Pol Khol – Maha Vikas Aghadi to expose Devendra government’s scams

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September 24, 2021

The BJP, especially BJP leader Kirit Somaiya, has been constantly accusing the ministers in the Maha Vikas Aghadi government of corruption. The BJP is accusing Hasan Mushrif, Anil Parab, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, the Chief Minister’s wife and some other tall leaders from the ruling parties. The Maha Vikas Aghadi refuted BJP’s accusations, while some ministers have also called for a defamation suit against Somaiya.

The senior leaders of the Maha Vikas Aghadi have now taken notice of the allegations levelled against the ministers of the Mahavikas Aghadi. It is known that the Maha Vikas Aghadi government will also give the same answer to the BJP. It is learned that the Maha Vikas Aghadi government will take out the cases of scams during the Fadnavis government.

BJP’s Kirit Somaiya told Afternoon Voice “Let them play Pol Khol. BJP is one of the cleanest political parties that work in the interest of people with the agenda of development. The ruling party really needs to sweat out to discover and establish corruption in the Devendra Fadnavis government.”

Sources also said that a special committee has been formed to probe the scams during the Fadnavis government. The committee will consist of one member from each of the three parties, Shiv Sena, Congress and NCP. As a result, scam cases of former BJP ministers are also likely to come out soon.

Bhau Korgaonkar, Shiv Sena Sampark Pramukh said, “Shiv Sena is an organized party was itself born from an aggressive movement. ‘Saam Daam Dand Bhed’ is our tag line. We always have been Tit for Tat. In a fight, might is always right. We will never hit below the belt. Yet if anybody isn’t understanding it calmly, then we have a judicial-to-judicial justice. A mannerly political directive action shall be taken against anyone. SS will be fighting this struggle till the final outcry by prejudice.”

Vidya Chavan, MLC from NCP said, “It is very unfortunate that the problem that can be solved in the Assembly House is dragged to the court. I have seen that in many debates and discussions the opposition agrees to certain points. When Fadnavis was CM, they had ill-treated the Shiv Sena subordinate party. The BJP never thought that Trident governance can evolve with a Trio of Sena, NCP and INC. They are finding it tough to adjust themselves in the opposition.”

She further said, “They should not politicize issues related to women and children. They should have a parliamentary session, crimes on women and child abuse are taking place all over the country.”

It is wrong in a democracy the ruling and opposition are not within their limits. The opposition always creates a problem of priority to issues in the Legislative house. The problem to prioritize matters of concern through questions and answers is not happening. Women molestation is a national problem. The well debated orthodox will on superstition was not enacted as a bill in the parliament, although the legislation had amended and then passed it. So now a parliamentary session should take place. This governor is politically motivated, you can suggest and advise us by an operating system, rather than publicizing and creating a fuss of your point of view,” said Shivajirao Moghe, Cabinet Minister from Congress.

Defamation suit against Kirit Somaiya

After Maha Vikas Aghadi ministers Anil Parab and Hasan Mushrif were accused by Kirit Somaiya, the two will now file a defamation suit against Somaiya.

“For the last few months, Kirit Somaiya has been accusing me without any evidence. I have filed a claim of Rs 100 crore for this. It also demanded an apology. Evidence is also attached. I will get justice in this,” said Minister Anil Parab.

Sadly, the saviours of Mumbai Mangroves and salt pans are scarified Part – 2

By

Vaidehi Taman

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September 24, 2021

coastal, coastal road project, india, mumbai development, mumbai roads, coastal, mumbai, mmrda, bmc, redevelopment — Image: egis-india.com

If we look at 2019’s final draft of DP, 2,100 hectares of salt pan lands are now demarcated for the construction of 10 lakh affordable housing development, 1,100 hectares for tourism development and only 30 hectares for salt pans.

Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) inspected the bridge and found it to be in a miserable condition. The bridge connects the station to Saifee Hospital and Hinduja College. After BMC’s inspection of several bridges, many structural defects were detected on Charni Road’s north end Foot Over Bridge (FOB) that connects the station to Saifee Hospital and Hinduja College.

The authorities have closed the bridge for pedestrian access, however, the period for the bridge being non-functional is not known. Going towards Churchgate, the Western Railway has decided to shut down the foot over bridge (FOB) at Dadar Station from May 14 2019. This happened after the audit report submitted by IIT-Bombay suggested its demolition. It has been mentioned that the structure of the bridge is not safe and should be demolished.

The WR informed that the South FOB at Dadar station will remain closed for the safety of passengers from May 14 onwards. This bridge is heavily used by the passengers while moving through platforms on the West side of Dadar station. However, the report mentions that the 6.5-metre-wide iron bridge that was built in 1993 is not ready to take such heavy traffic.

Meanwhile, the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has decided to remove the rooftops from 21 FOBs on Western and Eastern Expressway. MMRDA informed that they have taken this decision to avoid unnecessary load on the bridges.

After the Maharashtra government confirmed to raze 54,000 mangroves for the bullet train project, Congress leader Milind Deora urged then CM Fadnavis to find solutions in order to protect the mangroves and salt pan lands. In order to make way for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s dream project to construct the Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train, the Maharashtra government has confirmed that 54,000 mangroves will be removed across 13.36 hectares of land in Maharashtra.

This has raised serious concerns among several environmentalists and the opposition parties. They were vocal about saying that such development plans that are compromising mangrove and salt pans will put Mumbai at Risk, serious questions were raised. However, with the Maharashtra government razing 54,000 mangroves, it seems that they have forgotten the lessons of the 2005 flood in Mumbai that killed over 1,000 people and the city faced huge losses.

Congress leader Milind Deora urged the then Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to find solutions in order to protect the mangroves and saltpan lands. even the people of Mumbai request the government to refrain from any development activities on the saltpan lands after the state government proposed affordable housing on the same.

The Maharashtra government’s decision to remove 54,000 mangroves to make way for the bullet train project was confirmed by state Transport Minister Diwakar Raote in the ongoing state legislature monsoon session. 1,781 acres of salt pans spread across Mumbai to be opened up for real estate.

Salt pans are crucial to Mumbai’s ecology, as according to a 2016 Mumbai Metropolitan Reg-ion Development Authority report, they safeguard the city against floods. Salt pans spread over 1,781 acres (721 hectares) in Mumbai are set to be opened up for development. The land, whose current market value will be around Rs 53,000 crores, is almost twice the size of Mumbai’s prime commercial hub, Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC), which is spread over 914 acres.

FSI up to 8 in areas near commute centres like Dadar station, Andheri station, Churchgate station. In the Govts development plan 2034, it has been mentioned that areas near busy railway stations and metro stations will get an FSI up to 8. This means that taller buildings will be the way to go in the future. In a land-starved city like ours, going vertical is the only option.

Opening up of the Eastern sea-front land. If you’ve ever driven on the Eastern Freeway, you would’ve realised that on the East of the Freeway there are a lot of these shipbuilding yards, dock areas, etc. Well, that land belongs to Mumbai Port Trust. Mumbai port is one of the most inefficient ports in India, with a lot of costs and not enough revenue to compensate for the costs. The government has thought of opening up the 1800 acres of portland for development in a ‘planned’ manner. Time will tell how well-planned it is, but 1800 acres of extra land in our city can do wonders.

While MMR limits are only till Dahisar in Western suburbs, Mulund in the Central suburbs and Mankhurd in the Eastern suburbs. The entire Navi-Mumbai and Thane belt is one of the fastest developing real-estate markets of India. It’s very interesting to see that Mumbai’s Mantralaya is at the southern tip of Mumbai; Nariman Point. The govt is supposed to be central, both in terms of governance and location. A good idea would’ve been to have the Mantralaya to someplace in Navi Mumbai so that the city could’ve been planned more efficiently since, unlike Mumbai, Navi Mumbai didn’t have the problem of being water-locked from 3 sides.

The entire development would’ve been centred around Navi Mumbai. In the future too, the areas of governance will be far off in Nariman Point or maximum they’d consider BKC. How much ever MMR expands, it’s always going to be in the ‘far-flung’ suburbs.

See any real-estate ad today and they’re all offering you the luxuries of life at low costs. The luxury real-estate trend is here to stay as the people of the city get more exposed to the lifestyle, they’ll start demanding it more. The cost definitely will not be as low as it is today. Mumbai can’t have an affordable housing market and we should stop expecting that. A great investment today for the next 20 years would be to find a real estate project which gives you the most amenities with the least neighbours. True exclusivity and luxury will always be the ‘space’ that you get in Mumbai.

Let us hope, by 2035 we will have the Metros currently planned phases up to and running. Commutes will become hassle-free but not for very long, Mumbai is that person who throws a huge party for everyone but always invites more people than it can host. Housing for all in Mumbai is a real task because not everyone will be able to afford it.

Ramifications of obliterating the natural buffer between the Arabian Sea and the island city.

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Mumbai Bank under the scanner; opposition leader Pravin Darekar is the chairman of the bank

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Afternoon Voice

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September 23, 2021

In the audit tests of Mumbai Bank, many defects and discrepancies were found. In inquiry order under section 83 of Mumbai Bank order to submit inquiry report within three months, action will be taken as per section 88 after the report.

The co-operation department has directed a probe into the alleged irregularities in Mumbai Bank, which has been under discussion for the past several years. For this, District Deputy Registrar Pratap Patil has been appointed as the investigating officer. It has been directed to submit this report in the next 3 months. BJP leader Praveen Darekar, Leader of Opposition in the State Legislative Council is the Director of Mumbai District Central Co-operative Bank.

It is alleged that in the name of renovation of the disaster recovery site and construction of it, the bank officials visited the site in Pune and inspected it. But the contract was awarded to the person who actually wanted to be awarded the contract. Not only that, 90 per cent of the contract amount was immediately made available. This has also been mentioned in the report.

Pravin Darekar told Afternoon Voice, “Resume the impartial inquiry of State Co-operative Bank. There is a scam in Pune District Central Bank. Check out their purchase. Software worth Rs 15-20 crore has been acquired for Rs 150 crore. We will lodge regular complaints against the NCP-led district banks and co-operative societies in the state and expose the scams in Maharashtra.”

In the year 2017, there was also a controversy over an Rs68 crore loan sanctioned to a firm under scanner in the irrigation scam by Mumbai District Central Cooperative Bank. Darekar and other BJP members used their majority to approve the loan despite objections from various quarters. The firm did not fulfil several conditions, yet the loan was sanctioned and partly disbursed in record time.

Sadly, the saviours of Mumbai Mangroves and salt pans are scarified Part – 1

By

Vaidehi Taman

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September 23, 2021

In the name of development and vertical structures, roads, housing schemes, Mangroves and Salt pans that are crucial to Mumbai’s ecology, safeguard the city against floods. On October 21, 2019, then the state’s chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, had announced several projects to woo voters. But one announcement that went under the radar was the opening up of Mumbai’s ecologically sensitive salt pans for the development of low-cost housing.

Mumbai has a total of 5,300 acres of salt pan lands and this entire area was marked as wetlands. In 2016, the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) conducted a study and gave a report that only 25 acres of these 5,300 acres of salt pan land are developable, which is perennially land-starved, the salt pans are few of the remaining land parcels on which no development has happened so far. These land parcels have been under strict coastal regulation zone (CRZ) rules which restrict development. But with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) having a strong majority at the centre was trying to change this.

The state, however, was supposed to make its laws for the use and development of salt pans, after it gave its consent to the Centre to put salt pans in the concurrent list in Schedule VII of the Constitution. Currently, all issues related to salt pans come under the Union commerce and industry ministry. But no such things happened till today, the governments are changed but not the fate of Mumbai or its ecological factors.

Maharashtra has nearly 13,000 acres of salt pans, with 5,300 acres in Mumbai, followed by around 2,000 acres in Vasai and 2,000 acres in Palghar. Of the 5,300 acres in Mumbai, the city’s Development Plan (DP) 2034 allows for 1,781 acres to be developed. However, it is not yet clear if the state will open up the entire 1,781 acres for construction, as a part of it may come under environmental regulations. For years, the state has been pushing to open up salt pans for housing projects, but the proposal has been stuck owing to contentious issues, such as the land-sharing formula between the Centre and the state and ongoing litigation.

The Maharashtra government welcomed the proposal to transfer the subject of ‘salt’ to the concurrent list in the Schedule VII of the constitution and has no objection to the same,” stated a letter issued by the revenue department, on behalf of the state government, on May 10, 2019. It was issued in response to a query raised by the joint secretary and acting salt commissioner, seeking the state’s views over incorporating salt pans in the concurrent list.

The state government is keen on unlocking these plots and provisions for the same were also made in the development plan 2034. The DP had earmarked 321 acres (130 hectares) of salt pans to be used for affordable housing. The ownership of salt pans has been contested between the Centre and state for more than three decades, with the last suggestion coming from the UPA-I government, to share the land on a 50:50 basis between the state and the Centre.

In 2017, the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests revised the Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2017 and excluded salt pans from wetlands, which means these tracts in Mumbai could be open for development. Following this, the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) started resurrecting the city’s salt pans to study if it was feasible for building affordable housing.

A total of 3,355 hectares of salt pan lands are spread across MCGM in Dahisar, Goregaon, Mulund, Bhandup, Kanjurmarg, Nahur, Ghatkopar, Turbhe, Mandale, Chembur, Wadala and Anik. These lands, which were classified as salt pan lands and no development zones (NDZs) for decades are now open for new development is not only a threat to the ecology, but these sunk lands can be dangerous for human lives ahead.

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Google suing India antitrust watchdog for investigation report leak

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Web Team

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September 23, 2021

Alphabet Inc’s Google on Thursday said it was suing the Competition Commission of India (CCI) following the leak of a confidential CCI report into an antitrust investigation of the U.S. tech giant.

The Times of India newspaper, and then Reuters, reported on Saturday that a CCI investigation had found Google abused the dominant position of its Android operating system in India, using its “huge financial muscle” to illegally hurt competitors. Google said last week it looked forward to working with the CCI to “demonstrate how Android has led to more competition and innovation, not less.”

In Thursday’s statement, the company said it had filed a legal challenge against the CCI at the Delhi High Court “to prevent any further unlawful disclosures of confidential findings.” Google said it was “protesting against the breach of confidence which impairs Google’s ability to defend itself and harms Google and its partners.”

“We cooperated fully and maintained confidentiality throughout the investigative process, and we hope and expect the same level of confidentiality from the institutions we engage with,” its statement added. The CCI did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the legal action.

A Google spokesman declined to comment on whether it had sought to cease and desist orders on further media coverage of the contents of the CCI report. India’s antitrust authority ordered a probe in 2019, saying Google appeared to have leveraged its dominance to reduce device makers’ ability to opt for alternate versions of its mobile operating system and force them to pre-install Google apps.

Its 750-page report subsequently found the mandatory pre-installation of apps “amounts to imposition of an unfair condition on the device manufacturers” in violation of India’s competition law. The report, which has been seen by Reuters but which is not public, also found the company leveraged the position of its Play Store app store to protect its dominance.

Governor Koshyari is alleged of carrying BJP’s agendas in State

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Afternoon Voice

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September 22, 2021

Maharashtra Governor BS Koshyari’s letter calling for a special session of the state assembly following the rape and murder of a woman in Mumbai’s Sakinaka, Maharashtra Chief Minster Uddhav Thackeray wrote a harsh reply to him.

The CM in his letter has written saying Koshyari should request the Centre to call a session of parliament to discuss issues concerning the safety of women and growing attacks on them in BJP-ruled states including Uttarakhand, the home state of Koshyari.

This never-ending scuffle between Maharashtra Governor and CM frequently hit the headlines. Governor Koshyari’s gesture is translated as BJP’s motive and he is been accused of carrying BJP’s agenda.

Upset with the ill political Propaganda, the Former Governor of Uttar Pradesh Ram Naik told Afternoon Voice, “This is an appalling situation, governors are appointed by political parties but they are for the state and public welfare.”

Leader of Opposition Devendra Fadnavis said, “In fact, the MVA ministers are disrespecting the institution of the governor because they want to hide their failures. Recently when Governor routinely forwarded a letter by women MLA’s demanding a special session to discuss strict laws against rape and victimisation of women the chief minister office has given a very political reply which shows only the immaturity of the CMO. It’s a standard process to forward such letters to CM for consideration.”

“This Governor was a CM of Uttarakhand. He mentions he is a lifelong RSS Karyakarta. Even if you are a political appointee, you should not go partial with any political thinking. Since you are a constitutional authority, you are not to continue political bias; opposing the democratic norms of this Nation. You will be questioned, if you are not impartial to the constitutional body and taking only asides perspective,” Priyanka Chaturvedi, Shiv Sena, Rajya Sabha member.

Vinod Tawde, a BJP leader from Maharashtra, “I feel Governor is a medium to convey the people’s concerns to the Chief Minister. This is like a failed pupil complaining about his teacher about his deeds. Or reading his mark sheet. The ruling party is trying to hide its failures. Maharashtra people are meeting Governor with various grievances against the state government, that is what honourable Governor is conveying CM.”

Kalidas Kolambkar, MLA BJP said, “When a leader has no basic IQ how one can make him understand the role of the governor? They are so non-understanding leaders and have no empathy for people. I am not all interested in such politics.”

Ramdas Athawale, Central Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment told Afternoon Voice that the “Shiv Sena leaders are making insensible allegations. Governor is not only of the BJP. He works on legislative etiquettes. If he says that there should be an Assembly session on Women’s Safety, CM cannot say to call on the Parliament House for a special session. Such blame on Raj Bhavan is an attempt to malign then without looking at his image.”

Anil Galgali, RTI activist said, “The Governor is the dignified designation in State Governance. This is very serious if anyone is alleging him by making undue comments. What the governor wrote is a very grave issue, Women and Children’s problems should be discussed and handled on priority by the state government.”

Nishant Verma, a Political Analyst said, “Yes, Honble Guv, is an old Imp individual of RSS, who was instrumental in bringing the learning of Mai Zedong from China to India thru official learning sessions of RSS at CPC school. One of the learning is to appoint unchallenged authorities who work for the King. This is now well Implemented and he takes orders from BJP higher-ups, although he is not an isolated case of such sorts. This is against the Values of a Constitutional Position, however, we can only wish a change of government at Center to bring reforms in, for the Prestige of a Governor Post.”

Senior BJP leader Sudhir Mungantiwar said, “BJP is very clear in its stand. Those who do not understand the Constitutional rights and amendments have no right to get in the blame game. Such things are happening for the first time in Maharashtra’s political history that the Governor is dishonoured and humiliated on various occasions. His notices are miscommunicated and undue remarks are passed. Governor is the one who proclaims the Ministerial Oaths of your Cabinets. They are absent and unavailable for his meetings. They themselves declared their Party as the party of Goondas. The constitutional head is alleged and attacked by the ruling government.”

Abu Azmi, MLA from Samajwadi Party said, “Governor belongs to no political party. It is the highest constitutional Chair. Yet this Governor of Maharashtra is acting like a BJP Party man. I personally feel that the Chief Justice should remove such Governor posts. No state needs governors, this is a waste of public funds. If Governor and President work as a mediator of all sorts to their affiliations, then they are no less than a middleman.”

The Governor of the state has every right to make the ruling government accountable

By

Vaidehi Taman

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September 22, 2021

Since the Maha Vikas Aghadi alliance came to power in Maharashtra there are constant attacks on Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari. But the fact is that Governor is the custodian of state and he has every right to question the sitting Government if there is a complaint from the public or if there is any discourse. This is not wrong if the governor makes the ruling party and its CM accountable within the constitutional rights.

Bhagat Singh Koshyari is a polished politician who knows what he has to do, when, and what he has to speak. Earlier the chair of the governor was similar to the den of the toothless old tiger who thrives on the hunt done by others. But this time the image is different. A present governor is a man of masses and he hears people, he takes his own decisions and above all, he is vocal for the rights of the people. We all know he is blunt and honest but not sugar-coated and fake. Why there should be constant blame games?

We all know the appointment of governors and other constitutional heads is based on political affiliations. It is applied to all political parties who are in power. So there is no sensation if the BJP government appoints B S Koshyari as Maharashtra governor. In the past also the political parties in power appointed Governors and Presidents. People irrespective of their political affiliations respected these posts.

But the governor in recent times especially now is the best of all of them. He is visible, he is vocal, he is sneering when needed. They lock horns with purpose and they complain loudly because they are worthy of a public presence.

B S Koshyari need not score any brownie points for himself because he is the veteran leader of the party and known for all his achievements. Rather Maha Vikas Aghadi leaders and its CM should be much more mindful while making deceitful comments or questioning the integrity of the Governor.

CM Uddahv Thackeray is no pushover, besides there’s another person in the coalition who beats the government at the game of wiliness hollow and that man is Sharad Pawar. Never underestimate how Pawar can play the power game better.

Remember how Pawar dashed off a very public letter to the Prime Minister expressing his dismay at a distinguished head of state making a letter between himself and the CM public & his anguish at the crude wordings not befitting a person holding such a lofty post. He freely quoted the bits in the Governor’s letter where he loosely bandied about the word “secularism” and how CM Uddhav Thackeray now embraced that in favour of his Hindutva plank.

The tussle between Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari and the Uddhav Thackeray-led Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi government is fueled by power plays. Uddhav knows he is nothing without alliance parties and Koshiyari knows the weaknesses of the ruling government. One is running out of accountability and another one is restlessly reminding them f their duties.

Governor Koshyari has sent a letter to the chief minister in the wake of the Saki Naka rape-murder incident, suggesting the Maha Vikas Aghadi government convene a two-day special session of the Maharashtra Legislature to discuss the issue of safety of women. Well, there is a rise in crime against women in the state. Women’s safety is the biggest concern and this concern is appropriate.

Soon after the letter, Thackeray in his reply listed crimes against women not only in New Delhi, where law and order “is a subject under the Central government” but in other BJP-ruled states such as Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and

Gujarat and urged the governor to write to PM Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah to call for a four-day session of Parliament to discuss the crimes. CM needs to understand two wrongs cannot make one right.

Well! Governor Koshyari is a senior politician and he knows his craft. He knows how to deal with state issues and political spats. The need of the hour is the welfare of the state and its people. Maha Vikas Aghadi needs to deliver their duties and take people into confidence without getting into undue attacks. Governor Koshyari, is here for some time, even this government is not permanent. Wasting time in accusations and attacks would not solve any purpose.

In the recent past some random RTI activists questioned the powers of Govern to appoint his staff, some politicians call him biased, but the fact is that he belongs to the people. He is the only governor of Maharashtra who kept the governor’s house open for maximum visitors. He interacts with people without any prejudices.

Governor’s people are definitely very elite persons around him who bridge the gap and they are equally people’s friendly and companionate. CM should take note of all the concerns raised by the Governor instead of making a counterattack.

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Mahant Narendra Giri’s death: Another scandal in the saffron world

By

Vaidehi Taman

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September 21, 2021

Mahant Narendra Giri, the president of Akhil Bharatiya Akhada Parishad, was found dead on Monday at Baghambari Muth in Prayagraj. The Parishad is the largest organisation of sadhus in the country.

According to police, Mahant Giri’s body was found hanging from the ceiling by his disciples. A purported suicide note of seven-eight pages was also found at the site in which the seer had written that he was mentally disturbed and was ending his life. Surprisingly, the Mahant could hardly sign, wonder how he wrote a 7, 8-page suicide note?

Well! Copy of suicide note (to be considered as will per Mahant) not available yet. More details only when either copy is released and police updates. Mahant also made a video of 4 minutes before committing suicide, the video is not available yet. Phone confiscated by Uttar Pradesh police. Local BJP leader’s name surfaced over a land dispute with Mahant.

In that alleged suicide note, the seer had written he was upset with one of his disciples. He had also delegated various responsibilities to his disciples in the note. Prayagraj Police say the name of Anant Giri, one of the seer’s most ardent disciples, as mentioned in the suicide note, among others. He was refused bail to appear at Parramatta Bail Court, he was remanded in custody, to reappear at Mt Druitt Local Court on Wednesday 26 June 2019.

Much before the arrest speaking to the media, Anand Giri spoke about a massive conspiracy; he said senior police officials and land mafia, even Narendra Giri’s family members are involved in this. Those are the people who were roaming around Guru Ji [Mahant Narendra Giri], asking him to sell properties owned by the Math.

The disciple of Mahant Narendra Giri also said that he will cooperate with the Uttar Pradesh Police. Anand Giri said he is in Haridwar and is planning to leave for Prayagraj to join the probe into his Guru’s death. In May of this year, Anand Giri was sacked from the Niranjani Akhara and Baghambari Math by Mahant Narendra Giri. A video later surfaced of Anand Giri sitting at Mahant Narendra Giri’s feet and apologizing for his remarks against the seer and the Math.

Anand Giri went on to claim that the same people created a rift between him and Mahant Narendra Giri. His name in the so-called suicide note is an effort to end him. Anand Giri spoke to Mahant Narendra Giri just a few hours before his death and Mahant told Anand Giru that he was fine and would come to Haridwar. He was in no way mentally disturbed. He was tortured and pressurized and forced to die and he could have been forced to write his name [in the suicide note] or someone else could have written it.

This same Anand Giri was once arrested from a house in Oxley Park suburb of Sydney, Australia for sexually assaulting two women in the city. Giri was charged with two counts of assaulting the two women. The women had on different occasions in 2016 and 2018 had called Giri to attend prayer meetings when the women claimed that he behaved inappropriately with them.

The first woman had called him to pray on New Year at her residence in Rooty Hill of Sydney West in 2016 which is when he allegedly assaulted her in her bedroom. Then in 2018, a 34-year-old woman had called him for a night-long prayer meeting at her house. They were praying in the house’s lounge area when Giri made indecent advances towards her.

Giri, a priest at the Bade Hanuman temple in Prayagraj city in Uttar Pradesh, had gone on a six-week-long tour of Australia and was ready to fly back to India on May 5 when he was apprehended by the police.

Giri’s website claims that he is also a Yoga teacher apart from being the self-proclaimed spiritual guru. According to the website, he is someone who is “committed to serving the society & inspiring people through his work and wisdom.”

Now coming back to Narendra Giri Maharaj, he refused to sell the land and that the buyers had agreed [to cancel the deal]. But he was being pressured by some of the buyers who had given him an advance and he was none other than a local BJP leader. It was because of this pressure that he borrowed money from some people in Haridwar, some police officials in Allahabad and some common people.

Anand Giri is the disciple of Swami Narendra Giri. He had declared himself the successor of Mahant Narendra Giri a few years ago. Questioning the death of Ashish Giri and Digambar Gangapuri was termed as murder. Anand had said that Ashish had been murdered for Giri’s property, but Mahant Narendra Giri made him a case of suicide with his influence. Similarly, Mahant Digambar Gangapuri Maharaj also died under suspicious circumstances. Anand Giri had demanded an inquiry into the deaths of both.

Only the fair investigation can tell what has killed Mahant Narendra Giri, who abetted suicide? Why Anand Giri’s name surfaced, what the video of Narendra Giri talks about.

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BJP leader’s name allegedly surfaced in Mahant Narendra Giri suicide case, call details revealed

By

Afternoon Voice

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September 21, 2021

Three days after Narendra Giri Maharaj’s death, local BJP leaders’ names surfaced. BJP and its supportive media that created a ruckus on a saint’s death in various states are mute on Narendra Giri’s death. Uttar Pradesh is gearing up for upcoming elections and at such juncture, the ruling party cannot afford any controversy that will dent their Hindutva and Saffron agenda.

Mahant Narendra Giri, president of the Akhil Bharatiya Akhara Parishad, was harassed by local leaders and his men in the ashram, they wanted huge funds and lands from the saint. Mahant was mentally harassed and abetted to suicide told local police officer under the condition of anonymity. This dispute between politicians and Mahant was going on for a long time.

Narendra Giri was found dead in his room at the Baghambari Math in Uttar Pradesh’s Prayagraj on Monday evening. The 72-year-old went to his room after lunch but did not respond when disciples knocked on the door or called him on his cell phone repeatedly later in the evening. When his disciples broke the door open and entered the room, they found the seer hanging from the ceiling with a nylon rope. The UP Police are viewing it as a prima facie case of suicide. Prayagraj police say a suicide letter has been recovered from the seer’s room.

The letter read: “I lived with dignity, will not be able to live with insult”

Pramod Pandit Joshi of Hindu Mahasabha told Afternoon Voice, “The most respected Narendra Giri Ji Maharaj’s death has a bigger mystery than what meets the eye. To hide the role of a local political leader who pressured him to sell the land, misinformation is spread to save the image of BJP in the state. This is a political murder.”

Police have detained Yoga Guru Anand Giri in the case, who was named by the seer in his reported suicide note. Apart from Anand Giri, Adhyay Tiwari and his son Sandeep have been taken into custody for questioning. Adhyay is the priest of the Bandhva Hanuman temple in Prayagraj. Meanwhile, the Baganbari Math has been sealed and an investigation is going on.

According to sources, three persons including Additional SP OP Pandey, BJP leader Sushil Mishra and a Samajwadi Party leader Induprakash Mishra are under scanner as they had mediated in a striking truce between late seer Mahant Narendra Giri and his disciple Anand Giri.

Prior to his detention, Anand Giri told the media, “Guruji was not the kind of person who would commit suicide, he was tortured over money. This is a huge conspiracy against me. An unbiased investigation should be conducted.”

In the 7–8-page long letter, the seer also wrote that he was upset for a number of reasons and thus decided to end his life. UP Deputy CM Keshav Prasad Maurya assured the media that all possible angles will be probed by the police.

Letter war: CM Thackeray asks Guv Koshyari to request Centre for special session on crimes against women

By

Afternoon Voice

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September 21, 2021

Days after Maharashtra Governor BS Koshyari wrote a letter for convening a special session of the state Assembly against the backdrop of the Sakinaka rape and murder, Chief Minster Uddhav Thackeray has hit back saying Koshyari should request the Centre to call a session of Parliament to discuss issues concerning the safety of women and growing attacks on them.

In his letter to the governor written on Monday, Thackeray gave figures of crimes against women in BJP-ruled states including Uttarakhand, the home state of Koshyari. He stated that such ”instructions” by the governor could stoke a new controversy” and are damaging to the democratic Parliamentary procedures.

Koshyari had recently written to the CM asking to convene a special session of the state legislature. In his letter, the CM said he had taken cognisance of Koshyari’s concerns regarding the safety of women. “I can understand your feelings for calling a special session of the Maharashtra Assembly against the backdrop of the Sakinaka incident in Mumbai. Your soul is of a political worker. However, the instructions given by you could stoke a new controversy,” Thackeray wrote.

A 34-year-old woman was allegedly raped inside a stationary tempo parked on the roadside in the Sakinaka area in Mumbai earlier this month. The accused, a 45-year-old man, brutalised the victim by inserting a rod in her private parts. The woman died during treatment at a hospital. “It is damaging to Parliamentary democratic procedures that governor also makes the same demand being made by those who are opposing the state government. The state is taking firm steps to curb such incidents,” the CM stated.

“Uttarakhand, your home state, is also known as Devbhoomi. The government data shows that attacks on women have been increased by 150 per cent. Can a special session be called there?” Thackeray asked.

He wrote that 14,229 women had gone missing in neighbouring Gujarat in the last two years. “The Gujarat police report says that at least 14 women daily face rape or sexual assault. Going by such high numbers, Gujarat would need at least a month-long session. Despite many attacks on women in Uttar Pradesh, the BJP has not made any demand for a special session,” Thackeray stated.

The Raj Bhavan and the Sena-led MVA government shares frosty relations as the governor has not yet approved a list of 12 persons sent by the state government for their nomination as Member of Legislative Council from the gubernatorial quota.

Last year, the governor had written a letter to the CM demanding the immediate re-opening of places of worship and mockingly asked if Uddhav Thackeray had turned “secular”. The chief minister had responded by questioning the governor’s belief in secularism and said “Isn’t secularism a key component of the Constitution, by which you swore while taking oath as the state governor?”