Fadnavis Backs Police Crackdown on MNS Rally: 'March Would've Disrupted Public Life' 2
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday strongly defended the Mira-Bhayandar police’s decision to deny permission for a protest march by Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) workers, citing public safety and traffic disruption concerns.
The protest, scheduled to begin from Balaji Hotel at 10 am, was blocked after MNS workers allegedly refused to alter their planned route despite police objections.
“I spoke with the Police Commissioner, who informed me that the MNS was unwilling to change the rally route. The chosen path would have caused severe traffic issues and risked public inconvenience. When protestors don’t cooperate, police have every right to deny permission,” Fadnavis told reporters.
The chief minister emphasized that while everyone in Maharashtra has the right to protest, it must be done with due permissions. “Marches are allowed, but not at the cost of public order. The police even requested a route change, but MNS leaders remained adamant,” he added.
Tensions escalated in the region as Section 144 was imposed and several MNS leaders, including Thane district chief Avinash Jadhav, were detained in a late-night crackdown to prevent the unauthorized rally.
Commenting on BJP MP Nishikant Dubey’s controversial “patak patak ke maarenge” remark, Fadnavis distanced himself from the aggressive tone but clarified the comments were directed at specific organizations, not Marathi citizens.
“Nishikant Dubey didn’t target ordinary Marathi-speaking people, but certain groups that have fanned this controversy. Still, I admit his statement was not entirely appropriate,” Fadnavis said, adding, “Maharashtra’s contribution to India’s progress is undeniable and should never be undermined.”
As political tensions rise ahead of civic elections, the standoff between MNS and the administration has once again ignited debates around language politics and public dissent in Maharashtra.
Tensions flared in Mira-Bhayandar on Tuesday after police denied permission for the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena’s (MNS) planned protest march over alleged injustices faced by Marathi-speaking citizens. Authorities imposed Section 144 across the region and detained several MNS leaders, including district chief Avinash Jadhav, in a preemptive overnight crackdown.
The march, scheduled to start at 10:00 am from Balaji Hotel, was to protest against what the MNS described as systematic discrimination against locals. However, late Monday night, police raided homes of several party workers, placing some under house arrest and detaining others to prevent the gathering.
Despite the police action, MNS leader Sandeep Deshpande remained defiant, asserting the party’s resolve to proceed. But Additional Commissioner of Police Datta Shinde issued a stern warning: “Permission has been denied. No one should gather at the announced location. Strict action will be taken against anyone attempting to incite unrest.”
Shinde confirmed enhanced security across Mira-Bhayandar, especially at railway stations, traffic junctions, and public gathering spots. “Section 144 has been imposed to prevent gatherings of more than five people. Citizens must cooperate with the police to maintain peace,” he stated.
He further clarified that any attempt to gather will be considered an unlawful act and that detentions were made based on reasonable suspicion under existing laws. “This is not a crackdown, but a necessary preventive measure,” he insisted.
The situation remains tense as political fault lines deepen in the region ahead of civic elections, with the MNS accusing the administration of targeting Marathi interests.
Akhilesh Vows Support for RJD in Bihar, Slams BJP Over Nitish, Scams, and Hypocrisy 6
Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav on Monday declared that his party will extend full support to the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) in the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections. Speaking to reporters at the SP headquarters, Yadav vowed to expose what he called the BJP’s “scams” in Uttar Pradesh during the Bihar campaign.
“We will fully support respected Lalu Prasad Yadav ji and Tejashwi ji in the Bihar elections. The scams committed by the BJP in Uttar Pradesh will be revealed there, and people will be told the truth,” Yadav asserted.
The former Uttar Pradesh chief minister also predicted that the BJP has no intention of retaining Nitish Kumar as chief minister, despite using his name for votes. “They are using Nitish Kumar ji’s name and face, but they won’t make him chief minister again. We once considered projecting him as prime minister, but now look — they will even retire him from the CM post. The BJP will force him to retire,” Yadav said.
Taking aim at the BJP’s religious posturing, Yadav accused the ruling party of hypocrisy. “Those who commit injustice, discriminate, and exploit children for politics cannot call themselves Sanatani,” he said.
“In today’s politics, merely wearing saffron robes doesn’t make someone a baba or a yogi. True identity comes from one’s thoughts and conduct,” Yadav added, in a veiled attack on Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.
Yadav further accused the BJP of diverting attention from the real issues facing the country. “They don’t want to discuss fundamental problems. But the people are waiting — the 2027 elections in Uttar Pradesh will be like no other poll you’ve seen before,” he concluded.
Ban Slaughter for Jain Festival? Bombay HC Fears Domino Effect of Religious Demands 8
The Bombay High Court on Monday questioned whether it could prohibit animal slaughter during the nine-day Jain festival ‘Paryushan Parv’ and cautioned that granting such a request could set a precedent for other communities to seek similar bans during their festivals like Ganesh Chaturthi and Navratri.
A bench of Chief Justice Alok Aradhe and Justice Sandeep Marne was hearing a petition from a Jain community trust challenging 2024 orders by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and civic bodies of Nashik and Pune, which permitted only a one-day slaughter ban during Paryushan last year. The trust is now seeking a nine-day ban on slaughter from August 21.
Highlighting Jainism’s core principle of Ahimsa (non-violence), the trust argued that slaughter during Paryushan undermines their religious sentiments. However, the court questioned whether passing such an order could lead to similar demands from other religious groups.
“It shouldn’t happen that tomorrow every other religion also makes similar demands. If you get an order for nine days, others could seek bans during Ganesh Chaturthi or Navratri,” the bench remarked.
The Maharashtra government has already designated 15 days annually for slaughter bans, including one day during Paryushan. The bench pointed out that Mumbai’s Deonar slaughterhouse serves surrounding municipalities lacking their own facilities, complicating any extended closure.
The court asked under which statutory obligation slaughterhouses could be ordered shut for nine days, and whether it should intervene when the state had already made a policy decision.
The bench directed BMC, Nashik, Pune, and Mira Bhayandar municipal corporations to decide on the trust’s representation seeking a nine-day ban and issue their decision by August 18.
Senior counsel Darius Khambata, representing the trust, argued that last year the BMC justified a one-day ban citing Mumbai’s diverse population, while Nashik and Pune gave no reasoning, and Mira Bhayandar Corporation failed to issue any order at all.
The court instructed the trust to submit fresh representations to the civic bodies for reconsideration of the ban request.
Violence Erupts During Muharram Procession in Kushinagar; Temple Clash Injures Child 10
Clashes erupted during Muharram celebrations in Uttar Pradesh’s Kushinagar district on Sunday, leaving an eight-year-old boy injured and several people detained, police said.
The violence broke out as a Muharram procession passed a Shiva temple near Gulharia in the Khadda police station area, where participants allegedly hoisted an Islamic flag and raised slogans, sparking tensions between groups. A purported video of the incident posted on social media further escalated the situation.
Khadda Station House Officer (SHO) Harshvardhan Singh confirmed that some youths have been taken into custody in connection with the incident. Police have stationed adequate forces in the area to prevent further unrest.
In a separate clash at Tekuatar Bazaar, an argument over DJ music turned violent between two groups, resulting in eight-year-old Iklakh sustaining a head injury. He is currently undergoing treatment.
Ramkola SHO Anand Gupta said the police have successfully brought both situations under control and detained several individuals involved.
Superintendent of Police Santosh Kumar Mishra assured that security forces have been deployed at both locations to maintain peace and prevent any further flare-ups.
Ashish Shelar Slams Thackerays: Compares Pahalgam Terror to MNS Anti-Hindi Violence 12
Maharashtra minister and BJP leader Ashish Shelar on Sunday sparked a political storm by comparing the recent attacks on Hindi-speaking people in Mumbai with the Pahalgam terror incident, taking a veiled swipe at the newly reunited Thackeray cousins.
Shelar’s comments came as outrage grew over Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) activists thrashing a sweet shop owner in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region for refusing to speak Marathi. The controversy escalated further after MNS workers vandalized the office of investor Sushil Kedia in Worli, following his public refusal to speak Marathi and challenge to Raj Thackeray.
“As terrorists in Pahalgam asked people their religion before shooting, here people are attacked over the language they speak. It’s deeply disappointing. The state is watching as leaders revel in the beating of other Hindus,” Shelar told reporters.
With MNS launching street-level aggression to enforce Marathi, Bhojpuri actor and BJP MP Dinesh Lal Yadav ‘Nirahua’ openly dared the Thackeray cousins to evict him from Maharashtra for speaking his native language. “I speak Bhojpuri, not Marathi. I challenge you to drive me out if you can,” he said.
The row erupted after Uddhav and Raj Thackeray shared a stage for the first time in nearly 20 years, celebrating the rollback of government resolutions introducing Hindi as a third language in primary schools. The Thackeray cousins vowed to resist the “imposition” of Hindi in Maharashtra.
Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut claimed the Thackeray reunion had rattled ruling Mahayuti leaders, while mocking Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis’s “rudali speech” jibe by suggesting Fadnavis and Eknath Shinde should prepare for their own “weeping programme.”
Meanwhile, Shiv Sena MLA and minister Pratap Sarnaik credited Deputy CM Shinde for championing Marathi causes and accused the Thackeray cousins of exploiting Marathi identity for power. In a letter to Shinde, Sarnaik argued that the Shiv Sena (UBT) and MNS alliance was solely aimed at capturing the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) rather than protecting Marathi interests.
Sarnaik pointed out that during the Sena’s 25-year control of the BMC, the Marathi community was driven out of key industries like hotels, real estate, and jewellery. He said the Thackerays’ sudden unity betrayed selfish political motives, adding, “People know their politics is fake and treacherous.”
Shelar concluded by asserting that Marathi identity should not be politicized and predicted heavy losses for the Shiv Sena (UBT) and its allies in the upcoming civic elections.
At least 36 Amarnath pilgrims sustained minor injuries when five buses in their convoy collided in Jammu and Kashmir’s Ramban district on Saturday morning, officials said.
The buses were traveling from Jammu’s Bhagwati Nagar towards the Pahalgam base camp in south Kashmir when the accident occurred near Chanderkoot along the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway around 8 am.
Officials attributed the collision to brake failure in one of the buses, which lost control and slammed into stationary vehicles at the Chanderkot Langer site, damaging four other buses in the convoy.
Ramban Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Alyas Khan confirmed the incident, stating, “The last vehicle of the Pahalgam convoy lost control and hit stranded vehicles, causing minor injuries to 36 yatris.”
Government officials at the site quickly moved the injured to the Ramban district hospital, where senior police officers monitored their treatment and directed medical staff to ensure the best care. Ramban Medical Superintendent Sudarshan Singh Katoch said the pilgrims were discharged after receiving first aid.
The injured yatris were later shifted to replacement vehicles, and the convoy resumed its journey towards the Amarnath shrine, officials added.
Earlier that morning, the fourth batch of 6,979 pilgrims—including 5,196 men, 1,427 women, 24 children, 331 sadhus and sadhvis, and one transgender person—had departed from Bhagwati Nagar in two convoys between 3:30 am and 4:05 am. While 4,226 pilgrims were bound for the 48-kilometer Pahalgam route, 2,753 were taking the shorter, steeper 14-kilometer Baltal route.
Raj Thackeray Alleges Three-Language Policy a Plot to Split Mumbai from Maharashtra 16
Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray on Saturday alleged that the state’s now-revoked three-language policy was a precursor to a larger conspiracy to separate Mumbai from Maharashtra. His comments came as he shared the political stage with his cousin, Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray, for the first time in nearly two decades.
Addressing the massive “Awaj Marathicha” victory rally in Mumbai, Raj remarked in a lighter vein that Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis had done what even Balasaheb Thackeray could not—bring the two estranged cousins together.
The rally was organized to celebrate the government’s rollback of two controversial government resolutions that mandated Hindi as a third compulsory language from Class 1 in state-run schools.
“The Maharashtra government was forced to withdraw its decision because of the unity shown by Marathi people. But make no mistake—this three-language formula was a step towards the plan to detach Mumbai from Maharashtra,” Raj declared, with Uddhav seated beside him on stage.
The rare joint appearance of the Thackeray cousins has ignited fresh speculation about a possible political realignment as Maharashtra heads into crucial elections.
Pooja Jatav: A Bloody Manual on Matrimony and Murder 18
Once upon a time, in the parched lands of Jhansi—not far from where Rani Lakshmibai once rode into battle—rose another woman of grit, ambition, and a body count. Meet Pooja Jatav, the 29-year-old marital mercenary who has turned the sacred institution of marriage into a weapon of calculated destruction. If you ever thought husbands were the usual suspects in domestic violence cases, Pooja’s tale will snatch that illusion from your naivety and crush it under her bloody heel.
It began innocently enough, or so the clichés go. Eleven years ago, young Pooja fell in love with Ramesh from Madhya Pradesh. Love bloomed… until it exploded into a quarrel, and bang!—Ramesh was shot. Not metaphorically. Bullet, hospital, case registered. Pooja, undeterred, began attending court hearings, where she stumbled upon her next romantic thriller: Kalyan—a fellow courtroom regular, also accused of attempted murder. Cupid couldn’t have planned it better.Fast forward: Pooja and Kalyan, bonded over bullets, started living together. But passion turned poisonous—again—and six years later, Kalyan died in a suspicious road accident.
No direct proof, but let’s just say, road accidents don’t look both ways when Pooja’s on the scene.Now here’s where it gets Shakespearean—if Shakespeare had a darker, bloodier sibling. After Kalyan’s demise, Pooja was compassionately absorbed into the family and married off to the youngest brother, Ajay. But her real affections lay with Santosh, the elder brother. The fact that Santosh was already married? A minor inconvenience. Soon, the love triangle became a live-in ménage à trois minus the consent and morals.Santosh’s wife, Ragini, couldn’t digest this soap opera and returned to her parental home.
Meanwhile, Pooja decided it was time for her to claim what she believed was hers—Kalyan’s land. Five bighas of pure inheritance gold. But the family matriarch, Sushila Devi, didn’t think so. She refused to sign the property papers. Maybe she thought resisting a serial schemer with a history of violence was wise. It wasn’t.What followed was not a crime of passion—it was project management. Pooja conspired with her sister Kamini and Kamini’s boyfriend Anil, lured them to Jhansi, and laid out the plan: kill Sushila Devi, loot the house, and make it look like a robbery.Like clockwork, on 24th June 2025, they poisoned the 60-year-old woman and then strangled her to death.
Eight lakhs worth of jewellery vanished. So did the truth—for a while. But Pooja made one mistake: she didn’t bother showing up at the funeral. That, dear reader, was the crack that brought the whole bloody mansion down. Police caught a whiff, metaphorically and literally (incense sticks were involved during interrogation), and with a bit of custodial encouragement, Pooja spilled the entire plot.She thought she was clever—an alibi in Gwalior, miles away from the crime scene. But karma doesn’t take bribes, and neither do suspicious cops with good intuition.Now, both her husbands are either dead or destroyed. One brother is celibate by circumstance, the other by jail time. The land remains, soaked in deceit and blood.
And Pooja? She’s not just any killer wife—she’s the final boss in the league of deadly spouses.
So, here’s the burning question—do we call this woman a victim of patriarchy gone rogue? Or the ultimate manipulator who made the entire idea of marriage look like a criminal enterprise? Is she a symbol of survival in a system that pushes women to the edge? Or is she what happens when the edge fights back and kills everyone on the way down?
Whatever your answer, Pooja Jatav didn’t just rewrite the rules of domestic warfare—she set the damn house on fire.
I hereby nominate her for the Lifetime Achievement Award in Homicidal Matrimony. And ladies, beware: behind every “bechari bahu” may be a long game, and behind every saree pleat, a plot.
In a major move to curb public health risks, the Maharashtra government on Friday ordered the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to immediately shut down all ‘kabootar khanas’—designated pigeon-feeding spots—across Mumbai. The decision follows growing concerns over respiratory illnesses caused by constant exposure to pigeon droppings and feathers.
The directive came after Shiv Sena leader and MLC Manisha Kayande raised the issue in the Maharashtra Legislative Council, warning that pigeon-feeding zones pose a severe threat to residents living nearby. BJP Council member Chitra Wagh also shared a personal tragedy, revealing that her aunt died from a respiratory disease linked to pigeon droppings.
Responding on behalf of Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Minister Uday Samant disclosed there are currently 51 operational kabootar khanas in Mumbai. He announced an immediate awareness campaign will begin within a month, followed by swift action to close all feeding sites.
Samant debunked the widespread belief that feeding pigeons is harmless or spiritually beneficial, warning it actually fuels dangerous health conditions. He added that pigeons in areas like Girgaum Chowpatty have even been seen eating leftover junk food, further endangering both the birds and humans.
Highlighting issues of non-compliance, Samant cited the example of Dadar Kabootar Khana, which resumed operations after a temporary shutdown as citizens continued to feed pigeons despite the ban. In a written reply, Shinde confirmed that unauthorised kabootar khanas in Santacruz East and Daulat Nagar were already shut down and redeveloped into traffic islands and Miyawaki gardens.
The government has urged Mumbai residents to cooperate with the shutdown, emphasising the long-term health benefits of ending the public feeding of pigeons.
