Recklessness in Garb of Freedom of Speech Won't Be Tolerated: Fadnavis on Kamra Row 2
Amid a row over stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra’s alleged defamatory remarks against Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, CM Devendra Fadnavis on Monday said the “reckless” misuse of the freedom of speech will not be tolerated.
Speaking in the state assembly after the issue figured in the House, Fadnavis said Kamra has a history of making low-level comments on the prime minister, Chief Justice of India and the judiciary.
“His modus operandi is to create a controversy for publicity,” the chief minister said.
During his performance at the Habitat Studio at the Unicontinental hotel in Mumbai’s Khar area, Kamra had referred to Shinde as a “traitor” and went on to sing a parody on him.
Kamra used a modified version of a Hindi song from the movie ‘Dil Toh Pagal Hai’ to describe the 2022 rebellion of Shinde against his then boss Uddhav Thackeray.
Fadnavis said Kamra has now targeted Deputy CM and Shiv Sena leader Shinde, and the people of Maharashtra showed through the 2024 assembly polls mandate that who is “khuddar” (self-respecting) and who is “gaddar” (traitor).
“Is Kamra bigger than the people of Maharashtra?” he asked.
The people of Maharashtra have shown that Shinde is the true inheritor of Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray’s ideology.
“Kamra’s aim was to belittle Shinde in the eyes of the people. The opposition is supporting such a talk and one wonders whether Kamra is hand-in-glove with the opposition. He has posted a picture of himself with a red copy of the Constitution book which Rahul Gandhi carries,” Fadnavis said.
“When you attack the freedom of others, your freedom is restricted. If you insult people on constitutional posts to create disturbances by taking supari (contract) to get publicity, it will not be tolerated. No one will object to stand-up comedy and satire. If we behave recklessly in the garb of freedom of speech and expression, it will not be tolerated. Strict action will be taken as per law,” the CM said.
Nagpur Violence: Civic Authorities Demolish Illegal Portions of Fahim Khan House 4
Civic authorities demolish the illegal portions of the house of Fahim Khan, a key accused in the Nagpur violence.
Khan, a leader of the Minority Democratic Party (MDP), has been booked for sedition. He is among the over 100 persons arrested for the violence in Maharashtra’s Nagpur city on March 17.
A few days back, the Nagpur Municipal Corporation issued a notice to Khan, citing various lapses and lack of the building plan approval (for his house), sources said.
At around 10.30 am on Monday, three JCB machines of the Nagpur Municipal Corporation started demolishing the house, located at Sanjay Bagh Colony in Yashodhara Nagar area here, amid heavy security and drone surveillance in the entire area.
The area where the demolition work was being done was completely barricaded.
The house, registered in the name of Khan’s mother, was located on a plot of Nagpur Improvement Trust (Lease) and the lease ended in 2020, a civic source said.
There was no sanction plan for the building and the entire construction was unauthorised, the source said, adding the action was being taken under the MRTP Act.
A notice of demolition was given 24 hours prior to the action, the source said.
MDP city chief Khan is currently lodged in a jail.
The violence erupted in Nagpur on March 17, after rumours spread that a ‘chadar’ with religious inscriptions had been burnt during protests led by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) demanding the removal of Aurangzeb’s tomb in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar.
The clashes resulted in widespread stone-pelting and arson across several parts of the city, leaving 33 police personnel, including three Deputy Commissioner of Police-rank officers, injured.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Saturday said the cost of properties damaged during the violence will be recovered from rioters and the failure to pay up would lead to the seizure and selling of their properties to recover losses.
“My government will not rest until those responsible for attacking the police are found and dealt with sternly,” said Fadnavis, who also heads the Home Ministry.
The CM said those who circulated inflammatory content would be charged as co-accused for their role in inciting violence.
Fadnavis also said it was too early to comment on a foreign or Bangladeshi link to the riots as the probe was underway.
“However, the Malegaon connection can be seen (in violence) as one of the accused belongs to a political party from Malegaon who could be seen helping rioters,” he said without taking the name of Fahim Khan, arrested for sedition.
Habitat Studio Where Kunal Kamra Performed Decides to Shut Down After Vandalism 6
Habitat Studio, a performance and event venue in Mumbai, on Monday announced that they were shutting down after Shiv Sena’s workers vandalised its premises over stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra’s alleged defamatory remarks against Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde during a show.
In an Instagram post on Monday, the studio said: “We are shocked, worried and extremely broken by the recent acts of vandalism targeting us.”
The studio said artists are “solely responsible for their views and creative choices” and they have never been involved in the content performed by them.
“But recent events have made us rethink about how we get blamed and targeted every time almost like we are the proxy for the performer.
“We are shutting down till we figure out the best way to provide a platform for free expression without putting ourselves and our property in jeopardy. We invite all artists, audience and stakeholders to discuss and share their views free and request your guidance so that we also respect the performers rights,” the note further read.
In a previous post on Monday, Habitat Studio issued an apology to “all those hurt by this video”.
“The Habitat is not involved in the making of the recent video of Kunal Kamra and it does not endorse the views expressed by it,” it said.
Habitat Studio, where Kamra’s show was held, is the same venue where the controversial ‘India’s Got Latent’ show was filmed and led to major controversy last month.
A large number of Shiv Sena workers on Sunday night gathered outside Hotel Unicontinental, where the studio is located. They allegedly ransacked the studio and the hotel premises, the Mumbai Police said.
The police on Monday registered an FIR against Kamra, a comedian who has often courted controversies, for allegedly making defamatory remarks against Shinde during the show.
They also registered a case against nearly 40 Shiv Sena workers for allegedly vandalising the Khar-based venue, where Kamra’s show with the “gaddaar” (traitor) jibe at Shinde was shot, as well as the hotel in whose premises the studio is located.
Amid criticism from Shiv Sena leaders, there were some who defended the comic and called out the vandalism by the party workers.
Fadnavis Warns: Rioters in Nagpur to Pay for Damage or Lose Property 8
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Saturday announced that the cost of property damage caused during the recent Nagpur violence will be recovered from those responsible. Failure to pay will result in the seizure and auctioning of their properties to compensate for losses. Addressing a press conference, Fadnavis stated that 104 rioters have been identified through video footage and CCTV analysis, with legal action already taken against 92 individuals, including 12 minors.
He assured that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s upcoming visit to Nagpur will not be affected by the unrest that occurred in central parts of the city on Monday. Fadnavis, who also heads the Home Ministry, issued a stern warning: “Strict action will be taken against those who attacked police personnel. My government will not rest until these elements are identified and punished.”
When asked about potential foreign involvement, he said it was premature to comment on any Bangladeshi or external hand in the riots, as investigations are ongoing. Clarifying media reports, Fadnavis said female police constables were pelted with stones, but there were no incidents of molestation. He also dismissed any political angle to the violence, while admitting that although it wasn’t an intelligence failure, intelligence gathering “could have been better.”
The CM’s firm stance signals that Maharashtra will not tolerate lawlessness, and the consequences for those involved in the Nagpur violence will be severe and unavoidable.
Stalin's Delimitation Meet Sparks Political Firestorm; BJP Labels It 'Corruption Cover-Up' 10
The first Joint Action Committee (JAC) meeting on delimitation, chaired by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK president M K Stalin, began in Chennai on Saturday, gathering 14 leaders from at least five states. The meeting aimed to discuss the perceived threat posed by the upcoming delimitation of Lok Sabha seats to states with higher literacy rates and stronger economic growth.
However, the BJP staged a black flag protest, fiercely criticizing Stalin for allegedly ignoring pressing state issues like the Cauvery and Mullaiperiyar water-sharing disputes, and instead focusing on what they called a “corruption-hiding meeting.” BJP leader and former Telangana Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan questioned the motive behind the meeting, calling it an attempt to distract from the DMK’s governance failures and corruption scandals.
Soundararajan accused Stalin of using fear-mongering tactics and claimed the gathering was merely a smokescreen to divert attention from unresolved state issues. “So far, there’s no official announcement of delimitation by the Centre, and Home Minister Amit Shah has already assured Tamil Nadu will not be impacted. So, on what grounds is this meeting being held?” she asked, calling the assembly a “corruption hiding meeting.”
Karnataka Deputy CM DK Shivakumar, on arrival, voiced concerns over the possibility of South India losing parliamentary seats, arguing that states like Karnataka have always followed population control measures and contributed significantly to national progress.
BJP national spokesperson C R Kesavan also attacked the DMK, accusing it of orchestrating a “delimitation drama” to divert public attention from corruption and policy failures. He called Rahul Gandhi and the Congress party’s position on the issue “opportunistic and pathetic.”
Leaders from Kerala, Telangana, Punjab, and others, including Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan, Telangana CM Revanth Reddy, Punjab CM Bhagwant Singh Mann, and IUML leader P M A Salam, attended the meeting. Stalin described the meet as a “historic day for Indian federalism” and a “landmark moment” where 58 parties came together, leaving aside political differences for a united cause.
Calling it the start of a national movement, Stalin emphasized Tamil Nadu’s commitment to democracy and justice, saying that collective unity would lead to “fair delimitation.” But with opposition parties questioning the very premise of the meeting and accusing leaders of hiding behind political drama to avoid addressing corruption, the controversy around the gathering only deepens.
A 12-hour statewide bandh called by pro-Kannada groups to protest the alleged assault of a state-run bus conductor in Belagavi for not knowing Marathi began on Saturday morning amid heightened security. Despite appeals from protesters, most shops across Karnataka remained open, with businesses and public transport operating largely unaffected.
In Bengaluru, activists gathered at Mysore Bank Circle, raising slogans and holding placards, while others staged demonstrations at the BMTC and KSRTC bus stands. Protesters urged bus drivers and conductors to join the bandh, leading to police taking several activists into preventive custody as agitation intensified.
In Mysuru, pro-Kannada activists blocked buses at the suburban stand and staged sit-in protests, with police detaining those attempting to halt KSRTC services. Similar demonstrations were reported in Davangere.
Belagavi, the centre of the ongoing linguistic dispute, witnessed limited movement of buses from Maharashtra, though KSRTC services continued. Recent incidents of alleged abuse against non-Marathi speakers in Belagavi have reignited tensions in the region, which frequently sees border-related conflicts. The accused in both assault and abuse cases have been taken into custody.
Senior officers are monitoring the situation across the state, with elaborate security arrangements including home guards and City Armed Reserve units deployed to prevent violence. Bengaluru Police Commissioner B Dayananda warned of strict legal action against anyone forcing participation in the bandh, confirming the deployment of 60 KSRP platoons, 1,200 home guards, and full civil and traffic police forces in the city.
Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar urged citizens to maintain peace, stating that while the government stands for the state’s interests, a bandh was unnecessary. Schools and colleges remained open, with no official holiday declared.
Despite partial support from autorickshaw, cab, and private driver unions, major sectors like hotels, malls, bars, and restaurants extended only moral support. Emergency services, petrol pumps, and metro operations remained unaffected, ensuring minimal disruption to daily life.
Nagpur Violence: Fadnavis Blames Poor Social Media Tracking, Denies Intelligence Failure 14
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has pointed fingers at poor social media monitoring as a major lapse in handling the recent Nagpur violence. Speaking at an ABP Majha event, Fadnavis emphasized that tracking online activity on the day of the incident could have helped the police anticipate and counter the violence. However, he firmly denied any intelligence failure and defended the police response as appropriate.
He raised concerns over social media messages containing Bengali content and hinted at a possible larger conspiracy, given its use in Bangladesh as well. Fadnavis, who also heads the state’s home department, admitted that social media surveillance on that day was not up to the mark and stressed the need to build that habit among law enforcement.
The violence broke out on Monday evening after rumors spread that a chadar with holy inscriptions was burned during VHP-led protests demanding the removal of Aurangzeb’s tomb in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar. Stone pelting and arson were reported across several parts of Nagpur. Fadnavis confirmed that mobilization happened via social media messages and assured that arrests are ongoing.
Defending the police, he highlighted their courage in controlling the situation, especially in narrow lanes where the situation was more volatile. Police officials had earlier reported identifying over 140 inflammatory social media posts and videos aimed at provoking communal unrest.
Thirty-three police personnel, including three senior officers, were injured in the violence. Seventeen accused, including key suspect Fahim Khan, have been remanded in police custody till March 22 on charges of sedition and spreading misinformation.
Fadnavis also addressed political questions, distancing himself from Uddhav Thackeray while maintaining contact with Raj Thackeray. He confirmed that the ruling Mahayuti alliance of BJP, Shiv Sena, and NCP will contest upcoming local body elections, including the crucial Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation polls, together.
'Not a Trash Bin!' Allahabad HCBA Explodes Over Justice Yashwant Varma's Transfer After ₹15 Crore Cash Haul 16
The Allahabad High Court Bar Association has strongly opposed the Supreme Court collegium’s decision to transfer Delhi High Court judge Justice Yashwant Varma to the Allahabad High Court, following reports of ₹15 crore in unaccounted cash discovered at his official residence. In a fiery resolution signed by association president and senior advocate Anil Tiwari, the Bar called the transfer an insult, stating, “Are we a trash bin?”
The association expressed shock at the decision and highlighted the existing struggles of the Allahabad High Court, including a severe shortage of judges leading to pending cases and public distrust in the justice system. “We are not ready to accept corruption,” the resolution declared, criticizing the move as an attempt to dump questionable appointments onto their court.
The Supreme Court collegium, led by Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna, reportedly initiated the transfer after taking cognizance of the incident and has begun a preliminary inquiry by seeking a report from the Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court. Further action is expected.
Justice Varma, aged 56, originally from Allahabad, did not hold court on Friday. His career includes serving as the special counsel for the Allahabad High Court and chief standing counsel for the Uttar Pradesh government before becoming a permanent judge in 2016.
However, the massive cash recovery from his residence has cast a long shadow over his judicial integrity, sparking a rare and public backlash from his home court, which refuses to be turned into what it calls a “dumping ground for corrupt judges.”
Vengeful Bus Driver Staged Fire That Killed Four Employees of Pune Firm: Police 18
The fire on a private firm’s minibus that killed four employees near Pune was allegedly an act of sabotage by a vengeful driver who was upset over a dispute with some staffers and a pay cut, police have said.
“Investigation has shown that the fire was not an accident but sabotage,” deputy commissioner of police Vishal Gaikwad of Pimpri Chinchwad Police told PTI Videos on Thursday.
Janardan Hambardekar, the accused driver, had a dispute with some of the employees and wanted to take revenge, the official said. The driver was also disgruntled due to a salary cut, he said.
The employees against whom he held a grudge were not among the deceased four, the DCP said.
The incident took place in the Hinjawadi area near Pune city on Wednesday morning as the bus, owned by Vyoma Graphics and carrying 14 of its employees to the workplace, caught fire.
“The accused had procured benzene (a highly inflammable chemical). He had also kept a piece of cloth, typically used for soaking (industrial) toners to wipe surfaces, in the bus. On Thursday, as the bus neared Hinjawadi, he lit a match and set the cloth on fire,” said the DCP.
The accused jumped off the moving bus, which then continued about a hundred metres before coming to a halt, the official said. Hambardekar had already suffered burns before he got out, as per the probe.
The driver was undergoing treatment at a hospital and will be arrested later, the police official said.
Four of the employees—Shankar Shinde (63), Rajan Chavan (42), Gurudas Lokare (45) and Subhash Bhosale (44)—died as they were sitting in the rear and could not open the emergency exit door in time. Besides, six passengers sustained burn injuries.
BJP's Crisis of Credibility: Has Ideology Been Sacrificed for Power? 20
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), once known for its unwavering commitment to ideology and grassroots workers, has increasingly become a melting pot for defectors seeking political refuge. The party, which once prided itself on principles and discipline, now appears to reward opportunists while sidelining its loyal cadre. The rapid influx of political turncoats from opposition parties, who are subsequently elevated to positions of power, has caused significant resentment among veteran BJP leaders and workers who have dedicated decades to building the party from the ground up.
The case of Madhav Bhandari is emblematic of this disillusionment. As one of the most formidable voices against the UPA government in Maharashtra between 2008 and 2014, Bhandari tirelessly defended the BJP’s stance and policies. A favorite among media circles, he was approachable, articulate, and uncompromising in his commitment to the party’s cause. Having spent 50 years with the BJP, his contributions to the party’s growth in Maharashtra are undeniable. Yet, despite his loyalty, he has consistently been overlooked for key political positions. His name has been mired in disputes over Assembly and Upper House nominations, with his aspirations repeatedly thwarted. Meanwhile, defectors from the Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) have been effortlessly accommodated in the Rajya Sabha, securing influential positions merely by virtue of their switch to the BJP.
This trend was exacerbated with the BJP’s alliance with Eknath Shinde’s faction of the Shiv Sena and the subsequent inclusion of Ajit Pawar’s NCP group. This consolidation of power, rather than benefiting long-standing BJP loyalists, has further marginalized them. The appointment of former Congress leaders Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil and Narayan Rane to significant posts at the state and central levels, as well as the nominations of Pravin Darekar and Prasad Lad—both defectors from Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) and NCP—exemplifies this betrayal of BJP’s original cadre. The most glaring contradiction is the BJP’s past rhetoric against corruption, which now rings hollow as leaders like Ajit Pawar and Ashok Chavan, previously accused of corruption, are welcomed with open arms.
This has led to immense dissatisfaction among grassroots workers, many of whom have spent years fighting against the very people who now enjoy the party’s patronage. The ideological dilution is stark, and the party’s credibility has taken a severe hit. The case of Kirit Somaiya is a telling one. Once deployed as a political weapon against opposition leaders, he aggressively targeted Uddhav Thackeray’s government, exposing alleged scams and corruption. However, once BJP came to power, Somaiya was conveniently sidelined, his role reduced to insignificance. It is as if he was merely a disposable pawn in the grander scheme of political maneuvering.
The discontent among BJP’s old guard, particularly those with strong ties to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), is now impossible to ignore. They see this shift as a compromise on the party’s core values and a betrayal of its foundational principles. BJP workers are left embarrassed as they watch their party welcome individuals whom they spent years opposing. The party that once took pride in its ethics and integrity is now reduced to a power-hungry entity willing to make deals at any cost. The notion of the BJP being a principled party is increasingly being questioned, as it appears to have transformed into a mere political marketplace where power is the only currency that matters.
Currently, intense lobbying is underway within the BJP, Shiv Sena, and NCP for the five available Vidhan Parishad seats. Of these, three are within the BJP’s quota, with one each allocated to Shiv Sena’s Shinde faction and the Ajit Pawar-led NCP group. The nomination process, which commenced on March 10, has triggered a frenzy among political aspirants. The BJP has forwarded three names—Dadarao Keche, Amarnath Rajurkar, and Madhav Bhandari—to its central leadership for final approval. With March 17 as the deadline for nominations and voting scheduled for March 27, the coming weeks will determine whether loyalty will finally be recognized or whether BJP’s tradition of favoring defectors will persist.
Meanwhile, NCP’s internal negotiations for its lone seat reflect similar political bargaining. Names such as Zeeshan Siddaki, Anand Paranjape, Sunil Tingre, Suresh Birajdar, Sanjay Daund, and Subodh Mohite are in contention. Ajit Pawar, having made multiple promises during the Lok Sabha and Assembly elections, now faces the challenge of fulfilling commitments within limited political space. With only one seat up for grabs, the lobbying has intensified, as political appointments in the Legislative Council come with considerable perks and influence.
The overarching question remains: has the BJP completely abandoned its ideological foundation in favor of sheer political expediency? The systematic marginalization of figures like Madhav Bhandari, who has served the party selflessly since his days in the RSS and ABVP, sends a clear signal to loyalists—dedication and integrity no longer guarantee recognition. Instead, power is now traded in a transactional manner, with defectors reaping rewards at the cost of committed party workers.
The BJP, once heralded as a party of principles, now finds itself at a crossroads. Will it recalibrate its approach and honor those who built it from the ground up, or will it continue down this path of ideological erosion? The fate of its old guard remains uncertain, and whether their loyalty will ever be repaid is a question that remains unanswered. The unfolding developments in Maharashtra will serve as a litmus test for whether BJP still values its roots or if power has become its sole pursuit.
