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Fire guts room in Thane flat, no one hurt

The blaze broke out in the fourth floor Thane flat of Surya building at 6:30 pm, said Thane Municipal Corporation regional disaster management cell chief Yasin Tadvi

Mid Day 19 Mar 2024 8:51 am

Thane Crime Branch busts major drug factory in Varanasi

The police team dressed like local villagers and resided in a flat for 45 days to locate the factory

Mid Day 19 Mar 2024 7:08 am

Maharashtra: Two persons injured as auto-rickshaw, motorbike collide in Thane

A motorbike rider and an auto-rickshaw driver were injured when their vehicles collided head-on in Maharashtra's Thane city on Tuesday, civic officials said, reported news agency PTI. The accident ...

Bing 19 Mar 2024 2:23 am

Fire guts room in flat in Thane, no one hurt

Fire guts room in flat in Thane, no one hurt A fire gutted a room in a flat in Kokanipada area of Thane city on Monday, though no one was hurt in the incident, a civic official said. The blaze broke out in the fourth floor flat of Surya building at 6:30pm, said Thane Municipal Corporation regional disaster management cell chief Yasin Tadvi. ''Two women who were in the flat at the time managed to come out safely. The fire was put out in an hour. Furniture and other items in the hall of the flat were destroyed. Around 300 occupants of the 13 storey building rushed out in time,'' he said.

devdiscourse 18 Mar 2024 11:33 pm

Maharashtra: Thane district to have 22 all-women polling booths

Thane district has three Lok Sabha seats and 22 booths will be managed exclusively by women personnel on polling day on May 20

Mid Day 18 Mar 2024 10:06 pm

Amitabh Bachchan steps out from Jalsa to interact with fans amid hospitalisation rumours

According to reports, Bachchan Sr had to undergo an angioplasty, after a blood clot was spotted in his leg. On March 16, the Pink actor was seen attending the ISPL match between the Tigers of Kolkata and Majhi Mumbai at the Dadoji Kondadev stadium in Thane.

The Economic Times 18 Mar 2024 6:43 pm

Methane: a powerful gas heating the planet

Global forum in Geneva shifts focus to methane emissions, a significant contributor to rising greenhouse gases. Efforts to cut methane from various sources could prevent significant warming, but key countries like China and India have yet to join the Global Methane Pledge.

The Economic Times 18 Mar 2024 1:30 pm

Thane MACT grants Rs 49 lakh compensation to victims of 2018 road accident

The deceased, all Saibaba followers in a `Sai Palkhi` procession towards Shirdi, were hit by a car near Devpur Phata on the Sinnar-Shirdi route, told petitioners` attorney to Thane MACT

Mid Day 18 Mar 2024 12:17 pm

MACT awards Rs 49 lakh compensation to 7 victims of road accident

MACT awards Rs 49 lakh compensation to 7 victims of road accident The Thane Motor Accident Claims Tribunal (MACT) has awarded a collective compensation of Rs 49.32 lakh to the families of two men who were killed and five other persons injured in a road accident in 2018. The victims, all devotees of Saibaba, were accompanying a 'Sai Palkhi' (palanquin) while going on foot towards Shirdi on December 22, 2018. A car hit them from behind near Devpur Phata on Sinnar-Shirdi road, the petitioners' advocate, S M Pawar, told the tribunal. Two persons were killed and some others injured in the incident. MACT Chairman and Principal District Judge S B Agrawal, in the order passed on March 7, resolved seven claims pertaining to families of the two deceased and five other persons who were injured. A copy of the order was made available on Monday. The tribunal said the compensation, also including interest at the rate of 7.50 per annum (from the date of filing of the claim), is to be initially paid by the insurance company of the offending vehicle and recovered later from its owner. The parents of 19-year-old Aniket Deepak Mehatre, who died in the accident, were awarded a compensation of Rs 25 lakh. Aniket had been employed and getting a monthly salary of Rs 30,000 before his death. The mother and brother of Andru Anthony Kini (32), who was also killed in the incident, were awarded a compensation of Rs 16,82,800. Andru was earning Rs 50,000 per month at the time of his demise. The tribunal also directed that a certain portion of the compensation amount be invested in fixed deposits for a specified period and the remainder handed over to the claimants. The MACT also awarded compensations, ranging from Rs 50,000 to Rs 4 lakh, to five other persons based on their injuries and the impact on their livelihoods. The tribunal, while arriving at its decision, took into account various factors, including the eyewitness accounts and police reports, which pointed to the car driver's negligence even as the vehicle's insurer tried to contest the claim based on the driver's license validity and possible intoxication.

devdiscourse 18 Mar 2024 12:08 pm

Family is the greatest bond...: Amitabh Bachchan

Family is the greatest bond...: Amitabh Bachchan Megastar Amitabh Bachchan's latest post on his blog is all about his love for his family members. From extending greetings to his daughter Shweta and son-in-law Nikhil Nanda to talking about family love, Big B poured his heart out in the post. A day filled with the love of family and the greetings and the hilarity of the 'progress reports' .. Birthdays galore .. Shweta , the first born, and Nikhil her husband .. within a day of each other nd the bringing in of the GOLDEN age -50 years, he wrote. At Prateeksha , she was brought to the home , our first home of our own, when she was barely 2, and Abhishek a few months old .. and today to see them celebrate the day in the same home on the same table and surroundings .. LIFE IS A WONDER ..Children and grandchildren all together ..Family is the greatest bond .. of love togetherness and the joys of each other .. may it ever be in lasting .... and the family at the GOJ .. ? they are supreme, he added. He also dropped pictures from his weekly Sunday ritual. In the pictures, he can be seen happily greeting fans outside Jalsa. Abhishek Bachchan also made a special appearance. Big B was recently spotted cheering for his team Majhi Mumbai's Indian Street Premier League final match against Tigers of Kolkata at the Dadoji Kondadev Stadium in Thane. Big B is associated with the Indian Street Premier League (ISPL) as the owner of team Mumbai. The ISPL is India's tennis ball T10 cricket tournament.Big B's team 'Majhi Mumbai' lost the final game to Saif Ali Khan and Kareena Kapoor Khan's Tigers of Kolkata. Hours after attending the match, Amitabh Bachchan posted a motivational post for the Majhi Mumbai team.A loss in the FINALS .. at the ISPL .. sad but on the day the other team played a better game .. so we resolve that the next season of the game we shall endeavour with greater effort and WIN ..The FIGHT is more valuable when defeat has been initiated , for when there is no defeat .. victory shall never be highlighted .. you have to win against an opposition , else how does one register a win ..So we give the credit to the opposition .. it is their due .. resolve our spirits and prepare for the next fight ..Maybe the presence and the encouragement , like the game before could have enthused them .. but just not our day .. we take it on the chin and get ready to punch back soon, he wrote. However .. the spirit of sportsmanship should never be overshadowed by defeat .. and the grace shown by Abhishek in meeting all the players soon after the game was over was hugely appreciated .. not just our team but congratulated the Kolkata team as well, Big B added. Meanwhile, on the acting front, Big B will be next seen in the sci-fi action thriller film 'Kalki 2898 AD' alongside Deepika Padukone and Prabhas. He also has a courtroom drama film 'Section 84' in his kitty. (ANI)

devdiscourse 18 Mar 2024 11:28 am

Four students from Bengaluru develop app to tackle food wastage

BENGALURU: Four students passionate about technology are on a mission to address a crucial problem in the food industry. According to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Food Wastage Index Report 2023, Indians waste 68.7 million tonnes of food annually. The country stands second in household food wastage, followed by China. During food production as well, 35% of the food produced ends up rotting, revealed the data. These young students pursuing Computer Science and Electronic Communication Engineering at the International Indian Institute of Information Technology, Bengaluru (IIIT-B) found an innovative approach to tackle this wastage on a large scale especially in expansive restaurant setups. Pranav Bhutada, Kushal Partani, Yash Gupta, and Siddharth Chauhan developed an IT solution incorporating gas sensors for real-time monitoring of food freshness that employs advanced machine learning algorithms to analyse the sensor data charts and warn of possible spoilage. Their low-cost, user-friendly application FreshGaurd - aims to use gas sensor technology to detect freshness and impurities, aiding producers in efficiently managing and selling perishable goods while ensuring that consumption of the products is safe, healthy, and of good quality. Speaking to The New Indian Express, Pranav, one of the co-developers of the app, said, The simple explanation is that all food products emit some gases be it vegetables, fruits, milk or other edible items when they start rotting. These sensors record those readings which are then sent to a machine-learning model. We have to first train the model on what is good and bad values based on the products and their parameters. Over time, the model learns the pattern and accurately identifies the health value of the perishable goods. He added that the app can project the data for hundreds of containers in cold storage or otherwise. This will all be real-time data. We have made a prototype and measured the quality of milk so far. Individuals can train the model for different items. The device is cost-effective, all the sensors combined only cost Rs 1,000 in the current market price . The device will have a network of 7 to 12 gas sensors based on the requirements which will be strategically positioned to detect gases such as Carbon Monoxide, Methane, Hydrogen, and volatile organic compounds whose presence can have an impact on ones organs. The group wants their solution to make a long-term impact and wants to price it at Rs 2,000 to help small-scale and large businesses.

The New Indian Express 18 Mar 2024 10:24 am

50 electric meters destroyed after fire in Thane residential building

Fifty electric meters were destroyed in the blaze, they said, adding that no person was injured

Mid Day 18 Mar 2024 9:38 am

50 electric meters destroyed after fire in Thane building; no person injured

50 electric meters destroyed after fire in Thane building; no person injured A fire broke out in the electric meter room of a seven-storey residential building in Maharashtra's Thane district in the wee hours of Monday following which its occupants rushed out to safety, officials said. Fifty electric meters were destroyed in the blaze, they said, adding that no person was injured. The incident took place at 1.40 am in the building located at Kausa in Mumbra area, Thane Municipal Corporation's disaster management cell chief Yasin Tadvi said. Nearly 225 occupants of the building were evacuated and the building's power supply was cut off as a precautionary measure, he said. The fire destroyed 50 electric meters and various power cables, the official said. After being alerted, local firemen, disaster management team, police and power supply company representatives rushed to the spot. The blaze was doused by 2.30 am. There was no casualty, the official said. A probe was on to ascertain the cause of the fire. Efforts will be made for restoring the building's power supply during the day, an official of the electricity company said.

devdiscourse 18 Mar 2024 9:09 am

Akhilesh congratulates Rahul for his 'strong determination', calls him 'rare person'

Akhilesh congratulates Rahul for his 'strong determination', calls him 'rare person' Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Sunday congratulated former Congress president Rahul Gandhi for his ''strong determination'' on the occasion of the conclusion of the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra, and described him as a ''rare person''. Rahul Gandhi concluded his 63-day-old Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra in Mumbai by paying tributes to Dr B R Ambedkar at his memorial Chaityabhoomi in central Mumbai and reading the Preamble of the Constitution. On Sunday, Akhilesh Yadav along with Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav was scheduled to take part in the event. However, the SP chief did not attend the event. In a letter dated March 17, written to Gandhi by Yadav, the SP chief said, ''Today your Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra is concluding in Mumbai. Rare are those people, who can take out such 'yatra'. Heartiest congratulations to you for your strong determination. ''You started this yatra from Manipur, which is burning due to the failure of the BJP government. You have given a strong message against the dictator government from the north-east. During the course of the entire yatra, you met (people from) all the sections of the society, including farmers, youngsters, women, elderly and you got acquainted with their problems very closely,'' Yadav said. The SP chief went on to say, ''The Election Commission yesterday announced the elections. Nominations will begin in UP from March 20, and owing to its preparations, I will not be able to attend the closing programme of the yatra. ''Not only hopeful, but fully confident that the public will uproot and throw out the BJP, which is against the farmers, youngsters, backwards, Dalits and women. The real success of the yatra will be that the BJP gets defeated in these elections,'' Yadav said. The former Congress president was accompanied by his sister and party general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Saturday. The yatra, which commenced from strife-torn Manipur on January 14, entered Mumbai from neighbouring Thane on the 63rd day on Saturday. On February 21, INDIA bloc partners SP and Congress announced a tie-up for the Lok Sabha polls in Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh, with the UP's main opposition party leaving 17 out of the 80 seats in the state for the ally. In Madhya Pradesh, the Samajwadi Party will contest on a single seat, Khajuraho, and support the Congress in the remaining constituencies in the state. Among the 17 seats on which the Congress will contest in UP include Rae Bareli and Amethi, once considered pocket boroughs of the party, and Varanasi which is Prime Minister Narendra Modi's constituency.

devdiscourse 17 Mar 2024 8:30 pm

Thane court acquits man booked under MCOCA in robbery case

Thane court acquits man booked under MCOCA in robbery case A special court in Thane district has acquitted a 48-year-old man booked under the stringent Maharashtra Control of Organized Crime Act (MCOCA) in a case of robbery and attempt to murder. Special judge Amit M Shete acquitted Stephen Das Swami, a driver, who was arrested for robbery and attempt to murder under relevant provisions of the IPC, Bombay Police Act and MCOCA in December 2013. The copy of the order passed on March 7 was made available on Sunday. According to the prosecution, Stephen Das Swami and another accused, Chirag Mahesh Loke (who died during the course of the trial), were accused of committing a robbery and engaging in a confrontation with police officers, leading to a violent encounter. Advocate Sagar Kolhe, who argued for the defence, informed the court that there was no substantial evidence linking Swami to a larger organised crime network. The court highlighted several inconsistencies and procedural lapses in the prosecutions evidence. The judge also raised questions about the credibility of the eyewitnesses and pointed out the lack of independent corroborative evidence to prove the charges.

devdiscourse 17 Mar 2024 12:14 pm

Opposition Rally in Mumbai Marks Culmination of Rahul Gandhi's Two-Month Journey

Mumbai: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi embarked on a 'padyatra' (foot march) and is scheduled to address a large Opposition rally in Mumbai on Sunday, marking the culmination of his two-month-long Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra. The 'Nyay Sankalp Padyatra' commenced from Mani Bhavan, the residence where Mahatma Gandhi stayed during his visits to Mumbai, and concluded at the iconic August Kranti Maidan. Rahul Gandhi's sister and Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra accompanied him during the 'padyatra'. Notable personalities such as actor Swara Bhasker and Mumbai Congress president Varsha Gaikwad were also in attendance. The mega Opposition rally at Shivaji Park is expected to witness the participation of several prominent leaders, including Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin, Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav, and former Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav, showcasing a united front. This development follows the Election Commission's announcement of dates for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls, scheduled from April 19 to June 1, with vote counting slated for June 4. On the preceding day, Rahul Gandhi's Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra entered Mumbai from Thane. He paid homage to Dr BR Ambedkar at his memorial Chaityabhoomi and recited the Preamble of the Constitution. Commencing from Manipur on January 14, the yatra aims to underscore the message of 'nyay' (justice) while engaging with ordinary citizens along the route. During a rally in Mumbai's Dharavi, Rahul Gandhi reiterated the Congress's commitment to conducting a caste census and pledged an annual deposit of Rs 1 lakh into the bank accounts of impoverished women if his party assumes power. Addressing the residents, he emphasized the significance of preserving Dharavi's heritage and lambasted the Adani Group's involvement in its redevelopment. The yatra traversed through tribal-dominated Nandurbhar in Maharashtra on March 12, marking a significant milestone before its culmination in Mumbai. En route, it covered Dhule, Malegaon, Nashik, and Thane. FIR Lodged Against Gubbi Congress MLA SR Srinivas for Alleged Assault PM Narendra Modi Praises Enforcement Directorate's Anti-Corruption Efforts Rajasthan Voting Schedule: Details of Polling Phases

News Track 17 Mar 2024 12:05 pm

Commuters to be inconvenienced due to Central Railway megablocks today

Central Railway in Mumbai to conduct megablocks affecting commuters on Main and Harbour lines. Thane services diverted between Matunga and Mulund stations.

The Times of India 17 Mar 2024 11:39 am

After EB fiasco, new party funding norms needed

Kudos to the public-spirited accountability NGOs like Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) and Common Cause who stayed the course to stop the Electoral Bonds scheme; and to the Supreme Court for seeing through the delaying tactics. Had the donours and beneficiaries list been released after the elections, they would have been irrelevant. For all his astuteness as a firefighter and a legal eagle, late finance minister Arun Jaitley will be remembered as the author of this dubious scheme. It was introduced in 2018 with the grandiose aim to ensure clean tax-paid money is coming into the system. But, as the apex court has held, it was but a smokescreen to legalise opacity. Of the Rs 16,518 crore worth of electoral bonds (EBs) purchased since 2018, the first list published by the EC of 12,155 crore shows some interesting trails. There is Megha Engineering, the secondhighest buyer of Rs 966 crore worth of EBs. It has got plum contracts like the Rs 14,400 crore Thane-Borivali Twin Tunnel Project and earlier the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project in Telangana. Quid pro quo? Or the little know Future Gaming? At Rs 1,368 crore, it is the biggest purchaser of EBs. In April 2022, after Enforcement Directorate (ED) raids, it donated Rs 100 crore in EBs. Arm-twisting? Western democracies There is nothing wrong with political parties receiving donations as long as it is public who the donors are. After all political parties are large institutions with complex networks and incur big expenses. In the U.S., it works the other way the strength of a candidate is gauged by the campaign funds the person can muster. According to US Federal Election Commission (FEC), till last month all the 2024 presidential candidates together had raised $381 million.President Joe Biden was in the lead with $90 million, followed by his Republican challenger Donald Trump at $80 million. Nikki Haley, who was the last to pull out for the Republican nomination race, didnt do too badly raising USD 36 mn. The US has good transparency rules but its not the epitome of democracy where dark funding is concerned. Private fund-raising is built into the system. Candidates are allowed to raise upto $3,300 from individuals, while party committees can raise up to $41,300, as long as the name and occupation of the donor is conveyed to the FEC. Though corporations and lobby groups are restricted from directly funding candidates, a series of US Supreme Court judgments has now made it possible for them to spend soft money almost limitlessly through political action committees or Super PACs through advertising campaigns, etc. For instance the rightwing pro-gun group, the National Rifle Association (NRA), spent $50 million backing Trump and his other Senate candidates in 2016. The NRA is such a powerful voice in US politics that it is virtually impossible to bring in any serious gun control laws. It is estimated $14 billion was spent in the US presidential campaign in 2020, the most expensive election so far. Commenting on money power undermining democracy, the Brennen Centre of Justice said big money dominates U.S. political campaigns to a degree not seen in decades and is drowning out the voices of ordinary Americans. Germany on the other hand has a sophisticated system that allocates taxpayer funds to political parties that have polled at least 0.5% of the vote to the European Parliament or the Bundestag. Allocation of funds are based on the strength of the party: 0.83 euro for each valid vote ; and 0.45 euro for each euro received from other sources like membership dues, or legal donations.Parties must account for their assets and for the sources and use of their funds. Corporate, public money Back in India, with the EBs gone, the Election Commission will need a new legal regime to track political funding.The breach of the right to information was at the core of the apex court holding the electoral bond scheme unconstitutional.There is no harm in corporations, or lobby groups contributing to political parties. But let it be known where the money is coming from. For voters, it will be a fair indication who the party will work for. A mix of public funding, like the German system, along with corporate contributions, could be a good way forward. Direct corporate funding of parties may create dangerous quid pro quo anomalies; but a regulated single corpus from which political parties are allotted monies based on their strength,can be a workable formula.Individual Indian corporates have successfully experimented with this. In our twisted democracy there is a yawning gap between the rule book and reality.Individual Lok Sabha candidates can now spend up to Rs 95 lakh depending on the size of the state. The expenditure in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls is estimated at Rs 60,000 crore. Thats an average of about Rs 500 crore for each of the 543 constituencies that went to the poll. For the coming elections, total expenses will exceed Rs 1 lakh crore.Then there are post and pre-poll hidden costs like engineering defections after the elections. Myriad costs will be below the radar and may never enter the public realm. But in respect of the small world of institutional funding, let there be a transparent code.

The New Indian Express 17 Mar 2024 9:44 am

Centre extends DDT production for 5 more years to meet demand from African countries

NEW DELHI: The Centre has decided to continue production of DDT (Dichloro diphenyl Trichloroethane) for another five years though the deadline to phase out the deadly chemical is ending this year under the Stockholm Convention, officials said. The Convention outlawed the production and use of DDT limiting it to mosquito control. Senior officials said demand from African countries made India continue DDT. The Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change (MoEF&CC) will inform the Convention secretariat in September about the decision. Developed in the 1940s and used to control vector-borne diseases like malaria and typhus, it was soon realized DDT is a potential carcinogen. Despite being banned in agriculture use in 1972, India continued using it to control vector-borne diseases. MoEF&CC has received consent from the Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals (DCP) for continuing DDT production to meet its export obligations. Currently, Hindustan Insecticide Ltd (HIL) is under obligation to meet the demand of 36 MT from five African countries by March-end. The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoH&FW), a major buyer of DDT to control vector-borne disease, has said it does not need the chemical further as alternatives are available. Moreover, MoH&FW has stocked 578 MT of DDT. MoH&FW didnt give a new order to the sole manufacturer Hindustan Insecticide, whereas DCP is under obligations to meet the demands from African countries, said Ved Prakash Mishra, director, of hazardous substances management, MoEF&CC. Besides being toxic to the environment, studies show mosquitoes are developing resistance to DDT. India has been working on environment-friendly alternatives. A joint project with UN agency UNIDO will come up with the worlds first neem-based biopesticides and Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis)-based biopesticides. Its commercial production would be started by the end of 2025 as we are setting up the facility, said an official at HIL.

The New Indian Express 17 Mar 2024 7:28 am

Congress Invites All INDIA Bloc Leaders for Rahul Gandhis Mumbai Rally

Mumbai: Congress leader Rahul Gandhis Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra will culminate with a mega rally in Mumbai on Sunday. The party is leaving no stone unturned to make the rally a grand success. It has invited Sharad Pawar and Uddhav Thackeray. A delegation of Congress leaders on Saturday met NCP chief Sharad Pawar to invite him for the rally. Mr. Gandhi has personally spoken to Shiv Sena (UBT) chief to join the rally. Besides this, chief minister of Tamil Nadu M.K. Stalin, Jharkhand CM Chimpai Soren, Hemant Sorens wife Kalpana Soren, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav will also join the rally at Shivaji Park, officials from the Congress party said. Senior Congress leader Sonia Gandhi and her daughter Priyanka Gandhi are likely to join the public rally. AICC general secretary KC Venugopal, Congresss Maharashtra in-charge Ramesh Chennithala, Congress leader Mukul Wasnik and Congress Legislature Party leader Balasaheb Thorat met the NCP founder at his home Silver Oak in South Mumbai. Besides extending the invitation for Mr. Gandhis rally, the Congress leaders also held a discussion over the preparations for general elections. Mr. Thorat said, We discussed Sundays rally as well as the issues related to Lok Sabha election campaign and the seat sharing in Maharashtra with Mr. Pawar. Another Congress leader said that the VBA chief Prakash Ambekar has also been invited for the rally. We are hopeful that Mr Ambedkar will join the rally at Shivaji Park, he said. Mr. Gandhi, who is on the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra in Maharashtra from the last five days, has covered the tribal dominated Nandurbar district as well as Dhule, Nashik, Palghar, Thane districts before coming to Mumbai. A senior Congress leader said that Akhilesh Yadav, Rashtriya Janata Dal leader Tejashwi Yadav and Congress ruled states chief ministers will join the rally. We are making efforts to bring more than one lakh people to the rally in Shivaji Park, the senior leader said.

Deccan Chronicle 16 Mar 2024 10:29 pm

Gandhi Calls Electoral Bond Extortion Racket, Fadnavis Challenges him to Return Congress Donations

Mumbai : Reiterating his allegation that the electoral bond scheme was the worlds biggest extortion racket, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Saturday alleged that the BJP used the money received through electoral bonds for toppling governments and breaking political parties like Shiv Sena and NCP. Addressing people in Thane during his Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra, the Congress leader said that the Shiv Sena and NCP MLAs did not run away for free. Hitting back at Mr. Gandhi, Maharashtra deputy chief minister Devendra Fadnavis challenged him to return the money his party received through electoral bonds. Prime Minister Narendra Modi talks about rooting out corruption and the same Mr. Modi runs the worlds biggest extortion racket through electoral bonds. When lakhs of people were dying during the Covid pandemic, the PM asked people to clap and beat utensils. At the same time, Serum Institute of India, the company that made Covid vaccines, donated money to PM Modi in the form of electoral bonds, Mr. Gandhi said. Linking the donations received by the BJP through electoral bonds with the vertical splits in the Shiv Sena and NCP, the Congress leader alleged, Its an extortion racket used for toppling governments led by opposition parties and for breaking political parties. Do you think Shiv Sena and NCP MLAs in Maharashtra ran away for free? However, Mr. Fadnavis alleged that the Congress leader was upset only because his partys source of black money was stopped by it. Before the electoral bonds were introduced, the political parties were allowed to receive donations upto Rs 20,000 in cash, which is used to be the largest portion of the overall donations received by political parties. Now the maximum share of donations is through electoral bonds, which were issued through banks. BJP is the biggest party in the country with 303 members of parliament. We received 30 per cent of total electoral bonds. Rest 70 per cent went to other parties including the Congress. Will he return the money received by his party or will he reveal whom did his party threatened to get donations from them? His outburst is only because his partys black money funding has stopped. The Congress only wants black money to fund its election campaigns, Mr. Fadnavis said. The BJP leader also defended the electoral bond scheme and said that if there are any shortcomings in it, the courts will correct them. Meanwhile, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh alleged that the BJP has made the Congress economically handicapped by freezing the partys bank accounts ahead of the Lok Sabha polls. We have no money to fight polls or prepare our election campaign. Even the money collected through crowd funding cannot be used. Congress has been made economically handicapped through tax terror, he said.

Deccan Chronicle 16 Mar 2024 10:19 pm

Hearing of defamation case against Rahul in Bhiwandi court adjourned till May 2

Thane: A magistrates court at Bhiwandi in Maharashtras Thane district on Saturday adjourned the hearing in a defamation case against Rahul Gandhi till May 2, the Congress leaders lawyer said. Gandhis counsel advocate Narayan Iyer said they submitted an application seeking adjournment on the grounds that a writ petition filed by the Wayanad MP in Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .

The Siasat Daily 16 Mar 2024 9:58 pm

Rahul Gandhi concludes Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra by reading Preamble of Constitution

Rahul Gandhi concludes Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra by reading Preamble of Constitution Congress leader Rahul Gandhi concluded his 63-day-old Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra here by paying tributes to Dr B R Ambedkar at his memorial Chaityabhoomi in central Mumbai and reading the Preamble of the Constitution. The former Congress president was accompanied by his sister and party general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. He paid tributes to Dr Ambedkar, the architect of the Indian Constitution, and read its preamble. Earlier, addressing a public meeting in the Dharavi area, he reiterated the Congress promise of caste census and asserted that poor women would get Rs 1 lakh every year in their bank accounts if his party returned to power. Dharavi is yours and should remain yours. Your skills should be honoured and this place should become a manufacturing hub of the country, he said, referring to the redevelopment project concerning the slum sprawl awarded to the Adani Group. The yatra, which commenced from strife-torn Manipur on January 14, entered Mumbai from neighbouring Thane on the 63rd day on Saturday. Gandhi will undertake a 'Nyay Sankalp Padyatra' from Mani Bhavan to August Kranti Maidan in Mumbai on Sunday morning. On Sunday, the opposition INDIA bloc will hold a rally in a show of strength. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin, RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav and SP chief Akhilesh are scheduled to take part in the event.

devdiscourse 16 Mar 2024 9:04 pm

Hearing of defamation case against Rahul Gandhi in Bhiwandi court adjourned till May 2

Hearing of defamation case against Rahul Gandhi in Bhiwandi court adjourned till May 2 A magistrate's court at Bhiwandi in Maharashtra's Thane district on Saturday adjourned the hearing in a defamation case against Rahul Gandhi till May 2, the Congress leader's lawyer said. Gandhi's counsel advocate Narayan Iyer said they submitted an application seeking adjournment on the grounds that a writ petition filed by the Wayanad MP in the Bombay High Court regarding the matter was still pending. The criminal defamation case has been filed by local Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) member Rajesh Kunte over the Congress leader's alleged statement at an election rally near Bhiwandi on March 6, 2014, that he RSS people killed (Mahatma) Gandhi. Advocate Prabodh P Jaywant, who represented Kunte, opposed Gandhi's application. He said the court had imposed a penalty on the complainant for seeking adjournment in the past and the same rule should also be applied to the accused Congress MP. After hearing both sides, Judicial Magistrate (First Class) L C Wadikar adjourned the hearing till May 2. Incidentally, Gandhi addressed people in Thane city during his Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra on Saturday.

devdiscourse 16 Mar 2024 8:39 pm

Lok Sabha 2024: Polls In Five Phases In Maharashtra, Mumbai To Vote On May 20

Mumbai, Thane, Kalyan, Bhiwandi and Palghar which fall in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) will vote in the 5th phase on May 20.

Bloomberg Quint 16 Mar 2024 7:09 pm

Lok Sabha polls: Mumbai, Thane and adjoining areas to vote on May 20

The fifth and final phase of voting for Lok Sabha elections 2024 will take place on May 20, encompassing 13 constituencies, including Mumbai, Thane, Palghar and adjoining areas

Mid Day 16 Mar 2024 5:13 pm

Electoral bonds scheme an extortion racket used for toppling govts, breaking parties: Rahul Gandhi

THANE: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Saturday stepped up his attack on the BJP-led central government as he described the electoral bonds scheme as an extortion racket used for toppling governments and breaking political parties. He was addressing people at Jambhali Naka in Maharashtra's Thane during his Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra before heading to Mumbai. The electoral bonds scheme is an international-level extortion racket and those who protest, the Enforcement Directorate (ED), Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and Income Tax Department go after them, he alleged. It's an extortion racket used for toppling governments led by opposition parties, and for breaking political parties, Gandhi said. Do you think Shiv Sena and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) MLAs in Maharashtra ran away for free? he asked, referring to a split in the two parties triggered by the rebellions led by Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar respectively. People belonging to backward communities, Dalits, Adivasis, minorities and poor from the general category account for more than 80 per cent of the population, but have minuscule representation in the top echelons in government and private sectors, Gandhi said. He claimed that 50 lakh people died of COVID-19 in India during the pandemic. Need for SC-monitored probe pressing: Congress on electoral bonds issue When people were dying of coronavirus, vaccine-maker Serum Institute of India donated money to PM Modi in the form of electoral bonds, the Congress leader claimed. Gandhi also alleged that only film stars and top industrialists attended the Ayodhya Ram temple consecration ceremony as guests, but there were no poor people. Even the President of India (Droupadi Murmu) was not allowed (at the event) as she is an Adivasi, he claimed. NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar) MLA Jitendra Awhad, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Kedar Dighe were present with Gandhi when his yatra entered Thane. At Bhiwandi in the district, Samajwadi Party MLA Raees Sheikh welcomed him.

The New Indian Express 16 Mar 2024 1:21 pm

Silver idols worth Rs 40,000 stolen from temple in Thane

The theft is suspected to have been carried out by an unnamed woman. The temple caretaker filed a complaint with Tilak Nagar police station in Dombivli East

Mid Day 16 Mar 2024 1:19 pm

Actor Amitabh Bachchan Dismisses Reports of Hospitalisation as 'Fake News'

Amitabh Bachchan and Abhishek Bachchan were spotted at the ISPL match in Thane on Friday.

The Quint 16 Mar 2024 11:43 am

Did Amitabh Bachchan deny Angioplasty reports? Here's the truth

Amitabh Bachchan recently made headlines after reports surfaced claiming he underwent angioplasty. However, the veteran actor dismissed these reports as fake news. A video of Bachchan exiting an event in Thane showed him denying the rumours about his health. Despite the initial concern, Bachchan's appearance at the event and subsequent blog post indicate that he is in good health and focused on his professional commitments.

The Economic Times 16 Mar 2024 11:24 am

Amitabh Bachchan dismisses reports of ill health as fake news

On Friday evening, the Bollywood star and his son Abhishek Bachchan were seen in Thane at the Dadoji Kondadev Stadium, at the finale of the Indian Street Premier League between Majhi Mumbai and Tiigers of Kolkata.

Money Control 16 Mar 2024 10:49 am

Amitabh Bachchan dismisses reports of ill health as fake news

On Friday evening, the Bollywood star and his son Abhishek Bachchan were seen in Thane at the Dadoji Kondadev Stadium, at the finale of the Indian Street Premier League between Majhi Mumbai and Tiigers of Kolkata.

Money Control 16 Mar 2024 10:49 am

Amitabh Bachchan dismisses reports of ill health as fake news

On Friday evening, the Bollywood star and his son Abhishek Bachchan were seen in Thane at the Dadoji Kondadev Stadium, at the finale of the Indian Street Premier League between Majhi Mumbai and Tiigers of Kolkata.

Money Control 16 Mar 2024 10:49 am

Amitabh Bachchan dismisses reports of ill health as fake news

On Friday evening, the Bollywood star and his son Abhishek Bachchan were seen in Thane at the Dadoji Kondadev Stadium, at the finale of the Indian Street Premier League between Majhi Mumbai and Tiigers of Kolkata.

Money Control 16 Mar 2024 10:49 am

Amitabh Bachchan dismisses reports of ill health as fake news

On Friday evening, the Bollywood star and his son Abhishek Bachchan were seen in Thane at the Dadoji Kondadev Stadium, at the finale of the Indian Street Premier League between Majhi Mumbai and Tiigers of Kolkata.

Money Control 16 Mar 2024 10:49 am

Amitabh Bachchan dismisses reports of ill health as fake news

On Friday evening, the Bollywood star and his son Abhishek Bachchan were seen in Thane at the Dadoji Kondadev Stadium, at the finale of the Indian Street Premier League between Majhi Mumbai and Tiigers of Kolkata.

Money Control 16 Mar 2024 10:49 am

Amitabh Bachchan dismisses reports of ill health as fake news

On Friday evening, the Bollywood star and his son Abhishek Bachchan were seen in Thane at the Dadoji Kondadev Stadium, at the finale of the Indian Street Premier League between Majhi Mumbai and Tiigers of Kolkata.

Money Control 16 Mar 2024 10:49 am

Amitabh Bachchan dismisses reports of ill health as fake news

On Friday evening, the Bollywood star and his son Abhishek Bachchan were seen in Thane at the Dadoji Kondadev Stadium, at the finale of the Indian Street Premier League between Majhi Mumbai and Tiigers of Kolkata.

Money Control 16 Mar 2024 10:49 am

Amitabh Bachchan dismisses reports of ill health as fake news

On Friday evening, the Bollywood star and his son Abhishek Bachchan were seen in Thane at the Dadoji Kondadev Stadium, at the finale of the Indian Street Premier League between Majhi Mumbai and Tiigers of Kolkata.

Money Control 16 Mar 2024 10:49 am

Amitabh Bachchan dismisses reports of ill health as fake news

On Friday evening, the Bollywood star and his son Abhishek Bachchan were seen in Thane at the Dadoji Kondadev Stadium, at the finale of the Indian Street Premier League between Majhi Mumbai and Tiigers of Kolkata.

Money Control 16 Mar 2024 10:49 am

Amitabh Bachchan dismisses reports of ill health as fake news

On Friday evening, the Bollywood star and his son Abhishek Bachchan were seen in Thane at the Dadoji Kondadev Stadium, at the finale of the Indian Street Premier League between Majhi Mumbai and Tiigers of Kolkata.

Money Control 16 Mar 2024 10:49 am

Amitabh Bachchan dismisses reports of ill health as fake news

On Friday evening, the Bollywood star and his son Abhishek Bachchan were seen in Thane at the Dadoji Kondadev Stadium, at the finale of the Indian Street Premier League between Majhi Mumbai and Tiigers of Kolkata.

Money Control 16 Mar 2024 10:49 am

Amitabh Bachchan dismisses reports of ill health as fake news

On Friday evening, the Bollywood star and his son Abhishek Bachchan were seen in Thane at the Dadoji Kondadev Stadium, at the finale of the Indian Street Premier League between Majhi Mumbai and Tiigers of Kolkata.

Money Control 16 Mar 2024 10:49 am

Amitabh Bachchan dismisses reports of ill health as fake news

On Friday evening, the Bollywood star and his son Abhishek Bachchan were seen in Thane at the Dadoji Kondadev Stadium, at the finale of the Indian Street Premier League between Majhi Mumbai and Tiigers of Kolkata.

Money Control 16 Mar 2024 10:49 am

Amitabh Bachchan dismisses reports of ill health as fake news

On Friday evening, the Bollywood star and his son Abhishek Bachchan were seen in Thane at the Dadoji Kondadev Stadium, at the finale of the Indian Street Premier League between Majhi Mumbai and Tiigers of Kolkata.

Money Control 16 Mar 2024 10:49 am

Amitabh Bachchan dismisses reports of ill health as fake news

On Friday evening, the Bollywood star and his son Abhishek Bachchan were seen in Thane at the Dadoji Kondadev Stadium, at the finale of the Indian Street Premier League between Majhi Mumbai and Tiigers of Kolkata.

Money Control 16 Mar 2024 10:49 am

Amitabh Bachchan dismisses reports of ill health as fake news

On Friday evening, the Bollywood star and his son Abhishek Bachchan were seen in Thane at the Dadoji Kondadev Stadium, at the finale of the Indian Street Premier League between Majhi Mumbai and Tiigers of Kolkata.

Money Control 16 Mar 2024 10:49 am

Amitabh Bachchan dismisses reports of ill health as fake news

On Friday evening, the Bollywood star and his son Abhishek Bachchan were seen in Thane at the Dadoji Kondadev Stadium, at the finale of the Indian Street Premier League between Majhi Mumbai and Tiigers of Kolkata.

Money Control 16 Mar 2024 10:49 am

Amitabh Bachchan dismisses reports of ill health as fake news

On Friday evening, the Bollywood star and his son Abhishek Bachchan were seen in Thane at the Dadoji Kondadev Stadium, at the finale of the Indian Street Premier League between Majhi Mumbai and Tiigers of Kolkata.

Money Control 16 Mar 2024 10:49 am

Amitabh Bachchan dismisses reports of ill health as fake news

On Friday evening, the Bollywood star and his son Abhishek Bachchan were seen in Thane at the Dadoji Kondadev Stadium, at the finale of the Indian Street Premier League between Majhi Mumbai and Tiigers of Kolkata.

Money Control 16 Mar 2024 10:49 am

Amitabh Bachchan dismisses reports of ill health as fake news

On Friday evening, the Bollywood star and his son Abhishek Bachchan were seen in Thane at the Dadoji Kondadev Stadium, at the finale of the Indian Street Premier League between Majhi Mumbai and Tiigers of Kolkata.

Money Control 16 Mar 2024 10:49 am

Amitabh Bachchan dismisses reports of ill health as fake news

On Friday evening, the Bollywood star and his son Abhishek Bachchan were seen in Thane at the Dadoji Kondadev Stadium, at the finale of the Indian Street Premier League between Majhi Mumbai and Tiigers of Kolkata.

Money Control 16 Mar 2024 10:49 am

Amitabh Bachchan dismisses reports of ill health as fake news

On Friday evening, the Bollywood star and his son Abhishek Bachchan were seen in Thane at the Dadoji Kondadev Stadium, at the finale of the Indian Street Premier League between Majhi Mumbai and Tiigers of Kolkata.

Money Control 16 Mar 2024 10:49 am

Amitabh Bachchan dismisses reports of ill health as fake news

On Friday evening, the Bollywood star and his son Abhishek Bachchan were seen in Thane at the Dadoji Kondadev Stadium, at the finale of the Indian Street Premier League between Majhi Mumbai and Tiigers of Kolkata.

Money Control 16 Mar 2024 10:49 am

Amitabh Bachchan dismisses reports of ill health as fake news

On Friday evening, the Bollywood star and his son Abhishek Bachchan were seen in Thane at the Dadoji Kondadev Stadium, at the finale of the Indian Street Premier League between Majhi Mumbai and Tiigers of Kolkata.

Money Control 16 Mar 2024 10:49 am

Amitabh Bachchan dismisses reports of ill health as fake news

On Friday evening, the Bollywood star and his son Abhishek Bachchan were seen in Thane at the Dadoji Kondadev Stadium, at the finale of the Indian Street Premier League between Majhi Mumbai and Tiigers of Kolkata.

Money Control 16 Mar 2024 10:49 am

Amitabh Bachchan dismisses reports of ill health as fake news

On Friday evening, the Bollywood star and his son Abhishek Bachchan were seen in Thane at the Dadoji Kondadev Stadium, at the finale of the Indian Street Premier League between Majhi Mumbai and Tiigers of Kolkata.

Money Control 16 Mar 2024 10:49 am

Amitabh Bachchan dismisses reports of ill health as fake news

On Friday evening, the Bollywood star and his son Abhishek Bachchan were seen in Thane at the Dadoji Kondadev Stadium, at the finale of the Indian Street Premier League between Majhi Mumbai and Tiigers of Kolkata.

Money Control 16 Mar 2024 10:49 am

Amitabh Bachchan dismisses reports of ill health as fake news

On Friday evening, the Bollywood star and his son Abhishek Bachchan were seen in Thane at the Dadoji Kondadev Stadium, at the finale of the Indian Street Premier League between Majhi Mumbai and Tiigers of Kolkata.

Money Control 16 Mar 2024 10:49 am

Amitabh Bachchan dismisses reports of ill health as fake news

On Friday evening, the Bollywood star and his son Abhishek Bachchan were seen in Thane at the Dadoji Kondadev Stadium, at the finale of the Indian Street Premier League between Majhi Mumbai and Tiigers of Kolkata.

Money Control 16 Mar 2024 10:49 am

Amitabh Bachchan dismisses reports of ill health as fake news

On Friday evening, the Bollywood star and his son Abhishek Bachchan were seen in Thane at the Dadoji Kondadev Stadium, at the finale of the Indian Street Premier League between Majhi Mumbai and Tiigers of Kolkata.

Money Control 16 Mar 2024 10:49 am

Amitabh Bachchan dismisses reports of ill health as fake news

On Friday evening, the Bollywood star and his son Abhishek Bachchan were seen in Thane at the Dadoji Kondadev Stadium, at the finale of the Indian Street Premier League between Majhi Mumbai and Tiigers of Kolkata.

Money Control 16 Mar 2024 10:49 am

Amitabh Bachchan Dismisses Rumors About Hospitalization, Calls It FAKE NEWS

In the wake of reports indicating that Amitabh Bachchan had an angioplasty following a recent hospital stay, the veteran actor seems to have dismissed such assertions. A video circulating on social media captures Bachchan exiting the Dadoji Kondadev Stadium in Thane. The final match of the Indian Street Premier League (ISPL) between Majhi Mumbai and [] Read on Lehren - Amitabh Bachchan Dismisses Rumors About Hospitalization, Calls It FAKE NEWS

lehren 16 Mar 2024 10:26 am

After hospitalisation scare, Amitabh Bachchan posts photo from ISPL finals

Amitabh Bachchan cheered for his team Majhi Mumbai`s final match against the Tigers of Kolkata. at the Dadoji Kondadev Stadium in Thane.

Mid Day 16 Mar 2024 10:08 am

Agreement on 9 seats eludes, MVA struggles to iron out differences

MUMBAI : The negotiations for seat-sharing within the Maha Vikas Aghadi coalition are nearing completion, although agreement is still pending on nine Lok Sabha constituencies. Contentious seats include Kolhapur, Sangli, Mumbai North West, Ramtek, Wardha, Bhiwandi, Yawatmal, Wasim, and Gondiya-Bhandara. A senior Congress leader indicated that the seat-sharing formula within the Maha Vikas Aghadi is close to finalisation, with 20 seats allocated for the Congress, 18 for the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena, and the remaining 10 for the Sharad Pawar-led NCP (SP). Negotiations are underway with the Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi, led by Prakash Ambedkar, and the Rashtriya Samaj Pak, led by Mahadev Jankar, who have respectively been offered four and one seat. 'Lazy attitude of MVA' is concerning: Prakash Ambedkar writes to Kharge on delay in seat-sharing agreements While Congress and Shiv Sena are prepared to allocate four seats to Prakash Ambedkar from their quota, NCP (SP) is willing to concede one seat to Mahadeo Jankar, likely the Madha Lok Sabha seat. However, the announcement of seat-sharing is pending until after a scheduled rally of Rahul Gandhi in Mumbai on Sunday. On the other hand, the seat-sharing arrangement within the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance has been settled. The BJP will contest 30 Lok Sabha seats, while CM Eknath Shindes Shiv Sena will contest 11 seats and DCM Ajit Pawars NCP will pursue seven seats in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. Nonetheless, six seats, including Amravati, South Mumbai, Osmanabad, Ratnagiri Sindhudurg, and Thane Lok Sabha seats, remain a bone of contention.

The New Indian Express 16 Mar 2024 8:28 am

Rahul Gandhi calls electoral bonds biggest extortion racket

Mumbai: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday alleged that electoral bonds was the biggest extortion racket in the world and investigative agencies were used as means to extort money. It is a serious crime that amounts to treason, he said. Speaking in Bhiwandi in Maharashtra during the last leg of the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra, the former Congress president lashed out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP over the electoral bonds scheme. Electoral bonds was the biggest extortion racket in world Funds for splitting political parties and toppling opposition governments came from electoral bonds, Gandhi said. A few years ago, PM Modi spoke about the political finance system and electoral bonds were introduced. But the concept has turned out to be the biggest extortion racket in the world as it was used to extort money from India's largest corporates. It was meant to intimidate corporates into giving money to the BJP, the Wayanad MP said. Speaking on electoral bonds and the contracts given by Congress or other opposition party-governed states, Gandhi claimed there was no correlation between the electoral bonds and the contracts given by Congress or other opposition parties' governments in states The question here is that months after a contract was given, the corporate was giving electoral bonds to the BJP, he said. Gandhi's remarks have come a day after the Election Commission of India (ECI) made public the electoral bond data shared to it by the State Bank of India (SBI) on its website. According to the data released by the Election Commission of India on its website on Thursday, the BJP has received Rs 6,060 crore over five years through the electoral bonds scheme, whereas Congress received 1,422 crore. Earlier, saying that nearly 88 per cent of the country's population is deprived of its rights, Gandhi appealed people to fight for their privileges. When people will start raising questions about their rights and start fighting for their participation (in power), there will be uproar in the country, said Gandhi at Wada in Thane district. Emphasising on the need of a caste census, the former Congress president said, OBCs, Dalits, tribals and backward communities constitute 88 per cent of the countrys population but their representation in different sectors, including administration, media and judiciary remains very low. In order to bring justice to them, it is necessary to conduct a nationwide caste. If the Congress was voted to power at the Centre, it will conduct such an exercise. The Wayanad Congress MP accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of doing little for the OBC population. Narendra Modi calls himself OBC, but the important question is, what did he do for the OBC community? Gandhi claimed that only six per cent of the population is controlling power and the countrys wealth. Funds of the country are being allotted to powerful organizations by collecting taxes from common citizens. While acquiring lands for various projects, the land of the poor sections of society is taken, but not of rich industrialists. Pradhan Mantri Pik Bima Yojana is not benefiting the farmers but the companies are benefiting, he said. The Wayanad Congress MP questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his contribution to the welfare of OBCs. Narendra Modi calls himself OBC, but the important question is what he did for the OBC community? he asked.

Deccan Chronicle 16 Mar 2024 7:24 am

Amitabh Bachchan discharged from hospital, spotted watching ISPL match in Thane

On Friday, the superstar was admitted to Kokilaben Hospital in Mumbai. A blood clot was found in his leg and he had to undergo an emergency angioplasty to remove the clot. Hours later, he was spotted enjoying a cricket match with his son and former cricketer Sachin Tendulkar.

The Economic Times 15 Mar 2024 11:25 pm

ED Raids Promoters and Directors of KBC Multi-trade Pvt Ltd. Under PMLA Act

The Enforcement Directorates Nagpur unit recently conducted search operations under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 (PMLA), targeting the promoters and directors of KBC Multi-trade Private Ltd. Commencing on March 8, the EDs operation targeted eight official and residential premises of the companys promoters and directors in Nashik and Thane. Subsequently, [] The post ED Raids Promoters and Directors of KBC Multi-trade Pvt Ltd. Under PMLA Act appeared first on Nagpur Today : Nagpur News .

nagpurtoday 15 Mar 2024 10:14 pm

Electoral bonds worlds biggest extortion racket, money used to split parties: Rahul

Thane: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday alleged that the electoral bonds scheme was the worlds biggest extortion racket and a brainchild of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Speaking at a press conference here, Gandhi, who is on the last leg of his `Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra, also claimed that the funds obtained through the scheme Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .

The Siasat Daily 15 Mar 2024 8:41 pm

PM Modi ran world's biggest extortion racket under electoral bonds: Rahul Gandhi

THANE: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday termed the scrapped electoral bonds scheme brought in by the BJP-led Union government as the iggest extortion racket in the world. The funds amassed through the scheme were used to split political parties and topple opposition governments, he alleged at a press conference here, a day after data pertaining to the scheme was made public following Supreme Court directions. Narendra Modi ran the worlds largest Extortion racket in the name of electoral bonds. Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) March 15, 2024 There was no correlation between the electoral bonds and the contracts given by Congress or other opposition parties' governments in states, said Gandhi, whose Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra is in Maharashtra in its last leg.

The New Indian Express 15 Mar 2024 8:00 pm

Maharashtra: One worker killed in fire at chemical factory in Thane

A worker was killed in a fire that erupted at a chemical factory in an industrial area in Thane district of Maharashtra

Mid Day 15 Mar 2024 6:53 pm

Thane: Excise dept seizes prohibited alcohol worth Rs 1.16 crore; 2 held

The excise department sleuths, acting on an intel, intercepted a truck near an eatery at Kasara in Thane district on Wednesday.

Mid Day 15 Mar 2024 10:20 am

Electoral bonds data exposes BJP's 'corrupt tactics': Congress

Electoral bonds data exposes BJP's 'corrupt tactics': Congress The Congress on Friday alleged that the electoral bonds data has exposed ''corrupt tactics'' of the BJP such as quid pro quo, seeking donations for the company's protection, kickbacks and money laundering through shell companies. Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh also said the party continues to demand unique bond ID numbers, so that it can precisely match donors to recipients. In a post on X, Ramesh put out a ''quick first analysis'' of the Electoral Bonds (EB)data disclosure that the SBI put out after weeks of ''attempting to postpone it until after the election''. ''Over 1,300 companies and individuals have donated electoral bonds, including over 6,000 crore to the BJP since 2019,'' he said. So far, the electoral bonds data exposes at least four corrupt tactics of the BJP, Ramesh claimed. ''Quid Pro Quo: There are many cases of companies that have donated electoral bonds, and immediately afterwards gotten huge benefits from the government: Megha Engineering & Infra has given over Rs. 800 crores in EBs. In April 2023, they donated Rs. 140 crore, and just one month later, they were awarded the Rs. 14,400 crore Thane-Borivali Twin Tunnel Project,'' he alleged. Jindal Steel and Power gave Rs. 25 crore in EBs on 7 October 2022, and just three days later, they won the Gare Palma IV/6 coal mine, on 10th October 2022, Ramesh claimed. ''Hafta Vasooli: The BJP's Hafta Vasooli strategy is simple raid a target through the ED/CBI/IT, and then seek hafta (''donations'') for the company's protection. At least 14 of the top 30 donors have been raided,'' he alleged. Earlier this year an investigation found that after ED/CBI/IT raids, companies were forced to donate to the BJP via electoral trusts, Ramesh said. Many of the same companies have donated through EBs, like Hetero Pharma and Yashoda Hospital, he pointed out. ''The IT department raided Shirdi Sai Electricals in December 2023, and in January 2024, they donated Rs. 40 crore through Electoral Bonds,'' the Congress leader claimed. ''Future Gaming & Hotels, has donated over Rs 1200 crore, making it the largest donor in the data so far. Here is the chronology: April 2 2022: ED raids Future, and 5 days later (7th April) they donate Rs. 100 crores in EBs,'' Ramesh claimed. IT department raids Future in October 2023 and the same month they donate Rs. 65 crores in EBs, he said. Ramesh also alleged that the data also points to kickbacks as a pattern emerges where immediately after receiving some handouts from the Central government, companies have repaid the favour through electoral bonds. ''Vedanta got the Radhikapur West private coal mine on 3rd March 2021, and then in April 2021, they donated Rs. 25 crore in Electoral Bonds,'' he alleged. ''Megha Engineering & Infra got the Rs. 4,500 crore Zojila tunnel project in August 2020, then donated Rs. 20 crore in Electoral Bonds in October 2020,'' Ramesh said. He also claimed that Megha got the BKC bullet train station contract in December 2022, and donated Rs. 56 crore the same month. Ramesh alleged that data also shows there has been money laundering through shell companies. ''One huge issue with the electoral bonds scheme is that it removed the restriction that only a small percentage of a company's profits could be donated, paving the way for shell companies to donate black money. There are many such suspicious cases, such as the Rs. 410 crore that has been donated by Qwik Supply Chain Limited, a company whose entire share capital is just Rs. 130 crores according to MoCA filings,'' he said. The Congress leader said another major issue is missing data. The data provided by SBI only begins in April 2019, but SBI sold the first tranche of bonds in March 2018. ''A total of Rs. 2,500 crores in bonds are missing from this data. Where is the data of these missing bonds, from March 2018 to April 2019? For instance, in the very first tranche of bonds, the BJP bagged 95% of the funds. Who is the BJP trying to protect?'' he said. ''As the analysis of the electoral bonds data continues, many more such cases of the BJP's corruption will become clear. We also continue to demand unique bond ID numbers, so that we can precisely match donors to recipients,'' Ramesh said. Ramesh also alleged that the data points to kickbacks as a pattern emerges where immediately after receiving some handouts from the Central government, companies have repaid the favour through electoral bonds. From steel tycoon Lakshmi Mittal to billionaire Sunil Bharti Mittal's Airtel, Anil Agarwal's Vedanta, ITC, Mahindra and Mahindra, and a lesser-known Future Gaming and Hotel Services were among the prominent buyers of the now-scrapped electoral bonds for making political donations. Following a Supreme Court directive, the State Bank of India (SBI), which was the authorised seller of electoral bonds, shared the data with the poll panel on March 12. The top court had given the Election Commission time till 5 pm on March 15 to upload the data on its website. The SBI said a total of 22,217 electoral bonds of varying denominations were purchased by donors between April 1, 2019, and February 15 this year, out of which 22,030 were redeemed by political parties.

devdiscourse 15 Mar 2024 9:39 am

Rahul Gandhi promises farm loan waiver

MUMBAI: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Thursday said that the INDIA bloc, if voted to power, will try to keep the farm produce out of the GST ambit, and promised loan waiver for farmers and restructuring of crop insurance scheme. We will appoint an experts committee and try to get the farmers produce out of the GST ambit. BJP and (PM) Modi had no respect for the farmers and nothing has been done for them, Rahul Gandhi said, addressing a onion growers rally in Maharashtras Nashik district as part of his Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra. Government is not buying the farmers produce as per minimum support price (MSP). There are many farm products which are sold below the MSP. Congress will work for the farmers and address their issues, he said. The yatra will conclude on March 17 in Mumbai where Gandhi will address a mega rally at Shivaji Park. The Congress leader said that whenever the onion farmers bring their produce to market, the government changes its import and export policies resulting in a crash the domestic onion prices. Through the GST, various taxes are imposed on the farmers produce that increases input cost many folds. He said when farmers onion prices crashed, no major media highlighted the issue because of pressure. Rahul Gandhi said that when they come to power at the Centre, they will implement the Dr Swaminathan Commission report. The implementation of this report will help farmers get fair prices for their products in the open market. The Congress leader said, We will also ensure that farmers whose crops are affected will be given insurance by the insurance firms. We also plan to restructure crop insurance so many farmers will get the benefit of it. He said BJP has not waived the farmers loans but written off a few corporates loans amounting over `14 lakh crore. There was no immediate reaction from the BJP to Gandhis statements. Prohibitory orders issued, drones banned in view of Rahuls yatra in Thane The Thane district administration on Thursday issued prohibitory orders in connection with the arrival of the Rahul Gandhi-led Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra here and imposed bans on parachute gliding and use of drones, an official said. The order has been issued by Thane Collector Ashok Shingare under Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) section 144, a release from the district administration said. The Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra is to enter Thane district rural limits on March 15 and camp at Sonale, Bhiwandi. On March 16, it will proceed to the limits of the Thane city police commissionerate, the order said.

The New Indian Express 15 Mar 2024 8:23 am

Excise dept seizes 1,502 boxes of prohibited liquor in Thane district

Excise dept seizes 1,502 boxes of prohibited liquor in Thane district The Maharashtra government's excise department has arrested two men from Punjab for illegally transporting more than 1,500 boxes of Indian-Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL), an official said here. Acting on a tip-off, a flying squad of the department intercepted a truck on Wednesday near a roadside eatery at Kasara on Nashik-Mumbai road, said superintendent of state excise Nilesh Sangde. Inside, the team found 1,502 bottles of IMFL, being smuggled into Maharashtra though the liquor was produced in Punjab and Arunachal Pradesh and was allowed to be sold only in those two states. The value of the seized liquor and truck together was Rs 1.31 crore, the official said. Jaspal Tarsemlal Singh (50) and Gurdayal Gurdasram Singh (44), both from Punjab, were arrested and further probe was on.

devdiscourse 14 Mar 2024 10:31 pm

Prohibitory orders issued in view of Rahul Gandhi-led yatra`s arrival in Thane

The Thane district administration in Maharashtra on Thursday issued prohibitory orders in connection with the arrival of the Rahul Gandhi-led Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra

Mid Day 14 Mar 2024 10:25 pm

Thane Police book husband, in-laws for woman`s death over dowry

Nikhil Agrawal`s family took a dowry of Rs 50 lakhs before his wedding with Namrata & later demanded an additional Rs 50 lakhs to purchase a flat, said Thane Police.

Mid Day 14 Mar 2024 4:33 pm

Mera Balam Thanedaar on location: Bulbul & Veer prepare cook together for everyone

TV show Mera Balam Thanedaar has been entertaining fans with its new twists and turns recently. Fans are loving the chemistry between Bulbul and Veer. In the upcoming episodes, fans will witness how Veer helps Bulbul prepare a meal for everyone. The two cook together and spend some quality time with one another.#balamthanedar #shagunpandey #shrutichoudhary Check out the video to know more.

The Times of India 14 Mar 2024 4:27 pm

Hinduphobia on the rise in the US, says Congressman Shri Thanedar

Indian-American Congressman Shri Thanedar and Hindu leaders and organizations are calling for action against the rise of Hinduphobia in the US. They highlight incidents of hate crimes against the Hindu community and advocate for religious freedom and the fight against hatred. Hindu American Foundation representative Suhag Shukla emphasizes the need to address anti-Hindu bias on college campuses. The HinduAction and Namaste-Shalom Multifaith Alliance are urging Congress to formally recognize the issue.

The Economic Times 14 Mar 2024 11:49 am

Chennai Singams roar into ISPL semi-finals

Thane, Mar 14 (UNI) Chennai Singams roared into the semi-finals of the Indian Street Premier League (ISPL) with a spirited defence, comprehensively winning their last round-robin T10 match against Falcon Risers Hyderabad by 13 runs on Wednesday night. Having managed to score 93 in their ten overs, Chennai responded with a scintillating show with the... The post Chennai Singams roar into ISPL semi-finals first appeared on Central India's Premier English Daily .

Central Chronicle 14 Mar 2024 10:08 am

MMK supports DMK, seeks at least one Rajya Sabha seat

TIRUCHY: Despite disappointment over not being allocated a seat, Manithaneya Makkal Katchi (MMK) on Wednesday announced that it would extend support to the DMK-led alliance in the upcoming Lok Sabha election. Its president, however, has sought at least a seat in the 2025 RS election. A resolution on support for the INDIA bloc was adopted at a state executive committee meeting led by party president MH Jawahirullah in Tiruchy. Another resolution adopted urged the DMK to allocate a seat to the MMK in the 2025 Rajya Sabha election while a third one was on the partys plans to move the Supreme Court against the implementation of the CAA. Addressing media persons, Jawahirullah said, Though we have not been allocated a seat, we have decided to support the INDIA bloc in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry to save the country from fascism and religious fanaticism that the BJP promotes. On being asked how party members felt about not being allocated a seat in the Lok Sabha election, the MMK leader said, With pain and perseverance we urged the DMK to allocate a seat for our party. The committee meeting has also stressed on it. Even if that is not possible now, at least allocate a Rajya Sabha seat for us when six vacancies are about to arise in 2025. Though the party unanimously decided to extend support to the DMK-led alliance, sources said that the executive committee members were disappointed over not being allocated a seat in the upcoming polls and that they urged the leadership to express it by adopting a resolution. A party office-bearer said, It raises a serious question on the future of political parties in Tamil Nadu representing minorities. It is painful to have left our party, which is a long-time ally, without a seat. However, in order to defeat the BJP our only option is to go with the DMK. 2024 Lok Sabha elections: DMK gives Congress 10 seats, one Rajya Sabha seat to MNM DMK finalises Left partners seats, swaps Dindigul for Kovai with CPM Sources said many functionaries who spoke in the meeting were furious over DMK. The party leader Jawahirullah had to pacify them. Sources added that a Tiruchy functionary and few others spoke in favor of DMK by pointing out its recent move of releasing long term Islamic prisoners and its firm stand in opposing CAA. Also, they insisted the party to be with DMK as they represent the larger interest of the Muslim community.

The New Indian Express 14 Mar 2024 9:47 am

30:11:7 - BJP seals Maha alliance deal, Kalyan could still see bargaining

MUMBAI: The BJP on Wednesday announced its candidates for 20 of the 48 Lok Sabha seats in Maharashtra, bringing an end to speculation over a rift in the Mahayuti alliance. The BJP will contest 30 seats, leaving 11 for the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena and seven for Ajit Pawars NCP, according to highly-placed sources. The allocation of the remaining seats is likely to be declared either late on Thursday evening or Friday. The BJPs insistence on fielding candidates from 32 seats was disturbing their alliance partners' arithmetic, therefore, the seat sharing formula had to be reworked multiple times, sources in the NDA said. Nitin Gadkari, Piyush Goyal, Anurag Thakur in BJP's second list of 72 candidates for Lok Sabha polls BJPs alliance partners NCP (AP) will get seven seats four for its sitting MPs and three additional seats Gadchiroli, Osmanabad and Parbhani, while the Shiv Sena (Shinde) has 13 MPs, but two of its sitting lawmakers will be denied the ticket where the BJP will contest. The two seats of the Shiv Sena (Shinde) that the BJP is eyeing are South Mumbai where state assembly speaker Rahul Narvekar is likely to be fielded and Thane or Kalyan, said a source, requesting anonymity. He further added that the BJP was hopeful of getting Kalyan where it has strong chances to win, but Eknath Shinde is not in favour of denying ticket to his son and sitting Shiv Sena MP Dr Shreekant Shinde. Chances are Thane may be given to the BJP. Former minister Ganesh Naiks name has been discussed as the BJP candidate there. The discussion is on and the final decision will be taken soon, he added. A senior NCP leader said that after meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi, they had planned another meeting in Delhi for finetuning the seat sharing, but for some reason, the scheduled visit got cancelled. We are in touch with the state BJP leadership and in touch with the BJPs top leadership over the phone. Most of the differences are ironed out and by Thursday evening or Friday, the seat sharing formula of Mahayuti in Maharashtra will be declared, he added. The grand plan that played out in Haryana and how it is advantage BJP now

The New Indian Express 14 Mar 2024 1:00 am

Methane emissions from energy sector rose in 2023 despite climate pledges

Methane emissions from energy sector rose in 2023 despite climate pledges Methane emissions from the energy sector remained near a record high in 2023 despite commitments from the sector to plug leaking infrastructure in a bid to combat climate change, a report by the International Energy Agency said on Wednesday. Methane emissions from human activities such as oil and natural gas production, agriculture, and landfills are short-lived in the atmosphere but many times more potent than carbon dioxide as a greenhouse gas. They have driven about a third of the rise in global temperatures since the industrial revolution. Production and use of fossil fuels put more than 120 million metric tons of methane into the atmosphere last year, a slight rise over 2022, the IEA report said. Large methane plumes from leaky fossil fuel infrastructure also jumped by 50% in 2023 compared with 2022, the IEA report said. One super-emitting event, detected by satellites, was a well blowout in Kazakhstan that lasted more than 200 days. Emissions from fossil fuel operations remain unacceptably high, said IEA chief energy economist Tim Gould. Methane emissions have held around 130 million metric tons level since 2019, the record high year when the IEA started its Global Methane Tracker. This is despite a commitment made by more than 150 countries since 2021 to reduce global methane emissions by at least 30% from 2020 levels by the end of this decade. Dozens of oil companies have also voluntarily committed to reduce emissions. But 2024 is likely to mark a urning point, Gould said, as new satellites help to improve monitoring and transparency around methane leaks, allowing companies to quickly fix them. SATELLITE TECHNOLOGY Earlier this month, a new methane-detecting satellite backed by Alphabet Inc's Google and the Environmental Defense Fund went into orbit. The European Space Agency and another satellite-based tracker known as GHGSat already monitor methane emissions, but the new MethaneSAT will provide greater detail and have a wider field of view. 2024 is going to be a watershed moment for action and transparency on methane, said Christophe McGlade, head of energy supply for the IEA. With methane being the main component of natural gas, oil and gas companies have an incentive to capture emissions to sell as fuel. An average of about 3% of oil and gas supplies at key U.S. production sites may be escaping as methane, three times higher than national government estimates, a study published on Wednesday in the journal Nature found. The U.S. is the largest national emitter of methane from oil and gas operations, the IEA said. Using 1 million aerial measurements gathered over several years, scientists estimated oil and gas operations in six regions which include Texas, California and Colorado may have released 6.2 million tons annually of methane emissions, the Nature study said. Such methane leaks, therefore, could be costing oil and gas companies $1.08 billion in market losses, it said.

devdiscourse 13 Mar 2024 9:32 pm

Boy from Mumbai middle class tops in MBBS, receives gold medal

By Heena Fatima At the recent convocation ceremony held by Maharashtra University of Health Sciences (MUHS), Nashik (Maharashtra), Aakif Reshamwala received a gold medal for topping in general medicine of MBBS final exams. Since he graduated from the prestigious Rajiv Gandhi Medical College, Kalwa in Thane district, the college too celebrated the achievement of this Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .

The Siasat Daily 13 Mar 2024 7:48 pm

Thane: Cleaner killed as gutter slap collapses under weight of sand-laden dumper

Civic officials stated that the incident occurred between Tuesday and Wednesday night in Kashimira, which is located in the Mira-Bhayandar district

Mid Day 13 Mar 2024 5:49 pm

Navi Mumbai Airport to get tourism zone

Mumbai is poised to establish a dedicated tourism zone adjacent to the forthcoming greenfield international airport in Navi Mumbai. Spanning 1,000 acres, this zone will be located near key growth centers like Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, Thane, and Raigad. It aims to offer a blend of amenities including restaurants, amusement parks, hotels, and training institutes... The post Navi Mumbai Airport to get tourism zone first appeared on India's Top Travel News Source: TravelBiz Monitor .

travelbizmonitor 13 Mar 2024 5:45 pm

Reliance Ethane Holding invests Rs 853 crore in subsidiaries

Reliance Ethane Holding Pte Ltd. (REHPL), a subsidiary of Reliance Industries, invested Rs 284 crore each in three subsidiariesEthane Coral LLC, Ethane Diamond LLC, and Ethane Jade LLCtotaling Rs 852.8 crore ($102.90 million).

The Economic Times 13 Mar 2024 3:50 pm

Mera Balam Thanedaar on location: Bulbul & Veer get an inch closer

TV show Mera Balam Thanedaar has been winning hearts ever since its start. Fans are loving the chemistry between Bulbul and Veer. In the upcoming episodes, fans will see how Bulbul and Veer come an inch closer and spend some time together. The newlyweds enjoy quality time together.#balamthanedar #shagunpandey #shrutichoudhary Check out the video to know more.

The Times of India 13 Mar 2024 3:26 pm

Reliance Ethane Holding invests in three wholly owned subsidiaries

New Delhi, March 13 (IANS) Reliance Ethane Holding Pte Ltd (REHPL), a wholly owned subsidiary of Reliance Industries, has invested in 34,300,000 ordinary shares of face value of USD 1 each for cash at par, in each of its three wholly owned subsidiaries, viz., Ethane Coral LLC, Ethane Diamond LLC and Ethane Jade LLC (Ethane []

bhaskarlive 13 Mar 2024 2:08 pm

Methane emissions from energy sector rose in 2023: IEA

Slashing emissions of methane is essential to meeting international targets on climate change, the International Energy Agency said.

The Hindu 13 Mar 2024 12:43 pm