Maharashtra 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 correspondentMaharashtra 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. 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 12:08 PM IST | MumbaiMumbai 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 10:33 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentAfter sweeping the municipal councils and municipal corporations, the Mahayuti has now tightened its grip on the Zilla Parishads and Panchayat Samitis. The BJP has emerged as the “Mota Bhau” (elder brother) of Maharashtra’s triple-engine sarkar. By securing the highest numbers and smashing its own 2017 record, the BJP has once again shown who is driving the Mahayuti’s political engine from the front. With the BJP securing victories in seven of the total 12 Zilla Parishads, the Mahayuti is set to form the ruling majority, further strengthening its hold on rural Maharashtra. CM Devendra Fadnavis said, “People have shown trust in the Mahayuti government. First it was the municipal councils, then the municipal corporations, and now the Zilla Parishad and Panchayat Samiti polls. In all these elections, the BJP has broken all its own records of 2017,” he added. Following the tragic incident involving NCP leader Ajit Pawar’s plane crash, Fadnavis had called off his election rallies and decided not to campaign for the Zilla Parishad and Panchayat Samiti polls. The Ajit Pawar-led NCP faction also kept a low profile during the campaign. Despite this, the Mahayuti delivered a peak performance, while opposition parties were reduced to negligible numbers. Reacting to the opposition’s poor performance, Fadnavis said the MVA remained visible mainly on television and failed to stay connected with people. Polling for 12 Zilla Parishads and 125 Panchayat Samitis in 12 districts of Maharashtra began Saturday. A total of 7438 candidates contested 731 Zilla Parishad and 1462 Panchayat Samiti seats. DCM’s 1st meet Sunetra Pawar, the newly elected deputy chief minister, is likely to attend her first state cabinet meeting scheduled in Mantralaya on Tuesday. She will also occupy the Dy CM’s office, and this will be her first visit to Mantralaya after taking the oath on January 31. She is the first woman to hold the post of deputy chief minister of Maharashtra. 12No of Zilla Parishads that went to polls
10 February,2026 08:38 AM IST | Mumbai | Sanjeev ShivadekarTwo youths were injured after a slab from the second floor of a building collapsed on Linking Road in Khar West on Friday. The injured have been identified as Nirav Shantilal Nisar, 27, a businessman and resident of Grant Road, and his friend Harsh Kailash Porwal, 28, a resident of Ratlam in MP. According to police, the incident occurred around 9.40 pm on February 6 near the KFC junction on Linking Road. The two men were standing beside their two-wheeler when cement, sand and iron debris from a building’s second-floor slab suddenly collapsed on them. Both were initially rushed to Holy Cross Hospital and later shifted to another hospital for further treatment. Police said Porwal had recently arrived in Mumbai from Madhya Pradesh to attend a family wedding and was staying at his sister’s home in Marine Lines. Khar police have registered an FIR against the owner of Kadamb Kudpi House for negligence.
10 February,2026 08:35 AM IST | Mumbai | Shirish VaktaniaThe Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education (MSBSHSE), Pune, has announced the schedule and key arrangements for the Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) examination, which will be conducted across the state from Tuesday, February 10, to Wednesday, March 18. The examination will be held through the Board’s nine divisional boards — Pune, Nagpur, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Mumbai, Kolhapur, Amravati, Nashik, Latur, and Konkan. A total of 15,32,487 students have registered for the HSC examination this year. This includes 8,20,229 male, 7,12,240 female, and 18 transgender candidates. Registrations have been received from 10,664 junior colleges, and examinations will be conducted at 3387 main examination centres across Maharashtra. Secretary speaks Speaking at the press conference on Monday, Dr Dipak Mali, secretary, MSBSHSE, Pune, said, “To reduce exam-related stress, the Board has designed the timetable by providing gaps between most major subject papers. Students and parents have been advised to rely only on the official timetable published by the Board, as timetables from other websites or agencies will not be considered valid. The State Board has appointed 10 counsellors at the state level. Additionally, two counsellors per district have been appointed at the divisional board level to guide students and resolve queries. Schools and junior colleges have been instructed to ensure that students reach the examination centre at least 30 minutes before the scheduled time. Various measures To curb malpractice, the Board has deployed 271 flying squads across the state. District collectors, who also head the district vigilance committees, have been authorised to make necessary arrangements to ensure the transparent and fair conduct of the Std X and XII examinations. The Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (ST) has been instructed to operate buses regularly and on time for students. Board chairman highlights importance of mental health Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Chairman Trigun Kulkarni told mid-day that board examinations are often the first major competitive experience for many students, which can naturally cause anxiety. Trigun Kulkarni, chairman, Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education. PIC/MSBSHSE “State board exams are significant and can lead to a certain amount of stress for some students. The counselling facility is a regular support system provided by the Maharashtra State Board to help students deal with exam-related pressure,” he said. Kulkarni added that, to curb misinformation and ensure direct communication, the Maharashtra State Board has launched its official social media platforms, including a verified YouTube channel, and expanded its presence on X, formerly Twitter, and Instagram. “All important updates related to examinations, results and academic matters will now be shared only through the board’s verified platforms,” Kulkarni said. Out-of-turn exams Students who are unable to appear for practical, oral, graded or internal assessment examinations due to medical or unavoidable reasons within the prescribed period will be given another opportunity. These examinations will be conducted out of turn from March 12 to March 14, 2026, after the written examinations. The marks for practical, oral and internal assessments will be submitted online, and detailed instructions have been provided to schools and junior colleges through divisional boards. *Counsellors’ mobile numbers9960644411, 7972573742, 9834084593, 9359978315, 8169202214, 9371661255, 7208429381, 7709156068, 8421150528, 9404783996 3387No of main examination centres in state
10 February,2026 08:32 AM IST | Mumbai | Archana DahiwalThe Std X board exams are often considered the first major challenging experience for students. However, this isn’t the case for Shravan Vishwakarma, 17, who has battled blood cancer (Leukaemia) and resumed education to take his Secondary School Certificate (SSC) exam. A native of Uttar Pradesh, Shravan was diagnosed with blood cancer at the age of 12. Right before the pandemic, his family moved to Mumbai for his treatment. After being under chemotherapy, radiotherapy, COVID treatments, and finally undergoing a bone marrow transplant, Shravan found himself re-enrolled in BMC’s Mumbai Public School, Navghar, Mulund, set to appear for the board exams this month. “I have always wanted to study, appear for exams, and play with children my age. Neither was I scared of my cancer, nor am I scared of the board exams,” he told mid-day. Owing to frequent illness and fatigue, Shravan would barely attend his school back in UP. Now, he has turned out to be the school ‘chatterbox’. “You just have to spark a conversation, and Shravan can keep carrying it. It shows how engaged he is in the classroom. When it comes to chess, he remains our top student,” said the school in-charge, Varsha Kalanke. Ramu Vishwakarma with his son Sravan. PIC/ADITI ALURKAR Ramu Vishwakarma, Shravan’s father recalls the hardships the family had to go through. For months, owing to frequent, distant hospital visits, the father-son duo would find themselves sleeping at railway stations and bus stops. “We would often miss the last train and had to come back early the next morning. All we did was travel. At these hospitals, we would see other children battle cancer and often succumb to it. Finding time to work as a carpenter was tough during this period,” said the father. What was encouraging for the family was Shravan’s easy-going attitude. “Not once did he cry. Even when he was smaller, being administered injections or chemotherapy,” said Ramu. Shravan, proud of this feat, believes that this is the mantra of his life. Currently, he has to get tests and medications administered every few months. He has also developed a cataract problem owing to radiotherapy, and will have to undergo surgery after his exams, for which he is preparing without help. “I love talking, being with my friends, and staying happy. I believe ‘jo hoga dekha jaega’. So why worry?” he told mid-day. With the fast-approaching board exams, Shravan has complete faith in his preparation, especially with history, political science, and sciences being his favourite subjects. “I’ll do well… we have done well so far,” smiled the student, who now volunteers in cancer support groups.
10 February,2026 08:29 AM IST | Mumbai | Aditi AlurkarThe Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) achieved only 66 per cent of its target for post-monsoon desilting of nullahs for the year 2025-26, even as desilting for the pre-monsoon season of 2026-27 is set to begin on April 1. While the civic body targeted the removal of 1,96,727 metric tonnes (MT) of silt from the city’s nullahs from October to December, it has only managed to remove 1,31,201 MT until February 7. The nullahs in the western suburbs have fared much worse than the eastern suburbs, with only 40 per cent of desilting targets completed, in comparison to 97 per cent in the eastern suburbs. Of the 26,592.53 MT of silt that was to be cleared in the western suburbs after the monsoon, only 10,829.26 MT has been removed. In comparison, of the 15,320.07 MT to be removed from eastern suburbs nullahs, 14,534.89 MT has been removed so far. Garbage piled up in Mithi river. File Pic/Nimesh Dave As for removing 3810 MT of silt from boxed nullahs, no post-monsoon work has been carried out. Work on desilting of the 17-km-long Mithi river has been the slowest, with only 30 per cent (16,440.93 MT) of silt being removed against a target of 53,578.88 MT. The BMC annually carries out desilting work on Mumbai's nullahs in three phases. In the pre-monsoon phase, between April and May every year, the target is to remove 80 per cent of the silt from the beds of nullahs to augment their water-carrying capacity and mitigate flooding during the monsoon season. During the monsoon months of June to September, 10 per cent of desilting work takes place. The remaining work takes place between October-December. While no desilting work took place in October and early November, work was significantly stalled from December 2025 until January 15, 2026. After the civic elections concluded, post-monsoon desilting work has picked up pace, with maximum desilting taking place starting January 15.
10 February,2026 08:24 AM IST | Mumbai | Eeshanpriya MSNearly a decade after the Bombay High Court banned horse-drawn carriage joyrides — popularly known as Victorias — at least one such carriage continued to ferry tourists along Marine Drive and Churchgate. Animal rights activists had lodged complaints at the Marine Drive and Azad Maidan police stations, which have jurisdiction over the area. Police informed the activists that action could be taken only when the carriage was spotted on the road. Caught by patrolling cop On the day of the India-USA cricket match at Wankhede Stadium, a senior police officer on patrolling and inspection duty noticed a horse-drawn carriage ferrying tourists on Maharshi Karve Road in Churchgate. The sighting enabled the police to act on the month-old complaint. The Azad Maidan police stopped the carriage, confiscated the cart, and registered an FIR against the person operating it under Section 291 of the BNS for negligent conduct regarding animals. A senior official from the Azad Maidan police station said, “I spotted the carriage ferrying tourists which gave us a chance to nab the owner. We stopped the carriage and interrogated him. The cart has been confiscated, while the horse was returned to its caretaker. The activists who followed up on the complaint have been informed.” The official added that further investigation would be carried out to determine whether more horse-drawn carriages are still plying Mumbai’s streets under the guise of tourist joyrides. Horse-drawn carriages, a remnant of the British era, were once a major tourist attraction at Gateway of India, Marine Drive, and Kala Ghoda. In 2012, PETA approached the Bombay High Court seeking a ban on the carriages, citing animal cruelty. The court banned these carriages in 2015. In 2021, the state government’s transport department granted in-principle approval for e-carriages to revive the Victoria tradition — this time without horses. Mumbai-based animal rights activist Sneha Visaria, who is associated with PETA, said, “I first noticed the horse-pulled carriage about a month ago, around 9.30 pm, ferrying tourists near Crawford Market. I spotted it several times over the next few weeks. I complained to the police, but was told the owner could be nabbed only when the carriage was spotted and caught red-handed.”
10 February,2026 08:19 AM IST | Mumbai | Eeshanpriya MSA fire broke out on the 13th floor of Suvidha Pearl building in Vile Parle East at 9.51 am on Monday, killing a 63-year-old woman and injuring two others. The deceased was identified as Bhavna Bharat Satra, 63. The injured include Aneree Jitendra Satra, 34, and Mohammad Rashid, 22. A security guard of the building, who spoke to mid-day on condition of anonymity, said they heard a loud sound before glass from the 13th floor shattered and fell near the lobby. “We panicked and immediately alerted the fire brigade. Thankfully, the fire did not spread,” he said. The blaze reportedly started in flat No. 1301, owned by the builder of the apartment, where family members had gathered ahead of a wedding scheduled for Tuesday. Deepak Shinde, a family friend, told this newspaper that several relatives had arrived from different cities and were out when the incident occurred. “When we rushed back, we found that two family members had been injured,” he said. All three victims were rescued and taken to Nanavati Hospital, where Bhavna Satra was declared dead on arrival. The other two are undergoing treatment. Amol Shashikant Khanolkar, assistant station officer, said three people were rescued from the flat. “We found both women in the passage outside the flat. To rescue the man, we had to break open doors. He suffered minor injuries. One woman was declared dead at the hospital, while the other is being treated. The cause of the fire is under investigation,” he said.
10 February,2026 08:06 AM IST | Mumbai | Madhulika Ram KavatturResponding to concerns raised by residents facing displacement due to the Elphinstone bridge demolition, the MMRDA has asked affected families to search for homes on their own from a newly issued list of “available” houses. Residents of Haaji Noorani said MMRDA officials shared a fresh list of transit accommodation options last Friday and asked families to identify suitable homes themselves. However, project-affected persons (PAP) who tried verifying the addresses claim the list contains multiple discrepancies. House already occupied “When we checked the Ahilya Building in Dadar West, the watchman told us that a family is already staying in flat 502, which is mentioned in this fresh list. After confirming this, we called Ghule, the MMRDA officer we have been corresponding with, and informed him. Sukhakarta building on Currey Road. Parel residents had refused to occupy flats in the structure In response, he said, ‘Yes, it’s possible that some houses might be occupied. You will have to check.’ This is nothing but a way to kill time,” said Suhas Badade, one of the affected residents. Residents also said several addresses on the list could not be traced. Sent on house hunt “We were promised safe, habitable, ready-to-move homes within a 2.5-km radius. Instead, we are being sent on a house hunt. When we went to locate buildings listed as Loksatta, spread across nearly 50 structures, we could not identify the exact flats. After searching for nearly two hours, we returned,” said Ashok Wagh, another resident. Building under construction Another address on the list was the Sukhakarta Building in Currey Road, which residents said had already been rejected earlier. “We had clearly refused to take possession of flats in this building. The building is still under construction, and a large tower stands directly in front of it, blocking light and ventilation,” Badade said. Residents have demanded joint inspections, verified housing options, and immediate allotment of livable homes. MMRDA trying its best Yashwant Ghule, deputy community development officer, MMRDA, said, “We have already offered homes as per eligibility and MHADA’s availability, but residents refused to take possession. We are trying our best to find solutions. The list shared includes whatever housing is currently available in the vicinity.” Key promises vs reality Promised>> Ready-to-move homes>> Safe and habitable buildings>> Within 2.5 km radius On ground>> Families sent on house hunt>> Inaccurate and outdated addresses>> No joint inspections
10 February,2026 08:01 AM IST | Mumbai | Ritika GondhalekarADVERTISEMENT
