The Maharashtra government has decided to recommend names of four fire officials for bravery award to President Pranab Mukherjee, who lost their lives in the Kalbadevi fire incident in May this year.

Minister of State for Home Ranjit Patil made the announcement in the Legislative Council today while speaking during the Calling Attention motion moved by NCP MLC Sunil Tatkare.

Another MLC Kapil Patil, supporting the motion asked if the government will give the status of “martyr” to the slain fire officials, who died at work in the massive blaze that broke out in Kalbadevi on May 9.  Replying to him, Patil said a “martyr” status can be accorded to only those who sacrifice their lives on the border.

“But we will recommend the names of all the four fire officials who lost their lives in the incident to the President for a ‘Shaurya Padak’ (bravery award)” Patil said.

Meanwhile, while replying to a query raised by NCP MLC Kiran Pawaskar during the question hour, Patil said Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM) will take responsibility of bearing education expenses of children of the slain officials.

He said the government will also consider giving homes to the families of the officers, under Chief Minister’s quota.

“Currently, the fire department has the capacity to fight fire at height of 70 metres.

The MCGM is under the process of acquiring 90 metre ladders so that fire at a greater height can be doused,” Patil said.

The May 9 Kalbadevi fire at Gokul Niwas building killed fire officers S W Rane and Mahendra Desai the same day, after they were trapped beneath debris of the collapsed building for hours.

Deputy chief fire officer Sudhir Amin, who had suffered 90 per cent burns, succumbed to injuries a week later, while fire brigade chief Sunil Nesarikar, who had suffered 50 per cent burn injuries, passed away a fortnight after the incident.

With Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis having turned down the demand to write-off farm loan, Shiv Sena said the curse of farmers, with whose blessings the government came to power, could ruin everything.

“Farmers should not be shooed away like the beggars standing on one’s doorstep are. The government has come to power with the blessings of these farmers…They are the kings…Let their curse not ruin everything,” Sena said in an editorial in party mouthpiece ‘Saamana’.

“The question is if waiving off loans will not stop farmers’ suicides, what will?” it asked.

“It is being said that the CM is firm on not waiving off the debts of farmers. If he is firm on his stand, he should also clarify on how does the government plan to revive the lives of farmers whose spinal cord has been broken,” it said.

The unseasonal rains in some parts of the state and lack of showers in other parts destroys the crops of farmers, thereby causing losses, Sena said, noting that the banks and money lenders then pressurise them to pay their debt that ultimately leads the farmers to commit suicide.

“The Chief Minister wants farmers to stand on their feet. This decision of his is good. But how will you make those farmers stand on their feet who have already been crippled and are standing with the help of crutches?” the ruling alliance partner sought to know.

People are being able to eat food due to the hard work of farmers and this should be kept in mind before taking any firm decisions, it suggested.

Taking the line that loan waiver will not serve any purpose, Fadnavis had on Monday said in state Assembly that 9,614 farmers had committed suicides since the loan waiver (announced by the UPA government) in 2008.

“Thirty-five lakh farmers have no access to institutional credit. As many as 60 per cent of farmers in Marathwada and Vidarbha have no loan facility at all. For whom are you (opposition members) seeking the loan waiver?” asked Fadnavis.

Mumbai University Vice Chancellor Dr Sanjay Deshmukh met MNS chief Raj Thackeray at the latter’s residence in Dadar.

Later, Deshmukh told that the meeting was “not political”.

“I have been meeting personalities in various fields to seek inputs on improving the quality of the university. I have been meeting scientists and experts. I plan to meet Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray too,” he said.

Deshmukh took over as the Mumbai University’s VC earlier this month after the tenure of Dr Rajan Velukar ended.

A local builder was brutally killed allegedly by two youths in Ambernath, police said on Wednesday.

The murder took place yesterday when the victim Akilesh Patil, 35, was returning from a construction site in his two-wheeler, said Sub Inspector MS Jadhav of the Shivaji Nagar police station.

The duo attacked Patil with a chopper inflicting several wounds on the victim, killing him on the spot, police said.

After the incident, the youths fled the scene on the two-wheeler belonging to the victim.

The body of the victim had been sent for postmortem.

An offence under sections 302, 342 and 120 B of the IPC was registered against the duo but the motive behind the killing has still not been established.

Police have launched a manhunt for the killer duo, Jadhav added.

Maharashtra government has taken serious note of the attack on NCP legislator Jeetendra Awhad and assured of his security, Revenue Minister Eknath Khadse told the Legislative Assembly on Wednesday.

Dilip Walse Patil of NCP raised the issue of Awhad’s manhandling in Sangli, the damage to his car and threats over phone and social media, in the Assembly.

Walse Patil said NCP chief Sharad Pawar has expressed concern over a recent attempt to attack on Awhad in a letter written to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.

“Lately, people putting forth the pragmatic and progressive views are being targeted in Maharshtra. Such threats to pragmatic personalities is a shame for Maharshtra and the rising intolerance in the state is a cause of concern,” Pawar had said.

He also said that Chief Minister, who is also the Home minister, would take note of the threats being given to Awhad. Pawar also sought adequate protection for Awhad.

“I am confident that you would not want anything untoward to happen to Awhad. As the CM and as head of the home department, you cannot evade your responsibility,” Pawar stated in his letter.

“Awhad is a prominent Other Backward Caste (OBC) leader and an active member of the Assembly. I am sure that you will take due cognisance of the threats to him,” Pawar felt.

Speaking in the Assembly today, Walse Patil said the attackers are yet to be traced. Speaker Haribhau Bagde asked the government to make a statement in this regard.

To which, Khadse said the government is committed to protect lives of citizens and not just MLAs. “Threats to Awhad will be probed and his security will be taken care of,” he said.

Maharashtra government is planning to enact a law to regulate private coaching classes in the state, Education Minister Vinod Tawde told the Legislative Assembly on Wednesday.

Tawde said Law and Judiciary department has given its green signal for enactment of such a law and the government will take opinion from Advocate General too in order to make the legislation full proof.

The Minister was replying to a debate raised by BJP legislator Sardar Tara Singh through a calling attention notice in the lower House.

Singh sought information from the government about coaching classes which display advertisements promising 100 per cent results.

“Do you have details about such classes and the fees levied on students,” he asked.

Tawde said government has no control over private coaching classes. “Earlier, such a proposal to regulate coaching classes had come before the legislature but it did not take shape of a law,” he added.

Leader of Opposition Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil said the business of coaching classes has become very profitable given the fact about full page advertisements in newspapers regularly.

Prithviraj Chavan (Congress) said coaching classes should be debarred from publicising their profession like lawyers and doctors.

Controversy surrounding the open air gym at the Marine Drive promenade inaugurated last week by Yuva Sena chief Aaditya Thackeray refuses to die down, with Swabhiman Sangathana, an NGO led by Congress MLA Nitesh Rane, on Wednesday opening a vada-pav stall near the fitness station.

Rane had reportedly threatened to put up this stall next to the gym in protest against the permission given to it.

The food stall, which opened this morning, started serving vada-pavs and kombadi-vade, a non-veg delicacy from the Konkan region of Maharashtra and a number of customers were seen buying the eatables throughout the day.

The sign-board on the handcart that sells the food items, reads ‘Swabhiman Vada ani Kombdi Vade’ and also carries a line, which calls it an initiative solely for the Marathi people.

The open air fitness station installed by actor Dino Morea on the Marine Drive last Wednesday, was inaugurated by Aaditya Thackeray and actor Jacqueline Fernandes.

However, the next day Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) workers had reportedly dismantled it saying it was illegal. But, they put it back together on learning that permissions were in order.

Rane had jumped into the controversy stating that his NGO would start a vada-pav stall near the gym.

Mumbai NCP had also said it would set up self-help group stalls on the famed promenade if the gymnasium was not removed.

Congress had alleged although it had sought permission for the installation of a similar fitness station in 2013, the then municipal commissioner Sitaram Kunte had denied it stating that no temporary or permanent structure could be erected on the promenade.

Despite repeated attempts, Swabhiman Sanghatana office-bearers as well as BMC officials could not be contacted over the development.