Page 92 - Maharashtra

NCP MP Supriya Sule raises concern on rising air pollution in Mumbai, Pune

Sule alleged that the entire triple-engine government has forgotten to serve the state, adding that the situation of air pollution in growing cities is worrisome

Recognise all Marathas as Kunbis under OBC category, activists demand

Activists supporting the Maratha reservation have claimed that the community members were recognised as Kunbi community during the Nizam era and hence all Marathas should be treated as Kunbis under the OBC category. The "Marathas and Kunbis inter-dined and intermarried freely," leading to blurring of lines between them, a pro-quota activist claimed. This cultural amalgamation further strengthens the argument that Marathas and Kunbis were closely related, both socially and culturally, he said. The agrarian Kunbi community already gets quota benefits in the Other Backward Classes (OBC) category. Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Thursday said every district collector will be asked to deploy 10 officials from the collectorate staff to find old records on the basis of which Kunbi caste certificates can be given to the eligible Marathas. One of the demands of Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange, who ended his indefinite fast after nine days on Thursday, is that they be given

Maharashtra police officials with drug links will be dismissed: Fadnavis

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Saturday said state police personnel with drug links will not just be suspended but also dismissed from service. Talking to reporters here, Fadnavis said anyone involved in the manufacturing and peddling of drugs will be booked under harsh laws. People involved will face strict action, but those police officials found to be involved (in drug trade) will not just be suspended but also dismissed under (Article) 311 (of the Constitution), Fadnavis said. Constitution's Article 311 pertains to the dismissal, removal or reduction in rank of persons employed in civil capacities under the Centre or a state. The state police have undertaken a campaign to make Maharashtra drug-free and raids are being undertaken in every district, he said. Work is happening at the national level and the inter-state movement of gangs involved in the drug trade is being monitored, he said. The state police have confiscated drugs worth hundreds of crores

Drive to trace Kunbi records of Marathas to be implemented across state: CM

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has said the drive of tracing documents of Kunbi antecedents of Marathas, which is currently being implemented in the Marathwada region, will be carried out across the state. This campaign should be implemented in a mission mode, Shinde directed all divisional commissioners and district collectors during a meeting held in Mumbai on Friday. His direction a day after Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange called off his indefinite hunger strike seeking reservation to Marathas, but vowed to lead a massive march to Mumbai if no decision was taken on the emotive issue within two months. Speaking after the meeting, CM Shinde said, "The campaign that was implemented in the Marathwada region for searching the Kunbi records will now be extended to the entire state." The Justice (retired) Sandeep Shinde committee will work for the entire state, he said. He also announced that an officer of additional chief secretary rank has been appointed for monitori

Shinde meets activist Patil, says state will provide viable solution

The Maratha activist agreed to call off his protest and gave the state two months time to come good on its promise of reservation for the Maratha community

Manoj Jarange ends fast, vows to take Maratha quota battle to Mumbai

Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange ended his indefinite fast after nine days on Thursday here, but not before doubling down on the reservation issue and warning of a bigger agitation if no action was taken in two months on extending benefits in jobs and education to the community, keeping the Maharashtra government on its toes. Jarange, aged around 40 and whose agitation in support of reservation for the Maratha community, has kept Maharashtra on the boil, vowed to lead a "massive" march to Mumbai if no decision was taken on the emotive issue within two months. Then people of Mumbai won't get even vegetables....we will choke Mumbai," warned the activist, who started his indefinite hunger strike in a village here on October 25 -- his second fast on the quota issue in the last three months. His announcement at the fast site in his Antarwali Sarati village in Jalna district came after four Maharashtra ministers met him and requested him to call off the indefinite hunger ...

Maha farmers cite difficulties in procuring paddy; Bhujbal assures help

Paddy procurement at government-approved centres for the Kharif season 2023-24 is yet to start in Maharashtra's Gondia and Bhandara districts due to stringent terms and conditions, farmers and other stakeholders told public representatives here. During a meeting with many elected leaders, including minister Chhagan Bhujbal, on Wednesday, farmers from the two districts said they have no option but to sell their produce below the minimum support price (MSP) as government-approved procurement facilities are still not functioning. Members of many cooperative societies that accept paddy on behalf of the government also raised the issue of stringent terms and conditions for procurement centres. Bhujbal, who is the minister of food, civil supplies and consumer protection, assured the stakeholders of a positive outcome. He agreed, in principle, to give some relaxation in the terms and conditions for the procurement.

LIVE: Powell-led FOMC keeps key interest rates unchanged at 5.25-5.50%

Catch all the latest updates LIVE from across the globe here

Maratha quota: All-party meet asks Jarange to withdraw his indefinite fast

Leaders at an all-party meeting on Maratha quota chaired by Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Wednesday passed a resolution asking activist Manoj Jarange to call off his indefinite fast. The Maharashtra government is in favour of the Maratha quota, CM Shinde said after the meeting in Mumbai. Activist Jarange should cooperate with the government in ensuring quota for the Maratha community he said. The CM said Marathas should observe restraint. The government needs time for legal modalities to implement the reservation, Shinde said. The resolution was signed by CM Shinde, Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis, NCP president Sharad Pawar, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Anil Parab, Leader of Opposition in the state assembly Vijay Wadettiwar, LoP in the legislative council Ambadas Danve, among others. Incidents of violence have been witnessed in many parts of the state in the last few days. State-run bus services have been completely suspended in five Marathwada districts while curfew and In

Maratha quota stir: Curfew lifted in Beed; 99 held so far for violence

The Beed administration on Wednesday morning lifted curfew imposed in parts of the district after violence during the Maratha quota agitation on Monday, officials said. Prohibition orders will continue in the district, located in the Marathwada region of Maharashtra, and Internet services are still shut to maintain law and order, they said. There is no relaxation in curfew in Dharashiv district as of now, the officials said. The Beed police have registered more than 30 offences and arrested 99 people so far in connection with the violence, they said. After violence in Beed on Monday, curfew was enforced in a periphery of 5 kilometres from the collector office, head offices of talukas along with all national highways passing through the district. "Curfew in Beed district has been revoked by the district administration at 6 am on Wednesday. Prohibitory orders still exist in the district," an official said. "Internet services are still shut in Beed," Collector Deepa Mudhol Munde tol

Manoj Jarange firm on quitting water if reservation not given to Marathas

Activist Manoj Jarange on Wednesday reiterated that he will stop drinking water from this evening if his demand for reservation to the Maratha community is not fulfilled by the Maharashtra government. Leaders of all parties should ask the Maharashtra government to call a special session of the state legislature and give reservation to the Maratha community, Jarange who has observing fast at Antarwali Sarati village in Jalna district since October 25, told reporters. Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has called an all-party meeting in Mumbai on Wednesday to discuss the situation in the state amid the intensified Maratha quota agitation which took a violent turn in some parts of the state. Shinde will apprise opposition leaders of the government's plans to handle the situation and seek their support, an official in the Chief Minister's Office earlier said. "Leaders of all parties who are in Mumbai should ask the state government to call a special session of the state assembly

Minister Mushrif's vehicle vandalised by Maratha quota agitators in Mumbai

Maratha quota agitators vandalised Maharashtra cabinet minister Hasan Mushrif's SUV parked in south Mumbai on Wednesday morning, police said. Three persons were detained by the Marine Drive police in this connection, an official said. Mushrif belongs to the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) faction led by Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar. At around 7.30 am, two Maratha quota activists armed with wooden sticks attacked the minister's SUV (sports utility vehicle) parked near the Akashwani MLA hostel in south Mumbai. The window panes of the vehicle were damaged, the official said. The agitators were raising the slogan "Ek Maratha, lakh Maratha," he said. Police rushed to the spot and three persons were taken into custody. During the enquiry, it came to light that these persons were from Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district, the official said. The damaged vehicle was taken to the Marine Drive police station for further probe into the incident, he added. On October 26, two cars of lawye

Maratha quota stir: Sr cop visits violence-hit Beed; 99 people held so far

Maharashtra's Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order) Sanjay Saxena has visited Beed district to take stock of the situation after large scale violence there during the Maratha quota agitation, an official said on Wednesday. So far, 99 people have been arrested in connection with the violence in Beed and the situation is currently under control, he said. Senior IPS officer Saxena went to Beed on Tuesday and has been reviewing the situation. He will also submit a report about the situation to the government, the official said. The Beed police have registered more than 30 offences and arrested 99 people so far in connection with the violence, he said. Curfew was imposed and Internet services were suspended in central Maharashtra's Beed district after the violence on Monday. The residence of Nationalist Congress Party (Ajit Pawar group) MLA Prakash Solanke at Majalgaon town in Beed was set on fire and stones were hurled at it by a group of quota agitators on Monday ...

Shinde calls all-party meeting amid Maratha quota stir; Uddhav not invited

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has called an all-party meeting on Wednesday to discuss the situation in the state amid the intensified Maratha quota agitation which took a violent turn in some parts of the state, but Shiv Sena (UBT) president Uddhav Thackeray has not been invited for the meet. An official in the Chief Minister's Office said Shinde will apprise opposition leaders of the government's plans to handle the situation and seek their support. Incidents of violence were witnessed in many parts of the state in the last few days. State-run bus services have been completely suspended in five Marathwada districts while curfew and Internet shut-down have been imposed in parts of Beed where the houses of political leaders were targeted by protesters. The CM has appealed to people not to resort to violence and also asked political parties to avoid indulging in any activities that would worsen the situation. The Maharashtra government published an order on Tuesday ...

Maratha quota stir: Curfew, Internet shutdown remain in Maharashtra's Beed

Curfew continued and Internet services remained suspended in central Maharashtra's Beed district on Tuesday though there were no fresh incidents of violence on account of the Maratha quota agitation, a senior official said. Earlier, as many as 49 persons were arrested and curfew was imposed in parts of the district on Monday evening following incidents of violence and arson targeting the houses and offices of political leaders as the quota agitation intensified. The situation was peaceful during the day, district collector Deepa Mudhol Munde told PTI on Tuesday evening. "There was no fresh protest today. Though the day was peaceful, there is no decision on relaxation of curfew and restoration of the Internet as of now," she said. Curfew has been enforced in a periphery of 5 km from the collector's office, head offices of talukas and along all national highways passing through the district, another official said. On Monday morning, the residence of Nationalist Congress Party (Ajit

Central Railways commissions BPAC system in Vasind-Asangaon section

The Central Railway has commissioned the block proving by axle counter (BPAC) system in the Vasind-Asangaon section of Mumbai Division, an official said on Tuesday. As per a release issued by the Central Railway, the BPAC system plays a pivotal role in maintaining the utmost safety of train operations. Specifically, it meticulously examines the last vehicle of a section, subsequently confirming the section's clearance before granting authorization for another train to enter. Earlier, the BPAC system was exclusively deployed up to Vashind railway station within the Kalyan-Igatpuri section. However, the Railway Board has sanctioned the extension of BPAC operations from Khadavli to Igatpuri, and the work is in progress and will be completed soon, it stated. The Mumbai division has a BPAC system installed on the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) to KALYAN section, CSMT-PANVEL Harbour line, CSMT-Goregaon line, Kalyan-Karjat section and Vasai-Panvel-Roha section. The BPAC syste

Maratha quota stir: Situation under control in Beed, 49 people arrested

Police have arrested 49 people in connection with the violence in Maharashtra's Beed district during the ongoing agitation for Maratha reservation, an official said on Tuesday. A curfew was imposed in parts of Beed district on Monday evening after a series of incidents of violence and arson targeting properties of politicians. The situation is currently under control, Beed Superintendent of Police Nandkumar Thakur told PTI. "Offences for rioting and putting lives in danger have been lodged in connection with the incidents. So far, 49 agitators have been arrested. There was no untoward incident at night, and the situation is under control," he said. Additional police force has been deployed in the district to maintain law and order, the official said. As per the order issued by Beed Collector Deepa Mudhol Munde, the curfew has been enforced in a periphery of 5 kilometres from the collector office, head offices of talukas along with all national highways passing through the district

Maratha quota: KKRTC suspends bus services to Maharashtra after bus torched

The Kalyana Karnataka Road Transport Corporation (KKRTC) has suspended its bus services to Maharashtra after one of its buses was set on fire by protesters at Omerga in that state during the ongoing agitation for Maratha reservation. However, no one was injured in the incident, a transport department official said on Tuesday. The state owned KKRTC bus was proceeding to Pune from Bhalki in Bidar when the incident occurred. "No one was injured in this incident as the protesters deboarded all the passengers and set the bus on fire. Quickly alternative arrangements were made to take the passengers to their destination," he said. "We will stop bus operations till normalcy is restored," the official added.

Maharashtra BJP MLA from Beed resigns in support of Maratha quota demand

A Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA from Beed district in central Maharashtra on Monday tendered his resignation from the legislative assembly in support of the Maratha reservation demand. Laxman Pawar, the MLA from Gevrai assembly segment, said the Maratha quota issue is pending for years. The Maratha quota issue is pending for many years. I extend my support to the demand of the Maratha community. To support the cause, I am tendering my resignation, Pawar said in a letter sent to legislative assembly speaker Rahul Narwekar. The BJP is part of the state's Shiv Sena-led ruling coalition where the NCP (Ajit Pawar faction) is also a constituent. Laxman Pawar's decision comes in the wake of the Shiv Sena MPs from Nashik and Hingoli in Maharashtra, both loyalists of Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, quitting in support of the Maratha reservation demand. Maratha community members, led by activist Manoj Jarange, have launched a fresh round of agitation to press for a quota in government jobs

Violence erupts during Maratha quota stir, homes of 2 MLAs torched

The ongoing agitation seeking reservation for the Maratha community descended into violence and arson on Monday as quota protesters torched, vandalised homes or offices of three MLAs, targeted a municipal council building and disrupted road traffic in Maharashtra, police said. Homes of two Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) MLAs were set ablaze, while the office of another legislator from the ruling BJP was vandalised by protesters, they said, adding no casualties were reported. The incidents of violence and arson were reported from central Maharashtra's Beed and Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar districts even as Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange continued his indefinite fast in support of the reservation demand at a village in Jalna district. His condition worsened on the 6th day of the fast when he collapsed on the stage, prompting those present at the site to rush to his aid. On their request, he took a few sips of water. Amid the unrest, Jarange appealed for peace and said violent ...