Observing that the law prohibiting and punishing the defacing of public roads was quite clear but its implementation left much to be desired, the Bombay High Court directed all the municipal corporations in Maharashtra to remove illegal hoardings, banners and posters by March 21.
The division bench of Justices SJ Vazifdar and BP Colabawala was hearing a bunch of public interest litigations on the issue of illegal hoardings of political parties and others.
Advocate Uday Warunjikar, petitioners’ lawyer, pointed out a March 15, 2013 order of another bench of the High Court which had asked for removal of illegal hoardings in 48 hours. “Corporations submitted compliance report that all illegal hoardings have been removed. But today the situation is back to the square one and is likely to worsen with elections coming up,” Warunjikar argued.
To this, Justice Vazifdar said, “If these political leaders and MLAs and MLCs themselves say no to such hoardings this issue will be solved. The law is clear that no illegal hoardings should be put up but implementation is the problem.” Asking all the municipal corporations to crack down on illegal hoardings, banners and posters, the court sought affidavits specifying the steps taken by civic bodies to comply with its March 2013 order.
The affidavits would also state action taken with respect to each complaint received by the corporations. The affidavits and the compliance reports are to be filed by March 21.
The Bombay High Court asked Maharashtra Medical Education Minister to file an affidavit in response to a PIL seeking his and his family members’ prosecution for allegedly amassing assets disproportionate to the known sources of income.
The bench headed by Justice S J Vajifdar asked the NCP leader Dr. Vijaykumar Gavit to declare, in the affidavit, the sources of income from which he purchased properties alleged in the PIL. It is to be filed by March 7.
Advocate Uday Warunjikar, petitioner’s lawyer, said Gavit’s father was a teacher in Nandurbar. Gavit himself worked as a lecturer until 1994. His last monthly salary in June 1994 was Rs. 9,715, according to the petitioners, who are Nashik-based activist.
His brother Sharad worked as a Class-IV employee in the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation. His last drawn salary in 1994 was Rs. 1,290.
Gavit was elected as MLA in 1994 and made Tribal Development Minister. His brother was transferred to Mantralaya as a special officer. Sharad, too, was elected as an MLA from Navapur constituency in 2009.
Warunjikar said the information acquired through the Right To Information Act showed Gavit having personal assets of Rs. 1.3 crore, and his family’s assets (in the name of wife and daughters) were worth Rs. 1.5 crore.
Nomination papers filed by Gavit in 2009 showed his assets at Rs. 2.23 crore and his family’s assets at Rs. 4.78 crore.
“The rise in his wealth after he became minister shows that it was generated by using illegal means, taking undue advantage of his status as a Member of Legislative Assembly and as a minister,” the PIL alleges.
Three persons, including two police officials, were arrested for allegedly accepting Rs 6,000 as extortion money from hawkers in Navi Mumbai’s Kharghar area, ACB said today.
The accused demanded Rs 2,000 as ‘hafta collection’ from each of the hawkers to allow them to put up their business in Kharghar, Anti Corruption Bureau’s DSP Sandip Karnik said.
They also allegedly demanded Rs 8,000 from a hawker, who had four different businesses, the ACB said.
The hawker lodged a complaint with the ACB’s Thane unit which arrested the two assistant police sub-inspectors – Bashir Mohamad Khan Deshmukh (53) and Deepak Bhitade (32) for accepting Rs 6,000 from three hawkers.
A sandwich seller, Sandeep Mahale, was also arrested along with them in this connection.
An offence under the various sections of Prevention of Corruption Act has been registered against the three accused, the ACB said.
The demand by BJP for statehood for the Vidarbha region drew a sharp reaction from its ally Shiv Sena which said it was necessary for the health of the partnership that such contentious issues were kept aside.
“It is in the interest of the Mahayuti (the five-party opposition alliance in Maharashtra) to keep aside issues like separate Vidarbha in order to enable governance after the elections,” Sena spokesperson Sanjay Raut said in a statement.
“Sena is committed to a united Maharashtra and will never allow it to be bifurcated at any cost,” Raut said.
“BJP state president Devendra Fadnavis has announced that a separate Vidarbha state (would be created) after our government comes to power.
“(But) before the Mahayuti government comes to power in the state, there needs to be a common minimum programme,” he added.
“Issues like Article 370, Ram Mandir and common civil code were kept aside to enable the NDA regime to govern. Similarly, it is in the interest of the Mahayuti to keep the Vidarbha issue aside,” Raut said.
The Sena leader’s statement comes in the wake of a renewed demand for statehood for Vidarbha following the passage of the Telangana bill in Parliament.
RPI President Ramdas Athawale, whose party, too, is part of the Mahayuti, has meanwhile said they will launch an agitation in Vidarbha on February 24 to demand separate statehood for the region.
“The Centre should have created a separate Vidarbha while taking the decision on Telangana,” Athawale said.
With the state BJP leadership having reiterated its demand for a separate Vidarbha state, Fadnavis said, “We had already passed the resolution in favour of smaller states, including a separate state of Vidarbha.”
Congress leaders from Vidarbha have also backed the demand.
“The party will definitely support a separate Vidarbha state,” MPCC chief Manikrao Thakre said.
However, Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray has opposed the demand.
In yet another innovative idea by social media, Facebook users would be able to pose questions directly to key political contenders for 2014 general elections with the launch of a special initiative, ‘Facebook Talks Live’, by the social networking website. “In this ‘Facebook Talks Live’ season, you can ask Narendra Modi, Arvind Kejriwal, Mamata Banerjee, Akhilesh Yadav and Lalu Prasad Yadav how they will govern India and what are their priorities and agendas from next month. Common man and youth will get a chance to interact with their leaders on the social network. Presently, the BJP has hit the web in a big way. Many a time, when an Internet user opens a website, strategically placed ads of Modi and BJP chief Rajnath Singh pops up asking people to donate to party funds. These advertisements pop up even when you visit some Pakistani websites. Customised content for cellphone users, Facebook and twitter is also being generated and circulated. Modi is centre point to BJP’s election campaign where other leaders are found missing unlike the India Shining campaign that celebrated the senior leadership of the party.
The BJP has created a separate online platform where content is generated and distributed to its cadres for further relay. Ring tones, stickers, posters designs, artistically designed pamphlets laying out the ‘Modi Vision’, ‘Modi Agenda’ ‘Modi’s 8-point development plan’, are up for grabs. All of Modi’s interactions, speeches, are transcribed and put online within minutes. Google hang-outs, Facebook posts, promoted tweets and video conferences have become de rigueur for the parties in the current campaign as they seek to leverage technology to reach out. Modi, the clear leader in the social space has 3.38 million followers. BJP is aggressively promoting its “Mission272+” volunteer initiative on social media channels. As a result, Group M estimates that digital spends will grow to 35 per cent in 2014, albeit on a low base. Sites like Modi 360 are on the ball, reporting everything and anything on Modi, giving it a positive spin. It claimed US envoy Nancy Powell’s meeting with Modi, a big victory for him.
Spending on advertisements on television, radio and hoardings was not new. Earlier, politicians used to do lots of manual campaign to promote their party and leader. Congress was known for their ad campaigns. Parties always spend huge on promoting their leaders. It was Indira Gandhi, who ushered in the era of popular slogans and catchy campaign strategies to win elections. Having to fight the powerful old guard, the Kamraj-led syndicate, the Morarjis and the Nijalingappas, she could not leave it to the Congress party to do what was needed. “The authorship of the catchy Indira-era slogans was attributed to the party’s in-house poet Srikant Verma. The ad for vote’s culture was brought into the party in a big way by Rajiv Gandhi in 1984 with a campaign worked around Indira Gandhi’s assassination and Operation Bluestar. That was the time when posters, banners and stencil graffiti were the only tools of propagating one’s political message to the masses. There were no social media, no technology for outside support. Party had writers, poets, intellectuals in its midst and they were given credence and space to contribute creatively. As the technology has grown, the gamete of social media has gone wide spread; political parties exploited every possible means here.
BJP’s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi would be the first guest on the session scheduled for March 3 to whom netizens can ask about his stand on various issues, question about his party’s policies and his vision for India. Eminent journalist Madhu Trehan would moderate the session by asking questions on behalf of Facebook users, which would also be live-streamed on the website besides being broadcast on a private television channel. It is estimated that over 93 million people in India are engaged actively every month on Facebook. The Facebook official said social engagement is at the core of the website’s values and in politics and elections. It is also to influencing voting behaviors and organising opinions.
On the other hand, in India majority users of Facebook or even New Media are the youngsters. Facebook may stick to these cheap tactics of promotion of wrong candidates for the PM’s post but Rahul Gandhi is the true leader of youth, who has spent a better part of his career shaping the Youth Congress. Again it’s theoretical, when will they become practical? Facebook is not the solution for the problems in India. They are earning so much but in return, what they have done for the betterment of people in India? It’s crucial to elaborate their work in front of the people, not for chatting on Facebook. For two people this is irrelevant, Kejriwal who is always there on news channel giving interviews to each and every channel! He even calls the entire media for issuing an FIR or replacing Bureaucrats. Though both the FIRs have little reason and facts and are more of a rhetoric. One won’t be surprised if he has lined up 100 more such interviews before the Lok Sabha. And Narendra Modi is another guy. He already gets the common men from all walks of life to question him and replies to them.
After doing all sort of drama, now we have to really wait and watch who will win the actual battle.
The state government announces 50 per cent reservation to mill workers under the MMRDA housing scheme.
With an eye on the upcoming Lok Sabha election the state government has announced that mill workers will be entitled to receive 50 per cent reservation in the MMMRA housing projects. Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan had signed a General Resolution (GR) in this regard. For many years, Girni Kamgar Sangharsh Samiti has been demanding houses for mill workers. They have also held various protests and organised press conference in support of their demands. The government has promised to provide houses to the mill workers earlier but it failed to fulfil it citing the excuse of non availability of land for building houses.
Earlier the government had also begun an online lottery system for the allotment of houses to mill workers. Despite this the workers failed to get the possession of houses as they began protests against the government. Some mill workers nonetheless are unimpressed with the scheme announced by the government as they are not sure whether they will get the possession of houses.
Mill worker leader, Uday Bhat questioned about the veracity of the decision and said, “Why did the government failed to take a decision in the interest of mill workers for last 30 years? The decision is politically motivated taking into consideration the Lok Sabha election.”
Bhatt also made serious allegation against the state government and said, “The construction of MHADA flats is yet to be completed then how will they provide house to mill workers?”
Pravin Patil a mill worker from Chinchpokli said, “The government makes several announcement before election. However, they fail to honour their promises after winning election and remain inaccessible to people. They also have started fooling people by airing advertisements about various housing schemes which will remain only on paper.”
On the other hand, some mill workers were pleased with the announcement made by the government to provide houses for the mill workers. Lauding the efforts of the state Government, Data Isrulkar, Mill workers union said, “Four months ago, Chief Minister promised us that he will provide flats to displaced mill workers. He has fulfilled his promise by signing the GR. We are happy with the decision taken by the Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan.”
Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) supremo launched a scathing attack on Narendra Modi saying that she will make every possible effort to prevent him from becoming the next prime minister of the country.
Speaking to reporters outside Parliament, Mayawati said, “There is very little truth in what Narendra Modi says, it is more of lies, people are being misled.”
The BJP is in the habit of says something and doing the opposite, she added.
When asked by a reporter whether she intends to stop Modi, Mayawati said that her party had supported successive UPA governments at the Centre with the sole objective of keeping communal forces away from power.
“(Supporting) Modi is akin to supporting communal forces, we will try with all our might to stop him,” she said.
Referring to the post Godhra riots, Mayawati said, “Minorities are very worried about Modi, they know that Muslim’s will never be safe if he comes to power; for minorities we have to stop him from coming to power.”
The former Uttar Pradesh chief minister also scoffed at the attempts to stitch together a Third Front, she said, “Third Front and other such fronts, they can’t do good for the country.”
The state of Andhra Pradesh may soon come under the President’s rule with Governor ESL Narasimhan recommending imposition of central rule after the resignation of Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy over the issue of state’s bifurcation.
According to reports, the imposition of President rule will ensure smooth bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh in two states.
It is also likely that the Assembly elections may be postponed and held in two separate states, sources claim.
With both the houses of Parliament clearing the Telangana Bill, it would now go before the President who would issue a final notification on the matter.
While the central government would have a lot to do on the issue, there is one matter however which would be decided by the Supreme Court – whether the two states would have two high courts.
The notification on Telangana to be issued by the President is likely to come out on February 21 or 22.
However, it is immediately not clear whether Narasimhan has recommended for dissolution of the State Assembly or to keep the House under suspended animation.
A decision on imposition of central rule in Andhra Pradesh is expected to be taken in the next meeting of the Union Cabinet, which will recommend to the President.
With Parliament approving the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Bill 2014, paving way for the creation of Telganana as the 29th state, the political turmoil over its future is certainly over but the political parties are now fighting to take credit for clearing all hurdles from its path to statehood.
Reacting to the passage of the Telangana Bill in the Rajya Sabha, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Arun Jaitley said that it was a historic day, and that he was happy that his party’s efforts to deal with the issue had paid off.
“This is a historic day and I am happy that the BJP’s efforts have paid off. We could have opposed the Bill, but we didn’t. We have played an important role in passing this legislation,” Jaitley told reporters late on Thursday.
In its reaction to the development, Union Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde said that the bill had been passed with the support of majority of the people in the Rajya Sabha including the BJP.
“Two days back bill was passed in Lok Sabha and the Opposition had also supported it. When the bill went to the Rajya Sabha, it was passed because of the support of the BJP and the other parties,” Shinde said.
Shinde, however, stressed, “Sonia Gandhi and the party decided to give justice to the people of Seemandhra and everyone supported the passage of Telangana.”
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in his last address on the last day of 15th Lok Sabha on Friday said that on certain crucial matters the Lower House has the capacity to rise above partisan politics and find pathways of national reconciliation.
Speaking on the passage of the Telengana Bill, which was approved by Parliament after chaos and heated debates, Singh said that India capable of taking most difficult decisions. “The manner in which Telangana was born is an indication that this country is capable of taking difficult decisions,” the Prime Minister said in Lok Sabha.
Continuing on difficult decision taking in the 15th Lok Sabha, Singh in his address said that the passage of the Food Security Bill is another such example.
The Telangana Bill, which was passed by the Rajya Sabha yesterday to carve out India’s 29th state from Andhra Pradesh, Singh said “We can take pride that this Telangana state, whose quest for being born for the last so many years has seen the light of day.”
The PM said that the Telangana Bill and the Food Security Bill were two landmark bills that were passed in the 15th Lok Sabha.
Raising the poll pitch ahead of the crucial General Elections, former Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday asked Bharatiya Janata Party’s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi to break his silence on the gas pricing issue involving industrialist Mukesh Ambani.
Addressing a press conference in the national capital, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader said that he has written a letter to the Gujarat Chief Minister asking him to reply on the gas pricing issue.
Kejriwal also claimed that the Congress-led government at the Centre has colluded with the top industrialist to raise the gas prices. The AAP chief said that the government has given undue favours to Reliance Industries.
Divulging details from his letter, the ex-Delhi CM said that he has asked Modi to reveal the source of funds for his massive rallies being held across the country.
The activist-turned politician also said that the BJP leader and Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi should publicly disclose who owns the helicopters, which they use for travelling across the country. He also asked both the leaders to come clear on the payment made for the choppers used for their respective rallies.
He also asked Modi to disclose whether funds for election rallies are being paid by Mukesh Ambani. Kejriwal said that he would write a similar letter to Rahul tomorrow.
Attacking the BJP’s PM candidate over the issue of black money, Kejriwal cited media reports, which allege that Ambani himself has black money stashed in Swiss banks. The AAP leader asked whether Modi, who aspires to become the prime minister, would act against Ambani if he attains the top post.
Kejriwal said reports have been doing rounds that the incumbent UPA government is being run by the RIL chairman. “If Modi becomes the PM then will Mukesh Ambani continue to run his government?” the AAP leader asked.
Trying to corner Modi, the AAP leader also raised the issue of Parimal Nathwani. He asked the Gujarat CM to clarify how Nathwani, who is group president of Reliance was elected to Rajya Sabha on a BJP ticket.
He also asked Congress and the BJP to explain why they opposed the filing of FIR by Delhi Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) against Ambani.
“We will not take any amount of money as election fund from Ambani,” Kejriwal stressed.
Kejriwal concluded by saying, “AAP will circulate 10 crore copies of this letter across the country.”
The state government announces 50 per cent reservation to mill workers under the MMRDA housing scheme.
Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) supremo launched a scathing attack on Narendra Modi saying that she will make every possible effort to prevent him from becoming the next prime minister of the country.