A political row erupted in Maharashtra on Saturday over Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari’s remarks suggesting that it was people from Gujarat and Rajasthan who had made Mumbai the financial capital of the country. As Koshyari claimed his statement had been misconstrued, the Opposition sought his resignation and even the Shinde Sena-BJP government, mindful of the fallout in a city with deep fault lines over sons-of-the-soil issue, distanced itself from his remarks. Even as Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray slammed him for his remarks, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde Saturday distanced himself from the row, saying he does not agree with the governor’s remarks.
Corresponding to the increase in intensity and unpredictability of rainfall, the cost of preparing Mumbai for monsoon has increased by around 150 per cent in the last four to five years, shows BMC data. While Mumbai records an average of 2,200 mm rainfall in monsoon, the city had recorded around 3,000 mm of rain in 2021. Between 12-15 per cent of BMC’s Rs 45,949.21 crore annual budget for 2022-23 has been allocated for projects related to monsoon preparations – up from 7-8 per cent four or five years ago, according to BMC estimates.
READ | Up by 150% — cost of monsoon preparations
Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi president Prakash Ambedkar said on Saturday that Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari’s remarks on Mumbai should serve as a wake-up call for the established political parties, which he said had failed to empower “sons of the soil” economically. “I don’t see why such a hue and cry is raised about the governor’s statement. He was just stating the facts, and exposing the state leaders who failed to economically empower bhoomi putra,” Ambedkar said.
“The established Maratha leadership in the Congress and the NCP, which ruled Maharashtra for most of the time, failed its people, Marathi manoos. Koshyari should be lauded for speaking the truth and opening the eyes of state leaders. It should be a call for all political parties to introspect where and why they failed their own people,” he said.
Shiv Sena leader and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut was detained by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) from his Bhandup residence and taken to the ED office in Ballard pier Sunday. But due to a ‘split’ in the Shiv Sena, only around 250 Shiv Sainiks came to his house.
Sanjay had failed to appear before the ED on three earlier occasions in the Patra Chawl case.
monthly limit of free stories.
with an Express account.
The ED officers came to his residence in eastern Mumbai along with a posse of CRPF personnel at 7.20 am. Read more
The Bombay High Court recently directed the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to clear its position and indicate whether it stands by the submission of the Airport Authority of India (AAI), which according to the petitioner overlooked height restriction norms while granting NOC for construction of the overground Metro 2B (DN Nagar to Mankhurd) corridor passing through Swami Vivekanand (SV) Road in the vicinity of Juhu Aerodrome.
The HC, which was hearing PIL challenging such construction, continued its interim order till further orders, wherein it had allowed the Mumbai Metropolitan Area Development Authority (MMRDA) to carry on the preparatory work including soil testing and utility identification of the site, had said that apart from such preparatory work, no other work may be carried out without prior leave of the court. Read more
Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Sunday launched a veiled attack on Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray, saying the issue of sharing the post of chief minister with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) after the 2019 polls could have been resolved through talks.
Addressing a rally in Aurangabad district, Shinde said some people took an "adamant stand" after the polls which implied that they didn't want to form a government with the BJP despite both the parties winning the mandate of the people and resolving the issue of the post of the CM.
"Some people said Shiv Sena should get the post of the chief minister for the first 2.5 years. (And if this condition is agreed to) then only talks between the two parties (read Sena and BJP) for forming a government could proceed, " Shinde said without naming Thackeray. (PTI)
Shiv Sena workers protest after the Enforcement Directorate (ED) detained party MP Sanjay Raut, in connection with a money laundering case, in Mumbai, July 31, 2022.
(PTI Photo)
The Central Railway (CR) has decided to do away with its existing system of growing vegetables on the empty land patches along the railway tracks on its Mumbai suburban network and replace them with flowering shrubs and ornamental plants.
The farming of vegetables along the tracks in one of India’s most crowded urban conglomerate was once a novelty, but it also attracted criticism when it was found that in many places irrigation was provided by drainage water flowing nearby. Read more
Bharat Van Udyan in the western suburbs of Mumbai was transformed from an abandoned quarry to a public park by the local community. Located at Customs Colony in Marol under Andheri East, the park has earned rave reviews.
In 2000, the place was adopted by the Military Road Residents Welfare Association (MRRWA), which has played an enormous role in the overall development of Marol. With a little help from the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), the local association has successfully managed to get the garden on the map today. With its plantation drives, the MRRWA has groomed the less-than-an-acre barren land and the patch now hosts over 500 trees. Read full story by Kavya Garg here
Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) president Sharad Pawar attacked Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari for his comments on the role of Gujaratis and Rajasthanis in making Mumbai the country's financial capital and said there was not much difference in the colour of his cap and heart.
Koshyari, a native of Uttarakhand, is mostly seen wearing a black 'topi'.
Speaking at a function in Andheri here on Friday, Koshyari had said. "I tell people here that if Gujaratis and Rajasthanis are removed from Maharashtra, especially from Mumbai and Thane, you will be left with no money and Mumbai will not be the financial capital." Talking to reporters on Saturday evening in Dhule, some 325 kilometres from here, the NCP chief said, "There is not much difference in the colour of Koshyari's cap and heart." (PTI)
Maharashtra on Sunday reported 1,849 fresh COVID-19 cases, including 322 in Mumbai, and three fatalities, taking the tally to 80,47,455 and the toll to 1,48,104, a health official said.
The fresh fatalities were reported from Mumbai (2) and Ratnagiri district (1). With 1,853 people discharged in the last 24 hours, the number of recoveries in the state rose to 78,86,348 at the recovery rate of 98 per cent, leaving Maharashtra with 13,003 active cases, the official said.
The state laboratories have detected 52 cases of BA.5 and 10 cases of BA. 4 sub-variants along with 79 patients of BA.2.75, the official said. (PTI)
Mumbai on Sunday recorded 322 new cases of coronavirus and two casualties that raised the tally of infections to 11,24,813 and toll to 19,651, an official from the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) said.
At least 236 people recovered from the infection, raising the count of recoveries to 11,03,261, leaving the city with 1,901 active cases, the official said.
As many as 13,433 swab samples were examined during the day, taking the total number of tests conducted in the city to 1,78,29,595, he said. The recovery rate in the city is at 98 per cent, while the growth rate of infections was at 0.023 per cent between July 24 and 30, the official said. (PTI)
A voice-over artiste and orchestra troupe owner who had gone missing on May 24 from his home in Mumbai was traced to Kapurbawdi area of Thane, a police official said on Sunday.
The man was found him loitering in a dishevelled state near Kolshet Creek on July 19 and it seemed as if he could end up harming himself, Senior Inspector Uttam Sonawane of Kapurbawdi police station said.
"We brought him to the police station and realised he was mentally disturbed. After much effort, we managed to find out that his name was Gaurang Gurav, a resident of Santacruz in Mumbai. Police there informed us that the 60-year-old man had gone missing on May 24," he said. (PTI)
Alleging that the case against him was fake, Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut Sunday said: "The officials have gathered forged evidences against me by threatening and assaulting people. This is part of a conspiracy to weaken Maharashtra and the Shiv Sena. The state and the Sena can never be weakened. Sanjay Raut will never bow, nor will he quit the Shiv Sena."
Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray on Sunday said the Enforcement Directorate (ED) may arrest party leader Sanjay Raut, and alleged that the agency's ongoing action against him was part of a "conspiracy" to finish off the party.
Thackeray was addressing the party leaders and workers from Thane district at his residence 'Matoshree' here on the day the ED is conducting searches at Raut's house in connection with a money laundering probe.
"ED guests are at Sanjay Raut's house. He may get arrested. What conspiracy is this? Shiv Sena gives strength to Hindus and Marathi people and hence there is a conspiracy to finish off the party," he said. Thackeray said people whom Shiv Sena helped to grow politically are now switching loyalty. (PTI)
Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray on Sunday appointed Kedar Dighe, nephew of Sena stalwart the late Anand Dighe, as the party's Thane district chief.
Thane is the home turf of Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde who heads the rebel camp of Sena MLAs. Anand Dighe was believed to be the mentor of Shinde, who rose through the Shiv Sena rank in his political career.
Earlier, the post of Thane district Shiv Sena president fell vacant after Naresh Mhaske resigned in support of Shinde. (PTI)
Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut on Sunday said he won't bow down and quit the party, shortly before being herded into the south Mumbai office of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) whose team conducted a search at his residence in connection with a money laundering case.
“They (ED) are going to arrest me. I am going to be arrested,” Raut told reporters outside the ED office after he was brought there from his Bhandup residence here. “Zukega nahi (won't bow down),” Raut said, putting up a brave front.
The ED action follows multiple summons issued by the agency against Raut, the latest being on July 27. (PTI)
Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut on Sunday claimed that he was not involved in any scam and that the Enforcement Directorate's (ED) action against him was based on false evidence. He said will die, but will neither surrender nor quit the Shiv Sena.
The Rajya Sabha member said this in tweets, which he posted soon after the central agency started conducting a search at his residence in suburban Bhandup on Sunday morning in connection with a money laundering case.
Raut had skipped two summonses issued to him by the ED for questioning in the money laundering case linked to the alleged irregularities in the re-development of a Mumbai 'chawl' and related transactions involving his wife and 'associates'. He had appeared before the central agency on July 1 to record his statement. (PTI)
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Sunday detained Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut in Mumbai land scam case after hours of conducting searches at his residence.
The ED officials arrived at Raut’s residence on Sunday morning to carry out raids over his alleged connection with the Patra Chawl land scam case. Read more
Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut on Sunday said the rebel lawmakers should honestly admit that they revolted against the party leadership to protect themselves from the central probe agencies.
In his weekly column 'Rokhthok' published in party mouthpiece 'Saamana', he said, "The rebel group should stop saying that they switched sides because Shiv Sena gave up Hindutva. Why malign Hindutva unnecessarily? Show honesty in saying that all ran away to protect themselves for Enforcement Directorate (ED)." Raut claimed Shiv Sena leader Arjun Khotkar honestly admitted that he was under pressure and that was the reason he was joining the rebel camp.
The ED arrested Raees Khan, an aide of rebel Sena MP Bhavana Gawali. But once Gawali revolted against the Sena, Khan was released and her seized property was also released, he said. (PTI)
Leader of Opposition in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly, Ajit Pawar, on Sunday wondered why the Enforcement Directorate (ED) repeatedly wants to investigate Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut.
Congress spokesman Sachin Sawant said the ED conducting a search at Raut's residence in Mumbai depicts a "sorry picture" of democracy and alleged that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) wants to "silence" all the Opposition parties. Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) MP Supriya Sule this issue will be raised in Parliament.
"Many people got notices from the Income Tax, ED, and the Central Bureau of Investigation. Only Raut will be able to tell why the probe agency (ED) wants to investigate him repeatedly," Pawar touring flood-affected areas in Maharashtra told reporters. (PTI)
Hindu devotees carry the 'Kolhapur Cha Raja' idol of Lord Ganesh, in Mumbai, July 31, 2022.
(PTI Photo)
Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Sunday said the allocation of ministries for state Cabinet formation will be decided as soon as possible. He said that he and Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis are working on the growth of the state.
While talking about raids conducted at Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut's residence, he said, "The investigation is underway. If he hasn't done anything wrong, why is he scared? He was a big MVA leader. Just because one's scared of the ED, one shouldn't come to our party."
"ED also conducted investigations earlier. If ED works under the fear of the Central govt then the Supreme Court should take action on this. ED is doing their work," he added. (ANI)
Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Sunday announced a reward of Rs 30 lakh for weightlifter Sanket Sargar, who won a silver medal at the Commonwealth Games 2022 in Birmingham.
The 21-year-old from Sangli district won the silver medal in the men's 55 kg category on Saturday.
As per a statement from the chief minister's office, Sargar will receive a reward of Rs 30 lakh, while his trainer will receive Rs 7 lakh prize. (PTI)
The Maharashtra government has asked the the state cooperation department to ensure that every housing society hoists the tricolour for Independence Day on August 15 as part of the 'Har Ghar Tiranga' campaign, an official said on Sunday.
Hoisting the national flag is a part of the Union government's directives to celebrate 75 years of independence. The Har Ghar Tiranga campaign will be implemented between August 13 and 15, during which the states have been asked to organise Swarajya Mahotsav.
In an order issued last week, the state cooperation department has been directed to ensure that every cooperative housing society hoists the tricolour in its premises. All the government and semi-government buildings have been asked to hoist the tricolour, while the theatres and cinema halls have to play songs and jingles of ‘Har Ghar Tiranga' campaign, the order stated. (PTI)
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Sunday conducted searches in Nanded and Kolhapur in Maharashtra in a case pertaining to ISIS activities, the agency said.
The searches have led to the seizure of incriminating documents/material, NIA said in a statement.
The case was registered by NIA last month. (PTI)
After Shiv Sena workers gathered outside MP Sanjay Raut's house to protest against ED, the Mumbai police sent Additional Commissioner Dnyaneshwar Chavan of central region, Additional Commissioner Special branch Rajiv Jain to Rauts house. Police Commissioner Vivek Phansalkar has told the policemen to cordon off the roads leading to Raut's Colony so that at no point, there are more than 100 people at the spot.
Maharahstra CM Eknath Shinde Sunday said, "we don't want any leader to join our faction or BJP, due to pressure of ED. Dont come to our side fearing ED."
Reacting to ED raids at Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut's residence in Mumbai, Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde said, "The ED is conducting it's inquiry. Let the inquiry complete. He (Sanjay Raut) has said that he did nothing wrong. So no need to fear if there is no wrongdoing. He was big leader of MVA and he has been saying that he will face the inquiry. So let the inquiry take place, we come to know the outcome."
Hardly noticed amid the frenzy of a fast-paced life, there are two sculpted murals atop the archways at the entrance of Crawford Market, now known as the Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Mandai, in South Mumbai. Called Friezes in the discipline of architecture, these sculpted murals were made by students of the JJ School of Arts around 1868 to honour the city’s tradition of social philanthropy and its hardworking trading class.
While one of them depicts various acts of fetching water, carrying and collecting water and giving water to the travellers, traders or shoppers, the other one depicts traders of the market in 19th century Mumbai. Back in those days, there were potters, weavers, carpenters, blacksmiths, and vegetable, fruit and meat vendors. The murals are made of Italian marble. Read more
Even as the Congress and the NCP extended support to Shiv Sena MP and chief spokesperson Sanjay Raut whose Mumbai residence was raided by officers of the Enforcement Directorate on Sunday, NCP’s Ajit Pawar – who is the Opposition leader – appeared to distance himself from the raid, while others slammed the move as the BJP’s tactics against rivals.
“Income Tax, ED, CBI have every right to investigate anyone, including you and me… As for the raids on Sanjay Raut, only he can authoritatively explain why the ED is raiding him repeatedly…,” Ajit Pawar told reporters in Beed where he was inspecting the damage caused by heavy rain Sunday. Read more
While the Maharashtra government is moving forward with the Mumbai Metro-3 car shed project in Aarey Colony, a forest area in the city, environmentalists warn that not only leopards, but a host of other animals and birds face the threat of losing their habitat and lives. Apart from leopards, a wide range of species of flora and fauna is found in the Aarey forest, an 1,800 acre area termed as the city's 'green lung', located in suburban Goregaon and adjacent to the Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP).
This rich urban forest is a biotope that houses some newly-discovered species of scorpions and spiders, besides being a treasure trove of birds, butterflies, amphibians and mammals. Forest department sources said that camera-trapping activity was undertaken at the car depot site, which revealed that this particular area is home to at least five leopards. Besides them, some jungle cats, mongooses, monitor lizards and other animals were also captured on camera. (PTI)
Reacting to ED raids at Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut's residence in Mumbai, party MP Arvind Sawant said, "Sanjay Raut ji is a fearless person, he knew ED is going to harass him! The whole idea is to pressurise him to surrender! Institutions of GoI are being used for this purpose! It's totally undemocratic and unjustified!"
After Shiv Sena party workers gathered in large numbers to protest against ED raids at the residence of party MP Sanjay Raut on Sunday, security beefed up outside the latter's Bhandup residence. Police across the city have been asked to stay on alert in case protests erupt in case Raut was arrested. -- ENS inputs
The prompt bid by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which rules Maharashtra in alliance with Chief Minister Eknath Shinde-led rebel Shiv Sena faction, to reject Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari’s controversial take on Maharashtra and Mumbai was a clear damage-control exercise mounted in view of the political storm the latter’s remarks set off.
The BJP’s move sharply underlined the point that the party — which also rules the Centre that appointed Koshyari to the Mumbai Raj Bhavan — cannot afford to incur the wrath of the “Marathi manoos (people)” whose sentiments might have been bruised by the Governor’s remarks. Shubhangi Khapre writes
Reacting to the ED raids conducted at the residence of Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut on Sunday morning in relation to the Patra Chawl land scam case, rebel MLA Sanjay Shirsat said, "He is not a mass leader. He is just a spokesperson. There is no possibility that Shiv Sainiks will rise up in large numbers in his support because of this action. This country is run by the rule of law. If he has not committed any mistake he will be let off."
After ED officials raided the residence of Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut early Sunday morning, the Rajya Sabha MP, who is in the Uddhav Thackeray camp, denied any wrongdoing and alleged that he was being targeted due to political vendetta. Raut was asked to depose at the agency’s regional office in Mumbai.
Following the search, the MP tweeted: I have nothing to do with any scam. I am saying this by taking the oath of Shiv Sena chief Balasaheb Thackeray. Balasaheb taught us to fight and I will continue to fight for Shiv Sena.
After Enforcement Directorate officials conducted searches at the residence of Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut, he tweeted and said, "...False action, false evidence...I will not leave Shiv Sena...Even if I die, I will not surrender...I have nothing to do with any scam. I am saying this by taking the oath of Shiv Sena chief Balasaheb Thackeray. Balasaheb taught us to fight. I will continue to fight for Shiv Sena."
Corresponding to the increase in intensity and unpredictability of rainfall, the cost of preparing Mumbai for monsoon has increased by around 150 per cent in the last four to five years, shows BMC data. While Mumbai records an average of 2,200 mm rainfall in monsoon, the city had recorded around 3,000 mm of rain in 2021.
Between 12-15 per cent of BMC’s Rs 45,949.21 crore annual budget for 2022-23 has been allocated for projects related to monsoon preparations – up from 7-8 per cent four or five years ago, according to BMC estimates. Read more
A 29-year-old driver of a trailer truck was arrested for allegedly running over two minors, a 17-year-old and an 11-year-old, at Baiganwadi junction on Saturday. Police said the incident took place at around 2pm on Saturday, when the trailer was taking a U-turn. Senior Inspector Ravi Adane of Deonar police station said, “As it was a 14-tyre trailer, the driver could not see the rear side of the vehicle. Read more
A POLITICAL row erupted in Maharashtra on Saturday over Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari’s remarks suggesting that it were people from Gujarat and Rajasthan who had made Mumbai the financial capital of the country. As Koshyari claimed his statement had been misconstrued, the Opposition sought his resignation and even the Shinde Sena-BJP government, mindful of the fallout in a city with deep fault lines over sons-of-the-soil issue, distanced itself from his remarks.
Speaking at a function in Mumbai Friday, Koshyari said: “Sometimes I tell people in Maharashtra that if Gujarati and Rajasthani people are removed from here, you will be left with no money. You call Mumbai the financial capital, but if these (Gujarati and Rajasthani) people are not here, then it won’t be called the financial capital.” Read here
Officials from the Enforcement Directorate (ED) conducted searches at Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut’s residence for his alleged connection with the Patra Chawl land scam case on Sunday morning, news agency ANI reported. Raut was last summoned for questioning on Wednesday (July 20) by the ED over his alleged connection in the money laundering case linked to alleged irregularities in the re-development of a Mumbai ‘chawl’ and related transactions involving his wife and ‘associates’, officials said Tuesday. Read more
Morning! Welcome to today's Mumbai blog. Stay tuned for all the latest updates from Maharashtra.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Saturday said he does not agree with Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari's remarks on Mumbai, and asserted that the contribution made by Marathi people to the growth of the city can never be disregarded.
He also said that the governor occupies a constitutional post and he should be careful about not offending anyone through his statements. Koshyari, while speaking during an event here on Friday evening, had said there will be no money left in Mumbai and it will cease to be the financial capital of the country if Gujarati and Rajasthani people are not there in the city. As his remarks kicked up a row, the governor on Saturday said his comments were misconstrued and added that he had "no intention of belittling the hard work of Marathi-speaking people".
Nationalist Congress Party president Sharad Pawar on Saturday said the Bharatiya Janata Party was displaying the arrogance of power just because of its majority in Parliament and its days could be numbered if the common man united against it.
Addressing party workers in Dhule, some 325 kilometres from here, Pawar said there was a legend about the sun never setting on the British Empire, but it collapsed when the common man united. "Similarly, the common man has the capacity to teach the BJP a lesson for displaying arrogance of power," Pawar said.
Shiv Sena president and former Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Saturday demanded an apology from state governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari alleging that he was working to divide communities and Hindus.
“The governor took an oath of keeping communities intact. But he is dividing communities. He is dividing Hindus. Should he be sent home or to jail? There have been non-Marathi people who have not liked his statement. And this man who ate Maharashtra’s food for last three years, has betrayed. He should be sent back to where he has come,” said Thackeray, addressing a press conference at his residence Matoshri.
While responding to Maharashtra Governor Koshyari's Mumbai remark on Saturday, former CM Uddhav Thackray said, "I do not want to insult someone sitting on the post of Governor. I respect the chair but Bhagat Singh Koshyari insulted Marathis and there is anger among the people. Governor is trying to divide the society on religion, he is crossing every limit."
Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari has landed in a controversy by saying that if Gujaratis and Rajasthanis are removed from the state, it would be left with no money. His statement on Friday has drawn backlash from leaders across political parties.While addressing a gathering in Mumbai’s Andheri on Friday, Koshyari said, “… if Gujarati and Rajasthani people are removed from Maharashtra, especially Mumbai and Thane, there would be no money left here. You call Mumbai the financial capital, but if these (Gujarati and Rajasthani) people are not here, then it won’t be called financial capital.” Read more
In response to the criticism on Koshyari's statement earlier today, Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari said, ''I had no intention to look down upon Marathi people. I merely spoke about the contribution of Gujarati and Rajasthani people. It is Marathi population which has developed Maharashtra to its present position...there is no question of demeaning Marathi people.
He further said, "My statement was misconstrued like always. Marathi people have played the major part in developing Maharashtra. We have started looking at things from political prism and we need to change it. Praise of one community cannot be the insult of other community. Political parties should not create controversy. I will never insult Marathi people."
After Koshyari on Saturday said there will be no money left in Mumbai and that it will cease to be the financial capital of the country if Gujaratis and Rajasthanis are removed from the city, Supriya Sule said, "Enough. Time to send Governor back to his home state Uttarakhand."
In response to Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari's comment about Mumbai, BJP MLA Ashish Shelar on Saturday said, " We don't agree with Governors statement on Mumbai." He also said Maharashtra and Mumbai "has been built with hard work, sweat and sacrifice of Marathi manoos."
Koshyari earlier today said there will be no money left in Mumbai and it will cease to be the financial capital of the country if Gujaratis and Rajasthanis are removed from the city. The Congress criticised the governor over his statement and demanded an apology from him.
Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari on Saturday said there will be no money left in Mumbai and it will cease to be the financial capital of the country if Gujaratis and Rajasthanis are removed from the city. The Congress criticised the governor over his statement and demanded an apology from him.
Speaking at an event in Mumbai, Koshyari said, "I tell people here that if Gujaratis and Rajasthanis are removed from Maharashtra, especially Mumbai and Thane, you will have no money and Mumbai will not be a financial capital." He made the statement after the naming ceremony of a chowk in Andheri, a western suburb of Mumbai.
A release issued by the Raj Bhavan said Koshyari praised the contribution of Rajasthani-Marwari and Gujarati communities in making Mumbai the financial capital of the country.
The governor said the Rajasthani-Marwari community is living in different parts of the country and also in countries like Nepal and Mauritius. "Wherever members of this community go, they not only do business, but also do acts of philanthropy by creating schools, hospitals," he said.
State Congress spokesman Atul Londhe slammed the governor over his remarks, saying that they smack of his hatred for the state. He also demanded an apology from the governor. ---PTI
Thane district of Maharashtra reported 100 new coronavirus positive cases, which took its overall infection count to 7,33,993, a health official said on Saturday. These cases were recorded on Friday and the count of active cases in the district now stood at 774, he said.
Nobody succumbed to the infection during the day, which kept the death toll unchanged at 11,927, the official said, adding that the recovery count has reached 7,21,192. ---PTI
Bollywood actor Kangana Ranaut has approached a court here, requesting it to record the statement of her sister Rangoli Chandel in the defamation complaint filed by veteran lyricist Javed Akhtar.
Ranaut moved the application through her lawyer Advocate Rizwan Siddique on Friday before Metropolitan Magistrate R R Khan. The court has kept the matter for order on August 11.
Last month, Ranaut had appeared before the court of the metropolitan magistrate and pleaded not guilty in the case. Akhtar had filed the complaint in the court in November 2020, claiming that Ranaut had made defamatory statements against him in a television interview, which allegedly damaged his reputation.
In his complaint, Akhtar claimed that Ranaut dragged his name during an interview while referring to a 'coterie' existing in Bollywood, following the alleged suicide committed by actor Sushant Singh Rajput. ---PTI
NCP leader Nawab Malik was an “innocent purchaser” who acquired the Goawala compound property in Mumbai’s Kurla under dispute with due diligence, a special court was told on Friday.
The court is hearing the bail plea of Malik, who was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in February in a money laundering case lodged in connection to the property. Read more