Journalism of Courage
On 6 June, the Pune city unit of Shiv Sena protested against what it said was the central government’s failed efforts to protect Kashmiri Pandits. Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray said, “We are closely monitoring the situation now and are in talks with Kashmiri pandits. I reiterate that we will do all possible for the pandits and will not leave them alone.”
The two-day Sugar Conclave organised by Vasantdada Sugar Institute in Pune saw the sugar industry deliberate about the various issues facing the sector. In a show of political bonhomie, former Union agriculture minister Sharad Pawar praised Union cabinet minister Nitin Gadkari as the voice of Maharashtra’s sugarcane growers in the Centre.
Waste pickers of the ‘Kagad Kach Patra Kashtakari Panchayat’ and a number of representatives of various progressive organisations lead by Dr. Baba Adhav protested at District Collectorate on June 7 against the killings of two waste pickers by a street vendor and demanded immediate action against the culprits.
The Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education declared the Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) Class XII examination results on June 8, with the state recording an overall pass percentage of 94.22 per cent, a considerable decline compared to last year when it recorded the highest-ever pass percentage of 99.63 per cent.
Moderate rain had lashed parts of Pune on June 10, bringing in much-needed relief. The southwest monsoon further advanced into the city on June 11.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate a ‘shila’ (rock) temple dedicated to poet-saint Sant Tukaram around 1.30 pm on June 14 and will also address a crowd in proximity to the temple. The 10-member team which carried out the silver polishing work of the temple premises and the chariot included eight Muslim artisans in their early twenties.
“Ever since the news of PM Modi coming to Dehu for the first time came to us, our team of artisans have been wanting to do something special for him yet again as we have previously too designed for him,” said Girish Murudkar, who along with his artisans has designed a ‘designer Tukaram pagdi’ and Uparne or shawl for the prime minister.
Speaking at the inauguration of an electric two-wheeler plant of Chetak Technology at Akurdi in Pune, Bajaj Auto CEO Rajeev Bajaj called startups manufacturing electric two-wheelers “upstarts”, and blamed them for the recent fire incidents. He said they had no business to be in the space.
With Covid-19 cases rising once again, Pune Municipal Corporation health chief said that the city is adequately prepared. Meanwhile, Omicron sub-variant BA.5 was detected in a 37-years-old fully vaccinated man.
