yavatamal. The resident doctors have opted out of the emergency and non-emergency servicesn and the senior doctors and professors are handling the crowd. MARD is currently holding protest at the premises.
MARD(Medical Association of Resident Doctors) issued a formal statement on the Yavatmal doctor's assault incident today.
"We, MARD 22-23, strongly condemn the incident that happened at SHRI VASANTRAO NAIK GOVT. MEDICAL HOSPITAL YAVATMAL on 5th Jan 2023. One of our own, Dr Sebastian Paul, Junior resident 1 , Department of Surgery was stabbed in the neck from behind by an alleged psychiatric patient . His colleague Dr Abhishek Jha tried to save him, but was helpless and sustained injuries. Another female resident
who saw this incident has not yet recovered from the shock."
The statement further informed this is the second consecutive incident that happened at Yavatmal the previous one being when one of the juniors from 2019 batch was stabbed to death in his own college campus.
"ENOUGH IS ENOUGH. THERE IS A LIMIT TO TOLERATE AND WE HAVE ALREADY CROSSED THIS LIMIT. We are already sacrificing our food and sleep during our residency for the welfare of the patients. It is the
primary duty of the hospital and its administration to provide security to our resident doctors and students in all situation."
The statement further informed that they strongly support the agitation at Yavatmal, and would not hesitate to go into active participation if necessary action is not taken at the earliest.
"All our prayers are with the affected doctors and their families for their speedy recovery. We urge state government and administration to take stringent action and strengthen the security at the earliest considering this serious back to back incident," the statement read.
Maharashtra has more than 9.02 crore voters as per the special summary revision of the electoral rolls, a senior official has said. The revised rolls were published on Thursday.
As per the draft electoral rolls published on November 9, 2022, there were 8,98,42,301 voters.
Subsequently, 9,21,453 voters were added while 4,77,953 names were deleted. Maharashtra, thus, has 9,02,85,801 voters as per the special summary revision, said Chief Electoral Officer of the state Shrikant Deshpande. (PTI)
Mumbai's minimum temperature touched 20 degrees after more than a week on Friday morning as the IMD readings show 20.4 degree Celsius. Till Thursday, the city has been recording minimum temperature between 17-18 degrees, due to which Mumbai was facing a nip in the air.
Two cloth godowns were destroyed in a fire at Kalher village in Thane district, an official said on Friday. No one was injured in the fire that broke out at Arihant Compound after 10.30 pm on Thursday, he said.
It was contained in about three hours, he added. The cause of the fire was being ascertained, the official said. (PTI)
Following senior Indian Police Service (IPS) officer Deven Bharti taking charge as the special commissioner of Mumbai Police, Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis said, "So this is an ADG-level position. Though the designation is special CP, the rank is subordinate to Mumbai CP. He (Bharti) will report to the Mumbai CP, and all joint CP officers will report to special CP."
Joint commissioners of police who are equivalent to Inspector General report to ADG, and ADG level officer reports to a DG, Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis said.
Kavha village in Maharashtra's Latur has secured first position in a 'beautiful village' contest organised by the state government, local officials said. The village got a cash prize of Rs 10 lakh for coming first in the 'RR Patil Sundar Gram Puraskar Yojana 2021-22'.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath visited Mumbai to "give" and not to "take away" anything, Maharashtra BJP chief Chandrashekhar Bawankule said.
Earlier in the day, opposition parties in Maharashtra criticised the UP CM's visit to Mumbai, raising fear that he aimed to snatch away industries from the state. "Yogi-ji is a Vidwan (learned man) and he will surely give something to the state. He has not come here to take industries or Bollywood away," Bawankule told reporters in Palghar district neighbouring Mumbai.
Such meetings with investors are common, he said, adding that Adityanath's visit should not be politicized. (PTI)
Maharashtra has more than 9.02 crore voters as per the special summary revision of electoral rolls that was published on Thursday, a senior official said.
The draft publication of the electoral roll was done on November 9, 2022 and it had 8,98,42,301 voters. As many as 9,21,453 voters were added after the draft publication, of which 4,77,953 were deleted, leaving the roll with a net addition of 4,43,500, the official said.
Paddy and vegetables on 20-25 hectares were destroyed after the wall of the left bank canal of the Bhatsa dam in Maharashtra's Thane district developed a breach.
Water gushed into fields of 50 to 60 farmers of Avre village following the breach at around 5 am on Wednesday and damaged the crops, said Sahapur Tehsildar Nileema Suryavanshi citing an initial survey carried out by the revenue department. "Water did not enter the village. The issue of compensation to the affected farmers is being taken up on priority," the official said. (PTI)
A 27-year-old man allegedly molested a woman commuter in a local train in Maharashtra's Palghar district.
The incident took place on Monday night when the woman was travelling in a second-class compartment of the suburban train which was on way to Virar in Palghar from Dadar in neighbouring Mumbai. The accused, Rafique Mohammad Isaq Shaikh, was also in the same coach, the police said in a release.
When the train entered Nallasopara station, the accused allegedly flashed at the woman and touched her inappropriately. After the woman raised an alarm, fellow commuters caught hold of the accused and handed him over to police. (PTI)
A special court in Mumbai has rejected a plea filed by former ICICI Bank MD and CEO Chanda Kochhar seeking home food, chair and mattress in Byculla women's jail where she is lodged.
The court also rejected a similar plea filed by her husband Deepak Kochhar, lodged in Arthur Road jail. It has directed jail authorities to provide them food in accordance with their medical condition after consulting medical officer of the respective prisons. The two were arrested on December 23 by the CBI in connection with the Videocon loan case.
SHIV SENA(UBT) Member of Parliament (MP) Sanjay Raut on Thursday questioned the need for UP CM Yogi Aadityanath to hold a road show in Mumbai and has asked the BJP to stop the politics of business.
'If he wants to meet industrialists for inviting them to UP for setting up projects, then we do not have any objections. But if the intention is to snatch Maharashtra's projects, then we have an objection. Also what is the need for doing roadshow for investment in Mumbai? It's surprising.. is he here for politics or has come here to take help of Maharashtra to attact investment to his state. Our CM and DCM are going to Davos for economic forum to attract investment. But are they going to do a roadshow there? Then why it is required for UP CM to do road show in Mumbai? This politics should be stopped now.. you have come here with respect, go back with respect... We have love and respect for you, but stop doing this politics here.,'Raut said.
He further added that,'If he wants to meet people.from film industry, then he can there is nothing wrong.. if Yogi ji wants to make film city in UP then he should.. No one can takeaway film industry from Mumbai.'
Raut also announced that in January end Sena President Uddhav Thackeray will be holding a mega rally in Nashik.
The rally comes against the backdrop of several Thackeray led Sena leaders, officer bearers and workers joined Chief Minister Eknath Shinde led faction in the recent past.
"UP CM Yogi Adityanath has been to Mumbai many a times before but hasn't been able to attract industries. He must first introspect about the state's deteriorating law and order before asking industrialists to set up industries in his state. We want to see development of UP but at a time when atmosphere of terror and lawlessness exists in the state, no industrialists would want to set up industry in the state. Bollywood which works on the principle of merit and not on the basis of religion or place of origin will never go to UP in such scenario. The UP CM must introspect and provide governance like a government. Only then it can attract businesses and industries," Maharashtra Congress chief spokesperson Atul Londhe said.
In Mumbai for the UP Global Investors summit Roadshow, UP CM Yogi Adityanath invited businessmen to the UP Investor Summit to be held in Lucknow next month. He urged them to invest in his state and assured them of hassle free single window clearance, minimum human intervention, and having no trouble from any mafia of any kind.
State medical education minister Girish Mahajan visited the government-run JJ hospital on Wednesday, where he inspected the deplorable condition of the doctors' hostels. He has approved an outlay of Rs 12 crores for the repair of the residential hostel. He has also instructed the Public Works Department to start the repairing within a week.
Following the accident of former Maharashtra minister Dhananjay Munde, NCP leader Ajit Pawar, while citing examples of cricketer Rishabh Pant and BJP MLA Jaykumar, advised people to avoid road travel at night.
Both Pant and Gore had recently met with car accidents. “I have also mentioned in the state assembly that politicians, and even people from other walks of life, should avoid travel between 11.30 pm to 4 am. Because no matter how good the roads and vehicles are, it can be life threatening if your eyes close even for a split second as you might be sleepy,” Pawar said.
Parli MLA Dhananjay Munde had suffered minor injuries after a road accident in Beed district at midnight on Wednesday, as the car driver lost control. (Read More)
Aam Aadmi Party has slammed the state government's decision to appoint Deven Bharati as special police commissioner. AAP targeted deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis for going out of the way to create special post for Bharati. AAP's Mumbai president Preeti Sharma Menon termed the move as extra constitutional.
CM Eknath Shinde and Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis will visit Davos for World Economic Forum from Jan 15 to 19. Maharashtra Minister of Industries Uday Samant said, "Maharashtra government will get Rs 65,000 crore worth of investments."
ADG Deven Bharti took charge as Special Police Commissioner, Mumbai on Thursday. Bharti is a 1994-batch officer who has served at several important postings in the Maharashtra capital and beyond.
He was one of the longest-serving joint commissioners of police (law & order) of Mumbai, an important office overseeing all police stations in the city. Apart from this, he has held several important positions, such as the additional commissioner of police (crime branch) post, and headed the Maharashtra State Anti Terrorism Squad (ATS). Bharti has been involved in the investigation into several major crimes reported in the city including the 26/11 terror attacks. (Read More)
The Palghar Police on Wednesday filed a chargesheet against renowned gynaecologist Dr Anahita Pandole (55) for her alleged negligence in a car crash incident, which led to the death of two people including former Tata Sons chairman Cyrus Mistry.
A 152-page chargesheet comprising statements of at least eight witnesses, including Dr Anahita’s husband Darius Pandole — also a victim in the accident case, along with conclusive reports by the Regional Transport Office (RTO), forensic department and Mercedes-Benz was submitted in court on Wednesday afternoon, confirmed a senior police officer, adding that Dr Anahita — who has not been arrested yet — may be summoned by the court later. (Read More)
IN A rare conviction, a woman and her husband were sentenced to 20 years in jail for allegedly abetting the sexual assault of her minor cousin. The court also convicted the 32-year-old accused, Dilip Patel, for the same crime and gave him the same punishment. Patel had allegedly raped the minor girl after she was taken to him by her cousin and her husband.
The 25-year-old cousin of the minor girl and her 30-year-old husband were convicted under Section 17 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act. The section has provisions for punishment to whoever abets any offence under the Act. The couple was also convicted under Section 366A (procuration of minor girl) of the Indian Penal Code. (Read More)
A 41-year-old lady died on Wednesday after she fell into a septic tank of a private society in Bandra (East).
The lady has been identified as Nipuna Sharma. The incident was reported at 7:25 pm at Sunstone Building, Shastri Nagar in Bandra..
Soon after the incident was reported, fire brigade officials were deployed in the spot, who brought the lady out from the tank. She was taken to Guru Nanak Hospital, where she was declared dead. (Read More)
Three new cases of coronavirus have been detected in Maharashtra's Thane district, taking its tally of infections to 7,47,403, a health official said on Thursday.
With the addition of the latest cases on Wednesday, there are currently nine active COVID-19 cases in the district, which comes under the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, he said.
The death toll remained unchanged at 11,969 and the recovery count stood at 7,36,190, he added. (PTI)
NCP leader Ajit Pawar paid a visit to Dhananjay Munde in the hospital and appealed to the party workers to pray for his qucik recovery. Dhananjay Munde had suffered minor injuries in a road accident in Beed district after midnight on Wednesday, as the car driver lost control over the wheels.
'I have also mentioned in the state assembly that politicians and even people from other walks of life should avoid travel between 11.30 pm to 4pm. Even if you have very good roads and vehicle, a split second nap on the wheels can be life threatening. The vehicle drivers should be rested adequately,' he said. He cited the examples of cricketer Rishab Pant, Jaikumar Gore ( MLA) who recently met with an accident. Pawar also advised the party workers not to crowd the hospital.
UP CM Yogi Aadityanath started the day with meeting top bankers of financial institutions in Mumbai. He is slated to meet Industry leaders and members of the film fraternity later today to invite them to UP Global investors summit 2023 which is set to be held in Lucknow next month.
A day after Ram temple chief priest Acharya Satyendra Das “blessed” Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Yatra, more voices from Ayodhya – from VHP’s Champat Rai to the Hanuman Garhi mahant to Ram temple trust treasurer Swami Govind Dev Giri – backed “the cause of uniting the country” with Rai pointing out that none, be it the RSS or the Prime Minister, has criticised the Yatra.
In Mumbai, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister, Yogi Adityanath, responding to a query on the Yatra making its way through UP, said everyone has the freedom to conduct programmes and “we have to respect the feelings of people”.
“The question is what is their intention and ambition. If you are talking of connecting, then it should reflect through work and statements. For the BJP, as the Prime Minister says, the nation comes first and we keep the country above the party. But for many people, the party is above the country. If you look at the incident of Tawang and some other issues, the kind of statements that were made, I think the statements were not to connect the country but to increase the divide and to encourage the enemies. We should avoid doing that,” he said. (Read More)
Nearly 30 underprivileged cricketers from Dharavi were in for a pleasant surprise on Tuesday evening when Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) president Amol Kale invited them to watch the India vs Sri Lanka T20 international match from a corporate box at Wankhede Stadium.
The youngsters from Dharavi, who had never seen a live international match, sat next to the section full of VIPs, including some actors. “I play for the District Sports Club (set up for boys living in the city’s slums) and two days before the game, a WhatsApp group was formed in the name of India vs Sri Lanka. We didn’t know until then why it was formed but later Suraj Samat sir (member of Mumbai Cricket Association’s Apex Council) informed us that MCA president Amol Kale has given passes to us to see the match. We didn’t know that it would be in the corporate box and we were surprised,” said Sarthak Mane, a 20-year-old pacer. (Read More)
A day after Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA) leader Prakash Ambedkar announced that his party and Shiv Sena (UBT) have committed to contest together in the upcoming municipal polls, the Peoples Republican Party (PRP) led by Jogendra Kawade on Wednesday announced an alliance with the Chief Minister Eknath Shinde-led Balasahebanchi Shiv Sena.
“Ever since the Eknath Shinde-led government was formed in Maharashtra, we have been talking on many issues. Shindeji was receptive of ideas presented by us and even worked to solve the problems raised by us. We met in Nagpur as well and it was decided that our alliance will be formed based on the ideals of Shivaji Maharaj, Shahu Maharaj, Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar and Prabodhankar Thackeray,” said Kawade. (Read More)
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