Hitting out at the BJP government in Karnataka over reports about the removal of a lesson on Bhagat Singh from a school textbook, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday said it’s an insult to the sacrifice made by the iconic freedom fighter and demanded a rollback of the decision.
Taking to Twitter, the AAP national convenor said the country will not tolerate such insult to its martyrs, and asked the BJP why ”its people” hate Bhagat Singh so much.
Kejriwal’s reaction came a day after some organizations, including All-India Democratic Students Organisation (AIDSO) and All-India Save Education Committee (AISEC), claimed that the Karnataka government has omitted a lesson on freedom fighter Bhagat Singh and included a speech by RSS founder Keshav Baliram Hedgewar in a revised Kannada textbook for students of class X.
”Why do BJP people hate Amar Shaheed Sardar Bhagat Singh Ji so much? Removal of Sardar Bhagat Singh Ji’s name from school books is an insult to the sacrifice of the Amar shaheed,” Kejriwal tweeted in Hindi. ”The country will not tolerate such humiliation of its martyrs at all. The BJP government will have to take back this decision,” he added.
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) called the removal of the chapter on Bhagat Singh from the Kannada textbook ”shameful” and demanded that the Karnataka government restore the lesson in the school textbook.
”SHAMEFUL. BJP’s Karnataka govt REMOVES chapter on Bhagat Singh Ji from School Books. Why does BJP hate Shaheed-E-Azam Sardar Bhagat Singh Ji so much? BJP must take back this decision. India will not tolerate such humiliation of our freedom fighters,” the party tweeted from its official Twitter handle. Karnataka Primary and Secondary Education Minister BC Nagesh has defended the inclusion of a speech by Hedgewar in a revised Kannada textbook for students of class X.
Nagesh has said the textbook does not contain anything about Hedgewar or RSS, but only his speech on what should be an inspiration to people, especially the youth, and that those who have raised objections have not gone through the textbook.
Most housing cooperative societies are a nuisance because it’s the lobby that rules. No one has a legal duty here or personal right to harass others. These committee positions are not given to them to rule but to execute the jobs. These members volunteer and take part in elections and obviously, they have their group backing and other people try to vote for a lesser evil. What everyone wants is a peaceful stay in their own abode. The case of harassment cannot be tolerated; it may become a ground for disciplinary action which may include expulsion. But the committee members generally use indirect methods to dominate residents.
For example, me and my friend who is also a female, are neighbours, we are single women. One of the society members rang my doorbell in the middle of the night and he was drunk. This was very scary, by the time I called my friend and alerted others he had just left the place. What if I would have opened the main door? Similarly, one drunk fellow from below her flat knocked on her door when she opened the door, he was in a rush to get in, but she smartly shouted at him and he realized his house is beneath her flat. Well, we made a complaint, and those days chairman was a lady of his gang. She checked the common camera of the lift and all and agreed that the man got out of the lift at late night hours but again the burden of proof was strapped to me to prove that a drunken man came to my house after he got out of the lift.
Well! both these men were from good families so somehow; we did not make an issue out of it. Since then, this alcoholic man has been avenging us. Unfortunately, he was holding a key position in the committee, and the groups got divided. The dogs started biting dogs. The earlier committee came on the radar of the new committee. There are legal issues, and the drama continued but the pain for us has not stopped yet. There is always noncooperation or overreactions. Fine I am strong enough to deal with my challenges, but imagine what must be the threat to single women residing in a housing society and particularly if she is not a member of any lobby or group. We feel unsafe and threatened. This is just an example, but imagine it from a larger perspective. Character assasination is another big issue.
If Any member of the Housing Cooperative Society faces the problem of harassment by any other member of society or the staff of the management committee in the housing cooperative society shall initiate the actions against them. If some people feel they are doing more than others, the impartiality is breached, and the negotiation starts again. Upholding fair-mindedness is the solution but that rarely happens. Negotiating fairness is the hard part. Housing societies aren’t always the safe and trouble-free paradises we imagine them to be and do have their own share of woes and travesties, as does everything else in life. Some problems have a way of appearing, reappearing, and recurrent in the life of an average housing society resident. Some of the problems faced by cooperative societies are loud neighbours, tyrant committee members, careless services, and irresponsible committees. The houses are leaking, and the corridors are spread with garage but maintenance lacks. But for every problem, there is a foolproof solution. There are predefined components for which the member has to pay maintenance charges, such as water, service, common electricity, etc. However, in many cases, it has been observed that the managing committee bills members randomly and illegally for surplus charges under false pretexts, such as charges for keeping pets, using elevators for transporting new furniture, etc.
While getting into an agreement with the developer, in spite of checking the calculation of maintenance charges, i.e equal distribution, per sq feet calculation or hybrid charge. In spite of having society’s model bye-laws to be aware of the components to be legally paid, you are not charged incorrectly, bring it to the notice of the managing committee immediately. In case if the MC refuses to cooperate, you have the right to file a complaint to the Registrar and finally to the District Collector and now the police station.
It is no secret that corruption runs rampant where power is centralized. In the case of the managing committee of housing societies, certain dishonest members or office bearers misappropriate funds for personal benefit and some committee members pay no heed to such malpractice. Incidents such as misappropriating society’s funds and showing falsified statements, charging members with unnecessary bills, writing off pending dues from certain members, stealing funds from redevelopment loans, bribing officials for fraudulent expenses, etc. are commonly registered as complaints.
In many cases, the managing committee charges massive non-occupancy charges from unsuspecting residents even when the apartment is occupied by a close relation or is locked. Fraudulent/Incomplete Audits: Some societies appoint morally dishonest Auditors who turn a blind eye to the misappropriation of funds by the managing committee, taking a cut from the funds. Even if the Auditor is honest in reviewing the finance, thousands of societies in Mumbai and other cities do not submit the audited accounts to the authorities, resulting in de-registration and penalties. Mismanagement of financial statements and cash books results in ineffective audits. Bad bookkeeping on behalf of the committee prevents the auditors as well as the residents from a clear and fair view of the society’s financial undertakings.
Check any complaint board websites of almost any state in the country, you will find members complaining about disruptive neighbours such as loud music at ungodly hours, blaring stereos in cars, littering society premises, throwing food scraps from the pantry, feeding birds in balconies, children and sometimes adults playing cricket and other sports extremely noisily after prescribed play hours in gardens, members getting in scuffles with watchmen and other staff, tenants or even homeowners behaving in unsavoury and disrespectful ways, smoking and drinking in society premises, among others. The list is seemingly endless and even renewed with new complaints describing strange and uncivilized behaviour by the residents. There are problems and there are solutions. Problems are inevitable and concrete, finding solutions is Hercule’s task.
Mumbai CP announces dedicated police stations for housing society complaints 4
The chairman and office-bearers of a Ghatkopar-based housing society were booked after a resident pressed charge against them. Police commissioner Sanjay Pandey, in a Facebook Live session on Sunday, has now nominated an inspector from every police station to specifically cater to complaints concerning cooperative housing societies.
The member should submit a written complaint explaining the dispute/complaint in full detail to any office-bearer of the society. In the next committee (after the complaint is received), the Managing Committee reviews the complaint, takes a decision and communicates it to the member within 15 days. But if the committee itself lobbies or harasses the resident then they can approach the police station and make a complaint against the society office-bearers.
If the members do not receive any communication from the Committee within 15 days, they can approach any competent authorities for redressal of their complaints. A copy of the original complaint letter should also be attached to the escalation complaint.
RTI activist Shailesh Gandhi said, “I think the initiative is good, but they need to be accountable. The police should publish monthly reports on the complaints received and their follow up or else Initiatives like these become useless if they are not monitored properly.”
Advocate Shirish Shanbhag said, “You can make a complaint to the Police Station under Bye-law No. 1174(E)(i), for the misbehaviour with society’s members and their family. For these complaints, you have to follow up with the respective department from time to time. Having a police station is not enough, what we have is serious authorities to look into the matter.”
Advocate T Sudhakar told Afternoon Voice, “Most of the housing society committees are very inhuman, they take the electoral power to their advantage by dominating the residents. There is always a target and favouritism. It’s another level of politics. Even some residents are also not law-abiding and they create trouble. A dedicated police station is a better idea but it should not go in Lokpal way.”
A resident of Navi Mumbai said, “I have been living in a cooperative housing society since 2002 in Navi Mumbai. We have one committee member who is an alcoholic and womanizer but supported by many members being part of his lobby, he takes pride in misbehaving usually with any member of society. He causes every inconvenience and harasses members; I think this announcement is a relief to book such arrogant committee members.”
They should propose addressing major issues like leakages, and structural strength of the building. But in some societies, greater priority is given to events than buildings longevity and welfare. Residents steady maintenance money is put to misuse, said Rupal Mistry, resident of a society in Borivali.
Maria Rodrick, resident of the housing society in Shantivan Borivali said, “There are some cases which happened in our society, even many of society members have complaints against the committee because they take those limited period powers as supreme powers and dominate the helpless owners. They misuse their powers to feel powerful at the cost of residents, if they get punished at least the level of atrocities can come down.”
Rupali Shastri, a resident of Borivali, one of the housing societies said, “Singles and having no families become really the prey of Committee carnages. Even in general body meetings, the lobby has its proposers and seconders. Others hardly have any say, even if someone manages to talk to the lobby and silence them tactfully. These people are a blot of the democratic system. Let’s hope these dedicated police stations do some good. In our society, we have become catalysts because we are victims of committee atrocities and still have our individual voices which bother the lobby and their agents. So, they restrict our entry on the terrace, or they will hassle us for parking, some of the other ways they softly brutalize us.”
As many as 39 pilgrims have lost their lives en route since the commencement of the Chardham Yatra in Uttarakhand, as per an official on Monday. The official has presented high blood pressure, heart attack and mountain sickness as the reasons for the demise of the pilgrims.
“Most of the deaths of all the pilgrims have taken place on the travel routes. The cause of death of all has been high blood pressure, heart attack, and mountain sickness,” Uttarakhand Director-General Health Dr Shailja Bhatt told ANI. The health official informed us that the health check-up of the pilgrims is being done at various places on the travel routes besides Rishikesh.
“Pilgrims who are not medically fit are being advised not to travel,” she said. Earlier last week, the DG informed us that the health screening of the pilgrims now is being done at the points created on the travel routes.
Dr Shailja Bhatt informed, “Health screening of passengers has been started at Rishikesh ISBT registration site. A health screening camp has been set up at Pandukeshwar for the pilgrims of Dobata and Hina and Badrinath Dham on the Yatra route of Yamunotri and Gangotri respectively.” After the health screening, the passengers who are found to have any physical illness, are being advised to rest or go on the journey only after becoming fit for health, she said.
The yatra began with the opening of Gangotri and Yamunotri portals for devotees on May 3, on the occasion of Akshay Tritiya in the presence of Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami. While Kedarnath re-opened on May 6, the doors of Badrinath opened on May 8.
Maharashtra politics got propagated as Brahmins Vs Maratha and Dalits 7
From Nehru to Gandhi, there were a lot of political attacks on these leaders to create a narrative that suits their voters. The attacks are not limited to changing History even the leaders of other political parties are under attack. There were a series of obnoxious attacks on Rahul Gandhi, his mother Sonia and sister Priyanka. They made people believe the Gandhis’ are the most corrupt politicians in India. To propagate this narrative, BJP took the help of Anna Hazare’s agitation, Baba Ramdev’s protest, and Shri Shri Ravi Shankar’s influence. Collectively, they all created a storyboard and selectively attacked congress and its leaders. BJP called for Congress Mukt Bharat. Other parties haven’t yet called for BJP Mukt Bharat.
Maharashtra is also adopting a similar modus operandi. The ongoing attacks on Sharad Pawar and Uddhav Thackeray show how much the BJP is in turmoil. Changing history for the vote bank is only one part of the story. The other part of the story is that the Brahmanical entities are coming collectively, attacking Sharad Pawar and opposition leaders as part of revenge against Devendra Fadnavis losing power. As BJP has failed to deliver, they are now singing the song of old Indian culture, spreading false stories about leaders of the freedom struggle and of course, staging high voltage covert campaigns against minorities (and not giving tickets to minorities for Assembly and Parliamentary elections) for appeasing the majority vote bank.
Maharashtra is going through a different political agenda. Earlier it was the ruling party vs the opposition party. Since Devendra failed to possess power, they propagated it as the ruling Maratha leaders kept the Brahman leader out of power. These Brahman entities are dividing people on caste politics. All those upper casts, especially Brahman dominated organisations, are scheming and conditioning people, projecting them as Brahman leaders Vs others. Pawar, always cornered Fadnavis. In 2016, the politically dominant Maratha community launched an agitation to demand reservation in education and government jobs. Fadnavis convinced Prime Minister Narendra Modi to nominate Sambhaji Raje, a descendant of Chhatrapati Shivaji, to the Rajya Sabha. Pawar latched on to this opportunity to mount an attack against Fadnavis, a Brahmin.
Earlier, a Chhatrapati used to nominate a Peshwa. Now, a Peshwa has nominated a Chhatrapati, Pawar said, in a clear caste bias against Fadnavis. Pawar’s statement left the Maratha community happy but deeply hurt by Fadnavis. How can a wounded Brahmin keep quiet? Ahead of the BMC elections, he is leaving no stone unturned to garner attacks against Pawar, but these attacks are going too personal and cheap.
Sharad Pawar was the happiest person when Devendra Fadnavis stepped down as the chief minister of Maharashtra on November 26 after holding the post for 80 hours. Having won 105 seats on its own, 40 shorts of the majority mark in the 288-member legislative assembly, Fadnavis was left in the lurch after Sharad Pawar’s nephew and NCP leader Ajit Pawar’s U-turn. BJP could win 105 seats because people voted in the name of the popular Prime Minister, Narendra Modi. Fadnavis has no role to play in it,” Pawar told a Marathi news channel on December 2.
This isn’t the first time Pawar has criticised Fadnavis, but he is now using the opportunity to dig the knife deeper. In another sharp attack against Fadnavis, he said, “He has contributed very little in the shaping of Maharashtra. The people have rejected his idea of projecting himself as well as his arrogance.”
You will find many Chitale like people who recently emerged with political views. They are making selective attacks on ruling party leaders. Why does Chitale, like small-time artists, have to make such derogatory posts? Who is fuelling them and why are they all of sudden actively making political attacks? We need to understand this new method of brainwashing. We all know who is a mastermind in vote polarisation, unprincipled defections engineering, talk more do less, misuse of central agencies, no action against unlawful actions of party workers, Accumulation of large funds from business houses in form of electro bonds by amending the law and using the fund to ensure a win in election and defections.
Two days ago, BJP uploaded an edited version of Sharad Pawar’s recent speech in order to portray him as a “Hindu hater”. However, some social media users pointed out it was an edited video and Pawar, in the speech made at an event on May 9 in Satara, was in fact referring to a poem by Jawahar Rathod that deals with casteism and untouchability. Pawar had told reporters he was reading lines from a poem that depicts the pain of the labour class but went to take a swipe at the BJP by saying those who wanted to spread disinformation were free to do so.
With this speech of Pawar, BJP made it Brahman vs others. The NCP chief accused the BJP of creating a “poisonous atmosphere” in the country by spreading “false propaganda”. Pawar and Fadnavis have several things in common, but Pawar started taking Fadnavis seriously only after he became chief minister. Pawar remains the youngest chief minister the state has had; he was 38 when he accomplished the feat in 1978. When Fadnavis took charge in October 2014 at the age of 44, he became the state’s second youngest chief minister. Also, before Fadnavis, Pawar was the last chief minister to have held the home portfolio between 1992 and 1995; it was the number two minister in the cabinet who was in charge in the interim.
Former Australia all-rounder Andrew Symonds dies in a car crash 9
Former Australia cricketer Andrew Symonds, one of the finest all-rounders and a two-time World Cup winner, has died in a tragic car accident, leaving the cricketing world in shock.
He was 46 and is survived by his wife and two young children.
Cricket Australia has now lost three prominent figures in the past two months. Spin legend Shane Warne and former wicketkeeper Rodney Marsh had died within hours of each other in March.
According to a statement issued by Queensland Police, the accident happened in Hervey Range Road, about 50 km outside Townsville in northeast Australia on Saturday night. “Police are investigating a single-vehicle crash in Hervey Range, around 50 kilometres from Townsville that’s taken the life of a 46-year-old man last night,” the statement said.
“Early information indicates, shortly after 11 pm the car was being driven on Hervey Range Road, near Alice River Bridge when it left the roadway and rolled.
”Emergency services attempted to revive the 46-year-old driver and sole occupant, however, he died of his injuries.” An attacking batter, who could also bowl both medium pace and spin and an outstanding fielder, Symonds featured in 26 Tests, 198 ODIs, and 14 T20Is in a successful career between 1998 and 2009.
He helped Australia win the ODI world Cups in 2003 and 2007 and was one of the key members of Australia’s Test side in the 2000s.
“Australian cricket has lost another of its very best,” Cricket Australia chairman Lachlan Henderson said.
”Andrew was a generational talent who was instrumental in Australia’s success at World Cups and as part of Queensland’s rich cricket history.
”He was a cult figure to many who was treasured by his fans and friends. On behalf of Australian cricket our deepest sympathies are with Andrew’s family, teammates, and friends,” he added.
With the ball, he snared a total of 165 wickets in his international career, including 24 in Tests, 133 in ODIs, and 8 in T20Is.
One of his greatest moments on the cricketing field came when he blasted 143 off 125 balls after coming on to bat with Australia at 86 for four against Pakistan in the opening ODI of the 2003 World Cup.
Symonds scored 5088 runs, including six hundred, in his ODI career since making his debut in 1998. He also featured in 14 T20Is and averaged 48.14, besides playing in the IPL for now-defunct Deccan Chargers and Mumbai Indians in the final stages of his career.
Playing for the Chargers, he had slammed a 53-ball 117 not out against Rajasthan Royals in the inaugural edition.
He also hit 1462 runs with two hundred and 10 fifties after being picked for the Tests in 2004 against Sri Lanka.
He went on to hit a scintillating 156 against England in the Boxing Day Test in 2006-07 before making a career-best 162 against India in Sydney in 2008.
The Sydney Test, however, went on to become the most controversial moment of his career due to the ‘Monkey Gate’ scandal involving India spinner Harbhajan Singh.
Symonds, lovingly known as ‘Roy’, also had his share of controversies.
He was axed from the two ODIs during Australia’s tour of England in 2005 after he turned up drunk for a match against Bangladesh.
Three years later, Symonds missed a team meeting after going fishing in Darwin and was sent back home. Another disciplinary issue saw him being axed from Australia’s squad in England on the eve of the 2009 T20 World Cup, which ended his career with Cricket Australia canceling his contract soon after.
The off-field issues aside, Symonds will be remembered for his on-field exploits which also included a 34-ball hundred for Kent in 2004. He also held the record for joint-most number of sixes in a County Championship innings when he hit 16 maximums for Gloucestershire against Glamorgan in 1995. It stood for 27 years before being broken by England’s Ben Stokes last month.
He retired from all forms of cricket in 2012 and became a regular in the commentary box during Australia’s home season as well as in the Big Bash League. ”On behalf of Queensland Cricket, we express our deepest sympathies to his family and will do whatever we can to assist them,” Queensland Cricket chair Chris Simpson said.
”It is a shattering loss to those nearest to him and his wide circle of friends which extends to all corners of the cricketing world.
”His untimely passing will also resonate deeply with the many fans who were thrilled with his efforts with the bat, ball, and on the field. He stood out for his skill, courage, and determination, and the fans who saw him at his best will never forget his impact on a game.” ”We are all hurting and will miss him greatly. His former teammates will remember his loyalty to the playing group and recall the fun times with great fondness, and sorrow that he is gone.”
Is Ketaki Chitale's Brahmanical patriarchy getting her in trouble? 12
Commenting on Sharad Pawar is not the only controversy that Ketaki Chitale struck but in 2020, she was booked for a social media post seen as being insulting towards Dalits. Prior to that, she has made comments on other religions and even Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj that have not gone down well. A staunch Godse worshiper and typical Brahmanical conditioning that has landed her in controversies.
The post in Marathi, shared by her on Friday, was supposedly written by someone else. It only mentioned the surname Pawar and the age of 80. The NCP supremo is 81 years old. The post contained phrases like “hell is waiting” and “you hate Brahmins”, allegedly referring to Pawar whose party shares power in Maharashtra with the Shiv Sena and Congress.
“The offence against Chitale was registered at Kalwa police station in Thane on Saturday based on a complaint lodged by Swapnil Netke,” a police official had said. When she was taken to the police station, black ink and eggs were thrown at Chitale outside Kalamboli police station in Navi Mumbai by workers of NCP’s women wing. Earlier, the case was registered against her under Indian Penal Code (IPC) sections 500 (defamation), 501 (printing or engraving matter known to be defamatory), 505 (2) (making, publishing or circulating any statement, rumour or report promoting enmity, hatred or ill will between classes), 153 A (spreading disharmony among people) at the Kalwa police station in Thane, he said. In Pune too, a case was registered against her based on a complaint filed by an NCP worker.
The cyber wing of the police registered a case against Chitale under IPC sections 153 (A), 500, and 505 (2). In Dhule also, a case was registered against Chitale and Nitin Bhave, the purported author of the controversial post shared by the actress, under similar sections of the IPC, including section 34 (common intention), on a complaint lodged by an NCP leader.
Meanwhile, when asked by reporters in Nanded about the episode, Pawar said he didn’t know Chitale and had no idea about what she has allegedly posted about him on social media. “I don’t know the person and also have no idea about what you are saying (about the actress’s post),” he said responding to a query.
The 21-year-old student, Nikhil Bhamre, is a resident of Nashik district and a former Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh worker, did not directly name Pawar, tweeting in Marathi: “Time has come for Baramati’s Gandhi… to create Nathuram Godse of Baramati.”
Is Ketaki Chitale's Brahmanical patriarchy getting her in trouble? 13
Her post referring to “Pawar” says he is a liar, jealous of Brahmins, suffering (from cancer) because of corruption and headed to hell. The post, put up on Friday evening, received 7,400 likes and was shared by 585 people in 24 hours. It is attributed to an advocate named Nitin Bhave.
Meanwhile, Bhamre, who comes from a farmer’s family in Nashik’s Dindori, was arrested in Nashik city where he is pursuing his graduation. Bhamre does not have a prior criminal record and, in the past, was an RSS worker, said police. Police said he has made several such comments in the past as well.
An FIR was registered against Bhamre under IPC Sections 153A, 500, 501, 504 (intentional insult to provoke breach of peace) and 506 (criminal intimidation). He will be produced before a magistrate court on Sunday. All major political parties in Maharashtra condemned the post against Pawar.
Maharashtra Housing Development Minister Jitendra Awhad said the youths attached to the NCP will register offences in “at least 100-200” police stations in Maharashtra in connection with Chitale’s post. He had also reported Bhamre’s May 11 tweet to the police, leading to the latter’s arrest.
“We need to keep in mind what kind of language we use while speaking about senior leaders,” said Devendra Fadnavis, Opposition leader and former CM.
Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) President Raj Thackeray on Saturday said: “We have differences with them [Pawar] and those will be there. But it is quite wrong to come to such a hideous level.”
At a rally in Mumbai, Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray castigated the actor: “Who are you to criticise the NCP chief? … Why are you commenting? She seems to be someone from the fake Hindutva camp.”
Raj Thackeray lost his individuality in the new Saffron robe? 15
Raj Thackeray might be trying to look like Balasaheb by wearing a saffron robe and sporting a red tika on his forehead but he doesn’t share Babasaheb’s vision, in fact, he is busy selling his own ethics for power. Similarly, Congress’s Priyanka Gandhi looks like her grandmother, Indira Gandhi but people hardly vote for congress. Just looks are not enough to garner people’s mandate. Raj Thackeray was once loved for his individuality and uniqueness but his hate-mongering politics has not gone well with the common public.
The problem with Raj is he began preparing for the BMC elections wearing BJP’s sleeves. He has merely become a loudspeaker of the BJP to contest elections. With this approach of Raj, his party MNS is certainly not going to take any share but they may somewhat add to BJP’s marketing. BJP making him say all that they cannot say in public. BJP is still pretending to keep its agenda of Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas and using Raj Thackrey like failed politicians to invoke hate politics on their behalf.
He himself is responsible for his downfall because one fine morning he turns anti-Modi and next time anti others. Balasaheb would not have done such unwise things. He shares the same vote bank with Shiv Sena but his inconsistency costs him severely as he remains absent and does not have a voice in pan India. Raj Thackeray should engage with the people of Maharashtra and learn to be steady on his grounds. Shifting goalposts can damage his political fate irreparably.
People loved Raj Thackeray when fought with the government on key issues like overpopulation by immigrants, toll plaza loots, the Marathi language under threat, etc. but his agitation fizzled out without any conclusions. North Indians indeed have a humble attitude towards Marathi people and their culture. Raj Thackeray went venomous against them and now he changed his stand by getting into a religious scuffle. Muslim MNS members left Maharashtra Navnirman Sena, they were the fundraisers for his party. Raj not only lost the goodwill of people but also his credibility.
These days Raj Thackeray increasingly holds the country’s commercial and film capital to ransom in the name of either loudspeaker or Hindu pride. The most recent case was the way in which they threatened Muslims barging in mosques. As the nation wondered whether the MNS’ aggressive demonstrations to gag free speech and curb civil liberties were really about patriotism?
Speaking as a Marathi, born, living and voting every time in Maharashtra and knowing the mindset of the people around, I know that people support Uddhav more than Raj because of Balasaheb’s legacy, he is trustable and wouldn’t change his ideology or his stand for the people. To our surprise, Uddhav proved to be a good chief minister of the state. He never lost his calm or gave any hateful speeches, harmony and peace were his prime agenda and that is what common people want. Uddhav has the ability to give a sense of belongingness to the people of the state. Raj is a confused and tricky person with harsh speeches and hollow claims.
Shiv Sena was in alliance with BJP for almost three decades but they never lost their own uniqueness. Whereas Raj seemed egotistical and without any particular ideology. He changes his shades like a chameleon, you can never predict his political inclinations. Perhaps this is the reason people don’t take Raj Thackeray seriously. These days he is mastering the politics of hate.
In 2008-09, he targeted North Indians (people from UP and Bihar). It paid off for him and he won 13 seats in the Maharashtra Assembly election including 3 urban seats in Nashik. His party also won Nashik civic elections. But his party failed to give even minimum governance. There was such a fear among North Indian workers that thousands of workers reached Nashik railway station to leave the city. It was a very bad situation then. Now he is hell-bent on praising Yogi and taking a stand for BJP but has yet to apologize to North Indians.
After the north Indians, Raj’s hate target was the Gujarati community. Gujarati communities in cities of Western & Northern Maharashtra are very successful. Even PM Modi is a Gujarati. Raj Thackeray thought his hate-mongering against Gujarati speaking community can fetch him some votes in the 2019 elections. But the Gujarati speaking community which has a significant presence in Mumbai did not allow fortune for MNS. It is quite natural for such parties to target such communities for electoral benefits but we all know what kind of humiliation Raj and his party faced. MNS has no patriotic objective at all but still, Raj was regarded for his stand for the people. Unfortunately, in the recent past, he has become a tool in the hands of central powers by shedding his independence. Let’s see what unfolds for MNS in BMC elections.
Raj Thackeray may dent BJP's UP votes in the state 17
Mumbai and parts of the neighbouring Palghar, Thane and Raigad districts of the coastal Konkan belt are home to over 40 lakh North Indians, mainly from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. Most of the migrants to Mumbai are from UP, Bihar, Jharkhand and Bangladesh. North Indians play a major role in the economy of Mumbai and its suburbs and they have a say in politics,” said Mumbai-based political analyst, journalist and poet Omprakash Tiwari. “Political parties cannot take North Indians casually.”
Of the total 17 lakh population in the Mumbai North-West constituency, more than 3.62 lakh residents are north Indians. Besides, the constituency is home to 6.06 lakh Maharashtrians, 3.34 lakh Muslims, 1.9 lakh Gujaratis and Rajasthan, 1.2 lakh south Indians and 85,000 from other communities. Uttar Pradesh tops the list of migrants to Maharashtra and Mumbai.
D P Singh, professor and associate dean of the School of Research Methodology, Tata Institute of Social Sciences said, “huge populations from Uttar Pradesh are up because of the prospects available in the state. Again, migration from Madhya Pradesh and Karnataka has seen an increase, but one observes more women than men, mostly moving because of marital reasons.”
Till today Raj Thackrey was talking against Yogi Adityanath calling him a criminal and inefficient leader, he also ran a campaign against BJP but flopped for a lifetime. Now Raj Thackeray praised the Yogi Adityanath government for removing loudspeakers from mosques and other places of worship and announced that he would visit Ayodhya in June, but people here are not taking him seriously.
The BJP is also stepping up its outreach to the broader north Indian community in Mumbai, starting with a corner meeting in Goregaon on May 15. This is the first BMC election the BJP is contesting after the Shiv Sena parted ways with it as an ally and the saffron party is no more restrained by its former ally’s Marathi Manoos or son-of-the-soil agenda. Though the two developments are not directly linked, the BJP sees them as part of a bigger political arc. A BJP leader said the UP-government office could help limit the damage done by its MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh with his comments on Thackeray and also help the party consolidate UP migrant votes in Mumbai. Civic polls in the city are scheduled to be held in the coming months.
Comprising around 40 lakhs of Mumbai’s estimated 1.5 crore population, north Indians play a decisive role in its politics. They are employed across the board in the financial Capital, from service sectors to jobs requiring manual labour. Of the 227 wards in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), north Indians are believed to be in a majority in 50 and have a significant presence in 40-45 wards more. For the BJP, Raj Thackeray is key to unseating the Sena from the BMC. In recent months, BJP leaders in Maharashtra have been spotted with the MNS chief on various occasions, but the party has refused to comment on the possibility of an alliance.
Raj Thackery’s failed Political career is on the verge of closure of sorts. Ever since MNS came into existence his flip flop love for Mr Modi (not BJP) has hit headlines time and again. There are several such ‘baseless’ leaders who try to hit a ‘No Ball for a six’. Interestingly Raj’s current Anti-Muslim agenda has harmed more Hindus in turn. His cry to bring Loudspeakers down from a few hundred Mosques has led to bringing ‘the same’ down from thousands of Temples including Mathura, and Ayodhya. Largely BJP grassroots worker is annoyed by this new political tangent which is not the Sangh style and is bound to harm the BJP vote gaining ability. The top BJP brass may not show their annoyance with Raj, as these short-term disturbances help the Modi govt to hide the government’s ever-continuing failures, for a short duration, however, in the long run, they shall bin the hard stand adopted by the separated Thackeray who is desperately searching Political foothold only ‘by crook and no hook’,” said Nishant Verma, political analyst.
NAI president Vipin Gaur said, “Thackeray is known for his hostility towards North Indians, especially those living in Mumbai, and spreading fear among them. Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray said several times that the North Indians do not have any self-respect. He said North Indians should ask their ministers why employment wasn’t being generated in their own states. All of sudden holding the flag of Hindutva will not fetch him anything but BJP votes may get a dent.”
The BMC has requested citizens to keep the required stock of water on the day before the cut and to sparingly use water during the cut.
Amid micro-tunnelling work, there can be water scarcity in the city. The areas where water supply is expected to be affected include, Kurla, Chembur, Ghatkopar, Sion, King Circle, Matunga, and Parel. A 24-hour water cut is to be planned next week due to Phase-I of the diversion of waterways by the micro-tunnelling method by the BMC at Municipal Colony, Vidyavihar. The water cut will be from Wednesday (May 18) at 10 am to Thursday (May 19) at 10 am.
During this period, they will shut down the water supply in some parts of the eastern suburbs and there will also be a low-pressure supply in some other parts. Low-pressure supply on all four days will be available in Santa Cruz (East), Bandra-Kurla Complex, Bandra, Khar and Santacruz (West). On May 18 and May 20 there will be no water supply to Kalbadevi, C P Tank Girgaum, Girgaum, Thakurdwar, Mumbai Central, Khetwadi, Tardeo and Babulnath.
Meanwhile, the present 100% water cut was partially lifted on Thursday itself in Kalbadevi, CP Tank, Girgaum, Thakurdwar, Mumbai Central, Khetwadi, Tardeo and Babulnath. Other areas like Bandra, Khar and Santacruz(west), Santacruz(east) and Bandra-Kurla Complex with low pressures with a 25%
water cut in the entire G-North ward in Dadar and G-South ward in Lower Parel was restored on Thursday, as work on the tunnel to fit 2,400-mm butterfly valve and 2,450-mm diameter T branch on 2,450-mm Vaitarna main as part of the 3,000-mm Maroshi Vakola-Mahim-Ruparel tunnel work was completed on Thursday morning.
The BMC’s hydraulic department conducted a ‘Stop Leakage Save Water’ campaign on April 25. A report submitted by the hydraulic department on Thursday said the K-East ward in Andheri (East) had maximum water leakages while A-ward in Fort had the least leakages.
