Amid the ongoing tussle between the BJP and Shiv Sena over power sharing in Maharashtra, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Wednesday asserted that the alliance partners will soon form government in the state.
He dubbed the rumours of ‘alternate formulae’ being worked out to form the state government as “entertainment”.
Fadnavis was on Wednesday re-elected leader of the state BJP legislature party, amid demand by ally Shiv Sena for the chief minister’s post on rotational basis.
“The mandate of voters of Maharashtra is for the ‘Mahayuti‘ (BJP-Sena alliance). Hence the ‘Mahayuti’ is going to form its government soon in the state,” Fadnavis said while addressing the newly-elected BJP MLAs at the state legislature party meeting.
“Though there are several rumours floating around in the state about alternate formulae being worked out to form the government, it is more of an entertainment,” he quipped.
Fadnavis pointed out that after 1995, no party in the state won more than 75 seats in polls to the 288-member Assembly, but the BJP bagged 122 seats in 2014 and 105 in the just concluded elections.
While moving the motion to elect Fadnavis as leader of the House, BJP state president Chandrakant Patil said, “In the last five years, no faction in the BJP ever went to Delhi and requested to replace Fadnavis.”
“There were protests and agitations (in the state) in last five years, but no one said Fadnavis should resign. This indicates his skills and acceptability across the state,” Patil said.
Ever since results of the October 21 Assembly polls were out, Shiv Sena president Thackeray has been claiming that the 50:50 formula on sharing of power was “agreed upon” between himself, BJP president Amit Shah and Fadnavis ahead of the Lok Sabha elections.
However, Fadnavis on Tuesday denied that the Sena was ever assured the chief minister’s post for two-and-a-half years as part of the power sharing “formula”.
In the recent state polls, the BJP won 105 seats, a loss of 17 seats compared to its 2014 tally.
The Sena’s tally also came down to 56 seats from 63 in 2014. A resurgent NCP won 54 and the Congress bagged 44 seats.
After the International Cricket Council (ICC) banned all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan for two years, one year of it suspended, for breaching its Anti-Corruption Code, teammate Mustafizur Rahman on Wednesday said he can’t believe that the side has to play without him.
“Don’t know what should I say. Still I can’t able to believe that we have to play without you. But I know and believe one thing that you will be definitely comeback strongly. We will be waiting for the day @Sah75official bhai. #WeAreWithShakib,” Rahman tweeted.
Don’t know what should I say. Still I can’t able to believe that we have to play without you. But I know and believe one thing that you will be definitely comeback strongly. We will be waiting for the day @Sah75official bhai. #WeAreWithShakibpic.twitter.com/Obk4IosNgc
The all-rounder accepted the charges and agreed to the sanction with the ICC in lieu of an Anti-Corruption Tribunal hearing.
Shakib will be able to resume international cricket from October 29, 2020, however, it is subject to him satisfying the conditions of the sanction.
After being banned by the ICC, Shakib said: “I am obviously extremely sad to have been banned from the game I love, but I completely accept my sanction for not reporting the approaches. The ICC ACU is reliant on players to play a central part in the fight against corruption and I didn’t do my duty in this instance.”
“Like the majority of players and fans around the world, I want cricket to be a corruption-free sport and I am looking forward to working with the ICC ACU team to support their education programme and ensure young players don’t make the same mistake I did,” he added.
Shakib also decided to step down from the Marylebone Cricket Club‘s Cricket Committee after being banned.
“We are sorry to lose Shakib from the committee, where he has made a great contribution over the last couple of years. As guardians of the spirit of cricket we support his resignation and believe this was the right decision,” Mike Gatting, Chairman of the World Cricket committee said.
Every year we observe Vigilance Awareness week in the last week of October. Do we know why we observe Vigilance Awareness week every year in the last week of October? This week is inspired by the outstanding achievements of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel the first Dy. Prime Minister of India and Home Minister of India who was a great political and social leader of India who played a major role in the country’s struggle for Independence and was known as “Iron Man of India”. The beginning of Vigilance Awareness Week corresponds with the birthday of this great leader, Statesman and Administrator. This year the theme is “Integrity – A way of Life”.
You all would be thinking that after all what is Integrity? The sad thing is that if you ask some people what integrity means to them, they will probably tell you that it doesn’t mean much and some may not even know what integrity is. Integrity is how somebody lives their life. In this life we live, we face choices every day that only we can answer.
Certain people feel that in order to get ahead in life they need to break certain rules. Integrity means moral soundness, honesty, and freedom from corrupting influence. Thus integrity goes closely to the honesty. Our personal integrity can only be formed by ourselves. The ones who value their integrity highly are the good people in this world, and the opposite is true for those who do not value their integrity. We live in a world where integrity isn’t talked about nearly enough. We live in a world where “the end justifies the means” has become an acceptable school of thought for far too many. Honesty is very important in the development of people`s conscience. It is a path to many things such as knowledge, academic goal`s truth and understanding. Every one person who trusts you will spread the word of that trust to at least a few of their associates, and word of your character will spread like wildfire.
Today integrity is the most agreeable and demanding quality. People who have this are in high demand. Through integrity one can make great achievements. Integrity is the miracle lamp of Aladdin, with which one can achieve anything one want. Integrity means fruit on the tree of industry, dedication to perseverance and excellence. Integrity is how someone lives their lives.
(This is the first part of the article and remaining portion will continue tomorrow)
(The views expressed by the author in the article are his/her own.)
It refers to election-results for assembly-elections of Haryana and Maharashtra where all opinion-polls forecasting absolute majority for BJP at its own were proved to be wrong. Congress could drastically revive its existence in Indian politics despite dynastic rule in the party and big scams had almost finished the party in most parts of the country. Now BJP will have to dance to tune of Shiv Sena in Maharashtra and Jannayak Janta Party in Haryana for forming state-governments.
Undoubtedly ruling BJP-government had done remarkably well for nationalism and Kashmir issue which had rewarded the party in 2019-elections to Lok Sabha. Another big achievement is likely in near future when all probabilities hint at most-desired construction of grand Ram Temple at birth-place of Lord Ram in Ayodhya.
But economic policies have caused unrest amongst people causing low voter-turnout and increasing vote-share of NOTA because there is practically no big challenge from opposition. Some non-political financial-expert of BJP-ideology may be entrusted as Union Finance Minister by giving him free hand for drastical and radical change in fiscal-system and tax-structure (both direct and indirect) to prevent revival of opportunist opposition. Post of Deputy Prime Minister can also be created to look after internal issues to share extra-ordinary responsibilities and work-load of Prime Minister who may concentrate even more vigorously on international issues and defence-matters to restore ancient glory of India as a world-leader.
Subhash Chandra Agrawal
Sena eyeing CM’s post
Dream of a Chief Ministers post after winning just 56 seats is wishful thinking by Shiv Sena. Politics can be dirty as well as unpredictable and Shiv Sena can still have their man as CM but such an alliance would be too good to last and such government would be a disaster for the State. Congress, NCP, Shiv Sena ‘Khichadi’ if ever it materialises will be against the verdict of the people and I don’t think such government would last for more than a year.
Sharad Pawar who is a seasoned politician and also a respected national leader should refrain fron ‘Jod-Tod’ (Opportunistic) politics. He should respect the verdict of the people and his party should act as a responsible opposition to keep a watch on the state government’s policies than trying to be King Maker and destabilising state politics!
S.N. Kabra
Assam government’s two-child norm should be extended for entire country
Assam government has rightly decided to ban government-jobs for those having third child from the year 2021, thus joining states of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Uttarakhand, Karnataka and Odisha. But such welcome feature with even more steps should be for complete country wherein a ban on contesting elections for Parliament and state-legislatures may also be imposed. Any such decision at central level will auto-provide many other advantages also mainly fast changing demography in the country where a particular religious group is fast increasing percentage-share in population.
Also government-facilities including all types of subsidies like on LPG and ration, reservation-benefits, should be abolished on having a third child in the family. It should be mandatory for every hospital, private or government, to compulsorily sterilize the woman on birth of third child, where husband or wife have more than three children. It is also time to follow other Islamic countries where only one wife may be permissible for a man. Central government should intervene to support PIL at Supreme Court filed by an BJP supporter advocate seeking urgent steps to check serious problem of population-explosion. Later even voting-rights may be snatched from people having more than two-children.
Madhu Agrawal
Action speaks louder than words
Kudos to All India Majlis Ittehadul Muslimeen and party workers on its memorable victory in Bihar and Maharashtra Assembly Election. No doubt it was not a piece of cake for a small party to get victory in the localities which were considered as the stronghold of big parties like Congress in Bihar and Shiv Sena in Maharashtra. It means AIMIM and it’s workers worked hard with positive strategies for winning trust of people; but at the same it is big responsibility on the shoulder of AIMIM to keep people’s trusts by working for the welfare of people keeping all promises which are said publicly irrespective of any difference because action speaks louder than words.
Md Azim
(The views expressed by the author in the article are his/her own.)
A 27-year-old man was killed when a state transport bus hit his two-wheeler in Thane district, police said on Wednesday.
According to police, the mishap took place on Tuesday night in Murbad area when the victim was going to Vidhe village from Gorha. The deceased identified as Suraj.
One of the officer of Murbad police station said, the speeding Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) bus hit the bike, the victim fell on the road and got crushed under the wheels of the bus.
The bus driver was detained and a case was registered under Indian Penal Code Section (IPC) 304-A (causing death by negligence) and provisions of the Motor Vehicles Act. Police have sent the body for post-mortem to a government hospital.
Amid bickering between the BJP and Shiv Sena over sharing of power in the next Maharashtra government, an NCP leader has come out with a cartoon taking a dig at the current state of affairs between the two ruling parties.
In the cartoon, released by NCP spokesperson Clyde Crasto on Tuesday, the Shiv Sena‘s poll symbol ‘bow and arrow’ is seen hanging over the BJP’s symbol ‘lotus’. The arrow is directed at the lotus in the cartoon. “There is a saying, hanging over the head…,” the cartoon caption reads in Marathi.
In Marathi, there is a saying “dokyavarati tangati talwar”, which is equivalent to the English phrase – ‘sword of Damocles hangs over head’, implying that something bad is in the offing or one is faced with a threat. Prior to this, Sena leader Sanjay Raut had posted cartoons on his Twitter account targeting the BJP.
The Shiv Sena on Tuesday cancelled its meeting with the BJP on government formation, hours after Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis denied that the Uddhav Thackeray-led party was assured the CM’s post for two-and-half years as part of a power sharing formula.
Ever since results of the October 21 Assembly polls were out, Thackeray has been claiming that the 50:50 formula on sharing of power was “agreed upon” between himself, BJP president Amit Shah and Fadnavis ahead of the Lok Sabha polls.
However, according to sources in the BJP, the discussion and agreement reached with the Sena on formalising the alliance ahead of the Lok Sabha polls was on “equitable distribution of power and not on the post of the chief minister.”
The BJP emerged as the single largest party in the recently-concluded Maharashtra Assembly polls by winning 105 seats, much below the 145 halfway mark in the 288-member House. The Shiv Sena, NCP and Congress bagged 56, 54 and 44 seats, respectively.
With the Sena-BJP alliance Maharashtra is all set to see its new government, Shiv Sena’s Aaditya Thackeray may become the state’s youngest Chief Minister if BJP agrees to the formula of 50-50. Thackeray scion who is 29 years of age, made his electoral debut from Worli. While the Shiv Sena has time and again demanded that the young Thackeray be made the CM, where as Aaditya himself has always maintained silence on whether he has been aiming at the top position in the State. If we look at Maharashtra politics and BJP strategies, it is very difficult for him to become the CM of Maharashtra. As of today, BJP is very much penetrated deep in the state than Shiv Sena which holds Mumbai and few other small cities and town. Moreover, Fadnavis firmed up his position and eliminated potential CM candidates. He is having a fine relationship with Modi and Shah.
However, the “alliance politics” may tilt the scales in this way…may be for Dy CMs’ post, but BJP will certainly not remove Fadnavis as a CM face. Ultimately, Aaditya is just another kid of strongest political family of state. BJP will never agree on Aaditya Thackeray as CM candidate for Maharashtra. Presently, in Maharashtra BJP is much bigger and stronger party than Shiv Sena. Aaditya Thackeray is not having that much maturity to become CM. He has to work hard at ground level for 10 years to achieve that kind of maturity. Aaditya don’t have any achievements in politics. Instead he has only legacy of Balasaheb Thackeray, which is not sufficient in present scenario. Aaditya needs to grow in politics before taking up any sorts of ministry.
Moreover, what is agreed between BJP and Shiv Sena is never implemented in spirit. They have history of disputing their own agreements. While forming an alliance for the Lok Sabha elections three months back, both had agreed that they would rotate the post of CM for 2.5 years each. They overcame the issue and won massive mandate for Lok Sabha election of 2019. With Maharashtra assembly elections, Shiv Sena appears to be the first breaker of the agreement as toured in all 288 assembly constituencies spread over to 4000 Kms projecting Aaditya Thackeray as future CM. In last December, it had also snatched Hindutva platform by visiting Ayodhya. If they both had agreed to leave for each other 135 seats each and 18 to NDA allies, what is logic in Shiv Sena alone visiting all 288 constituencies? The message was clear in that Shiv Sena wants to emerge as elder brother and pocket the CM post for full five years. Even if both agree on 2.5 formula, they will soon be fighting with each other on as to who first should be CM for 2.5 years. Modi-Shah duo wouldn’t want them in first term of two and half years because if allowed, they wouldn’t quit and put BJP in dock as 2024 election nears. But since both of them are power hungry parties, they would find some via media to stick together amidst dramas.
If there is even an element of truth in what Aaditya claims about Amit Shah’s promise to make him CM, that could have been a bait to get the Sena contest the Lok Sabha elections together. Now the BJP has gauged its strength, it could indulge in tough bargaining during seats negotiations. Ultimately, the parties could contest separately as they did last time. The difference this time could be that the BJP might win a majority on its own and not need the Sena’s support. Once this happens, statehood for Vidarbha could turn into a reality. Shiv Sena is not even a pan-Maharashtra party. They are strong in Mumbai, Thane and Konkan region while BJP is now strong in entire Maharashtra. Meanwhile, Amit Shah and Narendra Modi are no Vajpayee. Uddhav Thackeray may give laud message to BJP, but he has to tame down his own leaders who are creating anxiety to make Aaditya as CM. His party was ruling in Maharashtra with BJP since 2014. During this era, not only it ruled as ruler but also as opposition within the government. Their ministers in government always boasted that they all carry the resignation letters in their pockets to be hurled at BJP. This tradition tamed BJP who had to seek support of Sharad Pawar. In light of this traditions, it is worth guessing whether Aaditya Thackeray will also carry own resignation as CM in his pocket. Obviously, if he did that, it will be presumed entire Ministry of his party is following suit.
Climbing up from the rungs, the soft-spoken and fresh graduate was catapulted as the chief of the party’s Yuva Sena in 2010 and in 2018 promoted as a Shiv Sena leader. A typical Mumbaikar, the son of Rashmi and Uddhav Thackeray did his schooling from the reputed Bombay Scottish School, Mahim, later went to the hallowed portals of St. Xaviers College for his BA (History) and subsequently completed his law degree from the prestigious Government Law College. Let’s see, what is written in his political fate.
(Any suggestions, comments or dispute with regards to this article send us on feedback@www.afternoonvoice.com)
Several of my friends have lost their jobs. Many of my friends hard earned money is blocked in PMC and other cooperative banks that have gone bust. Inflation is at its peak as even tomatoes and onions are being sold for the price of apples. Dry fruits are available at over Rs.1000 a kg and sweets have only gone dearer over the years. Pollution levels have risen at all time high and diseases are on the rise on account of it. Most sectors are in the doldrums and economy is sinking each day.
‘Black Diwali‘ is in the offing and the mood is sombre all around. Government should wake up from its slumber and take tough measures that are beneficial for the country. Fraudsters who have looted bank money should be targeted so that banks get their loaned money back which in turn can be returned to depositors. Investment in infrastructure and other sectors would create jobs for the people. Health welfare scheme would benefit the poor. Hope the government is listening and are drawing a plan that would end our troubles in the days to come.
S.N. Kabra
BJP and opposition should learn lessons from by poll results
The NDA led by the BJP and the opposition have lessons to learn from the by poll results. A little bit of overconfidence and assertiveness plus matters regarding the handling and meddling of economics has clearly jolted the strong NDA juggernaut. The results were not like what the NDA expected. They have to urgently stitch up the tears as the results obviously shows that the voters are keenly observing the movements of the government. The ruling party will have to fulfill the hopes and promises given by them to the people at a war footing. They ought to prove that the strong leadership at the helm is ready to serve the people. As for the opposition a strong helmsman is the need of the hour. The by poll result, especially in Haryana, shows that people are ready to support if they find the opposition is united and ready to voice for the people. The ” cliff hanger” in Haryana and the “neck to neck” competition in Maharashtra shows this. Voters have started to show their likes and dislikes and that too diligently while choosing their candidate.
M Pradyu
BCCI has more choice of selecting wicketkeepers
The BCCI Chairman of Selectors has recently opined regarding ‘moving on’ with respect to selection of MS Dhoni into the squad after the successful stint in the recently concluded World Cup tournament. The statement comes at a time when Indian cricket team is now well equipped with three wicket-keeping talents namely Wriddhiman Saha, Rishabh Pant and Sanju Samson. The squad as announced for the upcoming India Bangladesh series consists of wicketkeepers selectively for Tests, ODIS and T20s only revealing abundant talent choice, indicating a full platter in BCCI’s hands.
The decision to leave the matter of retirement to MS Dhoni by BCCI is a mature and humble move with the respect to the player’s stature. Such a practice has been followed by the selectors since many years while expecting a clear formal intent from the senior players either to continue or retire early. However as there is a lot of opportunities arising across all the levels of Indian cricket including Zonal Cricket and IPL, BCCI now has more choices while selecting a wicket keeper to the squad under the current situations.
The announcement of Indian squad for the upcoming Indo-Bangla series, has enabled a wide spectrum of opportunities in different formats for all the three wicket keepers selected by BCCI. Thus BCCI has now a platter full of opportunities regarding the choice of wicket keeping and number 4/5 position in the Indian team.
Varun Dambal
(The views expressed by the author in the article are his/her own.)
The firecracker industry is estimated to be worth Rs 20,000 crore, a quarter of which comprises imports from China. Sivakasi town in Tamil Nadu, the biggest cracker producer in India, manufactures fireworks worth around Rs 4,000 crore.
Green crackers failed to impress the buyers this Diwali. The ‘Green Crackers‘ was launched by the Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan to get rid of air pollution, flopped to attract the buyers because of the cost factor.
The Central Electro-Chemical Research Institute (CECRI) developed less polluting, quieter but brighter firecrackers. Yet, the cracker industry is not impressed, because it pinches their pocket. While CECRI, which is one of the research institutions under CSIT, worked on different chemical formulations for crackers, another CSIR arm, the Central Electronics Engineering Research (CEERI), Pilani, Rajasthan, worked on ‘electronic crackers’, which can produce sounds and lights without fire.
Berchmans Institute of Management Studies told AfternoonVoice, “Dust secretion comes down by 60 per cent if green crackers are used. This formulation was developed for use in sparklers such as ‘flower pots’ and ‘sparkling wire’. It is not only safe but has no side effects adding to pollution.”
Dinkar Vanjare, the firecracker shop owner in Kandivali said, “ Green Crackers are very costly and not affordable for commoners’ budget, moreover the choices too are limited. Fast-selling cracker, are ‘atom bomb’, Sutli Bomb and various other lightning crackers that are in affordable budget, people have their own speculations that is the reason green crackers miserably flopped.Looking at the population, not even 10 per cent people have purchased green crackers.”
CECRI developed a chemical cocktail that uses urea and hexamine instead of sulphur. The decibel level drops to 103-109, compared with 119-125 in the conventional ‘atom bombs’. The institution worked with the industry to develop green crackers. Krishna Fireworks of the Tamil Nadu Fireworks and Amorces Manufacturers Association (TANFAMA) was deputed to work with CECRI.
K Mariappan, General Secretary of the Association, said the industry was clearly not impressed with CECRI’s green crackers. While Vijaykant of Krishna Fireworks said the adoption of CECRI’s green crackers was, at best, a long way away.
Green crackers with 30 per cent fewer emissions is now available in the market, the step will help control pollution as well as take care of people’s sentiments.
With the menace of pollution and would help the fireworks industry which was facing closure after the Supreme Court in 2018 banned conventional firecrackers that have high emission levels and allowed only those that conform to permissible smoke and noise levels.
After Supreme Court mandated their use, the government launched ‘green crackers’ as a low-pollutant alternative but Green crackers failed to grab market due to lack of awareness among buyers, shortage of supply, lack of variety and implementation challenges dampen the sale of environment-friendly fireworks. In the absence of high-quality holograms and lack of advanced security features in the green crackers, they will have a tough time identifying duplicate ones.
Though there are permanent shops selling crackers round the year, they are less in number and every year the Delhi police issue temporary licenses to people to sell crackers on the two days of Diwali. After the strict guidelines of the Supreme Court on green firecrackers, there is a significant fall in applications for temporary licences for firecrackers and explosives. In 2016, there were 968 licences granted for sale of firecrackers and in 2017 it was capped at just 500 temporary licences. In 2018, conventional firecrackers were banned but green firecrackers were not available. This year in 2019, around 50 licence holders will be allowed to sell firecrackers for two days on Diwali. Due to strict norms and dip in supply of firecrackers from manufacturers, there is significant downfall in applications for licence.
Very few people know that there is no blanket ban on crackers. Green crackers do not contain harmful chemicals that would cause air pollution. Components in firecrackers are replaced with others that are “less dangerous” and “less harmful.” The scientists at Council of Scientific & Industrial Research’s National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (CSIR-NEERI) invented this.
Crackers are available in the market, the festive season has run into several dampeners and implementation challenges — from the lack of multiple varieties to a shortage of crackers and difficulty for the police in identifying green crackers. It wasn’t an overreaction. Barium, used as an oxidizer and to emit green light, is a crucial component of crackers. Due to its low prices and ready availability, it is used across a range of products, including ladi, anaar and chakkars. A ban on barium indirectly meant a ban on nearly three-fourths of the crackers produced.
The use of crackers on Diwali is so widespread enforcement authorities simply can’t keep up with the violations. The Delhi Police arrested 300 people for violating the SC’s ban on commercial crackers last year. Yet, air pollution levels in the city exceeded 66 times the safe limit.
Media reports this year suggest traditional firecrackers are being sold in shops across the country, including banned items like ladis and barium formulations. PESO has ratified only four varieties of green crackers till date. A PESO official, on the condition of anonymity, explains that they are guided by considerations of the festive season and workers’ livelihood.
When the fireworks industry shut shop last year, the official says, there were protests across Tamil Nadu. In Sivakasi, reportedly, nearly 4,000-5,000 people surrounded the sub-collector’s office on one occasion. According to this official, the state and Union governments and agencies like Neeri “banded together” and claimed to have found a solution.
Firecracker Industry that provides livelihood to thousands of people from underprivileged section of our society may have thought, such a ban is definitely going to affect them. In fact, this one particular aspect is never given its due weightage while making decisions. A ban on Victoria (a type of horse carriage) in Mumbai led to destruction of livelihood for around 200 families. Something similar happened when SC banned Jallikattu. A happy animal at the cost of livelihood of humans is not such a great practice for our country. Our recent position (100 out of 119 countries) in Hunger Index indicates how critical it is to save livelihoods of people in our country.
Effectiveness of such a ban is rarely have any notice, in a region with numerous industries and millions of personal and commercial vehicles, crackers on Diwali couldn’t be a major factor behind pollution. Add to it the burning of crop fields in nearby states (Haryana and Punjab) and the contribution towards air pollution by Diwali crackers will even be lower. Banning them isn’t really going to achieve much. Unless SC is making its decision in a vacuum, it has to know that such a decision will be read through religious lenses. Judges in the past have taken cognizance of the social realities and have weighed them in their past decisions. Such a decision, when its impact on curbing pollution could be symbolic at best required greater scrutiny and even greater care. The ban is on sale not on bursting the crackers. In Mumbai it is really not difficult to get firecrackers. Overall a decision which have looked too deeply into the technical issues of air/noise pollution and seemed to have completely overlooked the big picture.
(Any suggestions, comments or dispute with regards to this article send us on feedback@www.afternoonvoice.com)
After the 
A 27-year-old man was killed when a state transport bus hit his two-wheeler in 
The