The opposition has slammed the government for the delay in State cabinet expansion

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July 27, 2022

ajit pawar — The opposition has slammed the government for the delay in State cabinet expansion 2

Devendra Fadnavis home and finance, while Sudhir Mungantiwar may get revenue and Chandrakant Patil to be given PWD.

The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear a clutch of petitions filed over the formation of the Eknath Shinde-Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government. Perhaps this is the reason that the expansion of the state cabinet is not likely before August 1.

Though the Shinde camp and the BJP have decided on a power-sharing formula, the list of the names to be inducted into the cabinet is yet to be finalized. According to a BJP leader and former minister, the expansion will take place on July 29, or after August 2.

The delay is mainly because of the SC hearing, as the uncertainty over a few issues, including disqualification of the MLAs and right to issue whip during the confidence motion, looms large.

Shinde camp’s spokesperson Deepak Kesarkar, however, said the delay had nothing to do with the SC hearing. “The top court has not stopped us from the expansion. We have to do it at the earliest and it may take place in the next few days.”

So far there is no dispute over the allocation of portfolios. The Shinde camp will get 16 berths, including that of the CM, while we will get 27 departments. Deputy chief minister Devendra Fadnavis is keen on keeping home and finance, while Sudhir Mungantiwar may get revenue and Chandrakant Patil is expected to be made public works department minister.

A senior leader from the Shinde camp said the ministerial aspirants from both sides had started going back to their constituencies after waiting in Mumbai for four weeks.

Shinde and Fadnavis were sworn in on June 30, a day after Uddhav Thackeray resigned as the CM. Since then, the duo has been taking major decisions related to all the departments.

The opposition has slammed the government for the delay. Leader of opposition Ajit Pawar on Monday said, “The farmers are bearing the brunt of the downpour in various parts of the state as the government has failed to give them relief for crop losses.”

With the delay in cabinet expansion, the monsoon session is also expected to be delayed. An official from the state legislature said the session is expected to be held in the third week of August.

Mallikarjun Kharge oppn leader in Rajya Sabha has requested to revoke the suspension of MP’s

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ANI

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July 27, 2022

Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge on Wednesday said that the opposition will submit a request to the Speaker of Lok Sabha and Chairman of the Rajya Sabha to rescind the suspension of the members who raised their voices against the price rise.

A meeting of opposition parties was held today to discuss the issue of suspension of MPs and to chalk out a strategy for the floor of the house.

While speaking to the Agencies, Kharge said, “The issues that we have been raising since the last 7 days regarding inflation and imposition of GST on essential commodities, today on the eighth day also we will raise our voice regarding the same. Common people are worried about this. We are also raising our voices continuously, but the government is not ready for discussion. I personally met the chairman and said that you allow the discussion and tell the date and time, we will be ready for discussion, but the government is not ready to accept it. We will submit a request to Speaker and the Chairman to rescind the suspension of the members who raised their voices against the price rise.”

He further said that the suspension of MPs which has been done at the behest of the government should be withdrawn with immediate effect.

“We have called a meeting of opposition parties. We will discuss amongst ourselves and appeal to the Speaker to withdraw the suspension of these 19 MPs. Those MPs who raise their voice against inflation should not suppress their voice by suspending them. This suspension, which has been done at the behest of the government, should be withdrawn with immediate effect,” he said.

The Congress MP further said that it is not necessary for the concerned minister to speak on a particular topic, any minister can reply but this government is sitting dogmatically and does not want discussion.

“The House does not run again and again. There is a rule in our democracy that any minister in the cabinet, who has knowledge about the subject concerned, can speak. It is not that it is necessary for the concerned minister to speak. Any minister can reply. But this government is sitting dogmatically and does not want discussion,” he added.

Samajwadi Party leader Ramgopal Yadav, Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP) MP NK Premachandran, Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK) MP Vaiko, Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) ET Mohammed Basheer, Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut and Priyanka Chaturvedi, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) MP Manoj Jha, Communist Party of India (Marxist) MP Elamaram Kareem, Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) MP Jayant Chaudhry were present in the meeting today.

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and Trinamool Congress (TMC) skipped the meeting.

Opposition MPs also protested in front of Gandhi’s statue on suspension of MPs from Parliament Earlier on Tuesday, 19 Opposition MPs including TMC leaders Sushmita Dev, Santanu Sen, and Dola Sen were suspended from Rajya Sabha for the remaining part of the week for ‘misconduct’.

They were suspended for storming well of the House and sloganeering against the government over inflation.

On July 25, four Congress MPs including Manickam Tagore, Ramya Haridas, Jothimani and TN Prathapan have been suspended from the Lok Sabha for the entire Monsoon session for their ‘unruly behaviour and disrupting proceedings.

‘The MPs were suspended according to Rule 374 on ‘unruly and disrespectful behaviour towards the Chair.’

The Upper House has been facing adjournment on various issues due to the Opposition ruckus since the Parliament’s Monsoon Session started.

The Monsoon Session of Parliament commenced on July 18 and will continue till August 12. There will be 18 sittings during the Session.

Customs seize 1 Kg gold at Jaipur International Airport

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ANI

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July 27, 2022

The Customs team seized gold weighing 1 Kilogram gold at the Jaipur International Airport, informed the officials on Tuesday.

“The recovery was made from a passenger of a Spicejet flight arriving from Dubai. The gold is worth Rs. 52,10,000 and of 99.50 per cent purity,” said the Customs department officials Further investigations are underway.

Earlier, in another similar instance, Customs officials at Jaipur International Airport intercepted a passenger on July 16 and seized gold worth 769.5 grams of gold. The recovery could be done only after a medical examination.

The passenger had arrived by Air Arabia Flight No. G9435 from Sharjah and was intercepted on the basis of suspicion in the early morning hours.

The accused was asked numerous questions but remained evasive and couldn’t provide any satisfactory explanation as he denied any type of concealment. The officials moved on to personal searches on the basis of his gestures.

During the personal search of the passenger, the officials found nothing but remained suspicious. It was only during the medical examination that the doctors recovered 3 capsules from the passenger’s rectum.

“The pax was medically examined at Jaipuriya Hospital today where doctors recovered 3 capsules from the rectum after CT scan.

All these three capsules contain yellowish granules paste packed in transparent polyethene Capsules duly wrapped by black polythene tape with a total weight of 851 grams,” read an official statement.

After processing, Gold of 99.50 per cent purity weighing 769.50 grams valued at Rs.41,62,995 was extracted from the paste and was seized under the provisions of the Customs Act, 1962. The accused was later arrested.

Sena’s Harshal Pradhan asks, Why so hurry to dismantle covid 19 centre to build bullet train

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PTI

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July 26, 2022

A close associate of Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray on Tuesday asked why the Maharashtra government was in a hurry to dismantle a Covid-19 care centre in Mumbai to make way for a bullet train station.

There are several cases of coronavirus and H1N1 virus (swine flu) in Mumbai and the Eknath Shinde-led state government should provide all necessary health facilities to people, Thackeray’s media advisor Harshal Pradhan told agencies.

Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw last week said the National High-Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL) has invited bids for the design and construction of an underground station in Mumbai’s Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC) area and for tunnels for the bullet train project.

This is the first set of bids invited after rebel Sena MLA Eknath Shinde-led government came to power in Maharashtra.

The new government has given the green light to the project, which remained dormant during the previous Uddhav Thackeray-led dispensation. Pradhan said as per the state government, BKC will have a terminus for the Ahmedabad-Mumbai bullet train project.

“The project is more beneficial to Gujarat than Maharashtra, still we are taking the initiative to dismantle the Covid-19 care centre set up (at the proposed site for the bullet train terminus in BKC),” he claimed.

Why is there so much hurry to dismantle it when cases of infectious disease are on the rise in Mumbai? he asked.

I am not talking only about the coronavirus. A number of cases of H1N1 (swine flu) infection and Covid-19 are found in the city every day. Hence, dismantling such a key Covid-19 care centre for the benefit of the bullet train project is unacceptable, he said.

Earlier this year, the NHSRCL had cancelled tenders floated in November 2019 for the construction of an underground terminus at the BKC for the bullet train project after the Maharashtra government failed to hand over the land.

After floating the tenders, the NHSRCL gave almost 11 extensions while waiting for the land at the BKC to be handed over to it.

The bullet train will run at a speed of 320 kmph, and is expected to cover a distance of 508 km and 12 stations between Mumbai and Ahmedabad in three hours.

The travel time between the two cities is currently about six hours.

New Bridge Across The River…!

By

Robert Clements

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July 26, 2022

bobs banter, bob, robert, Robert Clements — New Bridge Across The River...! 7

Even as I hear plans of bullet trains, highways, and coastal roads and flyovers I look at bridges built yesterday, inaugurated with much fanfare that is already crumbling, while old British ones stand the test of time, even having a laugh while they see their new unfortunate cousins collapsing under a heavy torrent or flood, for which the taxpaying citizens were told, they were made to withstand.

But as soon as the new one shows signs of wear and tear, comes an ever-eager minister to the rescue:

“We need to build another bridge across the river!” says the minister to his people while visiting his constituency, looking at the old bridge, and smiles as they clap and applaud.

“How much?” asks the minister, later in his office.

“Well sir it will cost you…” says the contractor.

“How much?” smiles the minister.

“How much?” asks the contractor.

“Yes how much?” says the minister.

“Ten percent?”

“Too little!”

“Twenty five percent!”

“You may start the work!”

“How much?” asks government engineer when contractor does half the work and asks for payment for his bills.

“Well sir I have finished half so it comes to..”

“How much?” asks the engineer.

“Ten percent!”

“Ten percent?”

“Fifteen!”

“How much?” asks the clerk in the accountancy department.

“Sir, the engineer has specified the work is complete.”

“How much?”

“Ten percent!”

“Ten percent?”

“Twenty!”

“Please pass the cheque for sahib’s signature!”

“How much?” asks sahib.

“Ten percent!”

“How much?”

“Twenty-five!”

And the bridge is built.

“Did you make any profit?” asks the wife of the contractor as they drive for dinner in his Mercedes.

“Of course I did, what I gave in commissions I took back from the bridge! Instead of cement, sand. The bricks, half- baked. The steel, not moisture resistant. Instead of an engineer I used your brother on the site, instead of masons I used unskilled labour!”

“But if the bridge collapses?”

“There will be an enquiry,” smiles the contractor, “and the man in charge of the enquiry will ask..”

“How much?” grins his wife then looks at her husband curiously, “Why are we taking the long route home?”

“You crazy?” asks the contractor as he passes the cars of the minister and the engineer and clerk, all taking the long route home, “You think any one of us will risk our lives on that bridge? That bridge is for the common man!”

And in another constituency, the common man claps and applauds again as a minister says, “We need a bridge across the river!”

Or maybe it’s metros, bullet trains, concreting roads, highways .. you name it! And you thought it’s because of some ideology they believe in that they topple each other’s governments? Nah, it’s just to topple you into the river…!

– by Robert Clements

8th August would be final admissions day for MU and degree colleges

By

Web Team

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July 26, 2022

8th August would be final admissions day for MU and degree colleges 9

Mumbai University has asked all its affiliated colleges to announce merit lists for CBSE and ISC students and wrap up their admissions by August 8.

It has directed them to start their academic session for first-year degree students on August 10.

City colleges will follow their independent schedules to call for applications and for the merit lists. Students are expected to check individual college websites for all updates.

Nineteen opposition MPs have been suspended from Rajya Sabha for disrupting the session today

By

Web Team

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July 26, 2022

The action against the 19 Rajya Sabha MPs would likely escalate the opposition’s fury against the government over what they claim was an attempt to shut voices that question the ruling alliance’s economic and social policies.

“The decision to suspend opposition MPs from Rajya Sabha was taken with a heavy heart. They kept on ignoring the Chairman’s appeals,” BJP’s Piyush Goyal said.

“The government is ready for a debate on price rise once Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman recovers and returns to parliament,” said Mr. Goyal, leader of the house in Rajya Sabha.

The latest round of suspension comes a day after four Congress MPs in Lok Sabha were dealt with similar action for the entire monsoon session, ending August 12, for holding placards inside the house despite warnings by Speaker Om Birla to behave.

The house was adjourned for an hour today after the suspended opposition MPs did not leave and continued to protest.

“This government has suspended democracy,” Trinamool leader Derek O’Brien told reporters today.

The suspended Rajya Sabha MPs are:

Sushmita Dev, Trinamool Congress
Mausam Noor, Trinamool Congress
Shanta Chhetri, Trinamool Congress
Dola Sen, Trinamool Congress
Santanu Sen, Trinamool Congress
Abhi Ranjan Biswar, Trinamool Congress
Md. Nadimul Haque, Trinamool Congress
M Hamamed Abdulla, DMK
B Lingaiah Yadav, Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS)
A.A. Rahim, CPI(M)
Ravihandra Vaddiraju, TRS
S Kalyanasundaram, DMK
R Girranjan, DMK
NR Elango, DMK
V Sivadasan, CPI(M)
M Shanmugam, DMK
Damodar Rao Divakonda, TRS
Sandosh Kumar P, CPI
Kanimozhi NVN Somu, DMK

Opposition MPs in Rajya Sabha have been demanding an urgent discussion on issues like price rise and goods and services tax, or GST, hike for the past many days, leading to disruptions in the house.

Haryana Police arrests nine persons in Nuh DSP killing case

By

ANI

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July 26, 2022

Haryana Police arrested a total of nine people in July 19 killing of Nuh DSP, the police informed on Tuesday.

The Nuh Police arrested three more people in connection with the alleged murder of Deputy Superintendent of Police, Surendra Singh Bishnoi, who was mowed down by a truck while investigating illegal mining in Nuh on July 19.

After arresting the six people in the case of the DSP killing, we have arrested three more people in the past two days. One accused (Tabbir alias Baira) was arrested on July 24 (Sunday), while Arshad (the son of the owner of the dumper truck) and a labourer named Abbas were arrested on July 25,” Varun Singla, Superintendent of Police told media persons.

“So far nine out of 12 accused have been arrested under different charges. The remaining three will also be arrested soon and the case will proceed further as per the Court’s directions,” SP Singla added.

The main accused in the Nuh DSP killing, identified as Shabir alias Mittar hailing from Tauru, Haryana was arrested after an encounter with the Haryana Police on July 20.

He was arrested from the hills of Ganghora, the hill station area of Bharatpur (Rajasthan) where he was hiding after killing the DSP.

On July 19, Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar announced a compensation of Rs 1 crore to the family of Surendra Singh Bishnoi and said that the culprits will not be spared. He said that strict action will be taken against the mining mafia in the state.

“We will control the mining mafia in the state and the culprits will not be spared. Strict action will be taken against them,” he said.

Khattar said police posts will be created near mining areas and the destination of mining vehicles and their equipment will also be fixed.

The Chief Minister said that the state government will provide a job to one family member of the deceased police officer.

The Chief Minister also said that the DSP performed his duty with bravery and the dumper truck involved in the incident has been identified.

Senior Haryana Police officers had rushed to the spot. Haryana Mining Minister Mool Chand Sharma also said that “strict action” will be taken against the guilty.

On Saturday (July 23), the police conducted raids against illegal mining in 24 villages and impounded 236 vehicles without documents.

According to the police, the search operation was conducted under Operation Clean, in which around 1,500 police personnel were deployed and they also seized 60 other vehicles for being allegedly involved in the illegal mining.

SP Varun Singla informed that they also filed three other cases in the matter and have seized 27 ‘stolen vehicles’ under section 102 of the CrPC (Power of police officer to seize certain property), which will be investigated later in a separate case.

Later on Thursday (July 21), the Supreme Court agreed to examine the issue related to the killing of the DSP.

Earlier, Haryana Home Minister Anil Vij also said that the state government will conduct a judicial inquiry in connection with the killing of the DSP.

BMC budgetary allocations may go up 10. 5% for the construction of roads

By

Web Team

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July 26, 2022

With chief minister Eknath Shinde issuing a order for all Mumbai roads to be concretized in two years, the BMC may need to considerably increase financial allocations for the work.

Construction of concrete roads while 20% costlier than tarmac are known to be more durable.

In the 2022-23 civic budget, the BMC had allocated about Rs 2,200 crore for improving roads.

A 10.5% increase would mean an additional Rs 231 crore. BMC has under its jurisdiction 2,039 km of roads, of which it has already concretized 1,400 km.

Missing 9 years old girl in Thane traced in 24 hours

By

PTI

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July 26, 2022

missing child, Police, Thane — image; Representative

A nine-year-old girl who had been missing from Thane was traced to a child care centre in neighbouring Mumbai within 24 hours and reunited with her parents, the police said on Tuesday.

The girl went missing from outside her house in Wagle Estate area in Thane city on Saturday when she went to buy something from a shop. Her parents later lodged a police complaint, according to the agencies.

The police registered an offence under Indian Penal Code Section 363 (kidnapping) against an unidentified person, Assistant Commissioner of Police (Crime) Sardar Patil told to agencies

The Thane police’s child protection unit searched government as well as private women and child care centres here and in Mumbai and adjoining Navi Mumbai.

They got information from an NGO here that a nine-year-old girl was recently lodged at the Manav Seva Sangh, working for children’s welfare at Matunga in Mumbai, the official added.