The Maharashtra cabinet has decided to retain admissions done as per the Maratha reservation quota before the state government’s decision was stayed by the High Court.
“The Maratha reservation seats have been protected by the court while staying the decision. Those students who have not yet submitted their non-creamy layer and caste validation certificate will be allowed time to do so,” Education Minister Vinod Tawde said.
When asked if the decision would be valid for those who got admissions under the Muslim quota as well, the Minister replied in the affirmative.
Tawde said that vacancies in government and semi-government jobs would be filled keeping aside the 16 per cent quota.
“The 16 per cent quota can be filled after the court’s final ruling on Maratha reservation,” he said. Meanwhile, the Maharashtra Chief Minister’s Office said that in another cabinet decision, the state government has decided to raise the height of hospital buildings from 30 metres to 45 metres.
The retirement age of professors in government medical, dental and ayurvedic colleges have been raised from 63 years to 64 years, the statement said. There are 14 government medical, three dental and four ayurvedic colleges in the state.
The cabinet also passed a resolution congratulating Jnanpith awardee Bhalchandra Nemade and decided to organise a public felicitation for the celebrated writer.
“I strongly condemn the derogatory references made by Salman Rushdie against Nemade,” Tawde, who is also culture minister of Maharashtra, said.
With the arrest of four thieves, Mumbai Police claimed to have busted an inter-state gang which stole luxury cars, especially multi-utility and sports-utility vehicles from the city and neighbouring Thane district.
Police recovered 14 vehicles including Pajero, Tavera, Alto and Wagon R cars from the accused.
Those arrested were identified as Riyaz Mehboob Khan (40), Muralidharan Pannikar (54), Fiyaz Ahmed Siddique (45) and Zakir Mohammed Shaikh (32), police said.
Acting on a tip-off, a trap was laid near Sheetal talkies in suburban Kurla (W) when the quartet arrived in a Hyundai Verna car.
The four were caught and a search of the seized car resulted in recovery of a bunch of keys belonging to stolen cars, said Deputy Police Commissioner Dhananjay Kulkarni.
The gang carried out their operations in Mumbai and neighbouring Thane district and sold the stolen vehicles outside Maharashtra.
The modus operandi of the group was to steal a vehicle after removing the rear windshield and beadings, using specialised tools.
The accused had also devised a method to turn on the ignition without using its key. Subsequently, they drove away the cars to their hideout and then remove the engine and Chassis number, also known as Vehicle Identification Number.
Afterwards, the stolen cars would be sold to gullible customers using fake documents in Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh among other states.
The Bombay High Court asked the Mumbai University’s search committee to reconsider the eligibility of Vice Chancellor Rajan Welukar with regard to fulfillment of the stipulated criteria for the job.
Earlier, the HC had held that Welukar’s appointment as Vice Chancellor reflected a lack of “application of mind” and also violated the criteria stipulated for the job.
After Welukar was appointed on July 7, 2010, for a period of five years, his appointment was challenged by Vasant Ganu Patil and A D Sawant in the High Court.
A division bench of Chief Justice Mohit Shah and Justice B P Colabawalla directed today that in case the varsity search committee found that Welukar is not eligible for the office of the Vice Chancellor, the Chancellor (the Maharashtra Governor) should pass consequential orders.
The court also ordered that the search committee be constituted by the Chancellor within two weeks after which it should take a decision on Welukar within a month.
The court was informed that members of an earlier search committee had retired after which the bench ruled that the Chancellor could retain the same members or appoint new ones.
On December 11, Justice P V Hardas and Justice Anuja Prabhudesai had ruled that Welukar’s appointment reflected lack of “application of mind” and violated the criteria stipulated for the job of Mumbai University Vice Chancellor.
The bench had also held that the selection committee had not followed a key criteria for the post as per which the candidate ought to have published at least five research articles after PhD in internationally peer-reviewed journals, or be the author of a textbook.
A reference was made to the bench headed by Justice P V Hardas because another bench had delivered a split verdict on a petition challenging Welukar’s appointment.
Since last November, things are not well within BJP. Centralisation of power has widened the gaps in the party. Narendra Modi, Arun Jaitley and Amit Shah have become sole decision makers in the party and government whereas other leaders and ministers are not even taken into consideration. Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) too are not much happy with trio and their style of working. Groupism in BJP has divided it. Delhi elections have widened the gap within. A confused and divided Bharatiya Janata Party, which was riding high after the landslide victory in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections and consecutive wins in the Assembly elections in four states, has been flattened by the two-year-old Aam Aadmi Party in the Delhi Assembly elections.
In 2014, the BJP seized power at Delhi with plenty of undertakings. None of the promises materialised so far. Common man, especially poor and middle class blindly believed those promises and voted for BJP but its performance is proving to be very disappointing, so far. Every calculation of BJP top brass went wrong due to erroneous priorities, leading to this extraordinary catastrophe. Their first wrong move was ignoring the Delhi electorates during President’s rule, they are in power at the centre and can address the concerns of 60 per cent of electorates, especially the poor and middle class people. Instead, BJP misused this power to delay the poll process in Delhi, so they could totally focus on Maharashtra, J&K, Jharkhand and Haryana polls. In short, they had taken Delhi for granted which proved to be a bigger blunder. Delhi results also highlight the importance of a united opposition where votes do not get split for whatever reason and merely retaining vote share does not help.
Moreover, BJP had no locally accepted CM-face, no positive Manifesto, only anti-AK personal attacks, in-fighting among Delhi BJP leaders, over-use of MPs and ministers, no prior planning, no assembly elections earlier, over-use of Modi face which are some of the reasons the party tasted the dirt in Delhi. AAP’s sure success are due to its strong CM face, three months long Delhi Dialogue process, clear 70-point people-evolved agenda/manifesto, heavy use of social media, underdog-sympathy of voters, close connection with the poorer masses, better candidates’ selection, advanced candidates’ selection, apology for resignation repeated, entire national AAP force working hard, larger volunteer force, creative use of original music and flash mobs and local issues which customised to each constituency and communicated strongly.
The BJP roped in 120 MPs, including several Central Ministers and chief ministers to target AAP and Kejriwal but the plan failed Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who addressed five rallies in the national capital, kept on accusing Kejriwal of not doing enough without coming up with his party’s blueprint for the national capital.
Modi and BJP leaders called Kejriwal anarchist, Naxalites, bhagoda (runaway) and dharna expert which sent out the message that the party was only interested in name calling. BJP published cartoons in newspapers on the U-turns by Kejriwal and it hit the hardest when the party called him belonging to the ‘updravi gothra’. Another advertisement used caricatures of Kejriwal’s children and even had Anna Hazare in a photo frame with a garland on it which signalled that he was dead. Such advertisement were turned around by the AAP and used to counter BJP. The BJP also asked 35 questions to Kejriwal on U-turns made by him on his poll promises and targeting him for leaving the government in 49 days. When Kejriwal called the party for a debate, BJP’s chief ministerial candidate Kiran Bedi said that they would debate in the Delhi Assembly. Modi’s failure to control his own MPs who were allegedly forcing people to convert into Hinduism across the country and calling it ‘Ghar Wapsi’ created a lot of anger amongst the people. He also failed to curb attacks on Church hurting the sentiment of Christians which resulted in the alienation of voters. His MPs also went on to the extent of asking Hindu women to produce four children, and even upto10 children in order to protect the religion.
Certainly, BJP and Modi have to introspect themselves to know the pulse of voters. The way AAP knocked down BJP in Delhi election is result of the fact that BJP is playing divisive politics. People of Delhi really deserves an applaud for showing the country that true power lies in the hands of common people. They can change the course of divisive and polarising politics. In the past few months, BJP has done nothing more than steering up controversies and messing up with preamble which was not so democratic. People of the country generally from Delhi are fed up with the queer style of functioning of the Prime Minister Modi, ever since he assumed power. After its humiliating defeat in Delhi polls, BJP admitted that it is a “big setback” and the party will soon introspect behind the dismal showing.
It is long overdue defeat of false promises! Every failure is a stepping stone to success. However, this is not failure, BJP being an old tradition party has seen all ups and downs. This is also like one. Political parties if defeated have to bow down its head for people’s verdict.
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief and Delhi’s chief minister-designate Arvind Kejriwal met Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh and demanded full-fledged statehood for Delhi. Kejriwal was accompanied by AAP Patparganj MLA Manish Sisodia.
After the meeting, Sisodia said, “We met Rajnath Singh and gave him an invite for Kejriwal’s swearing-in ceremony. We also discussed the issue of statehood.”
Later, Kejriwal tweeted, “Met Venkaiah Naidu ji n Rajnath ji -the 2 most imp ministries for del govt. Invited them to oath ceremony.”
Full-fledged statehood to Delhi is one of the important promises made by AAP in its manifesto. The BJP has evaded the issue all along and did not mention in its vision document released just before the Delhi Assembly elections.
The BJP has maintained that the issue requires a larger debate. The issue is likely to snowball into a major flashpoint between AAP and BJP.
Earlier on Wednesday, Kejriwal met Urban Development Minister M Venkaiah Naidu and discussed various issues with him including that of unauthorised colonies in the city and full statehood.
He was accompanied by Sisodia. “We have discussed four big issues with the minister. Firstly, the issues of the poor such as compensation for them, we will need central government’s help in that. Secondly, the issue of unauthorised colonies on which the Centre recently passed a resolution. So in order to take it forward help will be needed from MCD, DDA and the Centre,” Sisodia said after the meeting.
“We told him that for more schools, colleges, hospitals and parking, a lot of land will be needed so whatever land is available with DDA, we have requested for it,” he said.
“And lastly the issue of full statehood. We have been fully assured that without any political divide we will get their support,” he added.
Naidu promised all help to the Delhi government. “We have promised full cooperation to the AAP government in Delhi. I have been invited for the swearing-in ceremony. Arvind Kejriwal asked for Centre’s support in running Delhi,” said Naidu.
Kejriwal is slated to meet President Pranab Mukherjee on Wednesday and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday.
Five days after the brutal rape and murder of a 28-year-old mentally challeneged Nepalese women in Rohtak, Harayana have cracked the case as eight youths were on Tuesday arrested while one more accused in the case that has caused outrage and revulsion across the country allegedly committed suicide.
The doctor who conducted victim’s post mortem called it the most brutal case in his entire career.
Haryana Police, which was under attack over its handling of the incident, while announcing the arrests claimed that the case has been “cracked”.
DGP Yashpal Singhal, who visited the crime spot, said that the arrested accused are in their twenties and appear to be criminals.
“The case has been cracked and eight youths out of total nine have been arrested from Gaddikhera village, some 9 kms from Rohtak,” he said, adding that a Nepalese identified as Santosh was among them.
Other accused arrested in the case were identified as Rajesh alias Ghuchadu, Sunil alias Sheela, Sarvar alias Billu, Manbir, Sunil alias Madha, Pawan, Parmod alias Padam, he said.
Rohtak Superintendent of Police Shashank Anand said the ninth accused Sheelkaraam allegedly committed suicide by consuming poisonous tablets at Bavana falling in NCR region on Rohtak-Delhi border. Police was hot on his trail.
“All the accused had confessed to their involvement in crime,” Singhal claimed.
On the issue of alleged police apathy, the DGP said they swung into action the moment the complaint was lodged and a DSP rank officer is himself working on it.
“If, however, any lapse on the part of police officials is found, action will be taken as per law against them,” the DGP said.
Sadhvi Prachi Arya, a prominent Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) leader, has said that the ‘Ghar Wapsi’ programme will continue till the fifteen crore people who, she claimed, have left the Hindu fold post Independence, are “reconverted to Hinduism”.
“The ‘Ghar Wapsi’ programme launched by some Hindutva organisations would continue until all the fifteen crore people who have left the Hindutva fold after Independence are reconverted to Hinduism,” Arya said at a convention organised by VHP at the Ramleela Grounds in the old City last night.
She also said that the Father of the Nation title to Mahatma Gandhi was “unwarranted”.
“The title of the Father of Nation to Gandhi was unwarranted because the true sacrifice for attaining freedom was carried out by others,” she said.
“The credit for India’s independence was wrongly attributed to Gandhi when it should have been given to Vir Savarkar and Bhagat Singh,” she said.
Sadhavi said the VHP would also continue its movement to ensure increase in the population of Hindus in India which had been steadily declining compared to others.
“I and BJP MP Sakshi Maharaj are receiving threats but we are not scared and would continue working for the rights of the Hindu community,” she said.
The VHP also announced that it would launch a movement for renaming Aligarh as ‘Harigarh’ which, the organisation claimed, was the city’s original name.
The convention was attended by senior BJP leaders including Lok Sabha MP Satish Gautam and city Mayor Shakuntala Bharti.
RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat has exhorted the Hindus to stand united by setting aside their differences in order to make the country strong.
“Bharat will become strong (samarth) only when Hindus stand for the country by keeping aside all their differences for the sake of the nation,” Bhagwat said yesterday while addressing ‘Narmada Hindu Sangam’ at the historic Maheshwar town on the banks of Narmada river here.
“India was earlier treated as world guru and in future also it will be known as the world guru. The US has money and business power, China has military power, but India is the only country in the world which has everything,” he said.
He expressed concern over some practices like preventing a section of society from entering temples and fetching water.
“Though our deities are different, we believe in one God and treat the world as a global village (Vasudev Kutumbakam) and now we have to live for the country,” he said.
There are diversities in the country, languages are different, the way of living is also different but Hindus have always stood for serving the society and its welfare.
The Hindus should not be considered as weak, Bhagwat said adding that programmes like the ‘Hindu Sangam’ are being organised to strengthen the community.
A large number of saints, RSS workers and local residents took part in the event.
A day after the Aam Aadmi Party registered a thumping victory in Delhi Assembly polls, Police Commissioner BS Bassi on Wednesday said its newly-elected MLA Naresh Balyan would be called for questioning within two days over the recovery of liquor bottles from a warehouse near his home.
Police had sent a notice to Balyan to appear before it but he did not turn up, saying that he would be able to join the probe after the elections.
“When we called him (Balyan) before elections he said that he should be called after elections. First we thought of calling him on February 8 but could not do so as our officers were busy for counting of votes on February 10,” Bassi told reporters here.
“As our officers have now got free, we will decide in next two days. Police will call him within one or two days,” he said.
The Commissioner also dropped a hint that if the AAP MLA does not turn up this time, coercive action is always open.
“If Balyan doesn’t come now, obviously coercive action is always an option for us,” Bassi said.
Senior AAP leaders Ashish Khetan, Ashutosh and Sanjay Singh had met the Police Commissioner on Friday and requested him to allow Balyan to join the probe after the elections.
Sunanda Pushkar’s husband and Congress MP Shashi Tharoor will be questioned on Thursday again in connection with her murder, police said on Wednesday.
Sunanda Pushkar’s son Shiv Menon was questioned by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) at the Vasant Vihar office for around eight hours on February 05.
Saying that the “witnesses who were at home or were present at the hotel, there are few clarifications which need to be obtained from them too”, Delhi Police Commissioner BS Bassi said Tharoor’s domestic help Narayan Singh will be grilled once again.
“The witnesses who have been examined so far, we are analysing their statements and few other witnesses will be examined. Tharoor will be quizzed again because we need clarification on certain points from him,” said Bassi.
“There are many things emerging from the analysis of the statements so far but we will be able to reach a conclusion only after the investigation is over,” he added.
Tharoor was questioned for around three-and-a-half hours on January 19. Police officials had then refused to share Congress MP’s replies during the questioning, saying any revelation would hamper the investigation.
Former Samajwadi Party leader Amar Singh, two journalists – Nalini Singh and Rahul Kanwal – have already deposed before SIT in connection with the case.
Sunanda Pushkar was found dead in a luxury hotel room on January 17, 2014. A murder case was registered against unknown people on January 01, 2015.
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief and Delhi’s chief minister-designate Arvind Kejriwal met Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh and demanded full-fledged statehood for Delhi. Kejriwal was accompanied by AAP Patparganj MLA Manish Sisodia.