Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde handed over cheques of Rs 5 lakh each to kin of three persons, including two sadhus, lynched by a mob in Palghar district in 2020. He handed over the cheques while attending a function in Virar here on Saturday. Sadhus Kalpavriksha Giri Maharaj (70), Sushil Giri Maharaj (35) and their driver Nilesh Telgade (30) were killed by a mob while their vehicle was passing through Gadchinchale village late night on April 16 that year in the midst of the COVID-19 lockdown. The case had made national headlines at the time and several persons who were allegedly part of the 500-strong mob were arrested and are facing trial. Speaking on the occasion, Shinde said then chief minister Uddhav Thackeray has never bothered to meet the kin of these three persons. Shinde said his Shiv Sena has now given them assistance from its own funds.
Shiv Sena (UBT) president Uddhav Thackeray on Saturday didn't attend the virtual meeting of the opposition INDIA bloc citing a scheduled programme. He also said the party had already informed (the opposition bloc) about its inability to attend the meeting. "There shouldn't be any misunderstanding in this regard. I have expressed my inability to attend the meeting as I had to attend a scheduled programme which involved a lot of moving around. In such a scenario, attending the meeting would have been difficult," Thackeray said. Leaders of the bloc met virtually and discussed various aspects of the alliance and the preparations for the Lok Sabha elections, due in April-May. The Shiv Sena (UBT) leader is visiting the Kalyan-Dombivli Lok Sabha constituency, currently represented by Shiv Sena MP Shrikant Shinde, son of Maharashtra chief minister Eknath Shinde. Kalyan-Dombivli is the stronghold of CM Shinde. As many as 28 opposition parties have come together under the banner of the Ind
Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray on Saturday demanded that the consecration ceremony of the Ram temple in Ayodhya be performed by President Droupadi Murmu as it is a matter of "national pride and country's self-respect". Addressing a press conference here, Thackeray said he will also invite Murmu to the Kalaram temple in Nashik, where he will pay a visit on January 22, the day of the Ayodhya temple consecration ceremony. Thackeray had earlier announced that on January 22, he along with his party leaders and office-bearers will visit the historic Kalaram temple in Nashik and perform 'maha aarti' on the banks of the Godavari river. A day later (on January 23), the party will also hold a convention of party functionaries in Nashik, where Thackeray will address a rally. Thackeray said after the Somnath temple in Gujarat was restored, the formal restoration ceremony was held by the country's first president Dr Rajendra Prasad. "Since this (Ayodhya Ram temple) is a matter of ...
Speaker Narwekar's ongoing verdict comes on the deadline date set by the Supreme Court, for him to decide the fate of the rival Sena factions, which had filed a clutch of cross-petitions against each
Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray on Wednesday said Maharashtra assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar's decision holding that the faction led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde was the real Shiv Sena was a murder of democracy, and his party will move the Supreme Court against it. Speaking at a press conference, Thackeray said the apex court had given clear guidelines, but those were ignored by the Speaker while giving his ruling on disqualification petitions filed by the rival Sena factions. The original case was about disqualification under the anti-defection law, but not one lawmaker from either side was disqualified, he said. "The foundation on which the order stands is wrong. This is a murder of democracy and an insult to the Supreme Court," he said, adding that neither the apex court nor the people will accept this decision. His party will approach the SC against the ruling, and will also examine if a contempt petition can be filed against the Speaker, Thackeray said. He would ..
Ahead of the crucial decision on the cross-petitions by Shiv Sena factions seeking disqualification of each other's MLAs, Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde said on Wednesday that Speaker Rahul Narwekar should give his verdict on merit. Talking to reporters here, Shinde said he would give a detailed reaction after the order but maintained that the Election Commission has allowed his outfit to keep the name Shiv Sena' and its bow and arrow' symbol. Narwekar is slated to deliver his much-awaited verdict on the disqualification pleas at 4 pm on January 10 (Wednesday), Vidhan Bhavan officials have said, more than 18 months after the Shiv Sena suffered a vertical split, a political development that resulted in a change of guard in the state. Shinde said his group has 67 per cent of the Shiv Sena lawmakers in the assembly and 75 per cent in Lok Sabha. Some people allege match-fixing (between Shiv Sena and the speaker). There is no substance to those allegations. The speaker should
The political temperature has risen in Maharashtra ahead of the crucial verdict by the assembly speaker on the cross-petitions by Shiv Sena factions seeking disqualification of each other's MLAs following a split in the party. The outcome will decide the way forward for the Eknath Shinde government and also the regional outfit's rival groups. Narwekar is slated to deliver his much-awaited verdict on the disqualification pleas at 4 pm on Wednesday, more than 18 months after the Shiv Sena suffered a vertical split, a political development that resulted in a change of guard in the state. On Tuesday, the opposition Shiv Sena (UBT) upped the ante as its president Uddhav Thackeray said his party has filed an affidavit in the Supreme Court objecting to a recent meeting between Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, who is among the MLAs whose disqualification has been sought, and speaker Rahul Narwekar as both sides engaged in a verbal spat. "If the judge (Narwekar) is going to meet the accused, w
Shiv Sena (UBT) head Uddhav Thackeray on Tuesday hit out at Maharashtra assembly speaker Rahul Narwekar for meeting Chief Minister Eknath Shinde ahead of his judgment on the petitions seeking disqualification of rebel Shiv Sena MLAs. Addressing a press conference here, Thackeray claimed Narwekar's meeting with Shinde on Monday is akin to a "judge meeting a criminal". Narwekar will give his verdict on Wednesday on the disqualification petitions against CM Shinde and other MLAs, whose rebellion led to a split in the Shiv Sena in June 2022. The Supreme Court last month extended the deadline to January 10 for Narwekar to decide on the cross-petitions filed by rival factions of the Shiv Sena seeking disqualification of each other's MLAs Thackeray said since the SC directed Narwekar in May last year to take a decision on the pleas seeking disqualification of rebel Shiv Sena MLAs, the speaker has met the chief minister twice. "What justice can we expect from him tomorrow," the former CM
Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray on Sunday said his detractors see him in their dreams despite stealing the party's name and symbol and also know the people of Maharashtra are with him. The former chief minister was addressing supporters at his residence 'Matoshree' in Bandra in the western part of the metropolis. "Despite stealing my party's name and symbol, detractors see me in their dreams. They know Uddhav Thackeray is not alone, all of Maharashtra is with him," the Shiv Sena (UBT) chief said. "Love and affection are not for sale. These emotions cannot be purchased," Thackeray asserted. Referring to some political workers rejoining Shiv Sena (UBT) in Ulhasnagar, part of Thane district, which is a stronghold of Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Thackeray said the battle ahead was but struggles can be overcome with all loyalists sticking together and fighting. Speaking on the inauguration of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya on January 22, Thackeray said that day he would offer prayer
Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray on Friday wrote to Union Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia urging him to expedite the process to rename the airport in Aurangabad (now Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar) and the upcoming Navi Mumbai International Airport. In a letter to Scindia, Thackeray said the Maha Vikas Aghadi government led by him had sent a proposal to the Centre in 2020 to name Aurangabad airport as Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj Airport. Another proposal was sent in 2022 to name the Navi Mumbai international airport as D B Patil International Airport, Thackeray said. Thackeray said while his government was seeking to rename these two airports, it was told from different quarters that the Centre's policy is to name airports only after its cities. However, the Ayodhya airport has been renamed as Maharshi Valmiki International Airport and Mopa airport in Goa as Manohar International Airport after the state's late chief minister Manohar Parrikar, Thackeray said. If Ayod
He further said that after assuming power at the Centre in 2014, the BJP announced several programmes and gave a host of assurances, but did not implement them and "betrayed" people
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In its latest editorial, Saamana invoked the protests by wrestlers, who came out against former WFI president and BJP leader Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, accusing him of sexual harassment
The Shiv Sena (UBT), headed by former Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray, will hold a "mahashibir" and a public rally here on January 23, 2024, the birth anniversary of Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray, Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut said on Sunday. Uddhav Thackeray will participate in both the events, Raut told reporters. The former CM is expected to sound the poll bugle for the next year's Lok Sabha elections with the convention and rally. "Uddhav Thackeray will hold a mahashibir and address a public meeting in Nashik on January 23," Raut said. All the party leaders will arrive in Nashik on Monday to work out details for hosting the two events, the Rajya Sabha member said. The (then undivided) Shiv Sena contested the Nashik Lok Sabha election in alliance with the BJP and won the seat in 2014 and 2019. Later, two-time MP Hemant Godse switched over to the Shiv Sena camp led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. In June 2022, Shinde and 40 other MLAs revolted against the Shiv Sena .
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Monday rejected NCP MLC Eknath Khadse's allegations that a BJP minister had attended a wedding in 2017-18 hosted by a family related to fugitive Underworld don Dawood Ibrahim. Demanding Khadse's apology to the legislative council for making a baseless claim, Fadnavis said perhaps the allegation was raised because Uddhav Thackeray is present in the House. Khadse, who belongs to the Sharad Pawar camp of NCP, showed photos of the cabinet minister attending a wedding and alleged that the family is related to Dawood Ibrahim, the prime accused in the 1993 Mumbai serial bomb blasts case. Council chairperson Neelam Gorhe directed that the name of the minister be removed from the proceeding. She also rejected the opposition's demand for a discussion. Fadnavis, also the Home Minister, said, "The concerned minister and many other political leaders and government officers had attended the wedding of a nephew of a renowned Muslim priest in
The project for the redevelopment of Dharavi slum in Mumbai was awarded to the Adani Group through a fair, open, and internationally competitive bidding process, and the tender conditions were finalised when the MVA government was in power, as per a release issued by the group. "It is unfortunate that a concerted effort is being made to disseminate misinformation about certain aspects of the project," the release said after Shiv Sena (UBT) leader and former chief minister Uddhav Thackeray on Saturday led a march against the business conglomerate which was awarded rights to redevelop Dharavi. The morcha was taken out from Dharavi to the Adani Group office located in the Bandra Kurla Complex. The Maharashtra government in July formally awarded the 259-hectare Dharavi Redevelopment project to an Adani Group firm. "It is important to note that the tender conditions were finalised during the tenure of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government, which demitted office at the end of June 2022,
Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray on Saturday said he wasn't anti-development and dared the ruling BJP to show one pro-builder decision taken during the MVA regime that he headed. Addressing a well-attended protest against the Dharavi redevelopment project being helmed by the Adani group, Thackeray also refuted allegations by the Bharatiya Janata Party that the tender for it was issued during his chief ministership. "The allegation is false. Show me one such GR," he said. Thackeray said his government fell due to treachery because he was not pro-builder. "Now one can understand who financed the toppling of my government. With the Shiv Sena around, the BJP could not help its friends, so my party was broken and its symbol was stolen," Thackeray claimed without taking names. Dharavi fought the COVID pandemic and will not surrender before any builder, Thackeray said. He alleged the redevelopment project involves TDR irregularities worth more than Rs 100 crore, which is the "bigg
Adani Properties Ltd officially became the primary developer for the Dharavi redevelopment project in July after receiving a government resolution from the state housing department
The Supreme Court on Friday extended the deadline for Maharashtra Legislative Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar to decide the cross-petitions filed by the rival factions of the Shiv Sena seeking disqualification of each other's MLAs from December 31 to January 10 next year . The top court, which granted 10 more days to the speaker, had earlier asked him to decide the disqualification pleas by December 31, saying the sanctity of the 10th Schedule of the Constitution (disqualification law) should be maintained. "The speaker has indicated that the proceedings will be closed on December 20 and the speaker has sought a reasonable extension of time for declaration of the order. Bearing in mind the time limit, which was set out by this court in its previous order dated October 30, was until December 31. We grant extension of time for pronouncement of orders till January 10," a bench of Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud and justices J B Pardiwala and Manoj Misra said. At the start of the brief ..
The editorial further said that there is a "future CM" hidden in each of the three parties- Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde faction), the Bharatiya Janata Party and Nationalist Congress Party (Ajit Pawar)