Some unidentified Maratha quota activists were booked for allegedly throwing footwear at Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLC Gopichand Padalkar in Indapur in Pune, a police official said on Monday, according to the PTI. The incident took place on Saturday when Gopichand Padalkar was on his way to meet milk producers seeking a hike in prices, the official said, as per the PTI. Maratha quota activists were observing a hunger strike nearby and a video showed some of them hurling footwear at Gopichand Padalkar, before police escorted the MLC to safety, he said. "A case has been registered against unidentified Maratha activists who were on a hunger strike. We are checking CCTV footage of the area as part of the probe," Inspector Dilip Pawar of Indapur police station said, the PTI reported on Monday. An OBC leader said members of the community called for a bandh (shutdown) in Indapur on Monday to protest against the attack on Gopichand Padalkar. In an another incident, the Maharashtra Police had lodged a First Information Report (FIR) against six persons who reportedly organised Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange's rally in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district in the state. According to the report in PTI, the cops booked the organisers for breaching the permissible time limit. According to the report in PTI, the organisers had sought permission for the event in Kannad city on December 2, scheduled to run from 6 pm to 10 pm. However, the rally commenced at 11 pm and concluded at 12.40 am the following day, violating the permitted time read the FIR registered on Sunday. According to the report, the FIR highlighted that the use of loudspeakers during the rally caused disturbance to nearby residents. The six organisers have been charged under Sections 188 (disobedience of a lawful order), 268 (public nuisance), and 291 (continuing nuisance after being instructed to stop) of the Indian Penal Code, along with provisions of the Maharashtra Police Act, the PTI report stated. Reportedly, Manoj Jarange has been actively campaigning across the state and advocating for Maratha community reservation. Following the Kannad rally, the activist visited Jalgaon and Buldhana districts on Monday and planned to spend Tuesday night in Hingoli district and meet Maratha community members in Akola and Washim districts. (with PTI inputs)
11 December,2023 10:34 PM IST | Pune | mid-day online correspondentThe Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) on Monday welcomed the Supreme Court's ruling on Article 370 saying it would contribute to strengthening national unity, reported the PTI. The Supreme Court on Monday upheld the Union government's decision to abrogate Article 370, which bestowed a special status on the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir, and said steps should be taken to conduct election to the Union Territory's Assembly by September 30 next year. The apex court also directed that statehood to the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir be restored at the earliest. In a message on social media platform X, formerly Twitter, RSS Akhil Bharatiya Prachar Pramukh Sunil Ambekar said, "The verdict of Supreme court to uphold the abrogation of Article 370 is appreciable. Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh welcomes this decision," as per the PTI. Sunil Ambekar said RSS had always opposed Article 370, had passed resolutions against it and had participated in movements associated with the issue. "This decision will contribute further in strengthening of national unity. The people of Jammu and Kashmir have finally got freedom from the injustice they were subjected to for years due to Article 370," he further said, according to the PTI. On August 5, 2019, the Narendra Modi government abrogated Article 370 and bifurcated the northern state into two Union Territories -- Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh. Historic day for India, says Fadnavis; hails PM Modi Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Monday hailed the Supreme Court ruling on Article 370 and called it a historic day for the country, the PTI reported on Monday. The Supreme Court on Monday upheld the Union government's decision to abrogate Article 370, which bestowed a special status on the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir, and said steps should be taken to conduct the election to the Union Territory's Assembly by September 30 next year. The apex court also directed that statehood to the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir be restored at the earliest. Speaking to reporters on the Vidhan Bhavan premises here, Fadnavis said, "Today is a very important day in the history of the country. The SC, in a way, has today given a stamp to the decision taken to remove Article 370 under the leadership of Prime Narendra Modi. The SC order is a victory for the people of the nation as well as J-K," the news agency reported. After the abrogation of Article 370, terrorism has reduced in Jammu and Kashmir and development is taking place there on a grand scale, Fadnavis claimed. The decision has paved the way for "Eksangh Bharat" (United and Together India), the senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader asserted. Queried about Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray's comments on whether Pakistan-Occupied-Kashmir (PoK) will come back to India, Fadnavis said this is what every Indian wants. "We are people who believe in Akhand Bharat. Modiji has done things considered impossible. I feel we should wait for the time to come," he said.Speaking to reporters earlier in the day, Thackeray had said "we also hope POK (Pakistan Occupied Kashmir) is merged into Kashmir so that elections are held in greater Kashmir which is an inseparable part of our country," according to the PTI. Thackeray had also asked if PM Modi would give a "guarantee that Kashmiri Pandits will return to their home state safely?" Hitting back, Fadnavis said Thackeray did not have the right to speak on the issue. Fadnavis said Shiv Sena founder late Bal Thackeray had sought removal of Article 370 for a long time, and the demand was fulfilled by PM Modi. "However, when PM Modi was doing this work, the (undivided) Shiv Sena had different stand in Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha. Hence, he (Uddhav Thackeray) does not have the right to speak about it," Fadnavis said, the PTI reported. (with PTI inputs)
11 December,2023 10:14 PM IST | Nagpur | mid-day online correspondentChhattisgarh's chief minister-designate and BJP leader Vishnu Deo Sai will take oath along with his cabinet colleagues on December 13 at a ceremony in Raipur in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other dignitaries, it was announced on Monday. Besides Sai (59), who will be the BJP's first tribal CM, his council of ministers will also be sworn-in at the ceremony, an official release said. As per constitutional norms, Chhattisgarh, which has a 90-member assembly, can have a maximum of 13 ministers, including the CM. The swearing-in ceremony will be held at Science College Ground in the state capital at 2 pm, the release issued by the state public relations department said. Besides Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, BJP president JP Nadda, Union minister Mansukh Mandaviya, party's Chhattisgarh in-charge Om Mathur and CMs of some other states will be present at the function, it said. Sai, a prominent tribal face of the saffron outfit in the state, was on Sunday elected as the legislature party leader at a meeting attended by all the 54 newly-elected BJP MLAs here. The BJP won 54 out of the total 90 assembly seats in the state. The Congress, which won 68 seats in 2018, was reduced to a tally of just 35 this time around. The Gondwana Gantantra Party, a regional outfit, managed to win in one segment. 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
11 December,2023 08:31 PM IST | Raipur | PTIA 16-year-old girl who was reportedly gang-raped in November 2021 has died after prolonged illness, a police official said on Monday, reported the PTI. She was gang-raped at knife-point, after which eight persons, including her alleged boyfriend, were arrested, the MIDC police station official said, as per the PTI. A chargesheet was filed within 60 days and the case was being heard in a fast-track court, he said. Sources said the girl, who lost her father and is estranged from her mother, was in a correctional home where she developed some ailment two months ago. She returned home and died on December 5, the official added. She was also distressed after being allegedly threatened on the court premises in January this year, sources said. Meanwhile, in an another incident in November, a history-sheeter has been arrested after he allegedly sexually assaulted a 14-year-old girl, singed her with cigarette butts and tonsured her head in Akola city of Maharashtra, police said on Monday, reported the PTI. The suspect identified as Ganesh Kumre, 29 had been reportedly harassing the girl for the past two years, an officer said, as per the PTI. "The suspect is a local goon in Khadan area of Akola. He sexually assaulted the girl on November 15 and 16, tortured her with cigarette butts and also cut her hair," the officer said quoting the First Information Report, according to the PTI. Taking serious note of the ghastly crime, Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who handles the Home portfolio, has assured strict action, the news agency reported on Monday. Speaking to reporters in Nagpur on Monday, he said that the guilty will not be spared and that orders have been given to launch an inquiry into the incident. According to the Akola Police, the victim's father works as a labourer. "The accused has a criminal background. He has been harassing the girl for the last two years," the official said, reported the PTI. Notably, the incident of sexual assault came to light after November 16 when local people approached the police against Kumre. A case was registered under sections 363 (Punishment for kidnapping), 376 (Punishment for rape), 354 (Assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty) and on charges of causing hurt with dangerous weapons among others of the Indian Penal Code and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, a police official said. Kumre was arrested on November 18. He was remanded in police custody till November 21, he said. PTI
11 December,2023 08:25 PM IST | Nagpur | mid-day online correspondentA man allegedly killed his 34-year-old brother in Nashik district of Maharashtra reportedly over a property dispute, the police said on Monday, reported the PTI. The man was allegedly attacked and killed by his younger brother in a dispute over property in Nashik, the police said, as per the PTI. The deceased was identified as Mayank Chandrakant Jadhav who was allegedly attacked and killed by his brother Akash Jadhav (32) at their house in Samarth Ramdas Swami Nagar in the Upnagar area of Nashik district in the morning, an official said, according to the news agency. According to the police, the accused wanted to sell an ancestral property, but the victim was against it. The brothers argued frequently on the issue, he said. The quarrel escalated in the early hours of the day, following which the accused attacked his brother with a sharp weapon and killed him on the spot, the police official said. The accused has been taken into custody, and the police are in the process of registering a case, he added. Meanwhile, the Bombay High Court on Monday refused to suspend the life sentence and grant bail to artist Chintan Upadhyay, convicted for abetting and conspiring to kill his estranged wife Hema Upadhyay and her lawyer Haresh Bhambani in December 2015, according to the PTI. Chintan Upadhyay had moved the high court in October challenging a sessions court order convicting him and sentencing him to life imprisonment, as per the PTI. Upadhyay in his appeal said that the trial court had erred in its judgement, which lacks proper and cogent evidence and reasoning to convict him.Pending hearing on his appeal, Upadhyay had urged the HC to suspend his sentence and release him on bail. A division bench of Justices Revati Mohite Dere and Gauri Godse on Monday rejected Upadhyay's application. The HC will hear Upadhyay's appeal against the conviction order in due course. Hema and her lawyer Haresh Bhambhani were killed on December 11, 2015, and the bodies were stuffed into cardboard boxes and thrown into a ditch in Kandivali area of Mumbai. Additional sessions judge S Y Bhosale of the Dindoshi court on October 5 held Chintan guilty of abetting and conspiring to kill his wife. (with PTI inputs)
11 December,2023 08:13 PM IST | Nashik | mid-day online correspondentThe Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) women's wing party workers staged a protest in Maharashtra's Latur district on Monday against Congress MP Dheeraj Sahu over a huge recovery of cash from premises linked to him, reported the PTI. The protesters, led by the BJP women's wing district secretary Surekha Puri, gathered at Murud village and attacked an effigy of Sahu with footwear and burnt it. They also raised slogans and demanded action against the MP, as per the PTI. A similar protest was held by the city unit of the BJP women's wing at Gandhi Chowk in Latur. A huge pile of cash was recovered in the searches conducted by the Income-Tax department against Odisha-based Boudh Distillery Private Limited and entities linked to it. Premises linked to Sahu were also covered as part of the searches, according to officials. Meanwhile, the BJP MPs led by party president and Rajya Sabha MP JP Nadda marched towards the Mahatma Gandhi's statue in the Parliament premises. Several MPs were chanting "Rahul Gandhi must answer, wherever there is Congress, there is corruption, from corruption to Congress," the ANI reported. Speaking during the protests JP Nadda said "The Congress is a party steeped in corruption. The ED and the CBI have time and again proved this, but the Congress has questioned the central agencies. Today we want and answer from Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi, what is their answer to this huge stash of cash that has been found. PM Modi has said that we won't spare the corrupt and we want the Congress party to answer the poor as to whose cash is this. The BJP will not spare the corrupt, all of them will be sent to jail," as per the ANI. Rajya Sabha MP Prakash Javdekar said " Rs 354 crore has been recovered at the house of Dheeraj Sahu, how has so much cash been found. Congress claims that he is a businessman and he has to explain, but which businessman keeps so much cash? This cash is the ATM of the Congress which is why the Congress has not even suspended the MP. Dheeraj Sahu is in the business of liquor and he has looted from the poor and become the ATM of the Congress. The nation is angry with this and will teach a lesson to the Congress." Meanwhile, as the currency counting of 176 bags is completed after the Income Tax raids at properties connected to Rajya Sabha MP Dheeraj Sahu, the Income Tax department will deposit all the sized cash at the same bank in Balangir SBI main branch following the official procedure on Monday. SBI's main branch will function smoothly for the public regularly, SBI Regional Manager said. During the Income Tax raids at properties connected to Rajya Sabha MP Dheeraj Sahu, huge stacks of currency notes were seized. According to sources the amount of cash recovered was in excess of Rs 300 crore. (with PTI and ANI inputs)
11 December,2023 07:37 PM IST | Latur | mid-day online correspondentWith the "highest-ever" cash seizure of Rs 351 crore by income tax sleuths during raids against a distillery company owned by a Congress MP's family, the role of hawala operators and shell companies that were allegedly used to channel the "illicit" funds has come under the scanner, official sources said Monday. An interim report on the action has also been sent by the field investigation wing of the income tax department to the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) in Delhi, the administrative body for the department. The searches that began against the Bhubaneswar-headquartered Boudh Distillery Pvt. Ltd. (BDPL) are continuing at about seven locations on Monday, the sixth day after they were launched by the taxman on December 6 on charges of alleged tax evasion and "out of book" transactions. The searches are expected to be called off soon after the signing of some 'panchnamas' and recording of statements, they said. The I-T department has effected the country's highest-every cash seizure of Rs 351 crore by any agency in a single operation after the five-day counting ended on Sunday. As many as 30-34 premises in Odisha, Jharkhand and West Bengal were searched, the sources said. About 3 kg of gold jewellery was also seized by the department, they said. A number of hawala operators working in these three states and the incorporation of some 'shell' or dubious companies are under the scanner of the department after documents indicating their roles were recovered during these searches and recovery of the huge cash, the sources said. The premises of the Congress Rajya Sabha MP from Jharkhand, Dhiraj Prasad Sahu, in Ranchi and other places, were also covered during the searches by the department. The company and Sahu did not respond to PTI's queries regarding the action being carried out against them. BJP MPs led by party chief J P Nadda on Monday held a protest near the Mahatma Gandhi statue in the Parliament Complex, alleging the cash seized during the raids proved that the Congress was "neck-deep" in corruption. "This is just the tip of the iceberg... Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi will have to answer whose money it is and how it was looted,¿ Nadda said. BJP members in Lok Sabha also raised the issue in the House on Monday. The Congress has distanced itself from the MP, claiming that the party has nothing to do with his business. "The Indian National Congress is in no way connected with the businesses of Dheeraj Sahu, MP. Only he can explain, and should explain, how huge amounts of cash have been reportedly unearthed by the income-tax authorities from his properties," AICC general secretary Communications Jairam Ramesh said in a post on X last week. Targeting the opposition parties, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday said it is now clear that their "propaganda" about probe agencies being misused was driven by the fear that their corruption will be exposed. In a statement, the senior BJP leader questioned the "silence" of INDIA bloc leaders, saying he could understand why the Congress is keeping mum but wondered why parties like the TMC, DMK, JD(U) and the RJD were doing the same. 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
11 December,2023 06:04 PM IST | New Delhi | PTIIn Karnataka's Belagavi district, a woman was reportedly assaulted, and paraded naked in retaliation after her son eloped with a girl who was set to be engaged to another person, the police told PTI. According to the report, the police, on Monday, said that after the family of the girl learnt about their elopement with Ashok, a 24-year-old boy from their village and community, they vandalised his home in new Vantamuri village and allegedly assaulted Ashok's mother, paraded her naked and bound her to an electricity pole after that. The report quoted Belagavi Police Commissioner Siddramappa saying that the girl, identified as Priyanaka, aged 18 and Ashok were romantically involved and at around 12.30 am, they left the village. The commissioner was further quoted saying, "On getting the information at 4 am, our Police Sub Inspector visited the village, followed by other senior officials, and seven people have been arrested." He added that a case has been registered in Kakati police station. Reportedly, they have also deployed additional police personnel to prevent further disruptions. Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah condemned the incident and promised strict action against those responsible. He called the act "extremely inhuman," and expressed the government's firm stance against such heinous acts, pledging to bring justice to the affected family. He took to social media and wrote, "A woman was stripped naked, tied to a pole and assaulted in Belgaum is extremely inhumane. This has made the whole society hang their heads in shame. Our government will not tolerate such heinous acts for any reason. Many people have already been arrested in connection with the case. It is our full responsibility to provide justice to the aggrieved family by taking action to ensure that the culprits are punished severely." Reportedly, when visiting the area, Home Minister G Parameshwara described the situation as inhumane. He stated that about 10-15 members of the girl's family assaulted the youth's mother, who was alone at home at the time of the assault. The police intervened, rescuing the woman and arranging for her medical care. "Those responsible--seven people have been arrested and will be produced before the court--efforts are on track to get the couple who have gone away back," he told PTI. "This is truly a shameful incident," the minister said, adding that action is being taken by the police "in accordance with law". With PTI inputs
11 December,2023 06:03 PM IST | Belagavi | mid-day online correspondentFollowing the Supreme Court's Article 370 verdict, the Indian National Congress (INC) has expressed its disagreement with the procedure followed and the manner in which the constitutional provision was revoked. The party's reaction came after the SC unanimously upheld the Centre's decision to abrogate provisions of Article 370 that bestowed special status on the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir, and directed restoration of statehood "at the earliest" as well as elections to the assembly by September 30 next year. Congress leaders P Chidambaram and Abhishek Singhvi said the judgement of the Supreme Court in cases concerning the abrogation of Artitcle 370 has decided many issues, but has left some. Congress spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi remarked, "The judgment of the Supreme Court in the abrogation of Article 370 has decided many issues but has left open many issues as well. Prima facie, we respectfully disagree with the judgment in which Article 370 was abrogated." Singhvi emphasized that the INC has consistently advocated for the restoration of full statehood for Jammu and Kashmir. Singhvi further stated, "We believe elections should be held in J&K immediately, and there is no reason to wait until September 2024." The Congress leader questioned the BJP's apprehension toward an elected government in Jammu and Kashmir, asserting, "Why is BJP afraid of an elected government in Jammu and Kashmir? Democracy, and not autocracy, is the demand of every citizen of Jammu and Kashmir." Expressing both disappointment and approval, Singhvi remarked, "We are disappointed that the Supreme Court did not decide on the question of dismembering Jammu and Kashmir into two Union Territories. However, we welcome the SC verdict on holding elections in J&K, emphasizing that full statehood must be restored immediately." Also read: Supreme Court's Article 370 verdict a death sentence, defeat of the idea of India: Mehbooba Mufti Former Union Minister P. Chidambaram, a prominent Congress leader, reiterated the party's stance, saying, "The INC has always demanded the restoration of full statehood for J&K. We believe the elections must be held in J&K immediately." The Judgement needs a careful study, Chidambaram said, noting "prima facie we respectfully disagree with judgment on the manner in which Art 370 was abrogated". He said the Congress has always demanded restoration of full statehood of J and K and "we welcome the SC verdict in this regard". "Full statehood must be restored immediately. The aspirations of people of Ladakh must also be fulfilled. We welcome the SC direction to hold assembly elections. However, we believe elections should be held immediately and there is no reason to wait till September 30, 2024," the senior Congress leader said. "When elections are held, the people of J&K will have the opportunity to express their views on the crucial questions that we debated in the SC. An opportunity that has been denied to them so far," he said. "We are also disappointed that SC did not decide the question of dismembering the state and reducing its status to two union territories. That question is being reserved for adjudication in a suitable case in future," he said. Singhvi also said that the Supreme Court verdict is the law of the land now and the debate on the issue has now come to an end. "Democracy, and not autocracy, is the demand of every citizen of Jammu and Kashmir. Why is the BJP afraid of an elected government," Singhvi asked. (With inputs from PTI)
11 December,2023 05:51 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentTripura Governor Indrasena Reddy on Monday said those aiding in the propagation of drugs in the northeastern state should be socially boycotted and treated as "anti-nationals" as they are "committing a crime against the country". Reddy was speaking to reporters on the sidelines of 'Viksit Bharat@2047' programme at Raj Bhavan. "Drugs are coming from Myanmar and some locals are helping (in its propagation). They are committing a crime against the nation. I appeal to all to socially boycott such people and treat them as anti-nationals," he said. Asserting that the police have been doing a great job with regard to the anti-drug campaign, the governor underlined the need to launch a social boycott drive against those aiding in the circulation of drugs. Till August this year, a total of 746 people have been booked in connection with 445 cases registered under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985, and contraband items, including heroin, worth Rs 91.84 crore has been seized in this period, according to a police report. 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
11 December,2023 05:41 PM IST | Agartala | PTIIn a surprising announcement after the legislature meeting in Bhopal, Bharatiya Janata Party on Monday named Mohan Yadav as the new Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh. The 58-year-old politician won from the Ujjain South constituency for the third consecutive time in the 2023 assembly election, winning by a margin of 12,941 votes. Who is Mohan Yadav? Mohan Yadav has been appointed as the new Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, following a BJP legislature meeting in Bhopal on Monday. In the 2023 assembly election, the 58-year-old politician secured a victory from the Ujjain South constituency for the third consecutive term, winning by a substantial margin of 12,941 votes. Yadav's political journey commenced with his election as an MLA in 2013. He continued his political success by being re-elected in the subsequent 2018 Madhya Pradesh assembly election. Mohan Yadav's influence within the state's political landscape grew when he took oath as a cabinet minister on July 2, 2020, serving in the government led by Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan. Also read: Ujjain BJP MLA Mohan Yadav to be new Madhya Pradesh CM Born on March 25, 1965, in Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh, Mohan Yadav has a long association with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). In addition to his political engagements, he is also recognized as a businessman. During the recent 2023 Madhya Pradesh Assembly election, Mohan Yadav successfully defended his seat in the Ujjain South constituency. He secured 95,699 votes, marking his third consecutive term as an MLA. The Ujjain South constituency, situated in the Malwa North region and falling under the Ujjain Lok Sabha constituency, has been a stronghold for the BJP since 2003. Mohan Yadav has several educational degrees including BSC, LLB, MA, MBA and PhD. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) retained power in MP following the November 17 polls, winning 163 seats in the 230-member assembly, leaving the Congress a distant second with 66 seats. The state BJP office is decked up with flowers and posters of Prime Minister Narendra Modi along with the slogan "MP ke Man Mein Modi, Desh Ke Man Mein Modi". (With inputs from agencies)
11 December,2023 05:16 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentADVERTISEMENT
