What lies beneath A young woman gets a closer view of the water off the Gateway of India. Dowe shalt not forget Stacky! Keith Stackpole at Lord’s in 1972. Pic/Getty Images Along with on-field performances and heroics, it’s the humorous incidents that make sport a pleasure to follow. Keith Stackpole, the Australian opening batsman, who passed away in Victoria at the age of 74 earlier this week, caused one of the most popular stories to emerge from the Caribbean. Australia undertook a tour of the West Indies in 1973 and Stackpole was typically aggressive while facing a West Indies pace bowler called Uton Dowe (who had made his debut against India in 1971), in the first Test at Jamaica. As Dowe was being hit regularly by Stackpole, a smart spectator at Sabina Park yelled out to Rohan Kanhai, the West Indies captain. “Kanhai,” he asked, “haven’t you heard of the 11th commandment? Dowe shall not bowl.” Stackpole scored 44 and 142 in that Test match. Cricket pundits believe that only a West Indian spectator could come up with such a witty remark. And not many would contest that. A special hangout indeed Find out what is neurodivergence, at the event If you want to share some warmth and love this morning, head on over to the NCPA. The Special Hangout collective that works with neurodivergent children is showing up on the road opposite the NCPA to spread awareness about everything that comes under the umbrella of neurodivergence such as autism, dyslexia, and many more. Ritu Vig, one of the parents who founded the collective for children and parents with children who are divergent, says, “It’s basically to inform and to generate awareness.” The collective will hold a pop quiz for those who attend, to gauge what they know about neurodivergence. “We can fill in the gaps in knowledge about things that neurotypical people may not know about. It’s a fun and interactive hangout even for our kids who love socialising with new people,” Vig adds. It’s called the Happy Street Autism Awareness Event—so for anyone who might want to know more, get there between 8 am and 10 am, and make new friends with kids who have a special place in our hearts already! Ritu Vig Waxing poetic The WAXED collection is now on display at Aequo Gallery, Colaba When French designer Frédéric Imbert first came to India to learn the art of Dhokra, the lost-wax technique of bronze sculpting, it wasn’t just the gleaming metallic final product that fascinated him—it was the black wax oozing out of the cast, to be discarded as waste with its job done. This “cast-off” became the inspiration and one of the primary materials in Imbert’s new collection, WAXED, now on display at Aequo Gallery in Colaba. We learnt about the exhibit during the second edition of Soho House’s new Art Brunch series, where the club invites international talents to build immersive creative experiences for members. Speaking to us at the event on Saturday, Imbert tells us, “The bronze casting process is mesmerising—raw, powerful, and incredibly beautiful. Since I sculpt the furniture I produce, it felt particularly well-suited to me.” Frédéric Imbert A new experience of Sindh Raju Khetwani After a decade-long wait, the Sunhri Sindh 2.0, organised by the Federation of Associations of Sindhis Thane, is making a return. Scheduled from May 1-4 at Upvan Lake, Thane, the fair will run daily from 5 pm to 10 pm. “The celebration highlights Sindhi traditions and cultural diversity, connecting the community globally and showcasing our social and cultural aspirations,” says Raju Khetwani, the event’s organiser. The event promises a deep dive into Sindh’s glorious past and vibrant present. Included will be a life-size recreation of Mohenjo-Daro, and a haunting 3D train structure that captures the anguish of Partition. The festival offers iconic Sindhi cuisine such as Sai Bhaji, Dal Pakwan and Sindhi Kadhi. Authentic crafts like Ajrakh prints, Sindhi topis, mirror-embroidered garments and handcrafted artefacts will also be available. Log(o) kya kahenge? Former BG president Ashok Rao (L) with president Sanjiv Saran Mehra With the Bombay Gymkhana Club at Fort marking 150 years, events celebrating the landmark are on through the year. Yet what is a milestone without a marker? The club got the new landmark logo on its door at the entrance facing Fashion Street. Decoding the logo, the club’s spokesman said, “The classic ‘BG’ monogram anchors the identity, while the addition of ‘150 years’ framed by laurel leaves symbolises excellence and triumph. The use of gold is about prestige and success, while the circular emblem and ribbon tie the design to its timeless roots.” Profound and deep as the pockets you need today to become a BG member, or in fact, of any elite clubs in Mumbai. Meanwhile, nifty 150, BG!
27 April,2025 07:33 AM IST | Mumbai | Team mid-dayIn an effort to mitigate the loss of life and property resulting from frequent blazes being witnessed across Mumbai, Mumbai Police organised specialised firefighting training for its personnel at Mulund police station yesterday. The initiative was started upon recognising that police personnel are often the first responders at the scene. The sessions are meant for not only immediate action to control fires, but also to prevent further escalation. The session was carried out under the guidance of Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone 7) Vijaykant Sagar and conducted by Bharati Fire Engineers. Additionally, fire extinguisher cylinders were provided to be placed in police vehicles as well as the premises of the Mulund Police Station as well.
27 April,2025 07:31 AM IST | Mumbai | Aishwarya IyerThe Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has decided to open up land for schools to be developed by private parties—a proposal rejected thrice earlier. This time, it’s serious: EOIs (Expressions of Interest) are being invited after the state government greenlit the proposal in 2023. The plan, which was previously rejected in 2012 and then in 2017-18, is to hand over some of its municipal school properties to private organisations under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model. Vacant land at Kumbharwada, Marine Lines Why is a plan rejected three times across party lines being brought back now? To understand this policy revival and to dive deeper into what it could mean for public education in Mumbai, Sunday mid-day spoke to civic officials, educationists, and other key stakeholders. What’s happening This time the BMC decided to give reserved plots to private parties who are working in the education field, to build and run the school. However, education experts claim this is a move towards making the education system a paid one. A former officer of the civic education department said that the earlier proposals were for running the BMC school building, and faced opposition. But now the education department has decided to give land reserved for schools to private parties. “This reservation can’t change,” he added. Multiple rejections The PPP model for civic schools was first tabled in 2012 but faced strong opposition from elected corporators across political parties. The proposal was tabled again in 2017, and at that time the aim was to restart 35 municipal schools, most of them vernacular medium, which had been shut down due to dwindling enrolment. The idea was to revive these as English-medium schools, entirely managed by private entities. However, the education committee rejected the plan. “There were serious concerns about exclusion,” a former corporator told this reporter, requesting anonymity. “One of the criteria required private organisations to have an annual turnover of R 5 crore. This was seen as shutting the door on smaller NGOs and trusts which had experience but not financial muscle.” Other corporators then, including former Shiv Sena leaders Sheetal Mhatre and Snehal Ambekar, demanded more transparency and oversight. A major sticking point was the absence of a scrutiny committee, which the then councillors demanded, comprising the Mayor and Standing Committee Chairperson. Despite some support from within the civic body, such as then-NCP corporator Dr Saeeda Khan and Rajpati Yadav of the Congress, the proposal was shelved after its third rejection in June 2018. Sushil Shejule; Heramb Kulkarni, educationist and Dr Amit Saini, Additional Municipal Commissioner Why now? While the state government policy of 2023 mentions adoption of the school, the BMC has decided to give seven land parcels which are reserved for education purposes, and which will be used only for school. These schools will be run by private parties for 30 years. Additional Municipal Commissioner Dr Amit Saini says, “We are giving school land, not school buildings, to the private parties. These parties will run a school for 30 years, with 25 per cent of seats reserved for RTE admission.” According to the proposal, the selected party can run any medium and any boarding school like HSC, CBSE, ICSE, IGCSE, or IB, and the BMC will not put any restrictions on the fees, although the school administration will be expected to follow government norms about fees. The BMC is expected to earn revenue from the scheme, with minor revenue sharing of 3 to 10 per cent every year. However, critics point out that if this were simply about outcomes, the BMC would invest in training, infrastructure, and governance reform—areas that remain underfunded. Concerns resurface The planned revival of the project has drawn sharp responses from educationists and rights activists. Many argue that introducing private players into civic education could deepen inequalities. Although some educationists argue that this may improve infrastructure and pedagogy in BMC schools, many of which suffer from low enrolment and poor learning outcomes, they also fear that privatisation would lead to high fees and kill the free education that civic-run schools provided. Activists, on the other hand, fear this could be the back door to full privatisation and exclusion of underprivileged children. Teachers’ unions have also expressed concern about job security and the fate of non-teaching staff, while parent groups worry that access to free, quality education could be compromised in the name of efficiency. Activists, parents worried Basanti Roy, former Division Secretary of the Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Education, Mumbai division, said, “I can see this as a move towards paid education. If the BMC is not ready to give free education, then who will give it? If the BMC takes this step because they are not getting students, then how can private schools get students? The BMC should question why, if Zilla Parishad schools are getting students, why not BMC schools?” Arundhati Chavan, President of the Parent-Teacher Association United Forum, said, “What about free education? If a private party runs these schools, they will decide fees—there will be no control over the fees. It will be the opposite of free education. While BMC-run CBSE Board English medium schools are getting good responses from the parents, then why does BMC need private parties to run schools on public land,” Chavan added. “The first thing to understand here is the BMC’s motive behind the school privatisation plan,” said Heramb Kulkarni, a well-known activist and educationist. “Is it being done simply to save money from the civic coffers? If so, that would be a misguided move. The BMC should not withdraw funding from these schools and hand over complete control to private entities, whether by granting them land parcels or operational rights.” Moreover, Kulkarni added, the timeline for implementing a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model should be strictly limited to five years. “Extending it to 30 years risks creating monopolies. Renewals, if necessary, can be considered after five years,” he said. Marathi Study Centre member Sushil Shejule said, “The BMC needs to ensure that these private administrations don’t turn education into a lucrative business. Marathi schools should be given priority and it is recommended that education in the mother tongue should be given priority in the new education policy as well.” BMC’s defence Sources in the BMC argue that the PPP model is a practical response to the crisis faced by civic education. A senior BMC education officer said, “We are not giving school buildings, we are giving land to private parties, which have excellent and bright experience in the field.” The BMC is expected to shortlist eligible private organisations by mid-2025. Construction of the schoold buildings is expected to take two to three years, and the schools will start functioning only after that. How many? The numbers tell the story 1129Schools run by BMC 7398Number of teachers 3,28,348 Total students Rs 60,000Cost to the BMC per student per year
27 April,2025 07:29 AM IST | Mumbai | Sameer Surve | Dipti SinghA 21-year-old delivery man tragically lost his life after being run over by a BEST bus near the Standard Mill bus stop in Prabhadevi on Thursday night. According to eyewitness Milind Ramesh Ambukar, 50, the accident occurred around 8.50 pm. Ambukar, who was waiting for a bus near the Decathlon building, saw a BEST AC bus operating on Route No. 171 (Chunabhatti to Worli) passing and heard a loud noise. Moments later, bystanders saw a scooter lying on Appasaheb Marathe Marg and a young man lying beside it. The man, identified as Sarthak Suryakant Jangam, had been run over by the bus and suffered fatal head injuries. “His skull was fractured,” Ambukar stated. The Prabhadevi police registered a case against the unknown driver under Sections 281 (rash driving) and 106 (death caused by negligence) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (BNS).
27 April,2025 07:24 AM IST | Mumbai | Aishwarya IyerThe BMC removed exposed cables at the Dahisar Anand Nagar flyover within hours of mid-day’s report on the potential safety threat yesterday. While officials claim these are not electricity supply cables, they were situated near an electrical box and caused a scare among motorists. “We immediately alerted the concerned authority and ensured that all cables were removed,” said Nainish Vengurlekar, assistant municipal commissioner, R North ward. Sources claim the cables are not electric supply wires and were kept there during road repair works. “Still, they posed a potential risk to motorists as they were hanging at a spot two-wheelers make U-turns. They have been hanging there for two to three months. After mid-day’s report, action was taken immediately,” said local resident Rajesh Pandya.
27 April,2025 07:17 AM IST | Mumbai | A CorrespondentElphinstone Bridge will remain open till further notice after instructions from Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, following the intervention of local MLA Kalidas Kolambkar. This was preceded by a protest by residents at the demolition site on Friday night. “After our sustained protests there last night, our local MLA Kalidas Kolambkar came to the site and called up Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who has instructed officials to stop the demolition and keep the bridge open till further notice. On Monday, we will be meeting Fadnavis and presenting our demands, followed by a meeting with MMRDA officials on Wednesday or so. The dates and timings are yet to be finalised, but the categorical instruction from the Chief Minister’s office is to keep the bridge open till that date,” local resident Sriram Pawar told Sunday mid-day. The bridge is to be replaced with a double-decker bridge, with the upper deck being built by MMRDA and the lower deck by BMC and MahaRail. It will affect 19 buildings in the vicinity. Though authorities said only two buildings—Haji Noorani and Laxmi Niwas—are directly affected, residents said that it was not the case as per notices received by locals. “Two buildings are affected for the upper-deck foundations which are being done by the MMRDA. They are the ones who have come to demolish the bridge. Once their work is over, they will go away and the construction of the lower deck will affect the rest of the buildings which is not being discussed now. Many of us have been issued notices by MHADA suddenly, stating that our buildings are dilapidated. We want clarity on the matter and proper compensation and rehabilitation,” Pawar said. Kolambkar called up the CM from the site on Friday night and explained the problem. They will soon be meeting to discuss it. Speaking with Sunday Mid-Day, Kolambkar confirmed the development and said that the Chief Minister will discuss the issue and that they shall review the rehabilitation plan of the residents of 19 affected buildings. “I am of the opinion that the issues of the affected residents should be resolved first and then the authorities can begin their planned project work,” he said. The demolition of the bridge, however, would not be carried out immediately, but in phases in a planned manner. While the demolition of the non-railway portion would be carried out by MMRDA, the dismantling of the railway portion would be done by the Maharashtra Rail Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (MahaRail or MRIDC).
27 April,2025 07:01 AM IST | Mumbai | Rajendra B. AklekarA massive fire broke out in the wee hours of Saturday at Broke Land Building near Ashok Academy Lane in Lokhandwala, Andheri West, leaving one person dead and six other injured, including a two-week-old infant. “The fire broke out around 2.30 am and we got the call around 2.40 am. Our quick response team reached there before 3 am and doused the fire, along with evacuating the residents. We suspect the cause of the fire to be a power circuit blast due to excessive use of the air conditioner in flat number 104 on the first floor. The victims were immediately transported and admitted to Kokilaben Hospital and Cooper Hospital,” said Digambar Jagtap, a fire marshal. While none of the residents suffered burns, five were rushed to hospital for smoke inhalation. At Kokilaben Hospital, Abhina Kartik Sanjanvalia, 34, was declared dead before admission. “She died of excessive smoke inhalation. There were no major burn marks. She just had some small marks on her hand and was breathing heavily when brought to the hospital. However, before we could start treating her, she breathed her last,” said a doctor from the hospital. Survivor Aparna Gupta, 41, told mid-day, “I am lucky to still be breathing. I was asleep in the bedroom with our son while my husband was working in the living room when we heard yells of ‘Aag lag gayi hai’. As soon as we opened the window to look out, thick smoke entered the room and everything went dark.” “We tried to go downstairs, but the smoke was so thick we couldn’t breathe. My husband fell unconscious. Thankfully the fire brigade had arrived and took us to the hospital. We would have definitely died had they not come in time,” said Gupta. She also mentioned that her husband was first taken to Kokilaben Hospital, then moved to the Trauma Hospital in Jogeshwari, then taken to Cooper and finally back to Kokilaben, where he is currently under treatment. When asked about why such transfers were done, the hospital staff refused to comment. All three from the Gupta family are currently in the ICU. While Gupta’s Vihan, 3, is stable, her husband Paulam is in need of nebuliser. The youngest survivor, 14-day-old Prayum Kapadia, is already home after a full check-up. “Once we checked him thoroughly, and confirmed there was no major health damage, his mother immediately asked for his discharge,” said Dr Tasha Vasaya, junior PICU consultant . One patient in critical condition, Kartik Sanjanvalia, 37, asked for a transfer to Nanavati Hospital from Cooper despite being advised not to move.
27 April,2025 06:56 AM IST | Mumbai | Ritika GondhalekarDo you know what the stars hold for you in terms of love life, career, business and personal wellness? Well, read on to know your astrological predictions as per your zodiac sign. AriesMarch 21 – April 19Take a practical approach to any challenge at work, and pay attention to advice from a senior or mentor. Be very careful while handling family finances and investments.Health tip: This is a good time to work on getting rid of any habits that are not good for you. Make sure you drink enough water, especially if you are outdoors frequently. TaurusApril 20 – May 20Those having a competitive situation at work should be clear about the outcome they want. Health tip: Make small changes in your diet or exercise rather than going extreme. Those with high blood pressure should take extra care of themselves. GeminiMay 21 – June 20Avoid getting into arguments with family and close friends. This is a good time for those with international clients and projects, but stick to deadlines very carefully. Health tip: Avoid taking any unnecessary medication or supplements. Seniors, especially those with any chronic illness, need to take extra care of themselves. CancerJune 21 – July 22Try not to go back to any situation that created conflict and stress. This is a positive time for property matters, as long as you have done your research.Health tip: Make a commitment to improving habits, and maintaining a disciplined routine. Seniors must take their prescribed medications on time. LeoJuly 23 – Aug 22 Pay attention to close relationships, no matter how busy you are. Those dealing with any legal situation should be very clear about minute legalities that could make a difference.Health tip: Make healthier choices even when you are eating outside food. Take extra care of your spine, as you could injure yourself. VirgoAug 23 – Sept 22Be very clear with the outcome you want before getting into any meeting, interview or negotiation. Handle annoying people in a diplomatic manner.Health tip: Avoid taking health advice from anyone unqualified, and listen to your own body. Make small lifestyle changes that are sustainable in the long term. LibraSept 23 – Oct 22Look beyond appearances and avoid getting into any kind of conflict or arguments. Check and recheck all paperwork and documents, especially for a legal issue.Health tip: Those with kidney related health issues need to take good care of themselves. Be careful while driving, as you could be accident prone. ScorpioOct 23 – Nov 21Deal with issues from the past rather than ignoring it. Those on a budget would need to be mindful regarding their spending, especially while socialising with friends.Health tip: Commit to improving your health without choosing extremes. Those who are prone to throat infections should take extra care. SagittariusNov 22 – Dec 21Handle anyone you can’t trust, carefully. Put in your best at work, and try and learn from others, even if you feel you know it all!Health tip: Make a commitment to working on a habit that you know is not good for you. Those prone to headaches and migraines need to take a little extra care of themselves. CapricornDec 22 – Jan 19Make time for friends, but try not to over-socialise so as to neglect other personal matters. This is a good time for businessmen to get an investor or a business loan.Health tip: Those prone to coughs and throat infections need to take extra care of themselves. Make sure you drink enough water. AquariusJan 20 – Feb 18Avoid making impulsive decisions, especially if they have long term consequences. Those with a difficult boss need to make sure they stay on their good side.Health tip: Maintain a healthy lifestyle as a priority, even if it is not fun. Seniors should get a complete health check done if they have not in a while. PiscesFeb 19 – March 21Handle finances without juggling investments too much. This is a good time for singles, especially those who are clear about what they are looking for in a match.Health tip: Make sure you get enough sleep, and don’t neglect any health issue. Those who want to make any changes in their food habits should do so gradually.
27 April,2025 02:59 AM IST | Mumbai | Aparna BoseMumbai Police on Saturday issued a traffic advisory for residents and motorists in Ghatkopar area as the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) began water supply repair works on April 26. In a traffic notification, Mumbai Police said, "In Ghatkopar Traffic Division, as pipeline repair work will be carried out by the BMC Water Department at Khairani Road, near Tukaram Bridge, Asalfa, Ghatkopar West, Mumbai, a hydra crane will be installed at the said location." Earlier this week, the BMC had announced water supply repair works to be undertaken in Ghatkopar (West) area of Mumbai on Saturday and Sunday. The repair works will be undertaken from 10 am on Saturday for a 24-hour period, the Mumbai civic body said, adding that the water supply in some parts of the N and L Wards of the BMC will be suspended during this period. The traffic notification said that the vehicles going towards Ghatkopar via Jangleswar Road and from Ghatkopar to Sakinaka will be completely closed, and hence it is necessary to divert this traffic to an alternative route. Following order is being issued. Road Closure - Khairani Road will be closed to all types of vehicular traffic near Tukaram Bridge, to go from Tukaram Bridge towards Saki Naka and from Khairani Road to Tukaram Bridge towards Ghatkopar. Alternate Route - - Traffic going towards Ghatkopar via Jungleshwar Road will proceed via Khairani Road till Saki Vihar Road and from there it will take a left turn till Sakinaka Junction and again will take a left turn and proceed towards Ghatkopar via Andheri-Ghatkopar Link Road. - Traffic going from Ghatkopar to Saki Naka via Jangleshwar Road will proceed via Andheri-Ghatkopar Link Road till Sakinaka Junction, and will take a right turn towards Khairani Junction and then will take a right turn and proceed via Khairani Road. "The above order will be in force from date 26/04/2025 time 23.55 hrs till 27/04/2025 05.00 am," the police notification said. एन विभाग, घाटकोपर (पश्चिम) येथे पाणीपुरवठ्याच्या कामांसाठी २६ एप्रिल रोजी सकाळी १० वाजल्यापासून ते २७ एप्रिल सकाळी १० वाजेपर्यंत पाणीपुरवठा खंडित राहणार असून, नागरिकांना आवाहन करण्यात येते की, वेळेत पाण्याचा साठा करून पाणी काटकसरीने वापरावे. pic.twitter.com/ZyCVnNifvC — WARD N BMC (@mybmcWardN) April 25, 2025 Meanwhile, the civic body urged residents in the affected areas to use water sparingly and cooperate with the municipal administration during the Ghatkopar water cut. Water supply affected following areas- N Ward: Supply to be disrupted on April 26 in the following areas- Bhatwadi, Barvenagar, Municipal Colony – A to K, Kajutekadi, Ramji Nagar, Ram Joshi Marg, Azad Nagar, Akbar Lala Compound, Parshiwadi, Sonia Gandhi Nagar, Namdar Balasaheb Desai Colony, Anandgad Water Tank and Pumping Station areas, Shankar Mandir, Ram Nagar, Hanuman Mandir, Rahul Nagar, Kailas Nagar, Sanjay Gandhi Nagar, Varsha Nagar, Jay Malhar Nagar, Khadoba Tekdi, Ram Nagar Water Tank and Pumping Station areas, D and C Municipal Colony, Raigad Division, Vikroli Park Site (part), Subhash Nagar, Shivaji Nagar, Yashwant Nagar, Industrial Colony Road, Gavdevi, Pathan Chawl, Amrut Nagar, Indira Nagar - 1, Aminabai Chawl and part of Sainath Nagar, Ganesh Nagar, Sagar Park, Jagdusha Nagar, Maulana Sankul, Katodipada, Bhimanagar, Indira Nagar - 2, Altafnagar, Gilda Nagar, Golibar Road, Sevanagar, Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) Colony, Mazgaon Dock Colony, Amrut Nagar and surrounding areas, Gangawadi Entry Gate No. 2, Siddharth Nagar, and Ambedkar Nagar, Jawaharbhai Plot, Suraksha Nagar, Navin Dayasagar, Part of Patidar Wadi, Rear of Radhakrishna Hotel, Parts of Gangawadi area in Ghatkopar. L Ward: Supply to be disrupted on April 26 in the following areas- Asalfa Village, NSS Road, Homeguard Colony, Narayan Nagar, Sane Guruji Pumping Station, Hill No. 3, Ashok Nagar, Himalaya Society, Sanjay Nagar, Samta Nagar, Gaiban Shah Baba Dargah Road L Ward: Supply to be disrupted in following areas on Sunday, April 27 Sangharsh Nagar, Khairani Road, Yadav Nagar, J.M.M. Road, Lakshminarayan Mandir Road, Kulkarni Wadi, Mohili Water Pipeline, Bhanushali Wadi, Pereira Wadi.
26 April,2025 11:32 PM IST | Mumbai | Asif RizviMaharashtra’s Minister of State for Home Yogesh Kadam on Saturday said that around 5,000 Pakistani nationals are residing in the state, including 1,000 on short term visas who have been asked to leave the country as per the Centre's directives, reported the PTI. In the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack, India has taken a firm stance against Pakistani nationals present in the country. Some are residing in India since the last 8-10 years, some are married and some are those who have surrendered their Pakistani passport and applied for Indian citizenship, he said, according to the PTI. "According to my estimate there could be 4,000 long term visas of which 1,000 are the SAARC visa, those who have come to the state for film work, medical ground, journalism, personal work," Yogesh Kadam said, the news agency reported. The ones with short-term visas have been asked to leave by April 27, while those with medical visas have been given two more days to leave, he said on Saturday. Following the horrific Pahalgam terror attack on April 22, in which 26 persons were killed, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) announced that all existing valid visas issued by India to Pakistani nationals stand revoked with effect from April 27, while medical visas issued to them will be valid only till April 29. Meanwhile, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Saturday said that the process of expelling Pakistani citizens from India in the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack has begun and legal action will be taken against such individuals overstaying in the state, reported the PTI. CM Fadnavis condemned the killing of innocent tourists and said the Modi government will give a befitting reply. The chief minister met the families of two friends from Pune- Kaustubh Ganbote and Santosh Jagdale- who were killed in the April 22 terror attack. "I met the family members of those killed in the terror attack. The description of the incident narrated by Asawari Jagdale (daughter of one of the victims) is disturbing. I don't want to say anything to those speaking out of turn on the (Pahalgam) incident, according to the PTI. "Our resolution to fight against terrorism has become even stronger. Help will be provided to the six families from Maharashtra," he told reporters. The chief minister visited Ganbote's residence in Kondhwa area and consoled his wife Sangita, who survived the terror attack. He then headed to Jagdale's residence in Karvenagar and spoke to Jagdale's daughter Asavari and wife Pratibha, the news agency reported. He said legal action will be taken against Pakistani nationals overstaying in Maharashtra. "Those Pakistanis who are illegally staying in the country will be found soon. The process of expelling Pakistani citizens from the country has begun. The Centre has already decided to suspend the visa services to Pakistani nationals with immediate effect, along with revocation of all existing valid visas issued to Pakistanis," CM Fadnavis added, according to the PTI. (with PTI inputs)
26 April,2025 10:56 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentAmid the Uddhav-Raj Thackeray reunion buzz, the Shiv Sena (UBT) on Saturday said that it was time to unite in the interest of Mumbai and Maharashtra, reported the PTI. The Shiv Sena (UBT) said that the party workers were ready to unite to protect the Marathi pride. The party made the statement in a cryptic post on social media. "Time has come to unite for the interest of Mumbai and Maharashtra. Shivsainiks are ready to protect Marathi 'asmita' (pride)," the Shiv Sena (UBT) said in a post on X. वेळ आलीयं, एकत्र येण्याचीमुंबई आणि महाराष्ट्रासाठीशिवसैनिक तयार आहे,मराठी अस्मितेच्या रक्षणासाठी! pic.twitter.com/aukbsiNPK5 — ShivSena - शिवसेना Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray (@ShivSenaUBT_) April 26, 2025 Last week, Raj Thackeray sparked speculation about a potential political rapprochement with his cousin and Uddhav Thackeray, noting their past differences are 'trivial' and uniting for the greater good of 'Marathi manoos' is not a difficult task. To this, Uddhav Thackeray had said that he is ready to put aside trivial fights provided those working against Maharashtra's interests will not be entertained. Asked about the possibility of an alliance between the Sena (UBT) and MNS, BJP state president and Maharashtra Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule said, "It is their prerogative to come together or form an alliance. We have no problem," according to the PTI. Meanwhile, earlier this week, the Shiv Sena (UBT) mouthpiece 'Saamana' on Monday said that there will be no question of "any issue" between party chief Uddhav Thackeray and MNS president Raj Thackeray if the latter keeps away from the BJP and Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, reported the PTI. An editorial in Saamana also claimed the possibility of rapprochement between Uddhav Thackeray and Raj Thackeray has rattled "Maharashtra baiters". Thackeray cousins-- Uddhav and Raj have sparked speculation about a possible reconciliation with statements indicating they could ignore "trivial issues" and join hands nearly two decades after a bitter parting of ways. Earlier, while the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray had said that uniting in the interests of 'Marathi manoos' is not difficult, former CM Uddhav Thackeray said that he was ready to put aside trivial fights, provided that those working against Maharashtra's interests were not entertained. According to the PTI, the editorial in Saamana said the issues referred to by Raj Thackeray were never known to the public. (with PTI inputs)
26 April,2025 10:34 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentADVERTISEMENT
