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Make Shivaji Maharaj memorial at Raj Bhavan in Mumbai, demands BJP MP
Maharashtra BJP MP Udayanraje Bhosale on Monday demanded that a memorial of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj must be constructed at Raj Bhavan in Mumbai, reported the PTI. Bhosale suggested that governor's residence in Mumbai could be shifted "elsewhere". Raj Bhavan, located at the tip of Malabar Hill in south Mumbai, spans 20 hectares (49 acres) and is the official residence of the Maharashtra governor. Addressing reporters in Satara, Udayanraje Bhosale, a descendant of the Maratha king, said the 40-acre plot is ideal for the memorial and could help avoid ecological challenges linked to building it offshore. "Raj Bhavan can be shifted elsewhere. The site is perfect, expansive and surrounded by the sea on three sides. If the Mayor's Bungalow can be converted into a memorial (for Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray), why not this?" the Satara MP asked, the news agency reported. CM Fadnavis announces 'Glorious Maratha Tour Train', aimed to showcase rich heritage of Shivaji Maharaj Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis, last week on Friday, announced about an upcoming 'Glorious Maratha Tour Train', aimed to showcase rich heritage of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, an official statement had earlier said. CM Fadnavis made the announcement during a joint press conference held at the Jio World Convention Centre in Mumbai along Union Railway Minister Ashwini. CM Fadnavis unveiled the upcoming Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and the Glorious Maratha Tour Train by IRCTC. An official statement said that it will be a specially curated 10-day journey aboard the Bharat Gaurav Tourist Train which aims to showcase the rich heritage of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, as well as key cultural and pilgrimage sites across Maharashtra. "The tour will start from Delhi and travel to iconic heritage, cultural and pilgrimage destinations in Pune, Raigad, Shirdi, Nashik, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar. This initiative is not just a journey -- it’s a tribute to the valour, Maharashtrain culture, timeless legacy of Maratha empire and taking blessings at the ancient heritage pilgrimage destinations, CM Fadnavis wrote on X. 🚩 Big news: Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj & the Glorious Maratha Tour announced for July 2025 by GoI !Truly thankful to Hon PM Narendra Modi ji and Hon Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw ji for this incredible initiative by Indian Railways called as "Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj &… pic.twitter.com/dda69eZSX1 — Devendra Fadnavis (@Dev_Fadnavis) April 11, 2025 (with PTI inputs)
14 April,2025 10:57 PM IST | Pune | mid-day online correspondent
Chandrapur
Collector urges govt employees to donate one-day salary for Irai river cleaning
The Chandrapur collector in Maharashtra has appealed to government officials and employees posted in the district to donate their one-day salary to fund the Irai river cleaning project, reported the PTI. Chandrapur collector Vinay Gowda's appeal for donation mentions in an official release issued on April 12 after a meeting held at the Forest Academy in the district in the presence of Tribal Development Minister and Guardian Minister of Chandrapur district, Ashok Uike, according to the PTI. While the minister did not touch upon the donation issue, he appealed to everyone to contribute to make the campaign to rejuvenate the river a people's movement, as per the PTI. The campaign is aimed at cleaning, deepening the polluted river and increasing its flood-carrying capacity. However, former Lok Sabha MP from Chandrapur Naresh Puglia on Monday criticised the collector for seeking donation from government employees for the campaign, the news agency reported. Talking to reporters, he said despite having Rs 865 crore in the District Mineral Foundation, Gowda is appealing for funds, the PTI reported. "A total of Rs 865 crore of mineral fund is lying in the bank and crores of rupees are being earned on it (in form of interest) every year. Why money from this fund is not being spent for the revival of the Irai river? What is the purpose of appealing to officers and employees to donate one-day salary?" Puglia asked, the news agency reported on Monday. He sought to know why the administration has failed to provide funds for the revitalization of the Irai river that involves building protective walls, dams besides deepening the river bed and undertaking beautification work. The Irai river is a key water source for Chandrapur city and the Chandrapur Super Thermal Power Station. Delta region desilting work to end in May, says TN Minister Meanwhile, with water from the Mettur Dam scheduled for release on the customary date of June 12, desilting operations across Tamil Nadu’s Delta region will be completed by the end of May to ensure smooth water flow to tail-end agricultural areas, said Water Resources Minister S. Duraimurugan on Sunday, according to the IANS. In a statement, the Minister announced that a total of Rs 120 crore has been sanctioned for 1,071 desilting projects covering 6,179 km across the Tiruchirappalli, Chennai, Madurai, and Coimbatore regions, as per the IANS. In Thanjavur district alone, where 4,760 km of waterways were desilted over the past four years for Rs 85.97 crore, this year’s works will cover 1,380 km with an allocated budget of Rs 26.28 crore. Duraimurugan confirmed that Chief Minister M.K. Stalin will initiate the release of water from the Mettur Dam on June 12, continuing a longstanding tradition. He directed officials to ensure that water reaches the tail-end regions without obstruction, enabling the irrigation of large swathes of farmland, the news agency reported on Sunday. (with PTI and IANS inputs)
14 April,2025 10:19 PM IST | Chandrapur | mid-day online correspondent
Rana being interrogated to unravel larger conspiracy behind attacks: Sources
Mumbai terror attacks key mastermind Tahawwur Hussain Rana is being interrogated for eight to ten hours daily by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) sleuths to unravel a larger conspiracy behind the dreaded strikes, official sources said on Monday. The NIA officials are ensuring Rana's medical check-up and he is being allowed to meet his lawyer, according to the order of a Delhi court that had on early Friday morning granted 18-day custody to the probe agency following his extradition from the US, they said. The sources said Rana is being grilled by the NIA investigators for around eight to ten hours daily to probe a larger conspiracy behind the 2008 dastardly strikes orchestrated by Pakistan-based terrorist group Lashkar-e-Taiba and in which 166 people were killed and over 238 injured. "Rana has been cooperating during the questioning," a source said, adding that a team of NIA officials led by Chief Investigating Officer Jaya Roy is interrogating him. Sources said Rana has so far requested only three things — a pen, paper or a notepad, and the Quran — all of which have been provided to him. They said there has not been any specific food-related demand raised by Rana so far and he is being provided with "food items which are given to any other accused" according to the standard protocols meant to deal with such subjects. The sources said the dreaded terror attacks plotter is kept in a highly-secured cell inside the anti-terror agency's head office here at the CGO Complex and is guarded by security personnel round-the-clock. The 64-year-old Pakistani-origin Canadian businessman is said to be grilled on the basis of various leads gathered by the probe agency during the course of its investigation, including a large number of phone calls between him and his co-conspirator David Coleman Headley alias Daood Gilani, a US citizen currently in prisons in that country. The investigators also hope to find some important leads on his travels in parts of northern and southern India days before the carnage in the country's financial capital on November 26, 2008, the sources said. The anti-terror agency had produced Rana before the NIA Special Court at Patiala House after formally placing him under arrest following his arrival at the Indira Gandhi International (IGI) airport here on April 10 upon his extradition from the US. Rana has been charged with numerous offences, including conspiracy, murder, commission of a terrorist act and forgery in the country. The NIA had secured Rana's extradition from the US following years of sustained efforts and after the terror mastermind's last-ditch efforts to get a stay on his extradition from the US failed. The anti-terror agency had registered a case on November 11, 2009 under sections 121 A of Indian Penal Code (IPC), Section 18 of Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and Section 6(2) SAARC Convention (Suppression of Terrorism) Act against Headley, his childhood friend Rana and others. During the NIA investigation, the roles of senior functionaries of terror groups LeT and Harkat-ul Jihadi Islami (HuJI) -- Hafiz Muhammad Saeed alias Tayyaji, Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi, Sajjid Majid alias Wasi, Illyas Kashmiri and Abdur Rehman Hashim Syed alias Major Abdurrehman alias Pasha -- had also emerged. These conspirators worked in active connivance with officials from Pakistan's spy agency ISI, namely Major Iqbal alias Major Ali and Major Sameer Ali alias Major Samir, according to the NIA probe. 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 April,2025 07:05 PM IST | New Delhi | PTI
Om Birla and MP CM flag off train connecting Ambedkar's birthplace, praise Modi
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav inaugurated a new train from Ambedkar Nagar in Madhya Pradesh, BR Ambedkar's birthplace, to New Delhi via Kota on the eve of his birth anniversary on Sunday and praised PM Modi for transforming rail connectivity for common man. Om Birla praised the Narendra Modi-led government on Sunday for revolutionising rail connectivity across the country. He said the efforts being made under the current leadership are not only modernising infrastructure but also making rail travel more accessible, according to the ANI. Speaking at the inaugural ceremony during the launch of a special train between Kota and Delhi, Birla said, "Under the leadership of PM Modi, the Railway Minister has given a new direction to rail connectivity. We can say that along with these railway lines and new railway stations, many new trains like Namo and Vande Bharat have been started in India. People who travel on a daily basis also get facilities through MEMU (Mainline Electric Multiple Unit) trains so that even the poorest of the poor can board the train," as per the ANI. A PTI report stated that Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, Union Minister of State for Women and Child Development Savitri Thakur and other senior leaders attended the flagging-off ceremony via videoconferencing. Ashwini Vaishnaw said the new train connecting Ambedkar's birthplace with New Delhi is a tribute to his work and role as the chief architect of the Indian Constitution, as per the PTI. He added that besides the train, the Indian Railways is planning to launch a Bharat Gaurav train to connect the Panchteerath -- his place of birth, education, where he adopted Buddhism, place of death, and his cremation site -- to facilitate visits for his followers, the news agency reported. Calling the new train - Dr Ambedkar Nagar-Kota-New Delhi 20155/56 Express - a gift to the state on the eve of Ambedkar Jayanti, CM Yadav said it will improve connectivity with Delhi. "The economic and social development of the state will get a boost and passengers will be able to avail easy, convenient and economical travel," Yadav said, as per the PTI. Dilip Kumar, Executive Director, Information and Publicity, Railway Board, said, "During its daily normal operation, the train will start from Dr Ambedkar Nagar at 3.30 pm every day and reach New Delhi at 4.25 am the next day morning via Indore, Ujjain and Kota," the PTI reported. He added in its return journey, the train will start from New Delhi at 11.25 pm and reach its last station at Dr Ambedkar Nagar at 12.50 pm the next day. Kumar said the train would cover 848 km in 13 hours, connecting 15 important cities and destinations in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan. (with PTI and ANI inputs)
14 April,2025 06:57 PM IST | Bhopal | mid-day online correspondent
Ambedkar Bhawan to come up in Goa's Panjim, CM allocates Rs 10 crore
On the occasion of the 135th anniversary of Dr BR Ambedkar, Goa CM Pramod Sawant allocated Rs 10 crores for the construction of Ambedkar Bhavan near Panjim. "Today, we have allocated 2,500 square meters of land for the construction of Ambedkar Bhavan near Panjim. Rs 10 crores have been allocated for the same. The work will start within 6 months and conclude within 2 years," Sawant said in an event held in Panjim. Sawant also paid a floral tribute to Dr Ambedkar. His X post read, "Paid heartfelt tribute to Bharat Ratna Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar on his birth anniversary at Panjim. His vision for social justice and equality continues to guide us as we build an inclusive and empowered Goa. Felicitated students and recipients of the Dr. Ambedkar Samman Murti Puraskar. I am pleased to announce that we are constructing Ambedkar Bhavan in the state." The Goa CM praised Dr Ambedkar for envisioning a nation free from inequality and discrimination. "Dr Ambedkar envisioned a nation free from inequality and discrimination. Let us all contribute to Swayampurna Goa and take his legacy forward as we march towards 100 years of independence with pride and purpose," added the post. Celebrated every year on April 14, Babasaheb's birth anniversary is a public holiday across the country, where schools, banks and some public sector organisations remain closed. Fondly known as 'Babasaheb,' Ambedkar was the chief architect of the Indian Constitution and is also called the 'Father of the Indian Constitution. Ambedkar was also the first law and justice minister of independent India. Babasaheb was born to an impoverished Dalit Mahar family in Madhya Pradesh. He fought tirelessly for the equal rights of marginalised sections of society and was later revered as a 'Dalit Icon' for his contributions to their rights. According to an official release, the Madhya Pradesh government is promoting the Pancha Tirth-five sacred sites associated with Dr Ambedkar's life and legacy. Under the Mukhyamantri Teerth Darshan Scheme, these sites Mhow (Birthplace), Nagpur (Diksha Bhoomi), Delhi (Mahaparinirvan Sthal), Mumbai (Chaitya Bhoomi, and London (Residence during education) are being promoted as national and international centers of inspiration and pride. In remembrance of Babasaheb's commitment to environmental preservation, a 250 sq km forest area in the Sagar district has been declared Madhya Pradesh's 25th wildlife sanctuary, named after Dr Ambedkar. This sanctuary will promote biodiversity, strengthen the ecosystem's food chain, enhance tourism, and generate local employment. 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 April,2025 04:59 PM IST | Panjim | ANI
Nagpur
Doctor kills his professor wife on suspicion of character, held with brother
An official on Monday said that the police have solved the murder case of a woman doctor in Nagpur by arresting her husband, also a doctor, and her brother-in-law who had tried to pass off the incident as a robbery-related crime, reported news agency PTI. The crime stemmed from suspicions over the character of the deceased and arguments between her and her husband, Dr Anil Rahule, who teaches at a private medical college in Raipur, reported PTI. According to police, Dr Rahule allegedly hatched a conspiracy to kill his wife, Dr Archana, and his brother, Raju Rahule, smashed her head with an iron rod on April 9, reported PTI. The slain doctor worked as an assistant professor in the physiotherapy department of the Government Medical College and Hospital, police said. "Dr Anil Rahule used to doubt the character of his wife, which resulted in frequent arguments between them. He would often fight with her and physically assault her," police said, reported PTI. The official stated that Dr Rahule called his brother, Raju, to their residence in Ladikar Layout in Nagpur on April 9. While Dr Rahule pinned down his wife by holding her legs, Raju allegedly struck her on the head with an iron rod. After the murder, both brothers locked the house using the central locking system and fled, police said, reported PTI. Dr Rahule returned to his house on April 12 and raised an alarm, following which police were alerted. Prima facie, appeared to be a case of robbery. However, police grew suspicious after noticing that the body had decomposed, indicating that the murder had occurred a few days earlier, reported PTI. The suspicion deepened when the police observed that Dr Rahule was uneasy and pretended to faint, the official said, reported PTI. "He admitted to killing his wife during interrogation, following which he and his brother were arrested. Police are investigating whether there was any other motive," the official added. Man from Pune district held for rape, murder of distant relative In another case, a 35-year-old man from Maharashtra's Pune district has been arrested for allegedly raping and killing a distant relative, who was a minor, an official said on Sunday, reported PTI. The 17-year-old victim from Khed tehsil left home on Thursday, saying she was going for her classes. But she did not return, prompting her family to file a missing person complaint, reported PTI. The girl's body with injury marks was found in a water tank near the Bhima river the next day, the official said, reported PTI. CCTV footage showed the teenager travelling in the car of a distant relative. "The relative was tracked down and detained. Our investigation ascertained that he raped and killed the minor," the official said, reported PTI. The Khed police arrested the accused under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. A court has remanded the accused in police custody for nine days, the official added. (With inputs from PTI)
14 April,2025 02:51 PM IST | Nagpur | mid-day online correspondent
Rs 33 lakh crore of collateral-free loans sanctioned: Union minister
Union minister Pankaj Chaudhary on Monday said more than Rs 33 lakh crore of collateral-free loans have been given to 52 crore people under Mudra Yojana for starting businesses and 68 per cent of the beneficiaries are women. The Minister of State for Finance was addressing a gathering at the valediction ceremony of the 77th batch of Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officers at the National Academy of Direct Taxes in Nagpur. Talking about the country's vision for economic development, he said, "In the last ten years, our government has given more than Rs 33 lakh crore of collateral-free loans to 52 crore people. These loans ranged from Rs 50,000 to Rs 20 lakh." "Today, people have started new business ventures with the help of these loans and are making their contribution in the economic development of the country," the minister said.Women comprise 68 per cent of these collateral-free loan beneficiaries and they have started new businesses, he said. In the last 10 years, the government has been continuously increasing infrastructure budget, resulting in a huge development in rural and urban areas, Chaudhary said. Addressing the IRS officers, he said they will play a very important role in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's aim of making India a developed nation by 2047. 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 April,2025 02:45 PM IST | Nagpur | PTI
“Enemies of Babasaheb then and now”: Congress hits back at PM Modi
The Congress party on Monday strongly criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi, accusing the BJP of being “enemies of Babasaheb then, and even now.” The remark came in response to PM Modi’s allegation that the Congress was spreading a “vote bank ka virus” by opposing the Waqf Amendment Act. While addressing a press conference in Delhi, Congress party's president Mallikarjun Kharge, emphasised how B R Ambedkar faced opposition for adopting Buddhism by Hindu organisations. "These people were enemies of Babasaheb then and even now. Even when he was alive, they did not support him. When Baba Saheb adopted Buddhism, do you know what these people said? They said that he is from the Mahar community, an untouchable. They also said that now Buddha has been made an untouchable. Baba Saheb's political party was the Republican Party, and Hindu Mahasabha was against him," Kharge said. Kharge's remark came shortly after Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during his visit to Haryana to inaugurate the first direct commercial flight from Hisar to Ayodhya, accused the Congress of undermining the Constitution and disrespecting Dr. B.R. Ambedkar. Kharge countered Prime Minister's accusation around and emphasised that during passage of the women’s reservation bill, it was the Congress Party that had specifically advocated for the inclusion of SC, ST, and OBC women in the reservation provisions. "When the women's reservation bill was passed 2 years ago, the Congress party demanded that it be implemented immediately. Our demand was that SC, ST and OBC should be given reservations in it. This is our objective. We have been fighting for this for a long time. It was decided in the Ahmedabad convention to launch a campaign to take it forward," he said. Questioning BJP's claim made earlier in the day by PM Narendra Modi that Babasaheb's ideology has served as a "pillar of inspiration" for the current central government, Kharge responded sharply and asked, "They (BJP) only speak against Congress, Nehru, against me and all that we have done until now. But, I ask what have they done till now and which of Baba Saheb's principles have they adopted? Which principles have they adopted? They are not ready to say." Earlier today in Hisar, Haryana, PM Modi alleged that Congress is opposing the Waqf (Amendment) Act solely for the sake of vote bank politics. (With ANI inputs)
14 April,2025 02:43 PM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondent
Nagpur factory blast: Safety lapses found; 3 booked
Safety lapses have been found at an aluminium products manufacturing factory in Nagpur where a blast last week claimed five lives, following which a case has been registered against three of its officials, police said on Monday, reported news agency PTI. The Nagpur factory blast occurred on April 11 at MMP Aluminium Industries in Umred MIDC in Maharashtra's Nagpur district, reported PTI. The five deceased workers, all in the age group of 20 to 25 years, were residents of Nagpur district. Two other workers, who suffered around 80 per cent burn injuries, were reported to be in critical condition. They were shifted from the Government Medical College and Hospital to a private hospital on Saturday for better treatment, an official said, reported PTI. According to a report from the Directorate of Industrial Safety and Health (DISH), the factory management failed to provide Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to workers and put their lives at risk, officials from Umred police station said, reported PTI. Two workers who recently joined the company were not given any safety training before being allowed to work at the site, they said quoting the report. The police on Sunday registered a case against two managers and a safety in-charge of the company under sections 106(1) (causing death by negligence), 287 (negligent conduct regarding fire or combustible matter) and 125(B) (endangering life or personal safety of others due to negligence or recklessness) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, the officials said. No arrest has been made so far, the police said, adding a probe was on into the Nagpur factory blast case. Meanwhile, Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule, who is also the guardian minister of Nagpur, announced a compensation of Rs 5 lakh for the families of the deceased. "On the instructions of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, I visited the accident site personally and conducted a meeting with the company management and district administration. The government will provide aid of Rs 5 lakh each to the kin of the deceased and assistance for the treatment of the injured. The chief minister instructed the company to provide additional support to the victims," said Bawankule. The company has agreed to provide Rs 55 lakh each to the families of the deceased besides a job for one family member. The injured workers will receive Rs 30 lakh each, and one member from their families will be given employment, the minister added. "A high-level meeting was convened immediately to take stock of the situation. I have directed the administration to conduct a thorough inquiry into the incident," Bawankule said. (With inputs from PTI)
14 April,2025 02:35 PM IST | Nagpur | mid-day online correspondent
Ambedkar a true Bharat Ratna and living school of democracy, says Adityanath
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Monday paid tributes to Bhimrao Ambedkar on his 134th birth anniversary, describing him as a true "Bharat Ratna" and a "living school of democracy". Ambedkar's struggle for an egalitarian society will inspire people for an eternity, Adityanath said in a post on X in Hindi. "Tributes to the architect of the Indian Constitution who was all-inclusive, benevolent to all, imbued with excellent democratic values and enriched the spirit of one India, great India, Babasaheb Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar on his birth anniversary! "He was a Bharat Ratna in the true sense of the word and a living school of democracy. His struggle to establish an egalitarian and justice-loving society will continue to inspire all of us for eternity," the chief minister said. Ambedkar is recognised for his lifelong struggle for the empowerment of Scheduled Castes and his key role in drafting the Constitution. Born in a Dalit family in 1891, he was a brilliant student who went on to study in foreign countries. The discrimination he suffered in Indian society turned him into a committed social reformer. He was India's first law minister. He died in 1956. 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 April,2025 01:24 PM IST | Lucknow | PTI
300 kg narcotics worth Rs 1,800 crore seized off Gujarat coast, says Amit Shah
Law enforcement agencies have seized 300 kg of narcotics worth Rs 1,800 crore near the international maritime border off the Gujarat coast, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said on Monday. Sharing the information on X, he underlined that the Narendra Modi government was rooting out drug networks ruthlessly. "In the ceaseless pursuit of building a drug-free Bharat, a monumental feat was achieved by seizing 300 kg of narcotics worth Rs 1,800 crore near the international maritime border," he wrote on the social media platform. The home minister said the operation in the seas was a shining example of the success of the Modi dispensation's whole-of-the-government approach to rooting out the evil of narcotics. He applauded the Gujarat Police ATS and the Indian Coast Guard for their success. 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 April,2025 01:20 PM IST | Gujarat | PTI