Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Tuesday defended actor Salman Khan over questions raised about his attendance at an event organised by the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). Shinde said that there was nothing wrong with Salman Khan attending the programme addressed by RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat. He said Salman Khan is an Indian citizen and has every right to attend any event. “Salman Khan is an Indian citizen. He installs Lord Ganesha at his home, respects our culture, and his family does the same. I do not see anything wrong in him attending the programme of Mohan Bhagwat,” Shinde said. #WATCH | Mumbai | Maharashtra Deputy CM Eknath Shinde says, "Salman Khan attending the RSS event or not attending it—what kind of question is this, and isn't Salman Khan an Indian citizen? Salman Khan is an Indian citizen; he installs Lord Ganesha at his home, does everything,… pic.twitter.com/4AIVAIO4uW — ANI (@ANI) February 10, 2026 Shinde also questioned the nature of the criticism, saying such matters should not be turned into political debates. He appealed for restraint and urged people not to create unnecessary controversy around a personal choice made by a public figure. In an official statement, issued by Shinde's office, the deputy CM said, the RSS is a nationalist organisation that has been working for the country for nearly 100 years. He added that the organisation is always at the forefront during natural disasters and social crises. RSS works with a spirit of patriotism: Shinde “The RSS works with a spirit of patriotism, and its volunteers are deeply committed to the nation,” Shinde said. Commenting on the controversy surrounding Salman Khan’s presence at the event, the Deputy Chief Minister said the actor is an Indian citizen who respects Indian traditions and culture. “The programme was held in Mumbai, and Salman Khan lives here. There is nothing inappropriate about him attending such an event,” he said. RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat praises Salman Khan's values at centenary celebration Bollywood superstars Salman Khan had attended the RSS Mumbai Vyakhyanmala event on Saturday. The organisation marked its centenary year. As Salman arrived at the venue amidst tight security, the enthusiastic crowd reportedly tried to click photos with the actor. RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat also talked about Salman's mass appeal. “College students copy Salman Khan’s fashion. When asked why, they say they don’t know. Salman Khan is doing it. The context being good values in society should become a fashion," he shared during the event. #WATCH | Mumbai, Maharashtra: Actor Salman Khan leaves after attending a program of RSS celebrating its 100 years. pic.twitter.com/qkdDMlzI8C — ANI (@ANI) February 7, 2026 (with ANI inputs)
10 February,2026 05:24 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThe Special Court under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOC) today framed charges against 27 accused in the Baba Siddique murder case. The charges have been brought under provisions of the MCOC, Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), Bombay Police Act, and Arms Act. During the proceedings, the pleas of all the accused were recorded, with each pleading not guilty. Special Public Prosecutor Mahesh Mule appeared on behalf of the State. Senior advocates Pradip Gharat and Trivankumar Karnani represented the intervener in the matter. Siddique, 66, was shot dead by three assailants outside his son Zeeshan's office in Mumbai's Bandra East area on the night of October 12, 2024. All 27 arrested individuals have been charge-sheeted in the case. Anmol Bishnoi, the brother of jailed gangster Lawrence Bishnoi, has been listed as a wanted accused in the police charge sheet. According to the prosecution, Anmol Bishnoi allegedly hatched a conspiracy to kill Siddique with the intention of instilling fear and asserting dominance over the crime syndicate. Baba Siddique murder: Bombay High Court grants bail to first accused in case The Bombay High Court on Monday granted bail to Akashdeep Karaj Singh, an accused in the murder of former Maharashtra Minister Baba Siddique, making him the first person to receive bail in the high-profile case, reported the PTI. A bench led by Justice Neela Gokhale directed Singh, a resident of Punjab, not to leave Mumbai until the trial in the case is completed. Baba Siddique (66) was shot dead by three assailants outside his son Zeeshan Siddique’s office in Bandra East on the night of October 12, 2024. Singh, who is 22 years old, was arrested in November 2024. He is the first among the accused to secure bail in the case. In his bail application, Singh claimed that he had been falsely implicated and that the allegations against him were vague and without substance. The accused argued that he had only been charged with being a member of an organised crime syndicate and that no specific role in the murder had been attributed to him. He also told the court that the trial is unlikely to begin in the near future and that continued detention without trial would violate his fundamental rights. (With PTI inputs)
10 February,2026 04:59 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentCentral Railway on Tuesday announced the operation of 24 special train services between Mumbai, Pune and other key destinations, including Nagpur, Kolhapur and Sawantwadi Road, to cater to increased passenger demand. According to the official statement, the special trains will operate between Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) and Nagpur, Kolhapur and Sawantwadi Road, Lokmanya Tilak Terminus (LTT) and Nagpur, and Pune and Nagpur on select dates in February 2026. Central Railway will run six special services between CSMT and Kolhapur, six services between CSMT and Sawantwadi Road, two CSMT–Nagpur superfast specials, four LTT–Nagpur services, and six Pune–Nagpur superfast special trains. These trains will halt at major stations, including Dadar, Thane, Kalyan, Pune, Nashik Road, Manmad, Bhusaval, Jalgaon, Akola, Wardha, Satara, Sangli, Miraj, Ratnagiri and several Konkan Railway stations, depending on the route. The special trains will also include a mix of AC 2-Tier, AC 3-Tier, Sleeper Class and General Second Class coaches to accommodate passengers across categories. The details of the special train that will be introduced by the Central Railways are: CSMT-Kolhapur-CSMT Special (6 services) - Train no. 01029 will depart from CSMT on February 13 and 20 at 02.30 pm and will arrive at Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj Terminus, Kolhapur, at 04.20 am the next day. - Train no. 01030 Special will depart from Shri Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj Terminus, Kolhapur, on February 14, 19 and 21 at 03:55 pm and will arrive in CSMT at 04:05 am the next day. CSMT-Sawantwadi Road -CSMT Special - Train no. 01129 Special will depart from CSMT on February 14, 19 and 21 at 12:20 am and will arrive in Sawantwadi Road at 12:30 pm the same day. - Train no. 01130 Special will depart from Sawantwadi Road on the 14th, 19th and 21st at 05:20 pm and will arrive in CSMT at 04:05 am the next day. CSMT-Nagpur-CSMT Superfast Special - Train no. 02139 Superfast Special will depart from CSMT on 19 February at 12:20 am and will arrive in Nagpur at 03:30 pm on the same day. - Train no. 02140 Superfast Special will depart from Nagpur on February 17 at 08:00 pm and will arrive in CSMT at 01:30 pm the next day. LTT-Nagpur-LTT Special - Train No. 01021 Superfast Special: Will depart from Lokmanya Tilak Terminal (LTT) on February 14 and 21 at 12:55 am and will arrive in Nagpur at 03:45 pm the same day. - Train No. 01022 The special will depart from Nagpur on February 14 and 21 at 08:00 pm and will arrive in LTT at 11:45 am the next day. Pune-Nagpur-Pune Superfast Special - Train No. 01467 will depart from Pune on February 13 and 20 at 03:50 pm and will arrive in Nagpur at 06:30 am the next day. - Train No. 01468 will depart from Nagpur on February 14 and 21 at 08:00 am and will arrive in Pune at 11:30 pm the same day. - Train No. 01419 will depart from Pune on February 18 at 03:50 pm and will arrive in Nagpur at 06:30 am the next day. - Train No. 01420 will depart from Nagpur on Fbruary 19 at 08:00 am and will arrive in Pune at 11:30 hrs the same day. All the Pune-Nagpur-Pune Superfast trains will be halting at Uruli, Daund Chord Line, Ahilyanagar, Belapur, Kopergaon, Manmad, Jalgaon, Bhusaval, Malkapur, Shegaon, Akola, Badnera, Dhamangaon and Wardha. Reservation for most of the special trains is open at all Passenger Reservation System (PRS) counters and on the IRCTC website. Whereas the tickets for unreserved coaches can be booked through the UTS system, while passengers can also use the RailOne app for ticket booking.
10 February,2026 04:58 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentChief Minister Devendra Fadnavis will present the Maharashtra Budget 2026 on March 6 as the session is scheduled to begin on February 23, officials said on Tuesday. "CM Fadnavis will present the budget in the assembly following the demise of Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, who was holding the finance portfolio," said an official. In the absence of the finance minister, the responsibility of presenting the budget has been taken over by the chief minister. Last year, Ajit Pawar had presented the Mahayuti government’s budget, marking his 11th state budget, the second-highest number presented by any finance minister in Maharashtra’s history. While tabling the budget, Pawar had acknowledged that the state’s debt burden was rising but maintained that it remained within prescribed fiscal limits. According to official finance documents, Maharashtra’s total debt is projected to touch Rs 9.32 lakh crore in the financial year 2025-26. In 2024-25, the actual debt stood at Rs 8.39 lakh crore, higher than the earlier estimate of Rs 7.8 lakh crore. Despite fiscal pressures, Ajit Pawar had announced that the government would not increase ready reckoner rates or introduce any major new taxes, citing concerns over burdening taxpayers and the common man. He had also assured that no cuts were made to development or infrastructure spending. The budget session is will be a significant as it comes at a time of political and administrative transition in the state. The budget is expected to outline the government’s priorities for development, welfare schemes and fiscal management. Mid-Day was the first to report that CM Fadnavis would present the budget due to Ajit Pawar’s absence. Read more here... The budget session is likely to include discussions on government policies, financial planning and legislative business. Both the ruling alliance and the opposition are expected to raise key issues concerning the economy, public welfare and governance during the session.
10 February,2026 04:22 PM IST | Mumbai | Sanjeev ShivadekarA 62-year-old man from Thane has allegedly been cheated of Rs 82.13 lakh in an investment fraud after being promised high returns, police said on Tuesday. As reported by news agency PTI, the victim came across a Facebook advertisement earlier on September 26, 2025, which promised high returns on share market investments. When he clicked on it, he was redirected to a WhatsApp group named after a leading finance and investment company. Furthermore, he was then asked to download a trading application and persuaded to make investments. An official from Kasarvadavali police station, while briefing about the incident, said, “Between January 10 and 30, 2026, the victim transferred Rs 82.13 lakh to various bank accounts. After sending the money, he was shown 'profits' totalling Rs 1.51 crore, as per PTI. However, on February 2, his request to withdraw the profits was repeatedly rejected, and the fraudsters demanded an additional Rs 42.46 lakh to process the payment. Soon after, when the victim realised that he was duped, he then contacted the finance company, which confirmed that it had no affiliation with the WhatsApp group or the trading app, the official said. Based on the victim's complaint, the police registered a case on Sunday against two individuals and some websites and applications under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Information Technology Act. Victims protest outside Thane police commissioner’s office Hundreds of investors allegedly cheated in a Rs 1,200 crore investment scam staged a protest outside the police commissioner’s office in Maharashtra’s Thane district, demanding a speedy investigation and recovery of their money, according to the news agency PTI. Earlier in January, the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) arrested three persons from Gujarat in connection with the case, which is suspected to have defrauded more than 11,000 investors, including about 1,500 police personnel, across Maharashtra. Protesters from Pune, Kolhapur, Jalgaon and Ratnagiri gathered outside the office and blocked its entrance, accusing the authorities of conducting the probe at a snail’s pace, reported news agency PTI. According to the police, the scam involved approximately 11,000 investors and amounted to Rs 1,200 crore. The accused, Sameer Narvekar, his wife Neha, and their associate Amit Balam had established Trade with Jazz, an investment company headquartered in Pune, in 2019. (With inputs from PTI)
10 February,2026 03:45 PM IST | Thane | mid-day online correspondentMumbai woke up to a partly cloudy sky, with light haze lingering over the city and its suburbs. The conditions are expected to remain largely stable through the day, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD). Daytime temperatures are likely to rise to around 35 degrees Celsius, making it a warm Tuesday afternoon, while the minimum temperature is expected to settle near 19 degrees Celsius. Data from the Centre's SAMEER app indicated that the overall air quality index (AQI) in Mumbai stood at 103 on Tuesday, placing it in the ‘moderate’ category. Pollution levels varied significantly across locations, with Bandra-Kurla Complex recording an AQI of 106, Andheri East 116, Chembur 98, Colaba 126, Byculla 97, and Kandivali East 102. Ghatkopar registered an AQI of 117, Kurla 97, Malad West 125, and Mazgaon 101. Bandra East reported a 'good' AQI of 98 along with Powai's AQI stands at 61 which is a 'satisfactory'. Delhi air quality worsens, AQI hits 267 in 'poor' category The air quality in the national capital deteriorated on Tuesday morning, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) rising to 267, placing it in the 'poor' category, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). A day earlier, the AQI was recorded at 206, also in the 'poor' category. Several areas of Delhi are now witnessing a layer of smog, raising concerns among residents, especially those with respiratory issues. Areas around India Gate and Kartavya Path registered an AQI of 277, while AIIMS recorded 296. The AQI of Akshardham Temple reported 317, classified as 'very poor'.According to AQI classification, a reading between 0 and 50 is 'good', 51 to 100 'satisfactory', 101 to 200 'moderate', 201 to 300 'poor', 301 to 400 'very poor', and 401 to 500 'severe'. Meanwhile, the temperature in the capital was around 10.4degC, as per the India Meteorological Department (IMD). On Sunday, the national capital recorded a temperature of 10 degrees Celsius around 7 am, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD). Misty conditions prevailed, with humidity at 97 per cent and calm winds reported at 0 km/h. On the other hand, Sri Aurobindo Marg recorded the AQI at 129, with other areas including Lodhi Road (139), Major Dhyan Chand Stadium (144), Mandir Marg (148), IIT Delhi (149), Aya Nagar (165), and IGI Airport (177) reporting comparatively better air quality. (Inputs from ANI)
10 February,2026 02:49 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThe Amboli police have arrested members of an interstate gang involved in smashing car windows and stealing valuables, cracking several thefts in Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, and Thane. A case was filed on January 29, after unidentified persons broke the window of a car parked along New Link Road in Andheri West and stole a laptop, a bag, a laptop charger, and an iPhone charger. After registering an FIR, PSI Pradip Phunde and his team scanned footage from nearly 70 CCTV. They tracked the suspects’ movement for three days and arrested them from Narpoli area of Bhiwandi. The accused have been identified as Gautam Venkatesh Naidu (Mahesh), 22; Jai Kumar Vilasani, 24; and Sada Viramani Naidu, 36. Police recovered stolen property and tools worth Rs 3.25 lakh, including three laptops and an Apple iPad. They also seized tools used to break car windows.
10 February,2026 02:36 PM IST | Mumbai | Shirish VaktaniaMaharashtra Deputy Chief Minister (CM) Sunetra Pawar shared her first reaction after assuming office on Tuesday. In an emotional post on social media platform X, she vowed to carry forward the unfinished dreams of her late husband, former Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar, and work with dedication for the welfare of the state. In a heartfelt statement released shortly after taking charge at Mantralaya, Pawar wrote, “While assuming the responsibility of deputy CM of Maharashtra today, I am also filled with a sense of trust, duty, and sacrifice. The passion for development that Ajitdada pursued throughout his life for the people of Maharashtra will be my guiding light. Drawing strength from his work style, decisiveness, and close bond with the people, I will move forward. My priority will be to fulfil his unfinished dreams and deliver justice to the expectations of farmers, women, youth, and common citizens. No one can take Dada’s place, but I will sincerely strive to preserve his ideals and build a more capable Maharashtra. In this difficult time, the love, support, and trust given by the people is my strength.” “Today, before his memory, I make one promise: I will continue to work with loyalty and dedication for the welfare of Maharashtra,” her post added. आज महाराष्ट्र राज्याच्या उपमुख्यमंत्री पदाची जबाबदारी स्वीकारत असताना विश्वासाची, कर्तव्याची आणि त्यागाची जाणीव सुद्धा आहे. मा. अजितदादांनी आयुष्यभर महाराष्ट्राच्या जनतेसाठी झटत विकासाचा जो ध्यास घेतला, तोच माझ्यासाठी मार्गदर्शक दीपस्तंभ आहे.दादांची कार्यशैली, निर्णयक्षमता आणि… pic.twitter.com/5Tc2PsfDQ9 — Sunetra Ajit Pawar (@SunetraA_Pawar) February 10, 2026 The statement came hours after Sunetra Pawar formally took her seat in the deputy CM’s office following her swearing-in on January 31, which Ajit Pawar’s untimely demise in a tragic air crash on January 28. Earlier on Tuesday, Sunetra Pawar visited the Siddhivinayak Temple in Prabhadevi where she took Lord Ganesha’s blessings. Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) Members of Parliament (MPs) Praful Patel and Sunil Tatkare, Maharashtra State Women's Commission Chairperson Rupali Chakankar, Parth Ajit Pawar, Shri Siddhivinayak Ganapati Temple Trust Chairman Sadanand Saravankar, and other dignitaries were present on the occasion. Her elder son Parth also accompanied the leaders to Siddhivinayak. After that, she went to Chaityabhoomi in Dadar to pay homage to India’s First Law Minister, Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar, before proceeding to the state secretariat, Mantralaya. Sunetra Pawar has been allocated the state excise duty, sports and youth affairs, and minorities development and Auqaf portfolios.
10 February,2026 02:14 PM IST | MumbaiMaharashtra Deputy Chief Minister (CM) Sunetra Pawar assumed charge on Tuesday morning. Mumbai, Maharashtra: Sunetra Pawar has officially assumed charge as Deputy Chief Minister pic.twitter.com/qvlc4roRce — IANS (@ians_india) February 10, 2026 Before heading to her office, she visited two of Mumbai’s most iconic sites: Siddhivinayak Temple and Chaityabhoomi. #WATCH मुंबई | NCP नेता सुनेत्रा पवार महाराष्ट्र की डिप्टी सीएम का पदभार संभालने के लिए पार्टी ऑफिस पहुंचीं। pic.twitter.com/JlzTCmzwQ0 — ANI_HindiNews (@AHindinews) February 10, 2026 Accompanied by senior Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leaders, including Praful Patel and Sunil Tatkare, Pawar visited the Siddhivinayak Temple in Prabhadevi, where she offered prayers to Lord Ganesha. Her son Parth was also present to offer prayers at the temple. Following the prayers, Pawar proceeded to the Chaityabhoomi in Dadar, where she paid homage to Bharat Ratna Dr BR Ambedkar at his memorial. She offered floral tributes and observed a moment of silence in remembrance of the chief architect of the Indian Constitution. आज प्रभादेवी येथील श्री सिध्दिविनायक गणपती मंदिरात दर्शन घेत गणरायाचरणी नतमस्तक झाले. सिध्दिविनायकाचे मनोभावे दर्शन घेतले, पूजा केली. लोककल्याणाचे, विकासाचे कार्य निरंतर पुढे हाकण्यासाठी बळ दे, अशी प्रार्थना केली. pic.twitter.com/krPrfZfvlT — Sunetra Ajit Pawar (@SunetraA_Pawar) February 10, 2026 Later, the deputy CM visited the NCP office, where she was welcomed by a large number of party workers. She then proceeded to the state secretariat Mantralaya, where she formally assumed her ministerial duties and took her seat in the deputy CM's office. First cabinet meeting, official engagements on agenda for Sunetra Pawar on Day 1 The visits come days after Pawar was sworn in as Maharashtra’s first woman deputy CM on January 31, following the tragic death of her husband, former Deputy CM Ajit Pawar, in an air crash on January 28. In the recent cabinet allocation, she was assigned the state excise, sports, and minority development portfolios. She has also been appointed Guardian Minister for Pune and Beed districts. Sunetra Pawar will attend the weekly cabinet meeting later on Tuesday—the first since her husband's passing—presided over by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. She is expected to carry out official engagements at Mantralaya and Vidhan Bhavan. Later in the day, Pawar formally took charge at her office. She is also likley to attend a cabinet meeting and carry out official engagements at Mantralaya and Vidhan Bhavan. Earlier, sources had stated that she is likely to also travel to Delhi to meet Central leaders, including Home Minister Amit Shah. NCP leader Nawab Malik and legislator Sana Malik were among those who visited the Siddhivinayak Temple to welcome the new Deputy CM. Pawar had visited Ruby Hall Clinic in Pune to meet Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) chief Sharad Pawar before heading to Mumbai. The veteran leader is undergoing treatment for throat-related problems and persistent coughing.
10 February,2026 01:55 PM IST | MumbaiThe Dindoshi police have arrested a 26-year-old who allegedly stole two-wheelers from various localities to impress his girlfriend by taking her on daily joyrides on a different bike. According to investigators, once the petrol ran out, the accused, Sadique Khurshid Shaikh, would abandon a stolen vehicle wherever it stopped and move on to the next one. The matter came to light after a complaint was registered on January 9, regarding the theft of a Honda Activa 5G from the Film City Road in Goregaon East. Vehicles allegedly stolen by the 26-year-old Dindoshi Police registered an offence under Section 303(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, and launched a detailed probe. Following instructions from Mahesh Chimate, DCP, Zone XII and under the guidance of Senior Inspector Mahendra Shinde, PSI Ajit Desai, along with his detection team, analysed CCTV footage, gathered inputs from informants, and used technical surveillance to zero in on the accused, who was arrested on February 5. The accused (with face covered) in the custody of the Dindoshi police In the course of Shaikh’s interrogation, the Dindoshi police recovered three stolen two-wheelers worth R1.10 lakh, solving three bike theft cases registered at the Dindoshi and Kurar police stations. “Shaikh has no parents and was living with his two sisters in Kurar’s Tanaji Nagar. However, the women were deeply troubled by his repeated involvement in thefts and his addiction to drugs. Despite admitting him to rehabilitation centres several times, Shaikh allegedly returned to the same habits after his release each time. Frustrated and helpless, his sisters eventually forced him to leave the house, said an officer from Dindoshi police. Accused Sadique Khurshid Shaikh (squatting) in the custody of the Dindoshi police According to police sources, Shaikh has more than half a dozen theft cases registered against him at the Kurar and Dindoshi police stations, all related to two-wheeler theft. Earlier, his sisters had helped him secure bail once or twice, but as his behaviour did not change, they stopped supporting him legally. As a result, whenever he was arrested thereafter, he served his sentence and was released. Police said he has already served sentences in seven cases. Modus operandi A police officer said, “The accused would steal motorcycles, roam around on them, and take his girlfriend for joy rides. Whenever the fuel ran out, he would abandon the bike at that spot and walk away. He committed these thefts mainly to project a flashy lifestyle, hoping to win admiration and attention.” Two-wheelers that were allegedly stolen by the 26-year-old. Pics/By Special Arrangement Police further said that following his arrest, two bike theft cases of Dindoshi police station and one case of Kurar police station have been solved. The accused is currently in police custody, and further investigation is underway.
10 February,2026 01:51 PM IST | Mumbai | Samiullah KhanMaharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray on Tuesday strongly criticised Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat over his remarks on language-related protests. The MNS chief asserted that linguistic and regional identities are a legitimate and enduring reality in India. While taking it to social media platform X, Raj Thackeray referred to Bhagwat's statement made at an event in Mumbai on February 8, where the RSS chief reportedly said that being adamant about language and protesting for it is a "disease". ८ फेब्रुवारी २०२६ रोजी मुंबईतल्या एका कार्यक्रमात सरसंघचालक श्री. मोहन भागवत यांनी, भाषेबद्दल आग्रही राहणे, त्यासाठी वेळेस आंदोलन करणे हा एक आजार आहे अशा आशयाचं विधान केलं. या कार्यक्रमाला विविध क्षेत्रातील मान्यवरांना बोलावण्यात आले होते, त्यातले काही हजर देखील होते ! परंतु… — Raj Thackeray (@RajThackeray) February 10, 2026 Questioning the RSS chief’s remarks, Thackeray said love for one's language and region cannot be dismissed in such a manner. While posting on social media platform X, Raj Thackeray wrote, "Various dignitaries from different fields had been invited to this event, and some of them were actually present too! But I want to tell Mohanrao Bhagwat one thing: those people hadn't come out of love for you, but because of the governmental fear of Narendra Modi! Otherwise, why has no one ever shown up for such rambling sermons until now?” Thackeray also added, “So first, come out of the misconception that those folks had come for you! Anyway... at the root of it, the history of why linguistic state reorganisation had to happen in this country – we assume Bhagwat must certainly know about that!" Citing strong linguistic identities across states, Raj also added, "If love for language and love for one's region feel like a disease, then that disease exists in the majority of states in this country." MNS chief Raj Thackeray further alleged that resentment builds when migrants from other states reject local culture and language, adding that such tensions cannot be brushed aside as a "disease". Thackeray also questioned why similar lessons on harmony were not delivered in states that have witnessed linguistic or regional unrest in the past, as reported by PTI. Raj Thackeray accuses RSS of indiretly holding political positions MNS chief Raj Thackeray, while slamming the RSS, also stated that the RSS has been taking indirect political positions despite claiming to be apolitical. Referring to earlier remarks by RSS leader Bhaiyyaji Joshi on Mumbai's linguistic identity, Thackeray alleged that such statements were made to provoke Marathi sentiment and politically benefit the Bharatiya Janata Party. He said, "We respect the RSS's work, but that does not mean it should indulge in indirect political stances.” Raj also highlighted that the organisation should first question the government on the alleged imposition of Hindi before preaching about harmony. BJP leader hits back at Raj Thackeray राज ठाकरे म्हणतात, सरकारी भीतीमुळे मोहन भागवत यांच्या रटाळ कार्यक्रमाला लोक आले.राज ठाकरे यांनी या गैरसमजातून बाहेर यायला हवे. ज्या पद्धतीने मनसेच्या खळखट्याकच्या भीतीने लोक येतात, तसंच इतरत्रही होत असावं, असा समज करून घेणं चुकीचं आहे. संघाच्या कार्यक्रमांना लोक शिस्तीने,… pic.twitter.com/KLXW9d4sK1 — Keshav Upadhye (@keshavupadhye) February 10, 2026 Soon after Raj Thackeray’s cryptic post on X, BJP leader Keshav Upadhye hit back at Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief. Upadhye added, “Raj Thackeray should come out of this misconception. It's wrong to assume that just as people come out of fear of MNS's rowdyism, the same must be happening elsewhere,” hinting that Raj Thackeray's views on RSS need to be addressed. Hailing the recently concluded RSS centenary year celebrations in Mumbai, he added, “People attend RSS programmes with discipline and of their own free will. RSS shakhas, marches, and most programmes happen in the early morning or at dawn. That's why they might not be visible to you, that's all.” (With inputs from PTI)
10 February,2026 01:31 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentADVERTISEMENT
