Shiv Sena hits out at Fadnavis for targeting CM over ‘Free Kashmir’ poster

In remarks laced with sarcasm, an editorial in Sena mouthpiece ‘Saamana’ said the placard ‘shocked the opposition leaders and awakened the nationalist sentiment in them.’

The Shiv Sena on Thursday hit out at BJP leader and former CM Devendra Fadnavis for targeting Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray over the “Free Kashmir” placard displayed by a woman at a protest in Mumbai against the JNU violence.

When Mehek Prabhu, a Marathi woman from Mumbai stood up for the pain of Kashmiris by holding the placard, the opposition termed it as “sedition, the Shiv Sena said, adding that there cannot be a “dirtier example of irresponsibility”.

In remarks laced with sarcasm, an editorial in Sena mouthpiece ‘Saamana’ said the placard “shocked the opposition leaders and awakened the nationalist sentiment in them.” “They attacked Chief Minister Thackeray and asked how this anti-national activity can happen right under his nose. The allegation was so frivolous that the opposition leaders made a mockery of themselves,” it said.

“This is not good for the state…we are worried for the opposition,” the Shiv Sena tauntingly said. After the placard with “Free Kashmir” message was seen at the protest at Gateway of India here against the JNU violence, Fadnavis had asked what exactly was the protest for and if Chief Minister Thackeray will tolerate this “anti-India campaign” right under his nose.

Maharashtra government formation : SC orders floor test tomorrow

The floor test will be done through open ballot and it will be recorded on video, the court said

The Supreme Court on Tuesday ordered floor test in Maharashtra Assembly for Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to prove his majority in the House on November 27. The apex court also directed Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari to ensure that all elected members of the house are sworn in on Wednesday itself. The entire exercise has to be completed by 5 pm. A bench comprising Justices N V Ramana, Ashok Bhushan and Sanjiv Khanna also said the entire proceedings has to be telecast live. Voting in the assembly shall not be on the basis of secret ballot, it said. The governor will also appoint a pro-tem speaker who will administer oath to the newly elected members.

The order comes a day after the court heard arguments by lawyers of the central government and the Shiv Sena-Nationalist Congress Party-Congress combine. The three parties argued that BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis doesn’t have the numbers to be chief minister, taking their fight separately to Parliament. BJP and the central government lawyers said Fadnavis will prove his majority, but the court didn’t have the power to direct Maharashtra’s governor to fix a deadline for a floor test in the Assembly.

On the eve of the SC hearing, the Shiv Sena, NCP and the Congress party paraded their legislators, an estimated 162, in front of the media at a five-star hotel in Mumbai to back their claim that the alliance commanded the majority in the 288-member Maharashtra Assembly.

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What the SC ordered in Maharashtra

*Here is what the Supreme Court said today:
 
The following procedure is to be followed for conducting the floor test:

a. Pro­tem Speaker shall be solely appointed for the aforesaid agenda immediately.

b. All the elected members shall take oath on 27.11.2019, which exercise should be completed before 5:00 p.m.

c. Immediately thereafter, the Pro­tem Speaker shall conduct the floor test in order to ascertain whether the Respondent No. 3 has the majority, and these proceedings shall be conducted in accordance with law. The floor test will not be conducted by secret ballot.

d. The proceedings have to be live telecast, and appropriate arrangements are to be made to ensure the same…

Read More: Maharashtra Government Formation

Maharashtra: SC reserves order for Tuesday, govt defends governor

The Shiv Sena, Nationalist Congress Party, and the Congress–the combine that had expected to govern Maharashtra–are expected to challenge the BJP in Parliament which resumes after the weekend.

The Supreme Court will on Tuesday, 10.30am, rule on petitions challenging the Bharatiya Janata Party forming a government in Maharashtra, reserving its judgment after hearing arguments by lawyers of the central government and the Shiv Sena-Nationalist Congress Party-Congress combine.

The three parties argued that BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis doesn’t have the numbers to be chief minister, taking their fight separately to Parliament. BJP and the central government lawyers said Fadnavis will prove his majority, but the court didn’t have the power to direct Maharashtra’s governor to fix a deadline for a floor test in the Assembly.

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Supreme Court reserves order on Shiv Sena, NCP and Congress petition for Tuesday 10.30 am.

Leaders of the Shiv Sena, NCP and Congress submitted letter to Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari, saying they have the required numbers to form government, reports PTI. The ‘Maha Vikas Aghadi’, the post-poll alliance formed by the three parties, said Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis “does not have the required numbers”. The letter was signed by Eknath Shinde, Jayant Patil and Balasaheb Thorat, the legislature party leaders of the Shiv Sena, NCP and Congress.

SC asks Abhishek Manu Singhvi to withdraw plea

Supreme Court asks Abhishek Manu Singhvi, lawyer for Congress and NCP, to withdraw fresh petition with affidavits of 154 Maharashtra MLAs supporting Opposition combine as it has not been supplied to the BJP, reports PTI. Whatever you file in court, you need to give to other side: court tells Singhvi, who withdraws the plea.

SC can’t review Governor’s discretionary power: BJP, govt lawyers

Governor’s discretionary power cannot be judicially reviewed: BJP lawyer Mukul Rohatgi tells Supreme Court. Governor in absolute discretion invited largest party—the BJP—on November 23: Solicitor General Tushar Mehta tells court…..Click Here

Shiv Sena firm on CM post, asks BJP to not misuse interim govt norm

Sena said the BJP should approach the Uddhav Thackeray-led party only if it agrees to share the chief minister’s post with it

The Shiv Sena on Friday remained firm on its demand for sharing the chief minister’s post in Maharashtra and asked the BJP not to misuse the provision of “caretaker” government to remain in power in the state. Sena leader Sanjay Raut said the BJP should approach the Uddhav Thackeray-led party only if it agrees to share the chief minister’s post with the junior saffron ally.

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis should resign as the term of the existing assembly is ending on November 9, the Sena spokesman while talking to reporters here. “The BJP shouldn’t prolong the caretaker provision and act from behind the curtains. We won’t mind if the BJP, as the single largest party, stakes claim and forms the government,” the Rajya Sabha MP said.

The Sena, insisting on equal distribution of portfolios and sharing the chief minister’s post with the BJP for 2.5 years each, will “soon” meet Governor B S Koshyari, said Raut, the executive editor of party mouthpiece ‘Saamana’.

After the term of an assembly ends, the governor becomes the guardian of the state, Raut said. To a question on Union minister and BJP leader Nitin Gadkari’s trip to Mumbai and possibility of him visiting ‘Matoshree’ (the residence of the Thackerays) to break the deadlock, Raut said,” Gadkari is a resident of Mumbai. There is no news that he is coming. “He will go to his house. Has he told you that he is bringing a letter giving the Sena 2.5 years of chief ministership.”

BJP’s ‘second act of use & throw’: Shiv Sena won’t blink on power sharing

At the meeting of the Sena’s MLAs, party chief Uddhav expressed ‘disappointment’ over CM Fadnavis’ statement

With ally Shiv Sena unwilling to blink, Maharashtra Chief Minister (CM) Devendra Fadnavis on Thursday held a meeting with eight of the 13 newly elected Independents and legislators of three of the smaller parties. The majority mark still eludes the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) by 26 legislators in a House of 288, despite these 13 MLAs vowing support to a Fadnavis-led BJP government.

The next Maharashtra Assembly needs to be convened by November 10. The term of the previous Assembly expires on November 9. The Shiv Sena rejected media reports that it has softened its stand on its two key demands of ‘50:50’ power-sharing formula and rotational CM tenure. It accused the BJP of enacting a ‘second act’ of the ‘use and throw’ policy in dealing with its ally.

“The (reports that) Sena has softened (its stand), has compromised and relinquished equitable distribution of posts, are all rumours,” Sena MP Sanjay Raut tweeted. “Whatever was decided (between BJP and Sena), will happen,” said Raut. Raut later in the day also meet Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar at the latter’s residence in Mumbai. Raut said he had gone to meet Pawar to wish him on the occasion of Diwali, but also discussed the current political scenario of Maharashtra.

The developments during the course of the day made it evident that a Fadnavis-led BJP government is set to face stiff opposition not just from the Congress and NCP, but also from the Sena..

Devendra Fadnavis moots penalty on lenders failing to meet crop-loan target

The crop-loan target for FY19 was Rs 58,324 crore for Maharashtra

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has mooted a plan to force punishment on banks for neglecting to meet loaning focuses of ranch advances, particularly harvest advances, in the express that is reeling from agribusiness trouble.

He rubbished guarantees by banks that they couldn’t meet harvest advance focuses because of draft conditions. “There are broad grumblings from ranchers about issues in getting cash (credits),” Devendra Fadnavis said while tending to State Level Bankers’ Com­mittee (SLBC), Maharashtra.

The harvest advance focus for FY19 was Rs 58,324 crore for Maharashtra, yet real payment were at Rs 31,231 crore. So the banks met 54 percent of harvest credit focus in FY19. The payment was, in any case, 23 percent higher than that in FY18. At present, there is no legitimate course of action for collecting fine on banks for neglecting to meet advance targets.

SLBC Maha­rashtra’s convener bank, Bank of Maharashtra, will compose bank boss on the push on gathering FY20 loaning targets. “There must be responsibility for execution (focuses) in manages an account as for the ranch segment. The state government is paying banks sums that have been deferred off. Choices taken at top dimensions don’t appear to permeate individuals working at bank office levels,” Fadnavis said.

Two people arrested in Mumbai ESIC hospital fire case that claimed 9 lives

The fire which broke out on Monday injured over 150, mostly patients and staff

Latest News: Two people have been arrested in connection with Andheri’s government-run Employees State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) Kamgar Hospital fire that claimed lives of nine people.

The fire which broke out on Monday injured over 150, mostly patients and staff.Speaking to ANI, Navinchandra Reddy, DCP, Zone-10, Mumbai informed that the two arrested are – Supreme Construction Company’s site engineer and the supervisor. Reddy said, “Supreme Construction Company’s site engineer and supervisor have been arrested in connection with the fire incident at ESIC Kamgar Hospital. Further investigation is underway.”

As per the preliminary report, the building material lying at the ground floor of the hospital for renovation work caught fire on Monday afternoon, which led to the generation of smoke. “People died due to suffocation,” police claimed….

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Maharashtra farmers’ protest: Thousands begin march from Thane to Mumbai

The participants are mostly from Thane, Bhusawal and Marathwada regions

Latest News : Demanding compensation for drought and the transfer of forest rights to tribals, thousands of farmers and tribals began a two-day march from Thane to Mumbai on Wednesday, eight months after a similar protest that started from Nashik.

Magsaysay award winner Dr Rajendra Singh, also known as Waterman of India, is among the marchers. They started walking Wednesday afternoon and will reach the Somaiyya Ground in Mumbai’s Sion area where they will halt for the night.

Maharashtra farmers’ protest

They will reach Azad Maidan in south Mumbai early on Thursday and will try to hold a demonstration near Vidhan Bhawan, where the state legislature session is underway, a leader of the march said.

The participants are mostly from Thane, Bhusawal and Marathwada regions, he said. The farmers are demanding implementation of the Swaminathan Committee report, which suggested that farmers must have assured access and control over resources such as land and water. They are also demanding an increase in the Minimum Support Price and a judicial system to ensure its implementation.

The farmers, struggling to cope with the agrarian crisis, are demanding proper implementation of the loan waiver package announced by the BJP-led government in the state last year, land rights for farmers and compensation for farm labourers.

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Maratha quota leaders vow to hold strong protests on Aug 9

Maratha quota leaders said today that the community members will hold strident protests across Maharashtra on August 9 for the cause.

BHARAT BANDH : The leaders said they have decided to suspend all communications as part of the protest.

“The state government has not only failed to implement its promises made to the Maratha community before the 2014 assembly elections and in the last four years, but also delayed the procedure of withdrawing police complaints filed against the Maratha youth across the state,” said Vinod Pokharkar, a leader of the Maratha Kranti Morcha.

He accused chief minister Devendra Fadnavis and other leaders of not keeping the quota promise.

Pokharkar claimed that at least 2,000 youths from the community were arrested by the local police under serious charges in the state, following the agitations held last month.

“With the August 9 protest imminent, the state government ensured that hearing on the cases against the Maratha youth would take place after August 9. This means that these youths will remain behind bars till Thursday,” he alleged.

He claimed that not a single police station in districts has received the state government’s letter asking them to withdraw charges of non-serious nature against the arrested youths.

Fadnavis had announced last month that the government would withdraw non-serious charges against the Maratha youths.

Pokharkar alleged that Fadnavis seemed not keen to withdraw the cases.

Another leader Bhaiyya Patil said meetings will be held tomorrow in some districts to chalk out the strategy for the August 9 protests.

News Source : BS

Elphinstone Road stampede: Army to help build foot overbridge at station

23 people were killed in a stampede on the Elphinstone Road station foot overbridge last month

 

The Army will help build a new foot overbridge at the Elphinstone Road station, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday said as Union ministers Nirmala Sitharaman and Piyush Goyal visited the station, where a deadly stampede took place last month.

Fadnavis, who accompanied Defence minister Sitharaman and Railway Minister Goyal, said the Army will also help in building foot overbridges at two other stations here.

23 people were killed in a stampede on the Elphinstone Road station foot overbridge (FOB) last month.

"We are taking the Army's help in building a new FOB at the Elphinstone Road station and at two other suburban train stations in Mumbai," Fadnavis told reporters at the venue.

"I have been informed that the work on these bridges will be completed by January 31," he said.

After the stampede on September 29, railway officials posted police personnel to manage the crowd on busy platforms, evicted hawkers from suburban train stations and started speeding up infrastructure projects on suburban network.

Maharashtra may cut VAT on petrol, diesel, suffer Rs 2,600 cr revenue loss

BJP-ruled Maharashtra levies 46.52 per cent VAT (47.64 per cent in Mumbai) on petrol, the highest in the country

After Gujarat, the Maharashtra government may opt for a Rs 2 per litre cut in value-added tax (VAT) on petrol and diesel, adding to the losses of the debt-ridden state.

BJP-ruled Maharashtra levies 46.52 per cent VAT (47.64 per cent in Mumbai) on petrol, the highest in the country. Moreover, a surcharge of Rs 11 per litre and Rs 2 per litre is already collected on petrol and diesel, besides the VAT.

After the implementation of the goods and services tax (GST), several states have increased the value-added tax, leading to a rise in fuel prices.

VAT cut impact on Maharashtra

The move will not only hit Maharashtra’s exchequer but also lead to a revenue loss of Rs 2,600 crore, reported Indian Express.

Farm loans: The cost of waiving farm loans will shoot Maharashtra’s debt stocks to Rs 4.13 lakh crore in FY17, the report added. Therefore, the cut will further aggravate the state’s burden to revive economy.

Gujarat becomes the first state to cut VAT

Gujarat, which currently levies 28.96 per cent VAT on petrol and diesel, became the first state to cut VAT.

ALSO READ: Gujarat first state to slash VAT on fuel prices

Most BJP-ruled are likely to follow Centre’s move, even though Devendra Fadnavis government had earlier rejected Centre’s suggestion for the same. Even Madhya Pradesh, which levies 38.79 per cent VAT on the fuel, indicated considering the option. However, non-BJP ruled states like Kerala and Odisha opposed against lowering of taxes.

Govt cuts excise duty on petrol, petrol

For the first time since Narendra Modi came to power in 2014, the NDA government cut excise duty on petrol and diesel by Rs 2 per litre to cushion the impact of rising international crude prices. The Centre took a hit of Rs 26,000 crore in revenue in the cut in excise duty….READ MORE

Milk at Rs 50 a litre: Maharashtra farmers demand higher price from govt

State's farmers have been protesting for the past 8 days; loan waiver is a key demand

Maharashtra's farmers have urged the Devendra Fadnavis-led government to ensure realisation from milk at Rs 50 per litre, almost double the price they are currently paid by dairy companies and organised retailers.|

Dairy companies have been paying farmers between Rs 21 and Rs 28 per litre depending upon the supply-demand equations. economy news

Organised dairies, however, sell milk to consumers at Rs 40-50 per litre and unorganised players at Rs 60-70 per litre.

"Prices of animal feed keep rising frequently, which does not get reflected in the milk prices supplied to dairies. So, milk farmers should be paid at least Rs 50 a litre for milk supplied to dairies and organised retailers. Anything below Rs 50 a litre will discourage farmers from milk production," said Balasaheb Bahawudkar, a farmer in Nashik.

The state's farmers have been protesting for the past eight days with the closure of mandis. Farmers have been pouring thousands of litres of milk on the roads in protest of lower prices and the recently announced ban on the sale of animals for slaughtering.(read story)