Demanding implementation of the revised payscale and other benefits assured by the central government, thousands of anganwadi workers courted arrest, sources said.
The angwanwadi workers, who came together under the banner of Maharashtra Anganwadi Workers’ Organisation, staged protests here yesterday before courting arrests.
Over 4,000 anganwadi workers gathered at the District Collectorate demanding immediate consideration to increase salary and benefit that government promised three months back.
They demanded increment up to Rs. 10,000 for permanent workers and Rs. 7,500 for temporary staff; status for government workers; post retirement benefits; increased dearness allowance.
The workers, who had been on strike from January 6.
“Our demands are justified and it is our right to ask for incentives we deserve. We aren’t begging, but coping with the current income is getting harder every day with inflation disrupting our budgets,” said Pratibha Shinde, district Secretary of Anganwadi Workers Organisation.
According to sources, some other party workers approached Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) workers to seek help from party leader Arvind Kejriwal on the issue.
Anganwadis are courtyard shelter, operated by the government under the Integrated Child Development Services program to combat child hunger and malnutrition, among other things.
In a veiled attack on the Aam Aadmi Party, Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray on Thursday said a lot of political parties have come up overnight which has led to a state of confusion.
“…Lot of political parties have mushroomed overnight which is creating a state of confusion (among voters),” Uddhav said addressing the Yuva Sena’s party conclave ‘Lakshya’ 2014, ahead of the Lok Sabha elections.
Stating that the “real revolution in democracy is achieved through ballots and not with bullets,” he referred to the history on the ouster of British Empire and India’s independence subsequently.
“Lokmanya Tilak and other freedom fighters like Veer Savarkar, Chaphekar brothers and Khudiram Bose inculcated the ideals among people to achieve independence,” he said urging the party workers to bring the Shiv Sena to power in the state.
Uddhav said if the Sena-BJP-RPI government comes to power, he will bring in the ‘Youth Policy’ in the state which will lay emphasis on education, employment and other sectors related to the youth.
Later, responding to queries from reporters on a woman corporator in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation alleging sexual harassment, he said, “I have spoken to her yesterday. It is an internal issue of the party.
Yuva Sena chief Aditya Thackeray on Thursday called on the youth to work toward realising the goal of making Narendra Modi the prime minister and electing a Shiv Sena government in the state.
“We need to have a (Narendra) Modi’s Government in Delhi and Uddhav Thackeray’s Government in Maharashtra,” he said addressing a Yuva Sena conclave in Raigad district adjoining Mumbai in coastal Maharashtra.
Aditya, son of Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray, is the chief youth wing of the saffron party.
Aditya claimed that the chief minister will be from his party in the event of Sena-BJP-led alliance coming to power in Maharashtra, where Assembly election is due in second half of this year. The saffron alliance is out of power in the State since 1999.
“We will have to fulfil Balasaheb’s dream to hoist the saffron flag at the State Legislature. We have to bring in Hindavi Swaraj (Hindu self-rule) in the state,” he said striking an emotional chord with the gathering.
He asked the youth, who had gathered in large numbers from various parts of the State to shed their “ego” and earnestly work towards ensuing the Sena-led alliance’s victory in the upcoming Lok Sabha and later state Assembly polls.
A staggering 100,000 people are expected to sing the patriotic song “Ae Mere Vatan Ke Logon” to mark the end of its golden jubilee celebrations on January 27, an organiser said on Thursday.
The function, to be held at Mumbai’s Mahalaxmi Race Course, has been organised by Shahid Gaurav Samiti (SGS) in which Bharat Ratna Lata Mangeshkar — who first rendered it on January 27, 1963 to remember the heroes of the 1962 India-China war — will be present.
“Over a lakh people will sing the song in presence of Lata Mangeshkar and she may also join them. She will be felicitated by Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi along with other war heroes and their families,” SGS spokesperson Vaibhav Lodha said.
He added that over 100 Param Vir Chakra, Mahaveer Chakra and other gallantry awardees, families of martyrs and other dignitaries shall be present and felicitated.
“The golden jubilee of this patriotic song was celebrated (for) the ethos of nationalism and patriotism among Indians and to inspire future generations,” said SGS convenor and Bharatiya Janata Party legislator from Mumbai, Mangal Prabhat Lodha.
“Ae Mere Vatan Ke Logon”, penned by the late Kavi Pradeep, was first sung by Lata Mangeshkar Jan 27, 1963 after the 1962 war, at a function in Delhi where India’s first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and other dignitaries were present.
SGS also has declared January 27 as ‘Shreshtha Bharat Divas’ in memory of the martyrs who lost their lives defending the country’s borders during various wars, the spokesperson said.
The event will see the presence of soldiers and officers from the Indian Army, Indian Air Force and Indian Navy besides common citizens.
Over 50 men belonging to Raj Thackeray’s Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) vandalised and ransacked a toll plaza this morning in Dombivili in Thane.
The MNS workers were demanding that the toll plaza should be shifted from the current location where roads were too narrow causing accidents and traffic jams.
The workers also claimed that they had warned the toll plaza authorities about this earlier and since they didn’t follow the diktat, they went on the rampage, breaking tables, doors, windows and computers.
The police have arrested 55 MNS workers for rioting.
The Indian Army marked its 66th anniversary in Mumbai by honouring the martyrs at the Gateway of India. And for the first time, families of martyrs were adopted by local Army units to ensure that Army assistance is available to them in the long run.
Families of 18 martyrs were present at the function where Governor of Maharashtra K Sankaranarayan gave the Veerta Puraskar. Among the awardees was Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan’s mother. Unnikrishnan had died fighting terrorists during 26/11 at the Taj Mahal Hotel, situated right opposite the ceremony venue.
“It’s not about financial assistance. It’s about honour. I have not come to terms with the fact that Sandeep is not here anymore. I feel he is right here, somewhere,” his father, K Unnikrishnan said.
While there will be no financial assistance, the martyr’s families will be allowed to use Army infrastructure. Army schools, medical facilities and Army hostels will be open to them. This means that the families will be able to use most facilities that serving Army personnel get to use. For many, this is crucial.
Rajshri Mane, wife of martyred jawan Naik Kundlik Mane was emotional while speaking. She said, “My husband is like my god. My only responsibility will be to bring up my son and make him like my husband.” Naik Kudlik Mane was killed in an ambush along the Line of Control in the Poonch sector of Jammu and Kashmir. He hailed from Kolhapur in Maharashtra and has a little son.
Harshala Garje, who husband Major Atul Garje lost his life when his helicopter crashed, told, “This is society’s respect towards the martyrs. We are here to celebrate their bravery. We are still a part of the Army family.”
For the martyr’s families, life often becomes a struggle. This unique gesture to extend support will look after every need of the families of these bravehearts.
NCP asked the Aam Aadmi Party to spell out its stand on secularism and reservation for backward classes and minorities.
The new party should give a clear view on where it stands on the principles of secularism. AAP should spell out its ideology, NCP spokesman Nawab Malik said at a press conference.
When HRD minister late Arjun Singh introduced reservations for OBCs in IIMs and IITs, Arvind Kejriwal and Manish Sisodia’s Youth for Equality forum opposed the move.
“The party should clarify if it is opposed to reservations. NCP supports reservations for minorities and Maratha community in jobs and education. Since AAP is contesting Lok Sabha elections in Maharashtra, we would like to know their view on this issue,” Malik said.
Taking a dig at the Shiv Sena for its proposed January 23 rally to mark the birth anniversary of late Bal Thackeray where the Shiv Sainiks will have to “pledge” their loyalty to the party, he said, “Late Balasaheb never felt the need for such oath from Sainiks. Irrespective of the pledges administered to them, Sainiks, MLAs and MPs are not happy with the current party leadership.”
When asked about Shiv Sena corporator Sheetal Mhatre and former Mayor Shubha Raul’s charges of women not being treated well in the party, Malik said, Bal Thackeray had opposed reservation for women in politics, saying that a woman’s place is in kitchen and she should be looking after children.
“The party has not yet changed its attitude towards women,” he said.
The Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act (TADA) court allowed the prosecution to drop some less serious charges against deported gangster Abu Salem in connection with the murder of city-based real estate developer Pradeep Jain in 1995.
“We filed an application in the special court, saying that some less serious charges under the Indian Penal Code and and TADA may be dropped and the court has upheld our application,” special prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam said.
Nikam said that earlier Abu Salem had moved an application in court seeking that charges of criminal conspiracy against him in the murder case be dropped due to the order of the constitutional court of Portugal which had terminated his extradition.
“We told the court that charges were withdrawn to maintain cordial relations between India and Portugal, but we contended that charges of criminal conspiracy would not be dropped,” Nikam said.
Abu Salem, an accused in the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts, was extradited from Portugal on November 11, 2005, after a prolonged legal battle.
According to the police, on March 7, 1995, a city-based real estate developer Pradeep Jain was shot dead by assailants outside his Juhu bungalow after he allegedly refused to part with his huge property for Abu Salem.
The Congress leaders are still in confusion and wondering whether to project its 43-year old Rahul Gandhi as the prime ministerial candidate or not. There seems to be a plumb division among the senior party leaders. Many believe that Rahul needs experience to contest against the BJP’s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi. It is a shame that the grand old party which has many members with long years of political and administrative experience and having proven abilities has to depend on a particular family to take decision on Prime Minister of the country if the party or a coalition led by it wins the Lok Sabha election. Unfortunately, no political pundit has come out with a credible explanation for this totally undemocratic tradition. Depressed Congress workers want Rahul as the prime ministerial candidate to go to Lok Sabha polls with a face. But at senior levels, leaders say that a “battle of personality” will cost the party and Rahul his image. There are many disagreements and differences over Rahul Gandhi as prime ministerial candidate. It was so, during Indira Gandhi’s time when Nehru and Gandhi legacy was still fresh and lasting and subsequently Rajiv Gandhi and Sonia, due to sympathetic factors consequent to their unfortunate violent ends. It is time to come out of this syndrome; it is time the wiser heads of the Congress community voiced their sincere opinions to save it from ignominy and rise to its earlier glory sooner, even if not in the ensuing elections.
If Congress is looking only at youth to qualify to be the PM nominee, why would they not groom more accomplished and self-thinking bright young leaders like Jairam Ramesh, Sachin Pilot, Jyotiaditya Scindia or any other deserving young generation candidates? Aren’t in the Party ‘men’ or ‘women’ to challenge Rahul Gandhi. Is dynasty connection also one of the factors for leadership? Is the Congressmen petrified by the domineering dynastic overpower so as to even coerce a ‘reluctant’ Rahul to take up the leadership mantle?
Rahul is still immature and he doesn’t have any vision or any impressive qualities to boast about. He has also been a witness to the government and its malfunctioning and corruption till date. He and his mother made the post of PM to be a mockery. Rahul has neither proved that he is an effective parliamentarian, nor a forceful speaker and is only the custodian of huge wealth amazed without any credible means. Congress is one of the political parties with senior and most educated leaders. Congress is blessed with grassroot level leaders and this has helped them to rule India for the maximum years after Independence. Right now, the waves are anti-Congress and people need change. They are not in a mood to retain back Congress and in such crises, if Rahul Gandhi is projected as PM candidate then the party would be putting last nail in its own coffin. There are no achievements of Rahul Gandhi after he joined politics in 2004. There is nothing which can be discussed about him as a politician in these 10 years. After miserably flop in Delhi, Congress should learn that they could not attract their own voters. Corruption and dynasty politics both are on the radar of other political parties. Congress lost its ground over dynasty politics. Congress should promote some good leader as their prime ministerial candidate; at least they can succeed in grabbing some votes. Moreover, if India ever wants to become a super power, we need to get rid of dynasty politics. Why do all the politicians’ sons enter politics, is it because politics runs in their blood and they can serve people better?
We need a law to make it mandatory for all politicians to send at least one of their daughters or sons to serve in the Indian army. Immediate descendants of the politicians should not be allowed to enter politics. Though, these actions sound anti-democratic, this will surely help India in curbing the practice of running party and government as their family business. Moreover, Rahul Gandhi is not at all inspiring. It was amazing to hear what Mani Shankar Iyer said; he said that even Rajiv Gandhi was initially reluctant to lead and many wrote him off but he surprised everybody by majestically rising to the occasion, but you cannot compare the two to support Rahul’s candidature for PM’s position. Rahul is perhaps seen by Congress as its last trump card. If he cannot deliver despite his lineage, nothing better can be done.
There are many deserving personalities in Congress party to project as Prime Ministerial Candidate. Power is poison and absolute power in a single family for over 60 years is absolute poison for the country. Mahatma Gandhi wanted Congress to dissolve. Nehru could have done that easily and started a new national party. But Congress’s name was something that resonated with illiterate people across India. No doubt, the views of Rahul Gandhi seem to be good and striking. He is the one who can even oppose his own party’s decision. However, it is possible in Congress party only for Gandhi family members. If the same attitude and trantum would have been shown by other leaders, he would have been shown the doors by now. Sonia and Congress leaders tried their level best to project him as an angry young man but he finally could not establish himself. We as Indian citizens deserve better politicians and bureaucrats. We need leaders who will put our country first rather than petty politics. It is time to overhaul entire system.
Women’s organisation protested against Shiv Sena MLA Vinod Ghosalkar and his son, corporator Abhishek Ghosalkar outside Dahisar Police station for mentally harassing Sheetal Mhatre and demanded a complaint to be filed against them.
Shiv Sena MLA Vinod Ghosalkar refuted all claims made against him by Sheetal Mhatre and former Mayor Shubha Raul. Ghosalkar also clarified that he is a Shiv sainik and there is no place for such acts there. Further, Ghosalkar stated that he is ready to face the investigation whenever demanded.
Ghosalkar said, “Senior party leaders Gajanan Kirtikar and Subhash Desai were planning to conduct a probe over this issue. However, they were unable to investigate the matter as both Raul and Mhatre were absent.”
Earlier Sheetal Mhatre had submitted her resignation to the party president Uddhav Thackeray. Both Raul and Mhatre were miffed as they were unable to meet Thackeray despite being given an appointment to have a discussion pertaining to the Ghosalkar issue.
Sheetal Mhatre’s brother Bunty Patil alleged that Ghosalkar was planning to hold a women’s procession at his sister house. After hearing this news, Sheetal’s started getting high blood pressure and later she was admitted to hospital.
National Commission for Women have forwarded a letter to the Mumbai Police Commissioner Satyapal Singh and asked him to submit a report within 10 days.
Demanding implementation of the revised payscale and other benefits assured by the central government, thousands of anganwadi workers courted arrest, sources said. 
Yuva Sena chief Aditya Thackeray on Thursday called on the youth to work toward realising the goal of making Narendra Modi the prime minister and electing a Shiv Sena government in the state. 
A staggering 100,000 people are expected to sing the patriotic song “Ae Mere Vatan Ke Logon” to mark the end of its golden jubilee celebrations on January 27, an organiser said on Thursday. 
Over 50 men belonging to Raj Thackeray’s Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) vandalised and ransacked a toll plaza this morning in Dombivili in Thane.
The Indian Army marked its 66th anniversary in Mumbai by honouring the martyrs at the Gateway of India. And for the first time, families of martyrs were adopted by local Army units to ensure that Army assistance is available to them in the long run. 
NCP asked the Aam Aadmi Party to spell out its stand on secularism and reservation for backward classes and minorities. 
The Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act (TADA) court allowed the prosecution to drop some less serious charges against deported gangster Abu Salem in connection with the murder of city-based real estate developer Pradeep Jain in 1995. 
Women’s organisation protested against Shiv Sena MLA Vinod Ghosalkar and his son, corporator Abhishek Ghosalkar outside Dahisar Police station for mentally harassing Sheetal Mhatre and demanded a complaint to be filed against them.