Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) leader Suresh Bhaiyyaji Joshi on Thursday said that Marathi is Mumbai's language and those coming from outside and speaking other languages should also understand it, reported news agency PTI. "Marathi is my native language and I take pride in it," Joshi said, a day after his remarks at an event in Mumbai's Ghatkopar area invited strong criticism from the opposition Shiv Sena (UBT) and the Congress, reported PTI. "Marathi is Maharashtra's language and Mumbai's language. There are no two opinions about it. People speaking many languages live in harmony in Mumbai," he said, reported PTI. "It is expected that those coming from outside and speaking other languages should also understand Marathi," Joshi said, adding his remarks at the Ghatkopar event were misconstrued, reported PTI. "Mumbai doesn't have a single language. Each part of Mumbai has a different language. Ghatkopar area's language is Gujarati. So if you are residing in Mumbai, it is not necessary that you have to learn Marathi," Joshi had said at the Ghatkopar event on Wednesday, reported PTI. Marathi is language of Mumbai and Maharashtra: Fadnavis Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Thursday asserted that Marathi is the language of Mumbai and Maharashtra and anyone who lives here should learn and speak it, after a Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA pointed to comments of a RSS leader. Fadnavis was speaking in the state assembly, in response to Shiv Sena (UBT) member Bhaskar Jadhav's demand that the government clarify its stand on senior Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) leader Suresh Bhaiyyaji Joshi's comments that a person coming to Mumbai may not necessarily learn Marathi. "Mumbai does not have one language. It has many languages. Certain areas have their own language. The language of Ghatkopar is Gujarati. In Girgaum, you will have fewer Hindi speakers and more Marathi speakers. So it is easy that any individual coming to Mumbai may not necessarily learn Marathi," Joshi had said. As Jadhav sought the government's response on it in the assembly, Fadnavis said, "I haven't heard what Bhaiyyaji said, but the language of Mumbai and Maharashtra is Marathi." "Everyone should learn Marathi and should speak the language," he said. The CM said his government respects other languages as well. "If you love and respect your own language, you do the same to other languages. I am sure Bhaiyyaji will agree with me," Fadnavis said. (With inputs from PTI)
06 March,2025 06:08 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentMaharashtra Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik on Thursday proposed to name flyovers in Mira-Bhayandar after Late Ratan Tata, Anand Dighe and Gopinath Munde, an official statement said. The statement said that Pratap Sarnaik has requested Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and Chairman of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA, Eknath Shinde, to name three flyovers being constructed in Mira-Bhayandar city after the three great personalities. It said that the Mira-Bhayandar city which is located on the outskirts of Mumbai, is rapidly developing and the population of the city stands at around 1.4 million. With the growing population and increasing number of vehicles, traffic congestion has become a major concern and to ease the traffic, the state government has allocated development funds for the construction of new flyovers in the municipal area. Sarnaik has proposed that the following new flyovers be named after prominent figures- - The flyover connecting Pleasant Park Signal to Silver Park Signal should be named "Dharmveer Anand Dighe Elevated Road." - The flyover from SK Stone Signal to Shivar Udyan Signal should be named "Late Ratanji Tata Elevated Road." - The flyover from Shivar Udyan Signal to Golden Nest Circle should be named "Late Gopinath Munde Elevated Road." The official statement said that the proposal comes after various social organisations, citizens, and NGOs in the city had asked for flyovers to be named after the respected leaders. Garden after Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj's name in Indraprasth area of Mira-Bhayandar An another official statement said that Pratap Sarnaik recently reviewed various development projects in the Mira-Bhayandar and during the review meeting, he instructed that a garden named after Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj will be constructed on the land where the proposed crematorium project was cancelled in Indraprasth area of Mira-Bhayandar. The statement said that the meeting took place at the official residence of Sarnaik, where the Transport Minister was briefed about several ongoing projects in the Mira-Bhayandar area. Present at the meeting were Mira-Bhayandar Municipal Corporation's City Engineer Deepak Khambit, Regional Transport Officer Hemangi Patil, Chief Engineer of the MMRDA Bhagwan Chavan, Deputy Commissioner Prasad Shingte, Assistant Director (Town Planning) P.M. Shinde apart from other officials. During the meeting, Sarnaik discussed various development works, including the construction of the "Bala Saheb Thackeray Kala Dalan," the road from Ghodbunder Fort to Shivshrishti, internal city roads, and the ongoing work for the internal water supply project under the Surya Project Scheme. He also reviewed the status of the proposed CBSE school, work on the Chenna Riverfront, and the development of Ghodbunder Creek, it said. The statement further said that Sarnaik also ordered to provide better facilities for differently-abled citizens in Mira-Bhayandar.
06 March,2025 05:44 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThe Maharashtra transport department has alerted citizens of six identified fake websites regarding high-security number plates (HSRP) and appealed to them not to fall prey such online sites. A first information report has been filed at the cyber cell of Mumbai police. "We have received a number of complaints regarding fake websites. A cyber complaint has been filed and we are also releasing an advertisement in the regard to alert citizens," Maharashtra transport commissioner Vivek Bhimanwar said. The six identified fake websites mentioned in the FIR are: 1-https://bookmyhssp.in/maharashtra.html 2-https://bookedmyhsrp.com/registration 3- https://www.bookmehsrp.com 4- https://bookingmyhsrp.com 5- https://indnumberplate.com 6- https://hsrprto.in The original websites are: https://mhhsrp.com https://hsrpmhzone2.in https://maharashtrahsrp.com The Maharashtra transport department has earlier mandated the vehicles registered before April 2019 to install HSRPs by April 30 this year. As per the Supreme Court's orders, the HSRPs are mandatory to prevent vehicle-related crimes.
06 March,2025 05:37 PM IST | Mumbai | Rajendra B. AklekarPeople are nowadays sensitive about own caste but show no respect towards others, the Bombay High Court has said, quashing a case against a man for allegedly defaming Dr BR Ambedkar while reprimanding another person for his online post against Brahmin community, reported news agency PTI. Not every social media post/comment or speech needs a reaction and there are sophisticated ways to show dissent towards such things, the HC's Aurangabad division bench of Justices Vibha Kankanwadi and Sanjay Deshmukh said in its order on Wednesday. The Bombay High Court quashed the proceedings and FIR registered against the petitioner, Devendra Patil, in August 2019 with the Daulatabad police in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district under provisions of the Indian Penal Code and the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, reported PTI. As per the complaint, the accused had called the complainant and reprimanded him for a social media post against the Brahmin community. The accused allegedly abused the complainant and defamed Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar. The Bombay High Court noted that the conversation between the accused and the complainant does not show any disrespect to Dr Ambedkar. Rather the caller (accused) asked the informant as to why he was using the name of Dr Ambedkar when he was not following his footsteps. The accused further said that because of people (like the complainant), nowadays the respect for Ambedkar has reduced, the HC noted, reported PTI. "This conversation in no way showed disrespect to Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar or depicted any intention to disrespect or disturb harmony between two communities," the HC said quashing the case, reported PTI. Another important fact is that the accused was only reacting to a provocative post uploaded by the complainant on his social media against the Brahmin community, it said. "Person from only one community then cannot have the right to object when he himself has done some provocative act. There has to be reciprocal respect for persons amongst all communities and castes. That is what the soul of the constitutional scheme is," the Bombay High Court said, reported PTI. "Nowadays, everybody is sensitive about his own caste and community without showing any reciprocal respect to the other community or caste," the court said, reported PTI. If neither community nor persons from one community/caste show restraint and if there are no efforts to bring harmony, such incidents would increase in future, the Bombay High Court said, adding it was not necessary that each and every bad post/comment or speech should be reacted to. "There are sophisticated ways and means to show dissent to a person who uploads such provocative posts," the bench said. (With inputs from PTI)
06 March,2025 05:27 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentRahul Gandhi, Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, on Thursday visited the Dharavi leather hub in Mumbai and interacted with leather industry workers. The visit was aimed at understanding the challenges faced by the Dharavi leather hub workforce, a Congress leader said. Among the manufacturing units Gandhi visited is Chamar Studio, set up by Sudheer Rajbhar. Dharavi is one of the largest leather hubs in the world, with more than 20,000 leather manufacturing units, employing more than one lakh workers. "Gandhi interacted with the leather industry workers in Dharavi and sought to understand their issues. He also interacted with the entrepreneurs there," the Congress leader said. Rahul Gandhi, who reached Mumbai from Delhi, will stay in the city for the night, and will leave for Ahmedabad on Friday morning, he said. There is no scheduled meeting with Congress party leaders in the evening in Mumbai, he added. Will put across porters' demands to govt, fight for their rights: Rahul Gandhi Drawing attention to the financial difficulties faced by railway porters, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday said they risked their lives to help people during the stampede at the New Delhi Railway Station last month and yet their voice was not being heard. The former Congress president, who posted on his YouTube channel a video of his recent interaction with porters at the New Delhi Railway Station, asserted that he would fight for their rights. Gandhi also urged people to share suggestions on the 'Awaaz Bharat Ki' portal to improve crowd management and strengthen security. "We will listen to the voice of India!" he said on X. The increasing number of stampedes at railway stations and other public places is a matter of great concern, Gandhi said, noting that many innocent people lose their lives or get injured in such incidents. "We need to think together about how to prevent such tragedies," he said. In his post accompanying the video of his interaction with porters, Gandhi said, "A few days ago, I reached New Delhi Railway Station and met the porter brothers there again. During the interaction, they told me how everyone together made every possible effort to save people's lives on the day of the stampede." "Whether it was trying to remove people from the crowd, ensuring that the injured reached the ambulance and administration, or taking out the bodies of the dead - using their physical abilities, handcarts or spending money from their own pockets, they helped the passengers in every way," the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha said. (With inputs from PTI)
06 March,2025 05:11 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThe administration in Dharashiv city in Maharashtra, earlier known as Osmanabad, has slaughtered nearly 300 poultry birds in the Dhoki area after a few samples from there tested positive for bird flu, an official said on Thursday, PTI reported. He said that the culling is being carried out in a 10-km radius. Bird flu is a type of influenza that affects the birds, particularly poultry, but can also be transmitted to human beings. Last month, many crows were found dead in the area which raised concerns over avian influenza among the locals. Samples tested by Bhopal-based ICAR-National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases showed bird flu infection, the official said, PTI reported. Subsequently, more samples of poultry birds raised by locals were sent to the lab and few of them came positive for avian influenza, he said. A 10-km containment zone was then created in Dhoki and the culling of birds started on Wednesday with the assistance of five teams. By evening, the teams culled 295 birds, the official said, PTI reported. The area has no poultry farms and mostly hens, ducks and roosters from households are being culled. The owners are being compensated as per the applicable government policy, the official added, PTI reported. Maharashtra: Missing tiger spotted in Dharashiv, to be captured While the Maharashtra forest department is making all possible efforts to capture the tiger that walked 500 kilometres from Tipeshwar Wildlife Sanctuary in Yavatmal to Solapur, the forest department officials told mid-day that the foliage and undergrowth are causing a challenge to dart the tiger, which has been sighted in Dharashiv. Deputy Conservator of Forest (DCF) Kushagra Pathak from the Solapur Forest Department said, “We are continuously monitoring the movement of the tiger using camera traps and drones. We have the location of the tiger, but we are unable to dart the tiger as there is no clear view due to the foliage. The tiger is currently in the Dharashiv division, and there have been few instances of cattle kills. Our teams are present on the ground, and we are hopeful of capturing the tiger soon.” (With inputs from PTI)
06 March,2025 05:09 PM IST | Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar | mid-day online correspondentThe long-pending issue of the redevelopment of Mazgaon-Kalachowki MHADA colonies is set to be addressed, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and Urban Development Minister Eknath Shinde assured in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly. The announcement came in response to concerns raised by former Deputy Chief Minister Chhagan Bhujbal during a discussion on redevelopment challenges. Bhujbal brought up the matter while speaking on a sub-question related to Varun Sardesai’s suggestion on MHADA building redevelopment. He highlighted the deteriorating condition of several large MHADA colonies in the Mazgaon-Kalachowki area, many of which are over 50 years old. Bhujbal urged the government to take possession of these buildings and initiate redevelopment projects to ensure safe and modern housing for residents. Responding to the concerns, Minister Eknath Shinde stated that the government is gathering information on stalled MHADA redevelopment projects. He assured that any obstacles delaying the process would be addressed promptly. Shinde confirmed that the state government is committed to redeveloping these aging structures, ensuring a resolution to the longstanding issue faced by residents of the Mazgaon-Kalachowki MHADA colonies. Govt committed to expediting redevelopment of dilapidated buildings in Mumbai: Eknath Shinde Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde told the legislative assembly that the government was committed to expediting redevelopment of old, dilapidated and cessed buildings by removing impediments and roadblocks through discussions with the stakeholders. Shinde, who handles the housing portfolio, assured the House that a meeting with elected representatives will be organised to discuss ways to remove the hurdles coming in the way of redevelopment of such buildings. He was responding to a debate on the calling attention notice submitted by Congress MLA Amin Patel. He said when the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) or the concerned authority declares a building as dangerous, the building owner is given the first chance for its redevelopment. "But if he does not give a proposal in six months, the occupants or the housing society is given a chance. If no proposal is submitted within six months, then that building is acquired through the Mumbai Building Repair and Reconstruction Board and the redevelopment process can begin," he said. The board has given notices to 854 buildings, of which the owners of 67 structures have submitted redevelopment proposals. Of the 67, no objection certificates (NOCs) have been given to 30 owners, Shinde said. He said the government will unveil its new housing policy in which affordable houses will be made available. "We will ensure that those citizens who have shifted out of Mumbai because of the pending redevelopment projects come back to the city and will expedite the housing projects and ensure common people get their rightful homes," he said. (With inputs from Agencies)
06 March,2025 04:59 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThe Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has arrested an official and a staffer of the land records department in Thane district in Maharashtra for demanding and accepting a Rs 2.70 lakh bribe from a man in exchange for completing his land-related work, officials said, PTI inputs. As per PTI, the two accused were identified as Changdeo Mohalkar, Deputy Superintendent of the District Land Records Department and Shrikant Raote, who is posted as a surveyor, in the same office, they said. "The accused initially demanded and accepted a bribe of Rs. 1.95 lakh to complete the pending task of measuring a plot. After that, the victim approached the Thane ACB and lodged a complaint," Deputy Superintendent of Police of the ACB (Thane), Dharmaraj Sonke, told PTI. A few days later, the duo again demanded Rs 1 lakh, but agreed to accept Rs 75,000 from him. Accordingly, a trap was laid at their office on Wednesday evening and the duo was caught taking the money, he said, PTI reported. A case under sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act was filed against the duo at the Thane Nagar police station, the ACB said. Thane Anti-Corruption Bureau registers case against 'police middleman' for seeking Rs 21 lakh bribe The Thane Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has registered a case against a man for allegedly demanding a bribe of Rs 21 lakh from a person, against whom the police had issued notices for questioning in a drugs case, officials said on Saturday, reported news agency PTI. The accused, Kapil Changrani, allegedly acted as a middleman of two police personnel to demand the bribe, they said, reported PTI. The first information report (FIR) was registered against him at the Sion police station in Mumbai on Friday under provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act. "The case has roots in a raid conducted by the Anti-Narcotics Cell of the Navi Mumbai police in July, wherein it seized drugs and arrested two persons. The police then issued two notices against a man, who is a complainant in the present case, for interrogation in the drug case. However, the complainant did not appear before them," ACB (Palghar) Deputy Superintendent of Police, Dayanand Gawade, said in a release, reported PTI. (With PTI inputs)
06 March,2025 03:45 PM IST | Thane | mid-day online correspondentCongress leader Nana Patole on Thursday responded sharply to RSS leader Bhaiyyaji Joshi's statement criticizing him for shifting focus from critical issues like farmer distress and unemployment in Maharashtra, reported news agency ANI. RSS leader Bhaiyyaji Joshi had remarked that those coming to Mumbai need not learn Marathi. He also said that Gujarati is the "language of the Ghatkopar area in Mumbai." Patole in a statement to media said, "It is their government, it is RSS's government. Today, farmers' crops are drying up in Maharashtra. Can't RSS give suggestions to the government on this?," reported ANI. Patole criticized the RSS for diverting attention from more pressing issues facing the state, such as unemployment and farmer distress. "Is RSS not concerned about unemployment in Maharashtra? RSS and BJP are diverting attention from the main issues by creating such debates on languages," Patole added, highlighting the government's lack of focus on real problems affecting the people of Maharashtra, reported ANI. Meanwhile, after Joshi's remarks, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis emphasized on Thursday that the language of Mumbai and the whole state is Marathi. Addressing the Assembly, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis strongly emphasised, "In Mumbai, Maharashtra, and the State government's language is Marathi, and people who live here should learn it." "Marathi is a part of the state's culture and identity, and it is the duty of every citizen to learn it," the Chief Minister said, reported ANI. The Maharashtra Assembly was adjourned for five minutes today after a heated debated broke out between the ruling BJP and Shiv Sena (UBT) over the Marathi language issue. Joshi's remarks also evoked a strong reaction from Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray. Thackeray on Thursday asserted that the language of Maharashtra will remain Marathi. Thackeray said, "People from outside come to our state and settle here. However, the language of this land is Marathi, just like Tamil is in Tamil Nadu and Kannada is in Karnataka. The ideology of the BJP is to keep disrespecting Maharashtra." "Yesterday, Suresh Bhaiyya ji said that the language in Ghatkopar could be Gujarati, but this is absolutely not possible. The language of Mumbai is Marathi. This government even halted the Marathi Bhasha Bhavan in Mumbai because they want to disrespect Maharashtra and the Marathi language," Aaditya Thackeray added, reported ANI. (With inputs from ANI)
06 March,2025 03:24 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentThe Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have often been accused of undermining Mumbai and the Marathi language. Recently, a statement made by RSS leader Bhaiyyaji Joshi regarding Mumbai and Marathi has sparked a political controversy. Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee’s chief spokesperson, Atul Londhe, has strongly condemned Joshi’s remarks, calling them an insult to both Mumbai and the Marathi language, and has demanded a public apology from him. Speaking on the matter, Atul Londhe stated that Mumbai, along with Maharashtra, has Marathi as its primary language. However, RSS leaders have historically shown a bias against Mumbai’s Marathi-speaking populace. He alleged that BJP governments have systematically attempted to shift key offices, institutions, and investments away from Mumbai, thereby diminishing its prominence. Now, Londhe claims, there is an attempt to impose Gujarati and other languages over Marathi, and Bhaiyyaji Joshi’s statement is reflective of this larger agenda. “Marathi is the language of Mumbai and Maharashtra, and we take immense pride in it. Any attempt to undermine Marathi will not be tolerated,” Londhe asserted. The controversy stems from Bhaiyyaji Joshi’s remark that Ghatkopar’s language is Gujarati. Londhe has strongly objected to this claim, stating that Ghatkopar is an integral part of Mumbai, and it has a significant Marathi-speaking population. “How can Bhaiyyaji Joshi make such a statement when lakhs of Marathi-speaking people reside in Ghatkopar and speak Marathi?” Londhe questioned. The Congress has demanded that the state government clarify its position on Joshi’s statement. Londhe has specifically called upon Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar to publicly state whether they endorse Joshi’s views or not. “The government must take a stand. Does Ajit Pawar agree with Bhaiyyaji Joshi’s remarks? What is Eknath Shinde’s position on this? They must answer the people of Maharashtra,” Londhe demanded. This controversy is set against the backdrop of Mumbai’s long-standing political and linguistic debates. Maharashtra was formed on the basis of linguistic reorganization, separating it from Gujarat. Any suggestion of undermining Marathi in Mumbai is bound to spark resistance from regional parties and activists. The Congress party has made it clear that it will not tolerate any attempt to sideline Marathi or downplay Mumbai’s Marathi identity. As political tensions rise, it remains to be seen how the RSS and BJP will respond to this growing opposition.
06 March,2025 03:11 PM IST | MumbaiStalled redevelopment projects and those residing in the dilapidated buildings can breathe a sigh of relief as the state government claims that if required, housing policy rules will be changed to expedite the process. Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ekanth Shinde, who holds the housing and urban development (UD) department, assured the members of the state legislative assembly that the Mahayuti government is committed to providing relief to Mumbai citizens who are suffering due to the stalled redevelopment projects or residing in dilapidated buildings. “Government is sensitive about the issue when it comes to residents living in dilapidated structures or out of the house due to stalled redevelopment projects,” Shinde added. Congress MLA, Amin Patel, through calling attention to the notice raised the issue of delay in issuing permission by government agencies when it comes to the redevelopment of the cess buildings in the island city. Echoing similar views, BJP MLA Parag Alavani, cited cases where BMC has flagged structure as C-1 category (dilapidated structure not in habitat condition and needs to be pulled down immediately), but no construction activity has commenced. “Will the government consider acquisition of such buildings?” the BJP MLA questioned. In fact, Ajay Choudhary, MLA, Shiv Sena (UBT) stated that there are about 16000 dilapidated structures and the government is moving at a slow pace when it comes to issuing permission for the redevelopment of these buildings. Yogesh Sagar, BJP MLA alleged that suburbs are given step-motherly treatment when it comes to the issue of dilapidated structure and redevelopment of such buildings. “A meeting of concerned agencies should be called and all MLAs from Mumbai (city and suburbs) should be invited to the meeting to find a solution to the problem” Sagar demanded. Convinced by Sagar’s suggestion, Shinde assured the members that a meeting of all concerned officials along with Mumbai MLAs would soon be called. “The government is coming up with a housing policy. If needed, rules would be changed to ensure smooth and expeditious redevelopment and restart of stalled projects,” Shinde added.
06 March,2025 03:08 PM IST | Mumbai | Sanjeev ShivadekarADVERTISEMENT
