Wholesale price inflation (WPI) rose to a four-month high of 2.36 per cent in October as prices of food items, especially vegetables, and manufactured goods turned dearer, showed the government data released on Thursday. The wholesale price index (WPI) based inflation was 1.84 per cent in September 2024. It was 0.26 per cent in October last year. As per the data, inflation in food items shot up to 13.54 per cent in October, as against 11.53 per cent in September. This was led by 63.04 per cent inflation in vegetables, as against 48.73 per cent in September. Inflation in potato and onion remained high at 78.73 per cent and 39.25 per cent, respectively, in October. Fuel and power category witnessed deflation of 5.79 per cent in October, against a deflation of 4.05 per cent in September. In manufactured items, inflation was 1.50 per cent in October, as against 1 per cent in the previous month. 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 07:39 AM IST | New Delhi | AgenciesThe Centre has reimposed the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act in Manipur’s six police station areas, including the violence-hit Jiribam. An area or district is notified as “disturbed” under AFSPA to facilitate the operations of the armed forces. In a notification, the Union Home Ministry said the decision was taken given the continuous volatile situation there due to the ongoing ethnic violence. The police station areas where AFSPA has been reimposed are Sekmai and Lamsang in Imphal West district, Lamlai in Imphal East district, Jiribam in Jiribam district, Leimakhong in Kangpokpi and Moirang in Bishnupur. The fresh order came after the Manipur government imposed AFSPA in the entire state on October 1, barring 19 police station areas that include these six. The ethnically diverse Jiribam, which was largely untouched by the clashes in Imphal Valley and the adjoining hills, witnessed violence after the mutilated body of a farmer was found in a field in June this year. On monday, eleven suspected militants were killed in a fierce gunfight with security forces in Jiribam district. A day later, six civilians, including women and children were abducted by armed militants from the same district. There have been protests and demands for the complete withdrawal of AFSPA for its alleged “draconian” provisions. 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 07:30 AM IST | New Delhi | AgenciesThe Congress attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday by posing questions to him on Mumbai, asking why is the metropolis "made to lose" big-ticket projects to Gujarat and why is the BJP "sponsoring Adani's Dharavi land grab", reported the PTI. Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh posed five questions which he said the people are asking the PM. He asked whether the BJP is scared of losing the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) polls. "The Mahayuti government's repeated delays in holding the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation elections is a blatant attack on democracy and the rights of Mumbai's citizens. The government claims that the delays are due to issues like OBC reservations and ward delimitation but the reality is that the BJP was afraid of facing the electorate, fearing a loss that would undermine its image before the elections," Ramesh alleged in his post on X. The non-biological PM is in Mumbai today. Five questions the people are asking him – 1. Is the BJP scared of losing the BMC polls?The Mahayuti government's repeated delays in holding the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections is a blatant attack on democracy and… — Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) November 14, 2024 "With the BMC under an un-elected administrator, the ruling coalition has been using the civic body's funds and resources to benefit its own MLAs and supporters," he alleged. Without elected representatives, Mumbai's citizens have also struggled to get their voices heard and grievances addressed by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, Ramesh said. "This is a clear attempt to consolidate power, and a blatant subversion of democratic principles. Why has the BJP betrayed the people of Mumbai? How much longer do the people have to wait to have their voices heard?" he said. Ramesh further asked why is the BJP "sponsoring Adani's Dharavi land-grab". "The Dharavi Redevelopment Project has turned into a BJP-sponsored land grab for the non-biological PM's best friend, the Adani Group. The latest tender, floated by the Mahayuti government in September 2022, was allegedly geared specifically towards the Adani Group, the eventual winner," he alleged, according to the PTI. The structure of the Adani-led Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) established through this tender served to completely alienate Dharavi's seven lakh residents, he said. The share of the Slum Rehabilitation Authority was reduced to 20 per cent, the ability of residents to negotiate at the planning level was removed and the process of public debate and participation that had emerged from the start of the process was scrapped in its entirety, Ramesh said. "The new tender has also gifted the Adani group an inordinate amount of valuable Transferable Development Rights (TDR) -- the original tender only awarded 5 crore square feet of TDR to the developer, but the Adani remaster has gifted the group a whopping 10.5 crore square feet," he said, the news agency reported. While only 54,461 slum inhabitants and 9,522 residents living in chawls and buildings will receive homes within Dharavi according to the latest documents, Adani is anticipating astronomical profits and a profit margin that could be as high as 434 per cent, Ramesh claimed. "A November 2023 notification issued by the Maharashtra government provided numerous additional concessions to the Adani group, including higher valuations for Dharavi TDR and a rule that 40% of all TDR used in any construction project in the city must come from Dharavi," he said. Just before it is set to lose power in the elections on November 20 (the day voting takes place in Maharashtra), the Mahayuti went on overdrive to clear permissions for the project in Dharavi, he claimed. "This lucrative 'revdi' for the Adani Group comes at the expense of millions of Mumbaikars, not just the residents of Dharavi. Does the non-biological PM have any defence for the massive loot that he is orchestrating in full public gaze?" Ramesh said. He also asked why was Mumbai made to lose so many big-ticket projects to Gujarat. "Under BJP rule, many big-ticket projects that were best-suited to Mumbai's economy have been shifted to Gujarat," he alleged. (with PTI inputs)
14 November,2024 10:09 PM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondentThe Maharashtra Assembly Elections 2024 will decide if the state belongs to revered personalities such as Mahatma Phule, Babasaheb Ambedkar and Chhatrapati Shahu or the troika of Prime Minister Narendra Modi-Home Minister Amit Shah-industrialist Gautam Adani, said Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray while addressing a rally in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar on Thursday. According to news agency PTI, he also slammed Union Minister Amit Shah for claiming in a recent rally that the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) was aligned with those who had opposed the scrapping of Article 370, which had gave special status to the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir. "This poll will decide whether the state belongs to Phule, Ambedkar and Shahu or to people like Modi, Shah and Adani. This poll is between lovers of Maharashtra and looters of Maharashtra," he said. Attacking Modi, who held a rally ahead of the Maharashtra Assembly Elections 2024 in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar earlier in the day, Thackeray claimed that the PM made hollow promises. According to PTI, he also slammed the PM for referring to the Shiv Sena founder as just Balasaheb Thackeray without the honorific 'Hinduhrudaysamrat". "He is not a classmate of Modi. I passed the decision to rename this city after Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar when traitors [a reference to rebel legislators under Chief Minister Eknath Shinde] were in Surat to eat dhokla," Thackeray said. BJP's love for Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar fake: Uddhav Thackeray He also questioned why the Election Commission did not change the name of the Lok Sabha and assembly constituencies after the name of the district till now and why is the airport at Chikalthana still bearing the old name. Slamming Shah, the Shiv Sena (UBT) chief said, "The Union Home minister says we are standing with those who opposed scrapping of Article 370. We applauded you for the move. But tell me if any Kashmiri Pandit has been able to go back to his native Valley after the provision was scrapped," the Shiv Sena (UBT) chief questioned. Asserting that the BJP's love for Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar was fake, Thackeray asaid a medical devices park set to come up here, which would have employed one lakh people, was shifted to Gujarat. According to PTI, the former Chief Minister also said accused the poll officials were checking his bags amid the model code of conduct implemented ahead of the Maharashtra Assembly Elections 2024. In a sarcastic vein he added that he was told that the bags of the PM only contain hollow promises. Playing on the BJP's slogan of 'batenge toh katenge', Thackeray said the party is openly indulging in "lootenge aur doston mein batenge" in Maharashtra. "The MVA government will be in power in a few days," he said and urged farmers not to sell their soybean crop till then. "We will give you more MSP (minimum support price) than earlier. I take responsibility for this. We will also waive off farm loans," Thackeray said at the rally. Leader of Opposition in Maharashtra Legislative Council, Ambadas Danve, and former Member of Parliament (MP) Chandrakant Khaire also slammed the ruling dispensation for "hollow promises" of eradicating water scarcity in Marathwada. The region has seen 7274 farmer suicides so far, Danve said. Maharashtra Assembly Elections 2024 will be held on November 20, while results will be declared three days later. (With PTI inputs)
14 November,2024 09:54 PM IST | Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar | mid-day online correspondentAll India Congress Committee (AICC) President Mallikarjun Kharge on Thursday contested Union Home Minister Amit Shah's assertion that his party intends to reinstate Article 370 in Jammu & Kashmir, and pointed out the contentious provision was repealed by Parliament. According to news agency PTI, Kharge accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of keeping the Article 370 issue alive merely to create divisions in society. Addressing a press conference in Pune, Kharge accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of abusing the Congress and its senior leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi. "Amit Shah, in his poll rallies, accuses the Congress of spreading lies. [But] He [himself] is saying the Congress wants to bring back Article 370 [in J&K]. Tell me, who said that and when? You are raking up an issue. If it [resolution to repeal Article 370] had been already passed in Parliament, why are you raking it up again? It means you want to keep the issue alive to divide. If you want to say this, go to Kashmir and say it. Elections are over in Kashmir," Kharge slammed the BJP. Article 370 of the Constitution, which provided special status to Jammu & Kashmir, was nullified by the BJP-led central government in August 2019. The Congress is aligned with the National Conference, which heads the government in Jammu and Kashmir. Last week, the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly passed a resolution asking the Centre to hold talks with elected representatives for restoration of the erstwhile state's special status. 'Congress wants to keep country united, ready to make any sacrifice for it' Referring to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's statements, the Congress President said, "One of the BJP leaders is saying 'batenge toh katenge (we will perish if we are divided)'. Why [give such a slogan]? The country is united. The Congress worked to keep the country united. Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi sacrificed their lives for [preserving the country's unity]. Mahatma Gandhi was assassinated. The Congress did this [sacrifices], but you neither fought for the country's unity, nor its independence or the poor," Kharge hit out at the BJP. According to PTI, he also pointed out that it was the Congress which made provision for reservation in the Constitution as first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar worked to approve the quota for Scheduled Castes (SCs)/Scheduled Tribes (STs) in jobs and education. "But they [BJP] are still raking up the [reservation] issue," Kharge remarked, further claiming that the BJP is pitting the country's towering political figures such as Nehru, Ambedkar, Vallabhbhai Patel and Subhas Chandra Bose against each other. "They [BJP] now say Babasaheb wanted to do this, but Jawaharlal Nehru did this. Vallabhbahi Patel said this and Bose said that. When they were alive, you were against the Constitution. You did not even keep the Indian flag in your office. You were not ready to accept the Ashok Chakra and you wanted to have a Constitution on the basis of Manu, and now you remember the Constitution," said Kharge. The AICC president asserted that the Congress wants to keep the country united and was ready to make any sacrifice for it. He also claimed that only 5 per cent of people in the country hold 62 per cent wealth while 50 per cent of the population has only 3 per cent wealth. "Instead of reducing this disparity, Modiji is encouraging his friends by selling public sector units. The maximum drug supply is taking place at the port given to Adani. In October, 400 kg cocaine was seized. In February, 4,000 kg charas was seized. Illegal things are being brought in which are destroying (youths in) Pune, Bengaluru, Punjab," Kharge averred. Asked how the Congress and opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) will mobilise finances to fund populist schemes promised in their manifestos if they come to power in Maharashtra, he remarked, "Give us power, we will give you a budget. We work as per the budget. We do not believe in 'khoke (boxes of money),' but 'doke (brain)'. We have brains and they have khoke." Kharge also claimed that the Congress governments have successfully implemented pre-polls guarantees in Himachal Pradesh, Telangana and Karnataka. (With PTI inputs)
14 November,2024 09:31 PM IST | Pune | mid-day online correspondentThe Aam Aadmi Party's (AAP) Mahesh Khichi was elected as the next mayor of Delhi on Thursday, marking a significant victory for the ruling party in the national capital ahead of the Assembly polls due early next year, news agency PTI reported. As Khichi took his seat, the jubilant AAP councillors shouted the slogans of "Jai Bhim" to celebrate the Dalit candidate's victory in a tough contest. According to PTI, of the total 256 votes cast in the Delhi Mayor Elections, Khichi secured 133, defeating Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) Kishan Lal by a wafer-thin margin of three votes. Two of the votes were declared invalid. Following its defeat in the mayoral poll contest, the BJP withdrew from the race for deputy mayor, clearing the way for the AAP's Ravinder Bharadwaj to secure the position unopposed. The saffron party had fielded Nita Bisht for the deputy mayor's post. "Many congratulations to Mahesh Kumar ji on being elected as the new Mayor of Delhi. Work diligently for the people, take forward the good work being done in MCD," AAP national convenor and former Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal said in a post on X. Meanwhile, eight AAP councillors also cross-voted in the polls, helping the BJP increase its vote share in the Delhi Mayor Election, party officials said. Seven Congress councillors didn't take part, one resigned from party before voting The seven Congress councillors did not participate in the voting while one resigned from the party at the last moment, ANI reported. The AAP candidates emerged victorious after a closely-contested election in the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), following months of tension between the Kejriwal-led party and BJP. The Delhi Mayor Election, initially scheduled for April, were postponed owing to procedural delays. The Congress boycotted the voting, calling for a full term for the mayor rather than the truncated tenure on offer. "We want the Dalit mayor to get a full tenure instead of just four months," a Congress councillor said. The day began with an uproar in the MCD House as the Congress councillors, led by the Leader of the Party Nazia Dhanish, raised slogans and stormed into the well. Dhanish accused the administration of denying a Dalit mayor a full term. The Congress members raised slogans accusing the AAP of being anti-Dalit, while the ruling party councillors responded with chants in support of Kejriwal. Moments later, in a dramatic twist, Congress councillor Sabila Begum resigned from the party just ahead of the voting. Her resignation letter, posted online by her husband, revealed her intent to support the AAP nominee. Key political figures, including AAP lawmakers Sanjay Singh and N D Gupta, along with all seven Lok Sabha Members of Parliament (MP) of the BJP from Delhi, exercised their franchise. (With PTI inputs)
14 November,2024 08:47 PM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondentThe Kirti Kisan Union, a farmers organisation, on Thursday donated Rs 5 lakh for the war affected Palestinian people through its mission in New Delhi as a humanitarian aid, reported the PTI. The farmers group expressed solidarity with the people there facing difficult times due to the ongoing conflict. According to the PTI, a delegation of the union met Palestine ambassador to India Abed Elrazeg Abu Jazer at the Palestinian embassy here and donated the money, a release from the organisation said. The union has raised its voice in favour of a permanent truce in West Asia and also demanded that the United Nations find a sustainable solution to the Palestine issue. The Kirti Kisan Union delegation included President Nirbhai Singh Dhudike, General Secretary Rajinder Singh Deep Singh Wala, Press Secretary Raminder Singh Patiala, Vice President Jatinder Singh Chhina and Treasurer Jaswinder Singh Jhabelwali, news agency reported. Addressing a press conference later, they alleged that the most "terrible genocide" in the history of human civilisation was being carried out by Israel under the "incitement" of major powers like the US in which thousands of people have lost their lives so far. The images of children, the elderly and women and the ruins tell a tale of heart-wrenching atrocities, they said, adding that people have been deprived of basic necessities like food, water, electricity and medicine. Saudi Arabia plays a key role in maintaining stability in West Asia: Jaishankar Meanwhile, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Wednesday emphasised that Saudi Arabia plays a key role in maintaining stability in West Asia, highlighting the ongoing situation in the region particularly in Gaza, the ANI reported. In his opening remarks at the second meeting of the Political, Security, Social and Cultural Committee of the India-Saudi Arabia Strategic Partnership Council with Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister, Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, today Jaishankar reiterated India's long-standing position on the issue. The Union Minister emphasised India's commitment to condemning acts of terrorism and hostage-taking while expressing deep concern over the continuing deaths of civilians."Saudi Arabia, we recognise, is a very important factor of stability in the region. The situation in West Asia is a matter of deep concern for us, particularly the conflict in Gaza. India's position in this regard has been principled and consistent. While we condemn acts of terrorism and hostage-taking, we are deeply pained by the continuing deaths of innocent civilians," Jaishankar said, the news agency reported. (with PTI and ANI inputs)
14 November,2024 06:12 PM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondentPrime Minister Narendra Modi launched a scathing attack on the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance during a public meeting in Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar, ahead of the November 20 Maharashtra assembly polls, reported the ANI. PM Modi cautioned voters about the potential return of drought-like conditions if the MVA comes to power. "Agadhi wale boond boond paani ke liye apko tarsayenge. Isliye mein mata aur beheno ko keheta hu, Agadhi wale ko ghusne bhi mat dena, warna aapko paani ke liye bhi tarsake rakehenge (The Agadhi alliance will make you beg for every drop of water, that is why I tell the mothers and sisters that they should not even let the alliance get in power, otherwise they will make you beg for water)," said PM Modi. PM Modi was addressing a rally at Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar district ahead of the Maharashtra Assembly polls on November 20. He was also facilitated by NDA leaders, including Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Union Minister Ramdas Athawale. "There has been a water crisis in Marathwada for a long time, but the Congress and the Aghadi people always remained sitting idle. For the first time in our government, concrete efforts began to fight drought," PM Modi said. The Prime Minister criticised the MVA's inaction on the longstanding water crisis in Marathwada, contrasting it with his government's concrete efforts to combat drought. He also accused the alliance of disrespecting Balasaheb Thackeray's wish to rename Aurangabad to Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar, a change implemented by the current Mahayuti government. "The whole of Maharashtra knows that the demand to give this name to Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar was raised by Balasaheb Thackeray. The Aghadi government was in power for 2.5 years, but these people did not have the courage to do so under pressure from the Congress. Whereas the Mahayuti government renamed this city as Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar as soon as it came to power. We fulfilled your wish, we fulfilled Balasaheb Thackeray's wish," he said. The Eknath Shinde-led government changed the name of Aurangabad in 2022. "Who was most hurt by making Aurangabad Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar? This same Congress party, this Aghadi people... whose people even went to the court to overturn this decision," the PM said. PM Modi also highlighted the development initiatives of the Mahayuti alliance, including the Samruddhi Mahamarg highway project and the Palki Highway for devotees of Lord Vitthal. He said, "Maharashtra has to lead the vision of developed India. BJP and Mahayuti are working with this resolution. That is why today modern infrastructure is being built in Maharashtra. Today Samruddhi Mahamarg (also known as Mumbai-Nagpur Highway) is passing through Sambhaji Nagar. It is directly connected to Marathwada, Vidarbha and Mumbai." With the aim to connect Mumbai and Nagpur, the Samruddhi Mahamarg is a 701 km road project spread across various places in Maharashtra. "Along with this great yagya of development in Maharashtra, our government is also performing the ritual of heritage. For the convenience of the devotees of Lord Vitthal, we have constructed Palkhi Highway," said the PM while mentioning Palki Highway. Union Minister Nitin Gadkari in September had announced that ‘palkhi margs’ was completed. These ‘palkhi margs’ are networks of roads from where devotees carry palkhis (palanquins) Saint Dnyaneshwar during annual pilgrimages. 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 ANI)
14 November,2024 05:50 PM IST | Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar (Maharashtra) | mid-day online correspondentTwo people were hurt after a temporary structure erected for a Maharashtra Assembly election 2024 rally of Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge in Maharashtra's Nashik district was damaged on Thursday due to strong winds, the police said, reported the PTI. According to the PTI, two persons suffered minor injuries in the incident that occurred in the afternoon in the Trimbak area, where the senior Congress leader was to address a public gathering ahead of the November 20 Maharashtra assembly elections, an official said. Just as the rally was about to start, strong winds lashed the area, damaging a temporary structure set up for the event. The curtains tied to the structure also got torn, he said. Two party supporters, who had come to attend the programme, suffered non-serious injuries in the incident and were taken to hospital, the official said. Mallikarjun Kharge's rally began after the winds subsided, he added, as per the news agency. Congress and MVA are going to win: Mallikarjun Kharge Meanwhile, exuding confidence in the Maha Vikas Aghadi's (MVA) victory in the Maharashtra Assembly polls, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on Thursday said that the Congress and MVA are going to win elections in the state, according to the ANI. Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge said, "The environment in Maharashtra is good. Congress and MVA are going to win. We will give a better government to Maharashtra. When Rahul Gandhi comes, another nearby 2-4 constituencies also get benefited." Kharge also took a jibe at the BJP and said that regular visits of PM Modi, Amit Shah and prominent leaders of the party show that they are nervous. He further slammed the current Mahayuti government, saying that this government is not formed on the basis of ideology, rather it is formed after ploying the situation. Mallikarjun Kharge said, "PM Modi, Union Minister Amit Shah, and Chief Ministers of various states are coming here again and again which shows they are nervous. They want Maha Vikas Aghadi not to come to power, because the government they had made, is made after breaking and ploying the situation, which doesn't last long. Most importantly, this government is not based on any ideology, so that's why they want to come to power by any means. But people have also determined that MVA will come to power in these elections in Maharashtra," the ANI reported. (with PTI and ANI inputs)
14 November,2024 05:06 PM IST | Nashik | mid-day online correspondentPrime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi on Thursday said the Congress and its allies are hatching a scheme to have a separate Constitution for Kashmir, and making all efforts for restoration of Article 370. "Will the people of Maharashtra support the Congress and its allies who speak the language of Pakistan," Modi said, addressing a rally in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar for the November 20 Maharashtra Assembly Elections 2024. "Kashmir is an integral part of India. Every Indian wants that there should be only Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar's Constitution in Kashmir," Modi said. He also stated the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Mahayuti government renamed Aurangabad as Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, and fulfilled the wish of Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray."The whole Maharashtra knows that the demand to rename this city as Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar was raised by Balasaheb Thackeray," he said. The Congress party went to the court to overturn this decision, he added.The Maha Vikas Aghadi government was in power for two-and-a-half years but did not have the courage to rename the city under pressure from the Congress, he said. "This Maharashtra Assembly Elections 2024 is not just a poll to elect a new government. In this election, on one side there are patriots who believe in Sambhaji Maharaj and on the other side there are people who praise Aurangzeb," Modi said. "BJP-Mahayuti ahe, tar gati ahe, Maharashtrachi pragati ahe (If there is Mahayuti there is progress in Maharashtra)," Modi said. The people of Maharashtra and Marathwada had been demanding for decades to give classical language status to Marathi, Modi said. This work related to Marathi pride was completed by the BJP, he added. "Maharashtra has attracted the maximum foreign direct investment (FDI) after the formation of the Mahayuti government. The people have benefited owing to the investment," he 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.
14 November,2024 04:31 PM IST | Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar | PTIAhead of Maharashtra Assembly elections, BJP MLA Nitesh Rane has vowed to prevent "vote jihad" and has expressed no concern over multiple FIRs registered against him for alleged hate speeches, reported news agency PTI. Rane defended his stance and said he has “not done anything wrong” by siding with his own “dharma” or his religion while speaking with PTI. "I am going to be mentioned as a Hindu on my birth and death certificate. If I am being blamed for a hate crime just because I am trying to take the side of my own dharma or my community, religion, I don't think there is anything wrong in it. I have absolutely not done anything wrong," he said. The BJP leader claimed "vote jihad" occurred during the recent Lok Sabha polls and pledged to prevent it in the state elections. Rane, the BJP candidate for Kankavli seat in Sindhudurg district for the November 20 Maharashtra assembly polls, accused certain Muslim community members of following Sharia law while claiming to adhere to the Constitution. "If you are promoting peace between Hindus and Muslims, if you think the law should be the same for Hindus and Muslims, then why are you doing love jihad, land jihad and vote jihad?" Rane questioned. He further asked, "Why can't you fight as an Indian, why can't you vote as an Indian. Why do you have to tell your community that you have voted against the Modi government?" Notably, Maharashtra BJP MLA Nitesh Rane is the son of BJP MP Narayan Rane. Nitesh Rane, a two-term MLA’s election affidavit reveals over half-a-dozen FIRs registered against him across the state for hate speeches. A recent viral video showed him threatening to enter mosques if anyone spoke against religious leader Ramgiri Maharaj, resulting in charges of making provocative speeches and hurting religious sentiments. "We will enter your mosques and hit you one by one. Keep this in mind," he had said. Ramigiri Maharaj has been accused of making controversial remarks against Prophet Muhammad, stated PTI. Addressing the cases against him, Rane stated, "My every comment has attracted an FIR. It is basically when I am taking the side of my own community, when injustice has been done to them, when they are not allowed to celebrate their festivals in our Hindu Rashtra." He added, "If that attracts FIR and if I am blamed for taking the side of my own religion, I will be very happy to face any kind of action," he said. With the Maharashtra Assembly elections scheduled for November 20 and the counting of votes set for November 23, the political landscape is heating up as both Mahayuti and MVA intensify their campaigns for the state's 288 assembly seats. (With inputs from PTI)
14 November,2024 04:16 PM IST | Kankavli, Maharashtra | mid-day online correspondentADVERTISEMENT
