Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray on Friday took a swipe at Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi and questioned if it was the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) culture to campaign for leaders such as Abdul Sattar, who had made objectionable remarks about Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) lawmaker Supriya Sule. According to news agency PTI, Thackeray’s comments came after PM's rally in Sillod, which is part of the Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar district where Sattar is the sitting Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA). "I want to ask the PM if this is the culture of BJP, to campaign for such people. Sattar made objectionable remarks against Sule on camera. The BJP also campaigned for Prajwal Revanna in Karnataka," Thackeray said, while campaigning for his party’s candidate, Suresh Bankar, who is contesting against Sattar. Revanna, of the Janata Dal (Secular), was arrested in May on sexual assault allegations. According to PTI, Thackeray further criticised Sattar, who is from the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, and accused him of land grabs in Soygaon and Sillod, and alleged that the minister had also attempted to illegally seize government plots. "The poll office here is on the land which he possesses illegally. We will probe all this if we come to power," Thackeray said. In another dig at the BJP, Thackeray claimed that Muslim women dressed in black were not allowed to attend Modi's rally in Mumbai, implying discrimination at the event. Thackeray’s Shiv Sena (UBT) is part of the Maha Vikas Aghadi, along with the Congress and Sharad Pawar-led NCP (SP), and is contesting against the Mahayuti alliance comprising the BJP, Shinde's Shiv Sena, and Ajit Pawar's NCP. 'Medical device park shifted to Gujarat' Addressing a rally in Nashik later, Thackeray alleged that a medical device park, which would have created jobs for at least one lakh people in Maharashtra, was moved to Gujarat. "The BJP takes everything to Gujarat and then comes here asking for votes," he said. "Voting for them is an act of treachery. This is not a struggle for my survival but for Maharashtra's future. I will fight for my state till my last breath." According to PTI, Thackeray also hit out at PM Modi for his statement at a rally that Shiv Sena (UBT) had given its "remote control" to the Congress. "I will not allow the Congress to control my party, even though they are our ally," Thackeray said. He accused the BJP of trying to loot Maharashtra and highlighted the incident during the Lok Sabha polls when a farmer, who asked the PM about onion prices, was removed from the rally. "Asking questions on onions, soybean, unemployment is not allowed under BJP rule," he added. Thackeray warned the BJP not to intimidate Shiv Sena (UBT) with "EVMs, CBI, and ED". "I challenge the BJP to come and fight one-on-one. We will accept the people's mandate. If they tell us to sit at home, we will do so. But if they lose, they will have to sit at home," he asserted. The Maharashtra Assembly Elections 2024 are scheduled for November 20, with results to be announced on November 23. (With PTI inputs)
15 November,2024 10:34 PM IST | Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar | mid-day online correspondentKarnataka minister and senior Congress leader Priyank Kharge on Friday accused Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of spreading misinformation and showing little interest in development. According to news agency PTI, Kharge, who serves as the southern state's Information Technology (IT) minister, said the "factory of misinformation" began under Modi’s tenure as chief minister of Gujarat, when he "was dreaming of becoming PM." "The job of this factory is to spread misinformation, disinformation, fake news, and give birth to lies. When he was CM, it was just a factory. By the time he became PM, the factory was elevated to a full-fledged industry," alleged Kharge, the son of Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge. He further claimed that Modi and BJP were not interested in the development of states, particularly Maharashtra. "Earlier, Karnataka’s competition was with Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, and Telangana. But now we do not have any competition with Maharashtra," he said, reiterating the Congress' regular assertion that industries were moving away from the Eknath Shinde-led state. According to PTI, Kharge pointed out that Karnataka used to compete with Maharashtra for investments in the IT and biotechnology sectors, but now the western state was no longer in the race. "Pune and Bengaluru were twin cities. What happened? How come Bengaluru has gone ahead? The reason is that the PM is secretly moving projects from Maharashtra to Gujarat. I am not saying this. The Congress is not saying this. This is from the Government of India’s data," he claimed. If people want a puppet govt, then they can vote for the Mahayuti: Kharge He cited the Tata Airbus project, which was initially supposed to be set up in Maharashtra but was eventually moved to Gujarat. "We also tried. When I insisted for Karnataka, I was told the project is going to Maharashtra because it had the conducive ecosystem for the project. A project worth Rs 22,000 crore, how did it go to Vadodara (in Gujarat)?" Kharge asked. He questioned how the project ended up in Gujarat when Mumbai is the financial capital, Pune is the skill capital, and Maharashtra has a large pool of talent. Kharge also referenced the Vedanta-Foxconn semiconductor project, which was initially planned for Pune but was later shifted to Gujarat, as well as a medical device park that followed the same path. "My appeal to the people of Maharashtra is to vote for the Maha Vikas Aghadi and the Congress. If it goes to Mahayuti, then there will be an Adani government here," he claimed, adding that NCP leader and Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar had spoken about the billionaire industrialist being involved in efforts to bring down the MVA government. "If people want a 'puppet' government under which projects will leave the state and go to Gujarat, then they can vote for the Mahayuti, which comprises the BJP, Shinde's Shiv Sena, and NCP," said the Karnataka IT minister. Kharge also took a swipe at the BJP's promises, saying, "When Modi and the BJP make promises, they call it 'Modi ki guarantee' and 'masterstroke,' but when Congress announces schemes, they call it 'revdi' (freebies)." "They just give catchy slogans, but in reality, work does not take place," Kharge added in criticism of the BJP's governance. (With PTI inputs)
15 November,2024 10:02 PM IST | Pune | mid-day online correspondentAt least three workers died and three sustained injuries after a silo storing corn collapsed in an ethanol manufacturing factory in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar's Shendre MIDC, Maharashtra, on Friday, officials said. The bodies of three workers have been recovered, while one worker is missing, he added. "At around 2.20pm, a 17.17-metre diameter silo tank with a height of 2,160 metres collapsed at Radico NV distilleries. The corn stored in the 3,000-tonne capacity fell out, killing three workers and injuring three others. One person is missing. Search and rescue operations are underway at the site," he said. The official identified the victims as Kisan Hirde, 50; Vijay Gawali, 40; and Dattatray Borde, 40. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever.
15 November,2024 08:47 PM IST | Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar | PTIWomen voters outnumbered men in phase 1 of the Jharkhand assembly elections 2024 with 37 of 43 seats recording a higher women turnout, the Election Commission said on Friday. The phase 1 of polls held on Wednesday also saw a voter turnout of 66.65 per cent, which was 2.75 per cent higher than the turnout recorded in the 2019 assembly polls in these 43 seats. "Women voters participated enthusiastically, surpassing the overall male turnout by 4.8 per cent, underscoring their increasing involvement in shaping the democratic process," the Election Commission said. The chief electoral officer of Jharkhand has confirmed that all polling parties have returned safely and scrutiny has been completed in the presence of the candidates or their authorised agents. Final votes polled will be available post-counting with the counting of postal ballots which include those given to service voters, absentee voters: those above 85 years of age, persons with disability, those deployed in essential services and voters on election duty. Daily account of such postal ballots received, according to the established guidelines, are given to all candidates, the poll authority noted. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
15 November,2024 08:37 PM IST | New Delhi | PTIIn a significant victory against drug trafficking, Indian authorities on Friday successfully intercepted approximately 700 kg of methamphetamine linked to an international drug cartel operating in Gujarat, reported news agency ANI. This operation was executed collaboratively by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), the Indian Navy, and the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) of Gujarat Police. A vessel carrying the substantial consignment was intercepted in Indian territorial waters. Eight foreign nationals, who identified themselves as Iranians but lacked proper identification, were apprehended during the operation. The operation, dubbed 'SAGAR-MANTHAN - 4', was initiated following meticulous intelligence gathering and analysis that indicated an unregistered vessel would soon enter Indian waters carrying narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances. The Indian Navy deployed its maritime patrol assets to locate and intercept the vessel, leading to the seizure and arrests on Friday. Ongoing investigations aim to trace both the origins and distribution networks of the drug syndicate, with support from foreign drug law enforcement agencies being sought. Launched earlier this year, Operation "SAGAR-MANTHAN" was established by the NCB, comprising officers from the NCB Headquarters and collaborating with the Indian Navy, Coast Guard, and ATS Gujarat Police to address the national security threat posed by maritime drug trafficking. Previously, a series of maritime operations have been conducted in coordination with the Indian Navy and Coast Guard, resulting in the seizure of approximately 3,400 kg of various narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances. So far, 11 Iranian nationals and 14 Pakistani nationals have been arrested in three separate cases, all currently in custody awaiting trial. Union Home Minister Amit Shah praised the efforts of the involved agencies for this notable achievement, highlighting the commitment to creating a safer, drug-free nation. Pursuing PM Shri @narendramodi Ji's vision for a drug-free Bharat, our agencies today busted an international drug trafficking cartel and seized over approx. 700 kg of contraband meth in Gujarat. The joint operation carried out by the NCB, Indian Navy, and Gujarat Police stands… — Amit Shah (@AmitShah) November 15, 2024 "Pursuing PM Shri @narendramodi Ji's vision for a drug-free Bharat, our agencies today busted an international drug trafficking cartel and seized over approx. 700 kg of contraband meth in Gujarat. The joint operation carried out by the NCB, Indian Navy, and Gujarat Police stands out as a stellar example of our commitment to the vision as well as the seamless coordination among our agencies in achieving the same. My heartiest congratulations to the agencies on this landmark breakthrough," Shah posted on X (formerly Twitter). (With inputs from ANI)
15 November,2024 08:34 PM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondentThe Railway Board has instructed all its zones to file first information reports (FIRs) against individuals creating reels that pose a threat to the safety of rail operations or cause inconvenience to passengers on coaches or railway premises, news agency PTI reported. This directive follows a number of recent incidents where individuals, mostly young people, have endangered rail safety by filming stunt videos on railway and in moving trains using mobile phones. "People have crossed all limits for making reels. They not only risk their own lives but also jeopardise the safety of hundreds of rail passengers by placing objects on the tracks, running vehicles on the tracks, or performing life-threatening stunts on moving trains," said a senior Railway Board official. "Viral videos have shown people getting killed by approaching trains while taking selfies because they went too close to the track without realising how quickly a train can cover ground. Many have died on the spot after being hit by a train," he added. According to PTI, the Railway Board officials stated that both the Railway Protection Force (RPF) and the Government Railway Police (GRP) have been instructed to adopt a "zero tolerance" policy towards those creating reels that violate safety norms. In a recent case, the RPF registered an FIR against a man who attempted to film a stunt by driving an unauthorised Mahindra Thar SUV on the railway tracks between Kanakpura and Dhanakya stations in the Jaipur division. According to railway officials, the loco pilot of an approaching goods train showed great alertness, stopping the train at a safe distance after spotting the SUV stuck on the tracks. It is believed the man was attempting the stunt to create a reel for a social media post, PTI reported. In another recent incident, the railway police filed an FIR against 10 students from a city college for travelling dangerously on the footboard of a train, which caused a chaotic situation at Vyasarpadi Jeeva railway station in Chennai. After a video surfaced showing the students raising slogans at the station, with one attempting to climb on top of the train, the police initiated an investigation and registered a case. "Several such incidents have come to light through viral videos, prompting the Railway Board to take stern action," the official said. (With PTI inputs)
15 November,2024 08:31 PM IST | Delhi | mid-day online correspondentSeveral persons were rescued after a fire broke out in a three-storey building in Pune's Hadapsar area on Friday, officials said. The blaze started in the photo frame material stored on the staircase, trapping some residents of a couple of rooms on the third floor, an official informed. "Before we could reach the spot, residents scaled the building and rescued three to four persons from the third floor. We managed to bring out three persons from the rear of the building," the fire officer said. A video of this rescue effort by residents went viral on social media. It showed a child and some others being brought out safely by people taking support of the balcony structures. #WATCH | Maharashtra: A Fire incident was reported in a three-storey building in the Hadapsar area of Pune city. People were rescued from the building by the fire department. Fire is under control. No casualty has been reported: Pune fire department(Visual source: Pune fire… pic.twitter.com/BfB88mMx2F — ANI (@ANI) November 15, 2024 "No one was injured in the incident that took place in the morning. We deployed multiple tankers and fire tenders and doused it," the official said. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever.
15 November,2024 05:36 PM IST | Pune | PTIUnion Home Minister Amit Shah has reiterated the Modi government's resolve to amend the Waqf Act, despite opposition from leaders like Uddhav Thackeray and Sharad Pawar, reported news agency PTI. Addressing a rally at Umarkhed in Maharashtra's Yavatmal district, Shah said, “Modi ji wants to change the Waqf Board law, but Uddhav ji, Sharad Pawar and Supriya Sule are opposing it.” He added firmly, “Uddhav ji, listen carefully, you all can protest as much as you want, but Modi ji will amend the Waqf Act.” Speaking at rallies in poll-bound Maharashtra and Jharkhand, Shah emphasised the need for changes in the Waqf Board and its governing legislation. Shah drew parallels between the upcoming Maharashtra assembly polls and the epic Mahabharata, portraying the BJP-led Mahayuti as the 'Pandavas' and the Maha Vikas Aghadi as the 'Kauravas'. “Uddhav Thackeray claims that his Shiv Sena is the real one. Can the real Shiv Sena go against renaming Aurangabad to Sambhajinagar? Can the real Shiv Sena go against renaming Ahmednagar to Ahilyanagar? The real Shiv Sena stands with the BJP,” Shah said. “Rahul Baba used to say that his government would credit money in the accounts of the people instantly. You were unable to fulfil your promises in Himachal, Karnataka, and Telangana,” he said. Shah also mentioned Mahayuti alliance’s promise to women that they will get Rs 2,100 per month under the Ladki Bahin Yojana. Additionally, Shah reiterated that “Kashmir is an integral part of India and no power in the world can snatch it away from us,” at the rally. On Wednesday, the Union Home Minister at a rally in Jharkhand's Baghmara addressed concerns about the Waqf Board's land acquisition practices in Karnataka. “The Waqf Board is in the habit of grabbing land. In Karnataka, it has devoured the assets of villagers. It has grabbed land parcels of temples, farmers and villagers...Tell me whether changes are required in the Waqf Board or not. Hemant Babu and Rahul Gandhi say no. I tell you let them oppose it, the BJP will pass the Bill to amend the Waqf Act. No one can stop us.” The 288-seat Maharashtra Assembly elections are scheduled for November 20, with results to be announced on November 23. As campaigning intensifies, both the ruling Mahayuti and the opposition MVA are making vigorous efforts to win over voters. (With inputs from PTI)
15 November,2024 05:17 PM IST | Yavatmal (Maharashtra) | mid-day online correspondentUnion Minister Amit Shah on Friday dared Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to speak "nicely" about freedom fighter Veer Savarkar and Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray. "Uddhav ji, if you have the courage, get Rahul Baba to speak two good words about Veer Savarkar and Balasaheb," Amit Shah said, addressing a rally at Hingoli in Maharashtra ahead of the November 20 state assembly elections. "Rahul Baba's Congress party has passed a resolution in Kashmir to bring back Article 370. Rahul Baba, listen carefully, not only you but even your fourth generation cannot bring back Article 370," the Union Home Minister said, adding that in the Haryana Assembly elections, Rahul Gandhi had said with confidence that his party had won. "So much arrogance in a democracy. Look at the results; Congress was wiped out in Haryana and BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) formed the government," said Amit Shah. The senior BJP leader said Sonia Gandhi tried to launch her son 20 times. Her 'Rahul plane' is going to crash for the 21st time in Maharashtra elections, he added. Maharashtra polls will decide whether the state follows the path of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and Veer Savarkar or the path of Aurangzeb, Shah said. The BJP-led Mahayuti has chosen the path of Shivaji Maharaj and Veer Savarkar, while the Maha Vikas Aghadi people are the Aurangzeb fan club, he added. "For 70 years, Congress obstructed the construction of Ram temple at Ayodhya, but Modi ji built it," the minister further stated. "In Karnataka, the Wakf Board has declared villages, temples, farmers' lands and people's houses as wakf properties. We have brought a bill to amend the Waqf Act, but Sharad Pawar and Company is opposing this bill. You can oppose it as much as you want, but the Modi government will change the Waqf Act with full force," Shah said. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever.
15 November,2024 03:52 PM IST | Hingoli | PTIUsing the slogan "Batenge to Katenge," Union Minister Nitin Gadkari participated in the discussion of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's strong appeal for Hindu unity on Friday. According to the Union Minister, the public should not misunderstand the phrase and should instead band together to fight adversaries and terrorists. Speaking to ANI, Gadkari said "Our methods of worship might be different, while some go to temples, some go to mosques and churches, but in the end, we are all Indians. We should not interpret a different meaning of 'batenge to katenge' and rather stand united against terrorism and enemies of the country. All Indians should unite, this is not an attempt to divide them. People are sadly deriving different meanings from the slogan." Yogi Adityanath, the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh, came up with the slogan, which called for Hindu unity, but opposition parties have strongly denounced it, claiming it has communal overtones. Further talking about the upcoming Maharashtra Elections 2024, Gadkari showed confidence and said that Mahayuti's alliance of BJP, Shiv Sena and NCP would win by a decisive majority, ANI reported. "The Mahayuti alliance of BJP, Shiv Sena and NCP is going to win in Maharashtra by a decisive majority. I am confident. I think we will benefit from this alliance. I don't think the Congress and Shiv Sena (UBT) will win considering the different environment in Lok Sabha this time. Their views are not matching and it is common during elections," Gadkari said. Speaking about the possible CM for the Mahayuti government, Gadkari said that the party's high command and representatives elected following the elections would choose their leader. "This election is being held under the leadership of Eknath Shinde, Ajit Pawar and Devendra Fadnavis. All three- and the party high command and the representatives elected after the election will choose their leaders. The top leadership of the party will decide,' he said. The campaigning for the 288 assembly seats of Maharashtra has intensified, with both the ruling Mahayuti and the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) are making utmost efforts to impress the electorate. Maharashtra Assembly elections will be held on November 20, vote counting will be held on November 23, ANI reported. (With inputs from ANI)
15 November,2024 02:01 PM IST | Nagpur | mid-day online correspondentThe Karnataka High Court has ruled that individuals with "absolute blindness" should be given preference over those with "low vision" when it comes to employment opportunities, as long as their disability does not hinder their ability to perform the required tasks. This decision was made by a division bench of Justice Krishna S Dixit and Justice CM Joshi while dismissing an appeal by the Department of School Education against an earlier ruling by the Karnataka State Administrative Tribunal (KSAT). The case concerns H N Latha, a blind candidate from the Scheduled Caste community in Periyapatna taluk, Mysuru district. Latha had applied for the position of Kannada and social studies teacher at a government primary school in 2022. Her name was included in the selection list released on March 8, 2023. However, on July 4, 2023, her application was rejected, prompting her to challenge the decision before the KSAT. The tribunal ruled in her favour, awarding her Rs 10,000 in costs and instructing the appointing authority to reconsider her application within three months. The Department of School Education appealed against this decision, arguing that candidates with "low vision" and those with "absolute blindness" should be treated as separate categories in the reservation system. The department contended that the tribunal had failed to recognise this distinction. However, upon reviewing the case, the High Court bench disagreed with the department’s stance. The judges noted that while there might be concerns about a completely blind individual handling the responsibilities of a graduate primary teacher, particularly in subjects like social studies and Kannada, such arguments were unconvincing. The court emphasised that the candidate met the necessary educational qualifications for the role, and concerns about blindness affecting her ability to teach were not supported by sufficient evidence. The court also highlighted the positive traits often seen in blind individuals, including adaptability, resilience, strong memory, heightened senses, and excellent coping skills. The bench cited the success of several historical figures who were blind, such as Homer, John Milton, Louis Braille, Helen Keller, and Srikanth Bolla, the CEO of Bollant Industries, as examples of what can be achieved despite blindness. In its conclusion, the court said that the education department should have either created specific posts for candidates with absolute blindness or allowed them to compete for positions alongside low-vision candidates. Upholding the KSAT’s directive, the court stressed the need for inclusive hiring practices that acknowledge the abilities of blind individuals. According to PTI, the ruling is a step forward in recognising the potential of those with absolute blindness in various professional roles. (With inputs from PTI)
15 November,2024 01:32 PM IST | BengaluruADVERTISEMENT
