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Amid furore, Sanjay Raut withdraws Indira Gandhi-Karim Lala controversial statement

By
Hema Singh
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Sanjay Raut ,Indira Gandhi, Dawood Ibrahim, Karim Lala, Kareem lala, Devendra Fadnavis, congress, shiv sena, sanjay, raut statement, raut controversila statement, former prime minister, underworld with politicsAfter Congress leaders Milind Deora and Sanjay Nirupam asked him through their social media to withdraw his statement, Rajya Sabha MP and Shiv Sena senior leader Sanjay Raut withdrew his ‘ill-informed’ statement against former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.

Taking to his twitter handle, former Mumbai Congress chief Milind Deora wrote, “Indira ji was a true patriot who never compromised on India’s national security. As former @INCMumbai President, I demand that @rautsanjay61 ji withdraws his ill-informed statement. Political leaders must show restraint before distorting the legacies of deceased Prime Ministers.”

Congress Spokesperson Raju Waghmare told Afternoon Voice, “I don’t think that Mr. Sanjay Raut has said this statement deliberately. Because sometimes what happens is a politician talks on a particular topic but the meaning that comes out are dual. Taking part in an interview,  Mr. Raut came out with this remark but no matter what happened, this kind of statement should not come from any political leader until and unless he has a proof about what he is saying, especially  when the political parties work in the coalition government. The leader should think twice before giving any statement. However, after Raut’s statement, we instructed our leaders and spokesperson that whenever they are making any statement, they should make sure that their statements should not create any controversy.”

In an interview in Pune on Wednesday, Raut had said that Indira Gandhi used to go and meet Karim Lala in South Mumbai.  “There was a time when Chhota Shakeel, Dawood Ibrahim, Sharad Shetty used to decide who would be police commissioner of Mumbai and who would sit in Mantralaya. Indira Gandhi used to go and meet Karim Lala in South Mumbai,” he quipped.

After Raut’s remark, BJP leader and former Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis sought an explanation from the Congress leadership over Raut’s comments and asked why the party was silent on such allegations against their former leader.

Raut’s remarks led to a controversy amongst the political party. However, on Thursday, he withdrew his controversial statement and said, “Our friends from the Congress need not feel hurt. If someone feels that my statement has hurt the image of Indira Gandhi ji or hurt someone’s feelings, I take back my statement.”

The editor of Shiv Sena mouthpiece has given clarification that he has all respect for Indira Gandhi and his remarks were distorted.

“Kareem Lala was leader of Pathan community; he led an organisation called ‘Pakhtun-e-Hind’. It was in this capacity of the leader of Pathan community that he met several top leaders including Indira Gandhi. However, those who do not know the history of Mumbai are twisting my statement. I have never shied away from praising Indira Gandhi as an iron lady who took decisions with an iron fist. Surprisingly, those who do not know the history of Indiraji are shouting on top of their voice (sic),” Raut tweeted by tagging Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Rajeev Satav.

The Congress party that shares power with Shiv Sena and NCP in Maharashtra had formed a collaboration party and formed Maha Vikas Aghadi government in November 2019.

Controlling politics and politicians of his era was Don Karim Lala’s strong point

By
Vaidehi Taman
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Shiv Sena leader and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut has kicked up a controversy by making a statement that Indira Gandhi used to meet Don Karim Lala and this caused a political stir in India. Well! There is no point in feeling so offended or proving Raut wrong, criminalisation of politics has long been a concern especially in Maharashtra where then the flourishing underworld has been part of its political milieu for several decades. Several State-level politicians have long-standing, or newly established ties with Dagdi Chawl, Chhota Rajan and especially Dawood gang with the criminal-politician network developing significant muscle and money power in what appears as a resurrection of the syndicate. There are many reports and evidences to prove that the fugitive dons Dawood Ibrahim and his aide Chhota Shakeel used their close links in local politics to influence key redevelopment schemes in South Mumbai in those days without even the operators of the project knowing it.

Now coming back to Indira Gandhi meeting Don Karim Lala, Karim Lala aka Abdul Karim Sher Khan was born in Afghanistan. He came to Mumbai in 1930. He was a household name for his notorious jobs as a don of underworld from 1960s to 1980s. Similarly, Mastan Mirza, known as Haji Mastan was an underworld don originally from Tamil Nadu and based in Bombay. Haji Mastan and Karim Lala were not only Mafias but they were political financers too from crime to politics they dominated every sector then. After the 1993 Bombay blasts, the Home Ministry collected considerable information on the links between Congress politicians and the underworld. The details of this investigation were submitted to the Vohra Committee.

If you look at the connects, Dawood Ibrahim has amicable relations with Sharad Pawar, Salim Zakaria, Javed Khan (both ex-ministers close to Pawar), Mohammed Dosa was close to Madan Baffna (ex-minister), P. Raj Koli, he was a gangster and a contract killer active during the 1990s majorly was very close to Arun Mehta (former home minister), Haji Ahmed was smuggler and etornist and he was close to D.V. Patil, Javed Khan. Gangster Khan Brothers were close to Arun Mehta, Salim Zakaria (ex-ministers), Tiger Memon was in nexus with Javed Khan.

Abdul Latif was known to Chimanbhai Patel (ex-chief minister), Izzu Sheikh, Haji was with Ahmed Patel, AICC general secretary. Hassana Dada was in shelter of C.D. Patel (home minister), Thakor Nair (supply minister). Amar Subhania was shielded by Chimanbhai Patel. Ram Bhai Gadwai : Ashok Lal (” s/o Babu Lal, minister of sports”) Santosheben Jadeja, MLA: “Earlier of Janata Dal. Joined Congress. Known as mafia queen.” In mid-1995, N.N. Vohra Committee report on the criminal-politician nexus was tabled in Parliament, the Opposition was united in heaping scorn on it. The perception was that the 12-page report was incomplete and politically sensitive information had been suppressed. Months later, after the episode had receded from public memory, there are evidence to confirm that suspicion. Some documents submitted to the committee by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) revealed shocking charges of the murky link between prominent politicians and the underworld. According to the report, Moolchand Shah alias Choksi a hawala racketeer also involved in the Jain case and “close to Dawood Ibrahim and gang” had, on various occasions between December 1979 and October 1992, transferred or paid Rs 72 crore to Pawar.

Many other Congress leaders have also been listed as recipients of money from Shah. When Raut mentioned Indira meeting Karim Lala, several Congress leaders condemned the statement and demanded that Raut should withdraw his remarks. Karim Lala was leader of the Pathan community; he led an organisation called ‘Pakhtun-e-Hind’. It was in this capacity of the leader of Pathan community that he met several top leaders including Indira Gandhi. There was a time when Chhota Shakeel, Dawood Ibrahim, Sharad Shetty used to decide who would be Police Commissioner of Mumbai and who would sit in Mantralaya. For over two decades, he was the leader of the dreaded “Pathan Gang” that operated from impoverished and crime infested Muslim ghettos of South Mumbai like Dongri, Nagpada, Bhendi Bazaar and Mohammad Ali Road. The Pathan Gang was involved in operating illegal gambling (satta) and liquor dens, illegal money recovery, illegal land evictions, kidnapping, protection racket (hafta), contract killing (supari), distribution of narcotics and counterfeit currency.

Karim Lala’s family settled in one of the most densely populated and impoverished Muslim ghetto of Bhendi Bazaar in South Mumbai. Starting as an ordinary worker in the Mumbai docks, he later joined a gang of ethnic Pathans who worked as illegal recovery agents for Marwari and Gujarati moneylenders, landlords and businessmen. These money lenders and landlords employed the burly Pathans whose tall imposing size and intimidating demeanour made it easy to recover money from defaulting debtors, evicting tenants and owners from prime properties in expensive South Mumbai. Lala soon rose up the ranks to be the chief of the “Pathan Gang”. From the seventies, Lala agreed to a pact with the other two ganglords namely Haji Mastan and Varadarajan (Varada bhai) to divide Mumbai amongst them so that they could freely run their crime activities without any conflict between each other. Due to failing health during the late seventies, Lala gradually transferred the leadership of the Pathan gang to his nephew Samad Khan and then managed his hotel and transport business. Although Lala had several illegitimate businesses, his legitimate business included two hotels (Al Karim Hotel and New India Hotel) and a travel and passport agency called New India Tours and Travels.

During his peak, Lala frequently invited several personalities from Bollywood (Hindi film industry) to his daawats (parties) and Eid celebrations. Many characters from Bollywood movies closely resemble Karim Lala and his mannerisms and accent. Lala also held a weekly “durbar” where people from different walks of life narrated their grievances to him and in return, he helped them financially or to get justice using his gang’s muscle power. He died on 19 February 2002 at the age of 90. Karim Lala was the first mafia don of the underworld. His influence on Maharashtra politics was visible; there is no surprise if he met Indira Gandhi the then prime minister of India.

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Rape culture: His will, her fear

By
C S Krishnamurthy
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gang rape, child rape,How would you react if a friend told you she was raped? Would you empathise and listen or would you change the subject? Would you minimize her trauma or joke about it?  We hear stories about carnal violence against women or children daily in the news. Are they routine or isolated?

Talk of rape makes us uncomfortable; we tend to blurt out inanities. Our society deems violence as sexy, and lust as violent. These values and attitudes need change. Does rape define life? Are rapes comparable? Are rapes like exterminations? Is a world without rape possible? How do we wish to raise the coming generations?

Outrage, victim-blaming, media attention, court cases, women-activists uproar… And then, there will be another rape! We hear of father raping daughter, teacher raping student, child rape, gang-rape and so on. Some people make the country a haven for rapists.

Historically, rapes have been treated as ‘excusable’ crimes; the victim is disregarded, her response silenced. We have tomes of literature and media debates on pornography and sexual violence, gangrape, child sexual abuse, sexual harassment, how to avoid rape, self-defence; despite this, statistics show a rise in the number of rapes every year.

Our National Crime Records Bureau reveals that three women were raped every hour from 2001 to 2017. For every story that sparks an outburst, many go unnoticed and underreported, not because we don’t care, but because rape and victim-blaming has become commonplace. Discussions about rape are often irrational. It’s the only crime to which people respond by wanting to lock up the victims, the only crime where victims are considered destroyed beyond repair; a few retain the ridiculous ‘Boys will be boys’ label.

We claim to deplore sexual violence that is so markedly characteristic of our times; we raise our children ignorant of their sexuality, confusing pleasure with pain and domination. It’s not unusual to see women blame victims. We present male and female as polar opposites, instead of twin variations of one model, thus damaging both sexes. Sexual assault can be anything that demeans women; degradation of women, evident through numerous incidents such as eve-teasing, groping, stalking, ultimately raping, is a consequence of day-to-day normalised sexism.

During the shooting of ‘Sultan’, Salman Khan said he ‘felt like a raped woman’. He used rape as an analogy to explain the physical toll during the production of the film, completely ignoring the trauma a rape victim goes through. Rape jokes nourish rape culture. How can you sell humour at the expense of the victim? After the 2014 FIFA World Cup, where Germany defeated Brazil 7-1, tweets announced “Germany raped Brazil”. Similar scenes were witnessed during some India-Pakistan cricket matches. These are examples of how we trivialise rape.

Be proactive

Research reveals that the number of men who perpetuate violence repeat it with either the same or with different victims. India’s recidivism rate as per a 2015-report is relatively low at three per cent, but the challenges continue to mount. How many more Nirbhayas should we sacrifice?

Woman was always unequal before law. Not only might the female be subjected at will to abhorrent physical conquest from which there could be no retaliation in kind – a rape for a rape – but the consequences of such a brutal struggle might be death or injury, not to mention an undesired pregnancy.

Don’t tell women to stay at home! Take the rapists off the streets! Calling ‘rape’ a “women’s issue” is misleading and dishonest. The very act of calling it a “women’s issue” is itself part of the problem, as it gives men an excuse.

Rape also affects body, mind, heart, and soul. Aftermaths include humiliation, stigma, depression, susceptibility, fear, anger, shock, embarrassment, suicidal tendencies, nightmares, confusion, safety and anguish. Pain and shame become a toxic mix of misdirected blame.

Victims are silenced and blamed, crime gets normalised, perpetrators ignored. This trend will continue until we choose to eradicate the reasons for the crime. Till then, prisons will continue to be overcrowded in a country where Sita’s chastity was called into question despite the fact that she was abducted by Ravana.

Letters to the Editor: 16 January, 2020

By
Web Team
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letters to the editor, afternoon voice,

1BEST proposal to hike power tariffs unjustified

Electricity tariffs in Mumbai are the highest in the country and BEST proposal to hike power tariff by 5 to 7 percent seems too steep in the present circumstances. BEST operates from Sion to Colaba and if they are allowed to hike tariffs, Adani and Tata power too would do likewise in other parts of the city which would literally mean ‘electrocution’ for people who are already suffering the aftermath of rising inflation, unemployment and economic slowdown.

Power generation companies are doing well and monopoly doesn’t mean the consumers should be taken for a ride. People are paying more than double of what Delhi residents pay.

S.N.Kabra

2Misconceptions on CAA

Amidst the ongoing protest against CAA, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the Act was aimed at giving citizenship, not taking it away. He added that some people are creating misconceptions on CAA for political reasons. One amendment to CAA law that India is open to giving asylum to every one who is persecuted for whatever reason, would address the problem thrown up by NRC exercise in Assam and end the ongoing misconception and conflict.

Amjadullah Abuzar Bajpatti

3Board room tussles

The recent board room tussles at leading corporate houses being made public has evoked mixed response while testing integrity, transparency and leadership focus. At a time when the market regulator mandates the companies to abide by Corporate Governance to run the Board smoothly, India Inc. is otherwise involved in Board room battles amidst public glare. Accountability to the investors is one of the key areas the leaders should focus instead of retorting to shadow boxing.

It should be noted that the stakeholder confidence is now shaken owing to board room battles being made public and an effort should now be made to re-inforce the trust. The leadership should abide by integrity and transparency under the ambit of Corporate Governance at all times while boosting investor confidence and safeguarding their interests. As also involving the public agencies to decide on Board room matters should otherwise be considered only as a last resort and rely only on Board room powers to resolve the issues amicably without much furor in the public.

Varun Dambal

4Selectors playing spoilsport

The outgoing selection committee under MSK Prasad is playing a spoilsport and change the team frequently and show favouritism. The selectors take everything for granted, drop key players and show favouritism in selection of team members. The dropping of Sanju Samson set a bad precedent as he was dropped like a hot potato. The chip chop policy of the selectors is to accommodate Indian vice captain Rohit Sharma. This is happening since MSK Prasad took charge. The team does not have an off spinner of repute to test world class left handed batsmen. We did falter in the World Cup semi final due to complacency and now going back to old methods. We have not won an ICC sponsored tournament for sometime but still show favouritism in team selection and pay heavy price for the same. The selectors were rightly called a bunch or a pack of jokers.

Akhilesh Krishnan 

5Kudos to Bumrah and Ashwin

Mumbai’s medium pacer Jasprit Bumrah has been awarded the prestigious Polly Umrigar award for his exploits in 2018-2019 and it is commendable. Bumrah has been the kingpin of our bowling attack and he fully deserves what he has achieved as a front line bowler. Notably, he has picked up five wickets hauls in South Africa, England, Australia and the West Indies and it has been remarkable feat on foreign soils, which was lacking from pace bowlers from India in the past. Another, outstanding show with the ball was achieved by the Indian off spinner, Ravichandran Ashwin, which went unnoticed. But Ashwin proved himself and finished as the decade’s highest wicket-taker. Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has finished the decade as the highest wicket-taker in international cricket with 564 wickets across all formats. Former India skipper and now BCCI president Sourav Ganguly congratulated the off-break bowler but not rewarded.  However, the International Cricket Council (ICC) appreciated his feat.

Nikhil Mani

(The views expressed by the author in the article are his/her own.)

Mumbai- Bhubaneswar Lokmanya Tilak Express derails near Cuttack; over 20 injured

By
Hema Singh
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Lokmanya Tilak Express Accident, mumbai, bhubaneswar express, mumbai, bhubaneswar, train accidentIn a shocking incident, Mumbai -Bhubaneswar Lokmanya Tilak Express derailed near Nergundi Railway Station in Cuttack district of Odisha on Thursday. The coaches have been derailed due to heavy fog and the incident took place around 7 am in the morning. According to the officer who reached the spot said four people suffered major in injuries while other suffers minor injuries.

The recent reports suggest that over twenty people have been injured in the incident. All passengers have been evacuated from the site and those who suffered major injuries in the mishap have been admitted to Cuttack Medical College.

Reportedly, the mishap occurred after the train collided with the guard van of a goods train.

East Coast Railway’s Chief Public Relation Officer (CPRO) said, “Around 20 people injured after eight coaches of the Lokmanya Tilak Express derailed near Salagaon. No casualty reported till now”.

Maharashtra to Revamp Education System

By
Hema Singh
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Maharashtra Delhi School Model,Maharashtra, Delhi School Model,Maharashtra School Model,School Model,Children in school,Students in school,School,children,child,students,Mumbai Students,Government School,Municipal School,Municipal,Municipality,worst condition schoolsWith its intention to improve the quality of education in municipal schools in Maharashtra, the Maharashtra government is likely to adopt the Delhi school model. According to an education officer they had sent some minister to visits Delhi for the same.

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has worked smartly on the education system in the National Capital. The party has majorly focused on four aspects which includes- modernizing infrastructure, capacity building of school teachers and principals, making school administration accountable, and improving learning outcomes. An understanding of the government’s work on each of these is essential to understand the essence of Delhi’s education revolution

Announcing this particular endeavour of his government, Deputy Chief of Maharashtra Ajit Pawar announced that the Maharashtra will adopt the Delhi education system to improve the quality of education in the State.

Preeti Sharma Menon, AAP National Executive Member said, “Delhi education model is the most revolutionary model in this country. In Delhi from the last 72 years the previous government had made only 1700 classrooms but since the AAP government has come to power we have increased the number to 20 thousand. We had also conducted trainings of our teachers with international standard of teaching.  Also changed the infrastructure as well as the value system in which the education is imparted. This is why Delhi public schools are performing better than the private schools. Delhi is the only state in the country where the students of government schools are outshining compare to private schools.”

She further stated, “We are extremely happy that Deputy CM of Maharashtra Ajit Pawar has decided to emulate this model. Delhi government will offer him our unconditional support.  And we hope that other state too, follow the same.”

A meeting to discuss the subject was called during the day. In the meeting, they came to an understanding that information technology will be part of assessment process.

Indian Congress leader Eknath Gaikwad’s daughter Varsha Gaikwad, who happens to be the education minister, said that she has recently set up a ‘Think Tank’ committee to discuss and improve the quality of education in Maharashtra.

The Think Tank which include professionals from various sectors, elected representatives, education experts, teachers, parents, retired bureaucrats who have been involved in formulating education policies, NGOs and media covering the education beat.

At the HUII conference which was held at Taj in Colaba the minister of state Aaditya Thackeray discussed the changes in the education system said, “After evaluating everything, we have come to the conclusion that there are two main reasons that children drop out of Municipal schools. The first one is that the kids migrate to their hometowns or villages and leave their education midway. Another reason is that these children prefer selling items roadside than attending schools as they feel that feeding their family and themselves is important.”

Sharad Pawar’s grand-nephew and MLA from Karjat-Jamkhed constituency, Rohit Pawar visited Delhi recently and was extremely impressed with the work of the Delhi Government. Soon after personally visiting a school in Delhi the Karjat MLA shared his experience by way of a tweet. He wrote, “This is the spirit of Maharashtra. We are open to adopting the best practices from across the country to improve quality and standard of education of our children. I had the privilege to visit Delhi schools and  was indeed impressed with their work. I will try my best to implement this model in my constituency also.”

As per sources, all municipal corporation-run schools in cities like Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, Pimpri-Chinchwad, Pune, and Nagpur will come under the Delhi education model. Also, it is yet to be decided if the project will be funded by the state or the municipality.

State faces shortage of policemen; 8,000 cops to be recruited for citizens’ safety

By
Afternoon Voice
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Maharashtra Police Recruitment,Maharashtra Police, Recruitment,Police Bharti,Police Recruitment,Mumbai Police,Police,Maharashtra,State Police Recruitment,Recruitment,Maharashtra Police Force,Maharashtra Police
Image Courtesy : HT

State home minister Anil Deshmukh has announced that the home ministry and police department is sincerely considering on recruiting nearly 8,000 members in the Maharashtra Police department to strengthen the force. He assured that the vacancies for the posts will be launched soon. Deshmukh emphasised on the increasing rate of student suicides and asked the parents to not add pressure on their expectations. He also asked the youth and young adults to prepare both for competitive exams and police recruitment. He also mentioned that officials will also consider to make stringent laws to curb crime against women, illegal money lending, Naxalism and other issues. The Maharashtra Police needs more members to maintain law and order situation in state.

Around 47,000 police personnel have been deployed to protect 14,842 special persons. UP, Maharashtra and Gujarat have the highest difference between sanctioned policemen and actual policemen on duty. In spite of a shortage of  policemen, around 47,000 policemen are deployed for the safety of VIPs to keep them happy. The shortage of policemen has often been blamed for rising crime in India. From insurgency to rising crime against women, the blame is usually placed on a skewed police-people ratio and high vacancies in police forces.

India’s police force is divided into two categories: Civil Police and Armed Police. While Civil Police is designated for maintaining law and order, prevention and detection of crime and law enforcement. On the other hand, Armed Police are kept handy during natural disasters or riots/civil unrest.

#GangubaiKathiawadi – Mother for many girls but Criminal mafia and flesh trader

By
Vaidehi Taman
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Born in pre-independence era in 1939 Gangubai Kathiawadi a young woman of Gujarat thought of leading a normal life. The real name of Gangubai Kathiawadi was Ganga Harjivandas Kathiawadi. When she was young Ganga aspired to become an actress. At the age of 16, she fell in love with her father’s accountant and after getting married with him, she fled to Mumbai. Gangubai, who fantasised big ideas, would not have even dreamt that her husband would cheat her and sell her to the brothel for just five hundred rupees. Those days, mafia don Karim Lala was very active in Mumbai. One member of Lala’s gang raped Gangubai. After which Gangubai met Karim Lala to demand justice and tied him rakhi and made him her brother. Being the sister of Karim Lala, Kamathipura’s command soon fell into the hands of Gangubai. It is said that no girl could enter her room without her consent.

The houses that housed the brothels were first developed by the British for the recreation of the British soldiers. The very fair delicate and beautiful, Gangubai wanted to become an actress. This was the time after the independence of India. In the ‘60s, she almost ruled Kamathipura, a neighborhood in Mumbai. In the 19th and early 20th centuries, a large number of women and girls from continental Europe and Japan were trafficked into Kamathipura where they worked as prostitutes servicing British soldiers and local Indian men. Gradually, social stratification also took place: When the British left India, Indian sex workers took over. From brothel owner Gulab, she ended up joining hands with the underworld and eventually became one of the most influential women in India. When Gangubai was forced into prostitution at an early age, she came into contact with a notorious criminal who became her regular customer.

Gangubai was not just a sex worker, but later on she became social worker too. Many bigwigs, kingpins and politicians used to visit her kotha at that time. She became a highly influential personality. Taking advantage of this entire power, she started working for the rights of sex workers and orphans. She was a powerful woman in the 60s. She also peddled drugs and gave orders to commit murders. She was also known as the ‘Madam of Kamathipura’ for her connections with the underworld. She cared for such girls and took care of them like a mother. Many walls in Kamathipura still have her pictures hung on the wall. A unique personality has all powers like dealing with flesh trade, drugs, supari killing etc. Her human side was equally strong and caring. She was a guardian of the dons. She would give them shelter and also provide guidance whenever needed.  Although she lived in the slums, but she was rich enough to buy an expensive car for herself. The ‘Madam of Kamathipura’ was the only brothel owner in ‘60s to own a black Bentley. Gangubai ruled over several brothels of Kamathipura. She is known for the efforts she took to improve the living conditions in Kamathipura. It is rumored that she even met Jawaharlal Nehru and spoke to him about the problems of sex workers. She happens to be one of the most remembered women in the history of Mumbai.

Mumbai has many such stories to tell, if the underworld was ruled by Haji Mastans and Dawood Ibrahims one cannot ignore the presence of gangster girls. From Haseena Parkar to Neeta Naik there are hundred such stories Mumbai has witnessed. Neeta Naik, made her London-educated husband Ashwin turn to the underworld and face its wrath. And when he was shot, she fled the country and ably ran his operations till she fell to her husband’s jealousy, but not before she managed to get elected as a Mumbai corporator. As resourceful as her is Arun Gawli’s wife, Asha who took over the reins of his underworld empire and ran it efficiently. Simultaneously, she did enough for the neighbourhood to get her husband elected to the Maharashtra Assembly even when he was in jail. Women, we know, are multi-taskers. Yet, it is really fascinating to read how these women slip into different roles so effortlessly and efficiently. Pappamani may have taken to dealing in drugs to keep her children fed and clothed, but she quickly brought in method and management ideas to the trade that benefited all and won her the sobriquet Mahalaxmi. Indeed, the lawyer hired to defend her finds, much to his chagrin, Mahalaxmi’s sidekicks, sans any formal education, were thorough with the nuances of drug crime-related laws and court procedures.

Monica Bedi, former matinee idol of the time gone by; got entangled in the underworld with Abu Salem; a one-time protégée of Dawood Ibrahim, now in Indian jail. Monica returned to show business after she served imprisonment but now she is not seen anywhere. Let’s talk about Mrs. Sujata Rajan Nikalje – wife of underworld Don Chhota Rajan who is languishing in Indian Jail. The two got married in Dubai when Chhota Rajan and Dawood Ibrahim were pals. The two best companions split over some communal feelings that divided Mumbai underworld on communal lines after the 1993 serial bomb blasts that rocked Mumbai city. Sujata came to limelight in the underworld operations when the Mumbai crime branch arrested her over a charge of extortion and money-laundering. Around a dozen of Don’s confidantes spent time behind bars in the same case. She is now being sought after by the enforcement agencies in a case of siphoning off funds. Most of these underworld mafia queens were either the girlfriend of mafias or the concubine while many of them even married women. But Gangubai was a different persona altogether.

Sanjay Leela Bhansali, Bollywood’s famous film director, announced a movie on her which is in the making. Gangu could not become actress but today she has become a topic of Cinema.

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Maharashtra CM sorts Wadia hospital problem, orders to release funds

By
Hema Singh
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Wadia Hospital, uddhav thackeray, maharashtra, chief minister, bmc, wadia, hospitalPutting his weight behind the going ons in the Wadia hospital, the Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray has agreed to pay Rs. 24 core to the hospital. He has also asked the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to release its share of Rs 22 crore to restore medical services in the hospital. The Wadia hospital is facing a fund crunch following irregularities in its working.

The chief minister has also ordered transfer of Rs 46 crore to the hospital so that suspended services can be resumed, it is learnt.

The chief minister has also decided to set up a committee to look into the alleged irregularities at Wadia hospital.

A spokesperson of Wadia hospital said, “After today’s discussion with the CM and all present during the meeting, we are hopeful that the pending contributions from the government of Maharashtra and Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation will be received soon.”  It is understood that the hospital will receive the said funds by Thursday evening.

The hospital known for proving healthcare facility to people has been divided into Bai Jerbai Wadia Hospital for children and Nowrosjee Wadia Maternity Hospital. Lately, the Wadia hospital had  demanded Rs 105.8 crore for the Bai Jerbai hospital and Rs 31.4 crore for the Nawrosjee hospital.

The Shiv Sena chief met the hospital management and ministers ordered them for investigation into allegations of irregularities and violation of agreement terms at the hospitals. The meeting of the CM and minister were held at Mantralaya and it was attended by deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar, public health minister Rajesh Tope, Sena ministers Eknath Shinde and Anil Parab, and many other ministers.

On his part,  Wadia Hospital’s chief executive officer Mini Bodhanwala has assured that all the issues would be resolved.

On Monday the Wadia hospital staff staged a protest to fulfill their demands. The protest was held to highlight the problem of the hospital due to insufficient money. The staff protest was also joined by Raj Thackeray’s wife Sharmila. The Hospital alleged that it has not received a single penny form the BMC in last two years.

Wadia hospital is a joint venture between the Wadia family, BMC and the state government. The hospital has over 800 beds that caters to children and mothers. But since the past few days, the hospital had shut its doors for patients. So much so, those who were admitted to the hospital were being discharged.

Pongal signifies overflowing of prosperity

By
C K Subramaniam
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Happy Pongal, pongal, makar sankranti, happy makar sankranti, sankranti, 15th januaryPongal a four day festival is celebrated in South India in the month of January. It all starts with Bhogi and ends with the Thiruvalluvar day. Sankranti is a day when the sun passes from one sign of the Zodiac to another. Pongal is a multi-day Hindu harvest festival of South India particularly of Tamil Nadu. The festival is celebrated to thank the sun god for his blessings. Pongal signifies the overflowing of prosperity. It also shows the love between nature and the human race for each other.

For Tamilians, the first day is Bhogi, the beginning of Pongal of joy.  On this day, people exchange sweets, light a fire and dispose off the old items and look for a new year with a new beginning. The second day is Surya Pongal that is dedicated to the Sun God. People wake up early in the morning and have bath just like another Tamilian festival day. The married women have their chores to complete. They put rice to the boiled milk, ideally in a pot on fire and as soon as it begins to simmer and they all shout together Pongalo Pongal in a traditional way. The sweet thus prepared is then offered to Lord Ganesha and to the Sun God. A portion of it is also offered to the cows. Again sweets are exchanged. On meeting each other, they have rice boiled in a typical Tamilian style. To which they invariably answer, “Yes it is boiled.” That is why this festival is called Pongal. Pongal means to boil.

The third day is Mattu Pongal or the Pongal for the cows. On this day, cows and oxen are worshipped and circumambulated. Their horns are painted in various colours and cows and oxen are given good wash and garlanded with leaves and flowers hung around their necks. On this day, the cows are allowed to graze anywhere they like without any restriction. Pongal also marks the change of season, and is primarily a harvest festival.  India is an agricultural country and cows and oxen play a vital role in agriculture. That is why cows and oxen are worshipped and venerated so much. The new reaped harvest is shared with friends, relatives, beasts and birds. They all partake in the cooked food and sweets. In Chennai, the streets bear a festival look for the whole week. And on the fourth day (i.e.) Thiruvalluvar Day (remembrance of noted Tamil Poet) people go round for picnic to a Trade Fair or Museum or Water Parks or to see films that released during Pongal by carrying eatables along with them. Notably, we can see yellow rice, white coconut rice and Pongal are being carried by picnickers. Finally, Pongalo Pongal brings unity amongst residents of Tamil Nadu.

(The views expressed by the author in the article are his/her own.)

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