The first-of-its-kind home-voting facility for elderly people and persons with disabilities started in two of the constituencies of Mumbai, reported news agency ANI. A total of 543 senior citizens and nine differently-abled people or persons with disabilities (PwDs) from Mumbai South and Mumbai South Central constituencies cast their votes from home for the fifth phase of Lok Sabha elections 2024 on May 14 and 15. According to Collector and District Election Officer Sanjay Yadav, "The Election Commission of India has provided the facility of home voting through postal ballot by postal voting team for the first time to senior citizens above 85 years of age, PwD voters in Lok Sabha elections. Home voting has started in both the Lok Sabha constituencies of Mumbai-Mumbai South and Mumbai South Central. So far, 543 senior citizens and nine differently-abled people or persons with disabilities voters have exercised their right to vote through home voting," reported ANI. Maharashtra is set to go on polls for its fifth phase of Lok Sabha elections 2024 on May 20. The constituencies that will be part of the ongoing election in the fifth phase include- Dhule, Dindori, Nashik, Kalyan, Palghar, Bhiwandi, Thane, Mumbai North, Mumbai North-West, Mumbai North-East, Mumbai North-Central, Mumbai South-Central, and Mumbai South. Mumbai South constituency is set to witness an intense battle between two factions of the same party, the Sena vs Sena battle. The Maha Vikas Aghadi picked the two-time MP and Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Arvind Sawant from the seat. Sawant has successfully won the crucial seat in the past two elections under the Shiv Sena banner. On the other hand, the Mahayuti alliance has fielded Yamini Jadhav, a leader from the CM Shinde-led Shiv Sena. She is the MLA from the Byculla assembly seat. In Mumbai South Central senior UBT Sena leader Anil Desai is pitted against the sitting MP Rahul Shewale who represents the Shiv Sena -Eknath Shinde faction. The counting of votes will be held on June 4. (With inputs from ANI)
16 May,2024 12:58 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentA generator caught fire in a Thane housing complex in the early hours of Thursday, an official said, reported news agency PTI. No one was injured in the incident at the residential premises along the Mumbai-Nashik highway, said Yasin Tadvi, chief of the Disaster Management Cell of the Thane civic body, reported PTI. The fire at the Thane housing complex started in the generator around 4.25 am. After being alerted, local firemen reached the spot and put out the fire by 5.10 am, he said, reported PTI. The cause of the fire is yet to be determined, he added. In another incident, a fire broke out at a high-rise building in Kharghar area of neighboring Navi Mumbai on Tuesday evening but no one was injured in the incident, an official said, reported PTI. The fire started inside a flat on the 14th floor of 'Chaturbhuj' building situated near Shilp Chowk around 6.45 pm, reported PTI. Three vehicles of the Kharghar Fire Brigade and one from Kalamboli were rushed to the spot and the flames were extinguished after more than two hours, the civic official said, reported PTI. While there were no reports of anyone getting injured, the cause of the fire was being ascertained, he said. Meanwhile, a shop and 16 motorcycles were gutted after a power transformer caught fire near a railway station in Maharashtra's Thane district on Tuesday morning, a civic official said, reported PTI. A power transformer near Badlapur railway station caught fire around 6.30 am, said Bhagwat Sonanwane, chief fire officer of the Kulgaon-Badlapur fire station, reported PTI. Local firefighters rushed to the scene, and the blaze was put out within an hour, he said.No one was injured in the incident, but a shop and 16 motorcycles parked in the area were gutted, the official said. Preliminary reports suggest that the fire was a result of a short circuit, he said. (With inputs from PTI)
16 May,2024 12:42 PM IST | Thane | mid-day online correspondentSanjay Raut, Rajya Sabha MP and leader of Shiv Sena (UBT) took jabs at Prime Minister Modi and Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde in a press conference on Thursday, reported ANI. The condemnation comes after PM Narendra Modi termed the Shiv Sena (UBT) as the ‘nakli’ (fake) Shiv Sena while addressing a rally on Wednesday in Dindori near Nashik. Sanjay Raut, while addressing the media, alleged that those who had looted the Shiv Sena are now calling others thieves. In response to allegations made by Prime Minister Modi, Sanjay Raut stated, "The thief himself is speaking, the one who has looted our party is speaking. PM Modi, the Home Minister, and the Election Commission assisted them (the Shiv Sena - Eknath Shinde faction) in validating the party. We are not fake; they are the supreme thieves; stating lies and running the country. This is why we need to change the government in India to safeguard the constitution." "We have managed the party very well. The country will see on June 4th where Shiv Sena (UBT), NCP-SCP, and Congress stand and where the BJP actually is," the MP added. Speaking about the speculations of Mamta Banerjee supporting the INDIA alliance from the outside, Sanjay Raut said, "Mamta is didi for everybody. Whether she is in the alliance or not, she is also fighting against the BJP, and we are all together in the effort. Her support is welcomed." On Wednesday, PM Modi in his rally at Dindori, called the Uddhav Thackeray faction of the Shiv Sena "nakli" (fake). The PM said that Congress is losing so badly that it is difficult for them even to become a valid opposition. "Congress is losing so badly that it is difficult for them even to become a valid opposition. A leader of the INDI alliance in Maharashtra suggested that all the small parties in Maharashtra should merge with Congress after the elections. This fake Shiv Sena and fake Nationalist Party will certainly merge with Congress," he said. "When this fake Shiv Sena merges with Congress, I will remember Bala Saheb Thackeray the most, because Bala Saheb also used to say that the day he felt that Shiv Sena has become Congress, that day he will end Shiv Sena, meaning that now there will be no trace of fake Shiv Sena," he added while addressing a public rally in Dindori. (With inputs from ANI)
16 May,2024 12:04 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentHaryana native Harpal Singh, the latest person to be arrested in the Salman Khan residence firing case, had helped co-accused Mohammed Rafique Chowdhary, nabbed for funding shooters in the case, join the Lawrence Bishnoi gang after they became friends on social media, the Mumbai police said, reported news agency PTI. Salman Khan firing case: Chowdhary and Harpal Singh spent time in jail Chowdhary and Harpal Singh alias Harry, who has spent time in jail in separate criminal cases, became friends on social media platform Facebook in 2018. Singh later introduced him to gangster Lawrence Bishnoi's fan page, said officials of the Mumbai crime branch, which is investigating the April 14 firing outside Bollywood superstar Salman Khan's home in Bandra, reported PTI. Singh (34), a resident of Sirsa city in Haryana, was apprehended by a team of the Mumbai crime branch from Fatehabad in his home state on Monday evening (May 13). He is the sixth person to be arrested in connection with the firing incident and he is a member of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang. Salman Khan firing case: Singh was an important link of communication in the firing According to the police, Singh was an important link of communication in the firing episode as he was directly in contact with Anmol Bishnoi, younger brother of Lawrence Bishnoi, and another gang leader Rohit Gudara, reported PTI. Singh was the one who helped Chowdhary (37), arrested last week for providing financial help to the two shooters involved in the firing, join the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, said an official. He had also added Chowdhary in a WhatsApp group which consisted of other members of the gang, the official informed, reported PTI. Singh was previously arrested in two cases, once in 2022 when there was some issue among the gang members and a case was filed against him. He was in prison for 6 months before coming out. Singh was again nabbed last year in a firing case in Chhattisgarh capital Raipur and spent 11 months in jail, he said, reported PTI. After coming out of the prison, Singh drafted Chowdhary in the gang's plan to fire outside Khan's residence, said the official. Salman Khan firing case: Invoked MCOCA in the shooting case Singh had told Chowdhary that if caught, he will be out on bail within three months. Singh was unaware of stringent provisions of the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA), which make getting bail difficult for an accused, he said. The police have invoked MCOCA in the shooting case. Singh had handed over Rs 2 lakh to Rs 3 lakh to Chowdhary to be given to the shooters, Sagar Pal and Vicky Gupta, both residents of Bihar. The police were trying to ascertain who had provided this money to Singh, said the official, reported PTI. Chowdhary, who had spent years residing in Mumbai, was aware of the city police's working style and had told Singh that if caught he will take his name, the official said. Chowdhary was given the responsibility to conduct a recce of Khan's residence and finance shooters Pal and Gupta for accommodation and other requirements. Chowdhary, arrested from a village in Nagaur district in Rajasthan, used to regularly speak with Anmol Bishnoi and Gudara on Signal and other calling apps, the official said, reported PTI. Salman Khan firing case: Bigger task He had told shooters that Anmol Bishnoi has given him "bigger task" than them, he said.After the firing incident, the Mumbai crime branch arrested the shooters first and then the weapon suppliers, reported PTI. As Chowdhary had warned he would take name Singh's if arrested, the latter left his native place and started staying in Fatehabad by changing his looks and identity. However, the Mumbai crime branch managed to trace Singh and nab him, said the official. (With inputs from PTI)
16 May,2024 12:01 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentAmid ongoing Lok Sabha elections 2024, NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar on Wednesday claimed that the stand taken by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in recent days can increase communal disharmony in the country instead of bringing communities closer, reported news agency PTI. Pawar was speaking at a Lok Sabha elections 2024 rally for his party's candidate Bhaskar Bhagare in Dindori (ST) Lok Sabha constituency of Maharashtra where the BJP has fielded sitting MP and union minister of state for health Bharti Pawar. "Narendra Modi is the first prime minister of the country who has taken positions that would increase the communal disharmony between various religions and castes. I heard his speech today in Nashik, and it was as per my expectations. He should have taken positions that will bring the communities and religious groups closer," Sharad Pawar said, reported PTI. PM Modi had claimed at a rally in the same constituency earlier in the day that Congress, during its rule at the Centre, had planned to allocate 15 per cent of budget to Muslims. Pawar also referred to water scarcity in the region. "Nashik district has an issue of water availability and its distribution. Some of the available water is diverted towards Gujarat; what is the state leadership doing about it?" he asked, reported PTI. Meanwhile, Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray on Wednesday said Maharashtra's lost glory would be restored if the INDIA block of opposition parties came to power, reported PTI. Speaking at a Lok Sabha elections 2024 campaign rally for his party's candidate from Nashik Lok Sabha seat, Rajabhau Waje, he also promised farmers guaranteed Minimum Support Price for agricultural produce, and scrapping of GST on farm inputs. Maharashtra gave Prime Minister Narendra Modi more than 40 MPs in 2014 and 2019 elections, but got nothing in return, Thackeray alleged, reported PTI. "You promised two crore jobs. Where are those jobs? Some Gujaratis deny Marathi people entry. Shall we bear it? ASHA workers are not getting their honorarium for months. There are no health facilities, jobs, no money to farmers and no crop loans. I promise to regain the lost glory of Maharashtra after coming to power. I also promise farmers MSP for crops. I will cancel the GST on fertilizers, seeds when an INDIA government comes to power at the Centre," he said, reported PTI. He also lashed out at the Union government for banning onion exports earlier. "Now, the ban has been lifted, but export duty has been imposed," Thackeray pointed out. He also criticised the prime minister for not visiting Manipur since ethnic strife began in the north-eastern state last year, and campaigning for JD (S) leader Prajwal Revanna who is caught up in a sex abuse scandal, reported PTI. PM Modi and Amit Shah were the masterminds of the "conspiracy to finish off Shiv Sena", Thackeray alleged. His party supported the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019, but did Kashmir return to normalcy or Kashmiri Pandits return to the Valley, the Sena (UBT) chief asked. (With inputs from PTI)
16 May,2024 11:46 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentBrihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) Commissioner Bhushan Gagrani informed that the rescue operation in the Ghatkopar hoarding collapse incident was completed today on Thursday, reported PTI. Expressing grief over the hoarding incident, he said, "This was a tragic incident in which 16 people died. The rescue operation has been completed. Here is an active petrol pump; that's why our rescue operation was delayed" The BMC Commissioner stated that Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has ordered all hoardings to be checked. "All the hoardings need a structural stability certificate. They need to follow the specifications of size, foundation and the wind velocity that passes through to provide the necessary stability. Three more hoardings are being removed," he said. On Wednesday, the death toll in the mishap rose to 16 after two more bodies were recovered from a car stuck under the collapsed hoarding. As per the report, the National Disaster Rescue Force (NDRF) rescued 74 people from the spot. A total of 44 people were admitted to the hospital and 31 were discharged after treatment on Tuesday. NDRF personnel have been conducting rescue operations for those trapped since Monday evening, when the billboard collapsed due to heavy rains and strong winds. Mumbai police have registered a case under IPC 304, 338, 337, and 34 against owner Bhavesh Bhide, owner of Ego Media Private Limited, the company responsible for installing the massive hoarding Ghatkopar area which collapse. Bhide has been on the run since the collapse. Notably, he has 23 criminal cases against him including a charges of rape. Maharashtra Chief Minister Shinde announced an ex-gratia amount of Rs 5 lakh to the family of the deceased. Shinde also said that the government will bear all expenses for the treatment of those injured. The illegal hoarding, which stood on a piece of land in the possession of the Government Railway Police (GRP), crashed into a petrol pump when the city was hit by dust storms and unseasonal rain on Monday. (With inputs from PTI)
16 May,2024 11:41 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentAfter Ghatkopar, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address an election rally at Mumbai's Shivaji Park on May 17, Maharashtra BJP president Chandrashekhar Bawankule said on Wednesday. Bawankule was speaking to reporters after meeting MNS chief Raj Thackeray, who has announced his party's support to BJP-led NDA's candidates in the ongoing Lok Sabha elections 2024. PM Modi's rally at Shivaji Park: BMC grants permission Earlier, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) granted permission to the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) to hold a public rally of the ruling Mahayuti alliance at the iconic Shivaji Park ground in Dadar on May 17. PM Modi's rally at Shivaji Park: Raj Thackeray to share dais with PM Modi After extending unconditional support to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its ruling allies, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray will share the dais with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Shivaji Park. "PM Modi will address a poll rally at Shivaji Park on Friday (May 17). I invited Raj Thackeray for the rally and he has agreed to attend it," said Maharashtra BJP president Chandrashekhar Bawankule. "Thackeray's support (to NDA candidates) and his appeal to voters will reflect in the (poll) outcome. We have asked Raj to join us for the poll campaign in the next few days," he said. On Wednesday, PM Modi addressed two elections in Maharashtra -- in Nashik and Thane districts -- in support of NDA nominees and also held a roadshow in Mumbai. PM Modi's rally at Shivaji Park: Police issues traffic advisory Mumbai Police on Wednesday issued a traffic advisory ahead of PM Modi's rally. In a traffic advisory, Mumbai Police said, the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena is going to organise “Jahir Sabha" on Friday, May 17 at Shivaji Park, Dadar (West), Mumbai. The police said that Prime Minister, Maharashtra Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra, many supporters and followers from all over Maharashtra are likely to be participate in the rally, due to which a large number of vehicles are expected on the Western and Eastern Express Highway and traffic congestion is likely, especially on the road leading to the venue. The police said that the following traffic arrangement is made on May 17 between 10 am to 12 am. "Citizens and motorists are appealed to plan their journey accordingly and use alternate routes to reach their desired destinations. Your inconvenience is regretted," the police said. (With inputs from Agencies)
16 May,2024 09:55 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThe death toll in the Ghatkopar hoarding collapse in Mumbai rose to 16 on Thursday with rescue personnel retrieving two bodies from a car stuck underneath the structure. The bodies of a male and a female were retrieved from the car struck below the hoarding in Chheda Nagar area shortly after midnight. The bodies of a male and a female were found in a decomposed state and have been identified as Manoj Chansoria, 60, and Anita Chansoria, 59. The giant 120 x 120 feet hoarding collapsed on a petrol pump during gusty winds on Monday evening. The search and rescue operation is in progress at Ghatkopar hoarding collapse site, the official said. Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) in its release issued on Wednesday said due to the storage of flammable materials like fuel and gas at the petrol pump, the rescue teams have to be extra careful to avoid fire incidents The illegal hoarding that stood on a piece of land in possession of the Government Railway Police (GRP) crashed on a petrol pump in Chheda Nagar area on Monday evening when the city was hit by dust storms and unseasonal rains. Meanwhile, the BMC has issued notices to the administrations of the Central Railway and the Western Railway for removal of oversized hoardings erected on their land. In a release issued on Wednesday evening, the Mumbai civic body said that under Section 30 (2) (V) of the Disaster Management Act, 2005, the notices have been issued to the authorities of both the zonal railways for removal of hoardings above 40 x 40 feet size. "Taking into consideration the geographical position of Mumbai, the coastal region, its weather and wind conditions, the civic body has decided not to permit erection of hoardings larger than 40x40 feet in size," the release said. The Ghatkopar incident prompted the civic body to undertake a drive for removal of illegal and dangerous hoardings across the city. The civic body has claimed that it has undertaken a drive for demolition of illegal hoardings "on war footing" and it has already started the demolition of remaining three hoardings on the GRP's land in Ghatkopar. It claimed that they were erected without obtaining permission from the civic body. Due to high wind velocity, some issues are being faced in the demolition process of the three hoardings, but two of the hoardings will be pulled down by Thursday night. "The three hoardings at Chheda Nagar will be demolished, taking the wind speed into consideration," the BMC said. (With inputs from Agencies)
16 May,2024 08:24 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThe Congress claimed on Wednesday that the BJP has publicly admitted to using its washing machine to import leaders in Maharashtra, and cited the example of Ravindra Waikar, Yamini Jadhav and Narayan Rane, who faced anti-graft probes and joined the ruling alliance in the state. Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said this as he posed a few questions for Prime Minister Narendra Modi ahead of his rallies in Maharashtra. “Why has the BJP diluted Adivasis’ forest rights in Maharashtra? Will the BJP’s washing machine ever stop spinning? Why has there been a three-fold increase in the death of construction workers in Maharashtra,” Ramesh asked in a post on ‘X’. Elaborating on what he said were “jumla details”, Ramesh said that in 2006, the decades-long struggle of India’s tribal communities came to an end when the Congress government introduced the historic Forest Rights Act. “This granted Adivasi and forest-dwelling communities legal rights to manage their own forests, and economically benefit from forest produce they collect. Last year, when PM Modi introduced the Forest Conservation Amendment Act, all of this progress was undone,” he alleged. “The new Act undermines the Forest Rights Act of 2006, doing away with provisions for the consent of local communities and other statutory requirements for forest clearance in vast areas. The intention, of course, is to hand over access to our forests to the prime minister’s corporate friends,” Ramesh said. Data also shows how the Mahayuti government has obstructed the implementation of the FRA, depriving millions of Adivasis of its benefits, he added. “Why have the BJP and their allies deprived Adivasis of their forest rights in Maharashtra,” Ramesh asked. He also claimed that the BJP has now publicly admitted to using its washing machine to import leaders in Maharashtra. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
16 May,2024 07:28 AM IST | Mumbai | AgenciesPrime Minister Narendra Modi and his security protocol for the roadshow in Ghatkopar for the North East Mumbai Lok Sabha constituency candidate Mihir Kotecha stopped public transport for over two hours, inconveniencing lakhs of daily commuters during the evening rush hour. The Metro gates at Ghatkopar shut before the scheduled shutdown of 6 pm, leading to further chaos. The security protocol asked the Mumbai Metro to pull down shutters at the extremely crowded Ghatkopar Metro station, shut down the arterial LBS road, and suspend BEST services, leading to extremely crowded and unruly scenes. Though originally, Metro services were supposed to be shut at Jagruti Nagar, one station short of the terminal Ghatkopar station, the chain effect led to chaos, eventually leading to the shutting down of shutters at other stations like Marol due to the increasing crowd. The Metro gates closed at Ghatkopar According to the advisory issued, it was informed that due to security reasons, metro services would be suspended between Jagruti Nagar and Ghatkopar Metro stations from 6 pm till further notice. Angry commuters “The gates shut at 5.30 pm itself, leaving us in the lurch,” commuter Sushmita Mehta said. Another angry commuter said, “Please ask the prime minister to sit at home and not disturb Mumbaikars like this. Such chaotic scenes due to his protocol will ensure that his party loses the elections.” “Politicians travel in cars. They do not understand the plight of the common man. All those trying to reach Ghatkopar suffered a lot. What is the need to do such a thing in rush hour?” commuter Nikita Mehta said. Karan Jotwani, Metro commuter (right) Harish Shah, commuter “Due to the road and Metro closure, there were hardships for lakhs of commuters like me. It is very unfair to shut both services like this at the same time,” commuter Harish Shah said. Karan Jotwani, a 45-year-old who runs a printing press in Marol and is a regular Metro commuter, said, “Due to shutting metro gates at Marol, it has led to complete chaos in traffic and alternate modes of transport are incapable of handling the load. Total collapse of the system.” Cranes for rescue site delayed “Two days after the billboard collapse, the site is still an active rescue site with bodies buried below. But on the other hand, Prime Minister Modi’s rally has been organised today from LBS Road, Ghatkopar West due to which the roads leading from Ghatkopar east to west have been completely blocked for traffic. As a result, cranes, excavators, and hydra expected to come to the rescue site were delayed,” alleged former corporator Rakhee Jadhav, president of Mumbai Regional NCP. “On one hand, the relatives of the innocent people who lost their lives are grieving, on the other hand, there is jubilation of Prime Minister Modi and his BJP. After such a serious accident, the said roadshow should have been postponed! However, this proves that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP stalwart leaders are insensitive towards the plight of the common people,” she said.
16 May,2024 07:25 AM IST | Mumbai | Team mid-daySpecial polling centres have been set up for the policemen in Mumbai, Thane and Mira Bhayander and Vasai Virar (MBVV) to cast their votes in the fourth phase of the Lok Sabha elections. Six polling centers have been established for the six Lok Sabha seats in Mumbai city. Police officers and personnel affiliated with the Mumbai Police Commissionerate will cast their votes on May 14, 15, and 16. Besides, a polling center has been designated in Thane City for the police officers and personnel of MBVV and Thane Commissionerate. Earlier, those from the police would vote through postal ballots. Sources revealed that strict instructions have been issued to all police personnel and senior officers have demanded a 100 per cent voting turnout. After casting their votes, the staff and officers are required to send a photo to their senior officer or the in-charge officer, who will then forward these photos to the senior police officials of the Mumbai police. During the third phase, police personnel living outside Mumbai were given a day’s leave to go to their villages and vote. However, not all police personnel could cover the long distances to their villages to cast their vote and return in one day. Police personnel who could not vote said that a postal vote was better suited for them. No matter where a person is posted, he can vote through postal ballots. Police personnel who voted at the aforementioned centers revealed that many of them prioritised Maratha reservation issues. They considered basic facilities like reservations, access to good housing, and admission to quality schools for their children. It was evident that they revered Balasaheb and have not forgotten his love and loyalty towards the Marathi people.
16 May,2024 07:18 AM IST | Mumbai | Samiullah KhanADVERTISEMENT
