Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis on Wednesday moved into 'Varsha', his official residence in south Mumbai nearly five months after taking oath as the state chief minister. It is after a gap of nearly five-and-a-half years that CM Fadnavis will be residing at the same place, which was his official home during his first stint as the chief minister from 2014 to 2019. Fadnavis had vacated the official residence in November 2019 after his second tenure as the chief minister lasted only 80 hours. After becoming the Leader of Opposition during the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government led by Uddhav Thackeray, CM Fadnavis moved to 'Sagar' where he continued to reside as the state's deputy CM. Despite taking oath as the CM on December 5, 2024, CM Fadnavis stayed at 'Sagar' bunglow till now. In February, Shiv Sena UBT leader Sanjay Raut had claimed that horns of buffaloes sacrificed in Guwahati during Deputy CM Eknath Shinde's visit to the Kamakhya temple were buried on the premises of 'Varsha' so that the CM's post should not go to anybody else other than Ekanth Shinde. Dismissing Sanjay Raut's claims, CM Fadnavis had said at that time, "I will move into 'Varsha' bungalow once Eknath Shinde vacates it. Some minor repairs are also being carried out. In the meantime, my daughter, who is in Class 10, requested that we shift only after her exams. That is the reason I have not moved in yet." In a post on X, Fadnavis' wife Amruta on Wednesday said a small puja was performed on the occasion of Akshay Tritiya, an auspicious day. Following the puja "griha pravesh" was done at Varsha. सर्वांना अक्षय तृतीयेनिमित्त हार्दिक शुभेच्छा.आजच्या शुभमुहूर्तावर वर्षा या निवासस्थानी आम्ही छोटीशी पूजा संपन्न करीत गृहप्रवेश केला.आजच्या दिवशीची आणखी एक अत्यंत आनंदाची बातमी आपल्या सर्वांना सांगताना मन खुशीने भरून गेलंय, आमची सुकन्या दिविजा ही १०वी च्या बोर्ड परीक्षेत ९२.६०… pic.twitter.com/l03aLKE2Ak — AMRUTA FADNAVIS (@fadnavis_amruta) April 30, 2025 CM Fadnavis' daughter Divija passed her class X exams with 92.60 per cent results which were declared on Wednesday, Amruta Fadnavis further wrote on X. Results for the Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE) exams for Classes 10 and 12 have been declared, chief executive Joseph Emmanuel said on Wednesday. In Class 10 exams, the pass percentage of girls stood at 99.45, while that of boys was marginally lower at 98.64. In Class 12, girls' pass percentage was 99.45 against boys' pass percentage of 98.64. (with PTI inputs)
30 April,2025 05:39 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentAmruta Fadnavis, wife of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, took to social media and said that their daughter, Divija, had passed her 10th board examinations with an impressive score of 92.60 per cent. In her message, she mentioned that a puja was performed at Varsha, the official residence of the Maharashtra Chief Minister, to mark the auspicious day. Adding to the celebratory spirit, Amruta Fadnavis expressed her joy and pride as a mother, revealing that their daughter, Divija, had passed her boardexaminations. सर्वांना अक्षय तृतीयेनिमित्त हार्दिक शुभेच्छा.आजच्या शुभमुहूर्तावर वर्षा या निवासस्थानी आम्ही छोटीशी पूजा संपन्न करीत गृहप्रवेश केला.आजच्या दिवशीची आणखी एक अत्यंत आनंदाची बातमी आपल्या सर्वांना सांगताना मन खुशीने भरून गेलंय, आमची सुकन्या दिविजा ही १०वी च्या बोर्ड परीक्षेत ९२.६०… pic.twitter.com/l03aLKE2Ak — AMRUTA FADNAVIS (@fadnavis_amruta) April 30, 2025 Akshaya Tritiya, celebrated across India, is believed to bring good fortune and lasting prosperity. It is traditionally marked by starting new ventures, purchasing gold, or conducting housewarming ceremonies and pujas. CISCE board results for Classes 10, 12 declared Results for the Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE) exams for Classes 10 and 12 have been declared, chief executive Joseph Emmanuel said on Wednesday. "Candidates and stakeholders can check the results using the CISCE website or the CAREERS portal of the board. The results can also be accessed through Digilocker," Emmanuel said. The improvement exams for Class 10 (ICSE) and Class 12 (ISC) will be conducted in July. CISCE board results: Girls outshine boys in class 10, 12 by small margin Girls outshone boys yet again in the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE) class 10 and 12 exams results declared on Wednesday. In class 10 exams, the pass percentage of girls stood at 99.45 per cent while that of boys was marginally lower at 98.64 per cent. Similarly, girls performed better than boys in class 12 too, with girls' pass percentage at 99.45 per cent and boys' pass percentage at 98.64 per cent. The ICSE examination (Class 10) was conducted in 67 written subjects, of which 20 were Indian languages and 14 were foreign languages and 1 was a classical language. The ISC examination (Class 12) was conducted in 47 written subjects, 12 of them Indian languages, four foreign languages and two classical languages. "Candidates and stakeholders can check the results using the CISCE website or the CAREERS portal of the board. The results can also be accessed through Digilocker," chief executive Joseph Emmanuel said. The improvement exams for Class 10 (ICSE) and Class 12 (ISC) will be conducted in July.
30 April,2025 05:37 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThe Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) on Wednesday launched 'One Stop Crisis Centre', an initiative to support women and children facing sexual harassment and violence in Mumbai, an official statement said. It said that the 'One Stop Crisis Centre' has been launched to offer all-round support to women and children facing sexual harassment and violence. The initiative has been jointly launched by the BMC and the Savitribai Phule Women’s Resource Centre, the statement said. The statement said that to provide comprehensive support to women and children in cases of sexual abuse, the BMC and the Savitribai Phule Women’s Resource Centre have jointly established the 'One Stop Crisis Centre'. "Under the Responsible Netism initiative, a Cyber Wellness Centre has also been started to promote cyber safety for women and children. It aims to provide services such as counselling, legal aid, and technical help in cases of online abuse and harassment," the official statement said. It said that the inauguration ceremony was held at the Savitribai Phule Women's Resource Centre in Parel. Actor Sonali Kulkarni attended the event and honoured individuals for their exceptional contribution to fight sexual harassment. Speaking at the event, Kulkarni said, “Women today are achieving success across all fields, which is a matter of great pride. We must remain alert to prevent workplace harassment, and we must raise our voices against any form of abuse – this is not just a responsibility but a duty.” At the event, Chanda Jadhav, Deputy Commissioner (Special) and Chairperson of the Women’s Resource Committee at BMC, shared details about the new centres. She said, "the Cyber Wellness Centre will work with schools, underprivileged communities, and municipal staff to raise awareness about cyber safety. The centre will also offer free legal and counselling services related to cyber crimes." The statement said that the BMC has been actively working against sexual harassment since 1997 and has formed 92 internal committees across departments. The committees conduct awareness programs and training sessions. The BMC was the first municipal body in India to adopt the Vishakha Guidelines issued by the Supreme Court on preventing workplace sexual harassment. In 2003, the corporation also created a dedicated policy for a harassment-free workplace.
30 April,2025 05:04 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentWater supply in some parts of Thane district in Maharashtra will be affected on May 2 and May 3 due to maintenance work, the civic officials said on Wednesday. According to the Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC), a planned water supply shutdown will be undertaken due to maintenance work by the Shahad-Temghar (STEM) authority. The water supply shutdown will begin on Friday, May 2 at 9 am and will continue until Saturday, May 3 at 9 am. "To reduce inconvenience to the people, the civic body has arranged for a one-time water supply during this period instead of a full 24-hour cut-off," the officials said. Areas in Thane which would be affected during the maintenance work- From 9 am to 9 pm on May 2 (Friday): Water supply will be affected in areas including Ghodbunder Road, Patlipada, Balkum, Brahmand, Pawar Nagar, Kothari Compound, Dongripada, and Waghbil. From 9 pm May 2, (Friday) to 9 am on May 3, (Saturday): Water supply will be stopped in Samata Nagar, Rutu Park, Siddheshwar, Eternity, Johnson, Jail, Saket, Uthalsar, Retibandar, Kalwa, and parts of Mumbra. "Once the water supply resumes to normal, the residents may experience low water pressure for the next 1 to 2 days," TMC said, adding that the citizens are advised to store water in advance and use it judiciously during the water supply disruptions. Earlier, the TMC had announced a 24-hour water cut due to maintenance work on April 24. It had said that a 24-hour water cut was planned due to the maintenance work at the Jambhul Water Purification Plant, operated by the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC), it said. The repair and maintenance activities were carried out from 12 am on Thursday, April 24 to 12 am on Friday, April 25. The areas then affected were: Diva, Mumbra (excluding parts of Ward No. 26 and 31), Kalwa Ward– all areas, under Vartak Nagar Ward-- Rupadevi Pada, Kisan Nagar No. 2, Nehru Nagar, Majiwada and under Manpada Ward-- Kolseet Khalsa Gaon. The Thane Municipal Corporation had stated that the water pressure may remain low for some days after the work was completed.
30 April,2025 04:12 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentDeven Bharti has been appointed as the new Mumbai Police Commissioner, taking over the role as Vivek Phansalkar is set to retire today after serving the force for 35 years. Bharti, an Indian Police Service (IPS) officer, previously held the position of Special Commissioner of Mumbai Police starting in January 2023. The post of Mumbai Police Commissioner, originally intended for the Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) rank, has now been restored to its original level. While the post had been upgraded to the Director General (DG) rank in recent years, with officers such as Dattatray Padsalgikar, Subodh Jaiswal, and Param Bir Singh taking charge at this level, the state home department has issued an order downgrading the position back to the ADGP rank. An official confirmed that Bharti will assume the role at this level, marking a return to the previous structure. Rakesh Maria was the last officer to serve as Mumbai Police Commissioner at the ADGP rank in 2014 before the post was upgraded. Since then, several senior officers have taken the helm, including Sanjay Barve, Hemant Nagrale, and Sanjay Pandey, who held the DG rank during their tenures. Today marks the last day of Vivek Phansalkar as Mumbai Police Commissioner, and Bharti will take charge of Mumbai police commissioner at 4pm today. Phansalkar is retiring on Wednesday after serving the police force for 35 years. A 1994-batch IPS (Indian Police Service) officer, Bharti is currently the special commissioner of the Mumbai police. Before that, he had served the 50,000-strong police force in the metropolis in various capacities, including as joint commissioner of police (law and order), additional commissioner of police (crime), and deputy commissioner of police (crime). In his long career, he has also headed the Maharashtra Anti Terrorism Squad (ATS), besides serving as the inspector general of police (law and order ) in the state police headquarters. Before being assigned to the Mumbai police, Bharti had also served on central deputation. Known for his investigative skills, Bharti has been a part of many high-profile cases, including the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack in which 166 people were killed.
30 April,2025 01:37 PM IST | Mumbai | Faizan KhanDeven Bharti, a 1994-batch Indian Police Service (IPS) officer, has been appointed as the new Mumbai Police Commissioner, taking over from Vivek Phansalkar, who retires today. Bharti will assume charge at 4pm, with the post now restored to its original rank of Additional Director General of Police (ADGP), as confirmed by the state home department. who is Bharti? Bharti’s career spans nearly three decades, with significant time served in Mumbai. He began his policing journey in the Naxal-affected region of Gadchiroli, where he was posted first as Additional Superintendent of Police, and later as Superintendent. He subsequently held the SP post in Amravati and Akola before moving on deputation to the Intelligence Bureau from 1998 to 2003. He got his first posting in Mumbai as Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), Special Branch-II in 2003. He was later promoted to DCP (Detection) in the Crime Branch, a key position in the city’s crime fighting arm. Over the years, successive governments have entrusted Bharti with top-level positions, recognising his deep familiarity with Mumbai’s law and order challenges. He has held posts including Additional Commissioner of Police (Crime), Inspector General, Joint Commissioner of Police (Law and Order), a tenure lasting four years from 2015 to 2019, one of the longest in the role. During the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, he was briefly transferred to the Economic Offences Wing as Joint Commissioner. Following this, he served as the chief of Maharashtra's Anti-Terrorism Squad and later as the Managing Director of the Maharashtra State Security Corporation under the Maha Vikas Aghadi government. Throughout his career, Bharti has been involved in investigating several high-profile and sensitive cases. He played a key role in the probe into the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks and the murder of Mid-Day’s senior crime editor J Dey. He was also among the officers who oversaw the execution of Ajmal Kasab, the lone surviving terrorist from 26/11. His efforts in dismantling the Indian Mujahideen’s operations in Maharashtra have been widely noted. While the post had been upgraded to Director General (DG) rank in recent years, the latest appointment marks a return to the ADGP level, a position last held in 2014 by Rakesh Maria before being elevated. Since then, Mumbai’s police commissioners have included Ahmed Javed, Dattatray Padsalgikar, Subodh Jaiswal, Sanjay Barve, Param Bir Singh, Hemant Nagrale, Sanjay Pandey, and most recently, Vivek Phansalkar, all of DG rank. Before today’s appointment, Bharti was serving as Mumbai’s first Special Commissioner of Police since January 2023.
30 April,2025 01:36 PM IST | Mumbai | Faizan KhanA massive fire that broke out at Link Square Mall in Mumbai’s Bandra West locality was finally brought under control after more than 22 hours of continuous firefighting, civic authorities confirmed early on Wednesday. According to PTI, the blaze first erupted around 4:10 am on Tuesday in the basement of the three-storey commercial structure located on Linking Road. The fire, which began in an electronics showroom, rapidly spread to the upper floors of the mall, which houses more than 200 shops and establishments. The Mumbai Fire Brigade classified the incident as a Level IV (major) fire by 6:25 am on Tuesday, prompting a full-scale emergency response. The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) also joined the operation to help contain the flames and ensure safety in the area. Fortunately, no injuries or casualties were reported, civic officials told PTI. However, the mall suffered extensive damage, with large portions completely gutted by the fire. It took around 13 hours to initially bring the fire under control with the help of 13 fire engines and several water tankers and firefighting vehicles. The final extinguishing of remaining hot spots and smouldering materials continued until 1:41 am on Wednesday. Ravindra Ambulgekar, Chief of the Mumbai Fire Brigade, stated that an inquiry has been launched into the cause of the fire. Speaking to news agency PTI, he said, “The mall was packed with combustible items, and there were no proper access routes. Partitioned layouts inside made navigation extremely difficult. Smoke and fire easily travelled between shops through mesh shutters.” Questions have been raised over the handling of the situation. Former legislator Zeeshan Siddique alleged that lapses in response contributed to the spread of the blaze. In response, Maharashtra cabinet minister and local BJP MLA Ashish Shelar said he has directed the civic commissioner, Bhushan Gagrani, to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the matter. This incident happened just two days after another big fire on Sunday at a building with the Enforcement Directorate (ED) office in Mumbai’s Ballard Estate. The fire, reported at approximately 2.31 am at the Kaiser-I-Hind building, involved a fire that was initially confined to wooden furniture and office materials located on the fourth floor of the building. The structure, a basement-plus-ground-plus-upper-four-floors building with an attic, faced significant challenges due to smoke logging on the fourth floor. Firefighters struggled to access certain areas because of obstructing furniture stock that was kept in common passages and balconies. (With inputs from PTI)
30 April,2025 01:23 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentWhile on Monday the residents of 19 dilapidated buildings near Elphinstone bridge were assured by the state government that they would be rehabilitated in the same area to facilitate the demolition and reconstruction of the bridge, just a few kilometres away, the residents of 15 buildings—who have been served eviction notices by the Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA)—remain clueless about their future. If the residents of Elphinstone are being heard and given justice, then why can’t the residents of Lalbaug be heard? If there is a disagreement between parties that is delaying redevelopment, they can certainly approach higher authorities. The authorities will be duty-bound to help them without bias. If this can be done for one group of residents, it should be done for others as well,” said local MLA Ajay Choudhary. MHADA’s evacuation notice displayed inside the premises of Narayan Ashram Building No 6. Pics/Shadab Khan When it comes to building redevelopment, residents’ opposition is often a major hurdle. But in the case of Narayan Ashram (Building No 6) in Lalbaug, it’s not the tenants blocking the process—it’s a dispute between the landowner and a potential developer. Last year, MHADA declared the building dilapidated and has since issued multiple notices to both the landowner and the tenants. A recent notice sent to Lalbaugcha Raja idol maker Santosh Kambli stated that he must vacate his flat immediately due to a dangerously tilted wall. “The rear side of the wall between shop no 4 and 5 is buckled and has settled. It is in a dilapidated condition and may collapse at any moment, resulting in loss of life and property. It is therefore necessary to vacate the premises immediately to avoid danger,” the notice read. However, Kambli is refusing to vacate. “We’re not against redevelopment,” he said. “But how do you expect us to give consent without knowing who the developer is? A few days ago, our landowner said he was in talks with a developer and showed us some paperwork. We insisted on meeting the developer, but that hasn't happened yet. Meanwhile, the landowner keeps delaying things on technical grounds, and now we’re being harassed by the authorities through such notices.” “We are not against our landowner either—we’re just stuck. We’ll give our consent once a developer is finalised and introduced to us,” he added. Meanwhile, residents of Narayan Ashram Building No 7 have already agreed to redevelopment. Their landowner has signed a joint venture with Bhagwati Developers. “We’ve completed all the necessary paperwork and submitted our proposal to MHADA,” said Kulin Vohra, proprietor of Bhagwati Developers. “We hope Building No 6 joins in too. Redeveloping a single building attached to others is difficult in a cramped area like Ganesh Gully. Joint redevelopment will benefit everyone.” Why some are upset? While all residents of Building No 6 appear willing to proceed with redevelopment, trust issues with the landowner have stalled the process. “There’s been a lot of back and forth from the landowner. We don’t understand the delay—when both residents and a developer are ready, what’s the holdup?” asked one resident. “The process can move ahead smoothly under Section 79(A) of the MHADA Act. But because of these delays, we’re now considering invoking 79(B) to bypass the owner. The only problem is, many tenants are scared they’ll be targeted if they take that step.” Exterior view of Narayan Ashram Buildings No 6 and 7, both declared dilapidated by MHADA. Pics/Shadab Khan Another resident added, “Talks have been going on for three to four years. Frustrated, we recently renovated our house. And now, if they’re asking us to vacate immediately, that money’s wasted.” When questioned, the owner of Building No 6, Prasad Gavankar, said, “Matters are under development. More details will be shared when there’s progress.” Understanding MHADA Act Section 79(A) mandates compulsory redevelopment for cessed buildings declared dangerous by MHADA or its repair board. Once a notice is issued, property owners have three months to act. If they don’t, occupants have six additional months to propose redevelopment. Section 79(B) allows tenants to submit a redevelopment proposal themselves if the owner fails to act within the given timeframe. Both Narayan Ashram buildings are among the 13,800 buildings MHADA has identified for redevelopment in the city. Meanwhile, 13 other buildings along the same lane are facing similar issues. “The BMC and MHADA are not on the same page,” said Pagadi Association chairperson Vinita Rane. “All 15 buildings stand on BMC-owned land leased to landowners, but were constructed by MHADA. MHADA hasn’t coordinated with BMC, so issues like collapsing walls are neglected in the blame game.” Rane added, “When we asked MHADA officials to inspect the tilted wall, they seemed clueless. They didn’t even know how to implement 79(A). The miscommunication and lack of knowledge among authorities are putting residents under tremendous stress.” Despite multiple calls from mid-day, MHADA officials declined to comment.
30 April,2025 01:00 PM IST | Mumbai | Ritika GondhalekarNCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar on Wednesday backed the Congress' demand for a special session of Parliament to discuss the Pahalgam terror attack and said this would send out the message that the country is united, reported news agency PTI. Addressing a press conference after attending the consecration ceremony at a temple, Pawar called the bloody massacre of tourists in the Kashmir Valley an attack on the country. "The entire country is united on this issue. All parties and Parliament are united. A special session (on Pahalgam) would be useful to send this message to the world," Sharad Pawar said, reported PTI. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi have written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging him to convene a special session of Parliament to discuss the Pahalgam terror attack and demonstrate a collective resolve. Twenty-six people, mostly tourists, were killed and several were injured when terrorists opened fire at a meadow near the popular tourist town of Pahalgam in south Kashmir's Anantnag district on April 22. Several opposition MPs have made a similar demand to the government in the wake of the dastardly Pahalgam terror attack in which 26 people, mostly tourists, were killed last week, evoking anger and public outrage. In the letter to the prime minister, Kharge said, "At this moment, when unity and solidarity is essential, the opposition believes that it is important to convene a special session of both Houses of Parliament at the earliest. "This will be a powerful demonstration of our collective resolve and willpower to deal with the brutal Pahalgam terror attack on innocent citizens on April 22. It is our fond hope that the session will be accordingly convened," the leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha added, reported PTI. Gandhi too wrote a letter to PM Modi with the same request and said the Pahalgam massacre has outraged every Indian. "At this critical time, India must show that we will always stand together against terrorism. The Opposition believes that a special session of both Houses of Parliament should be convened, where the representatives of the people can show their unity and determination." "We request that such a special session be convened at the earliest," he added. Sharing his letter to the prime minister on X, Gandhi said, "At this critical time, India must show that we always stand together against terrorism." (With inputs from PTI)
30 April,2025 12:57 PM IST | Thane | mid-day online correspondentOn Wednesday, Shiv Sena UBT leader Sanjay Raut criticised the government for its intelligence failure that resulted in the tragic terror attack on tourists in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir. He urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to demand the resignation of Home Minister Amit Shah as a consequence. "Security of J-K was already in the hands of the Army, but the attack happened. Action should first be taken on the Home Department, as the government is repeatedly making mistakes. The Prime Minister should accept Amit Shah's resignation," Raut stated during a press conference in Mumbai, reported news agency ANI. Criticising the recent meeting led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during which it was mentioned that the Armed Forces possess full operational freedom to respond to the Pahalgam terror attack, Raut pointed out that the Army already had autonomy, yet an attack still occurred. "Look, giving free hand to the army is not a big deal, our Indian army is very big. Just yesterday, we saw that Rafale has been purchased. 27 Rafale aircraft worth Rs 60,000 crore have been purchased. The PM has given a free hand to the army, and Kashmir is a part of India because of the army. The army had a free hand in Kashmir too, still there was an attack," Raut noted, reported ANI. Raut emphasised that responsibility cannot be entirely passed on to the soldiers; the political leadership must also bear some accountability. He stated, "You claim we have empowered our soldiers completely, but what about the role of the political leadership in this? You can't just delegate the issue to the army and overlook it. You hold responsibility, as does the country's home ministry. Why did the intelligence fail? What action were you taking," reported ANI. Raut further supported action against Pakistan, but said that the government is instead banning YouTube channels. "You closed a YouTube channel, that is not revenge, it is a drama, it is a channel of India, 4 PM, you closed it without notice, what kind of democracy is this?" Raut questioned. Sanjay Raut criticised the government's response to the Pulwama attack, stating that besides shedding tears, a film emerged seven years later. "It has been 7 years for the Pulwama incident, what action was taken, 40 lives were lost, how to do Josh, a film came out, you tell me what is Josh, where did your Kashmir files come out, everyone from the Prime Minister to everyone else went out wiping their tears, what has happened now," the UBT leader questioned, reported ANI. "Now your file should be taken out, Home Ministry files, what will you do, at the most you will put me in jail," Raut added, reported ANI. The Pahalgam terror attack, which claimed 26 lives in Jammu and Kashmir, was one of the deadliest attacks in the region since the 2019 Pulwama strike, which claimed the lives of 40 Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) jawans. (With ANI inputs)
30 April,2025 12:29 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThe Samajwadi Party on Tuesday appealed to the Mumbai Police Commissioner Vivek Phansalkar to ban all organisations irrespective of their religious link, spreading hatred, inciting violence, threatening the public, issuing economic boycott and dividing people on the basis of faith, religion, region and language, reported news agency IANS. It also demanded that the fundamental rights and freedom of every citizen to do business, trade and occupation be protected by the state as per its constitutional duty. It further demanded that the atmosphere of peace and justice must prevail in the state as per the Constitution. The Samajwadi Party sought the Mumbai Police Commissioner’s help, especially in the wake of the attack on Muslims at Dadar, Vakola, Vikhroli, Nalasopara, and an atmosphere is being created against them after the Pahalgam terror attack, reported IANS. In a letter addressed to the Mumbai Police Commissioner, the Samajwadi Party Mumbai chief Abu Azmi said that false propaganda, hate speech and incidents of false police complaints against masjid, dargah and Muslim hawkers have increased to an alarming proportion, which is creating enmity between different religious groups and communal tensions in the state. The Samajwadi Party further said the minorities, especially Muslims, are feeling insecure due to the rising hostility of fanatic forces all over Maharashtra. “The fanatic persons and organisations in the state, including the minister Nitesh Rane and others, have created such a virulent atmosphere in the state which has endangered and threatened lives, liberties, properties, fundamental rights and human rights of Maharashtra Muslims,” added the party, reported IANS. It has demanded action against the miscreants and organisations as per the verdict of the Supreme Court in the hate speech case. “We demand the rule of law and justice prevail in the most transparent manner by bringing the enemies of peace, law and constitution to book, and such violators of law be given the harshest and severest punishment. Such acts will be helpful to restore the confidence of minorities, weaker sections and secular people in law, administration and government,” said Azmi in a letter, reported IANS. Earlier, the Samajwadi Party activists staged a protest at Azad Maidan. (With inputs from IANS)
30 April,2025 12:22 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentADVERTISEMENT
