Thane: Two Shiv Sena functionaries removed after money shower before portrait of Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde's mentor

The Shiv Sena has removed two officebearers of its Thane unit after a video showed some people dancing and showering currency notes in front a portrait of late Anand Dighe the mentor of Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde reported news agency PTIThe incident took place on September 12 during the Ganesh festivalA video showed Shiv Sena functionaries dancing and showering money in front of the portrait of Dighe at Anand Ashram from where the latter used to run the Thane unit of the Shiv Sena reported PTIThe clip later went viral on social mediaMaharashtra CM Eknath Shinde and Thane Shiv Sena MP Naresh Mhaske had expressed disapproval calling the incident highly unpleasant and contrary to the respectful manner in which Dighe celebrated such occasions reported PTIAs per an order issued by Mhaske on Saturday night the two party officebearers have been dismissed in connection with the matter Their posts were not specified in the order reported PTIThe CMs party stressed on the need for appropriate conduct during celebrationsGive us a bigger mandate we will double Ladki Bahin aid amount to Rs 3000 CM ShindeMaharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Saturday said if people give a bigger mandate to the ruling Mahayuti in the upcoming state polls the government would double the Ladki Bahin schemes monthly financial assistance amount to Rs 3000 reported PTIAt present the government pays Rs 1500 per month to the beneficiaries of the Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana the Mahayuti governments flagship financial assistance scheme for women in the state reported PTIThe Shinde dispensation introduced the scheme in this years budget and rolled it out last monthSpeaking at a public event in Paranda tehsil in Dharashiv district Shinde said We started the Ladki Bahin scheme offering Rs 1500 to eligible women every month If you increase our strength we will raise the monthly amount to Rs 2000 If you give a bigger mandate we will increase it to Rs 3000 We will not hesitate to take up this amount further reported PTIThe opposition criticises us saying the state government would later close the scheme citing empty coffers But they should not forget that the state exchequer is for people he said reported PTIHe said when his government reduced the fares of staterun buses by 50 per cent for women passengers concerns were raised and it was said that the move would lead to more losses for the state transport corporationOn the contrary following the launch of the initiative there was a significant surge in women using the bus service ultimately leading to the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation MSRTC getting a profitable outcome he said reported PTIThe government aims to empower women by encouraging them to invest in entrepreneurial endeavours thereby enabling individuals from humble backgrounds to achieve financial success he saidTaking a swipe at Shiv Sena UBT president and former chief minister Uddhav Thackeray over his Facebook live public addresses during the COVID19 pandemic Shinde said Such live streaming is not sufficient to run a government You need facetoface interaction with people to understand their issues reported PTIWith inputs from PTI