Language violence peaks in Maharashtra as MNS workers assault shopkeeper
Additionally, India Today has accessed Air India's compensation forms sent to the families of victims of the AI-171 plane crash. The forms ask for details about the victim's employment status and financial dependency of family members, triggering controversy. A UK-based law firm representing over 40 families alleges that Air India is coercing families into submitting financial disclosures, which the airline denies, calling the charges unsubstantiated and inaccurate. Air India states it has already paid interim relief to 47 families and has support staff assisting families. The controversy raises questions about the fairness of this practice and its impact on grieving families, with lawsuits seeking enhanced compensation from Air India and possibly Boeing expected to be filed in the coming days.
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Hans India
33 minutes ago
- Hans India
Thackeray brothers to address joint victory rally today to celebrate Maha govt's turnaround on Hindi from Grade 1
Mumbai: Uddhav Thackeray and Raj Thackeray will on Saturday participate in a joint victory rally organised by the Shiv Sena (UBT) and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), in Worli Dome to celebrate the MahaYuti government's decision to withdraw two government resolutions on the introduction of Hindi from Classes 1 to 5. It will be the first joint rally of the Thackeray cousin brothers Uddhav and Raj, after the split in the Shiv Sena in 2005. Amid talks of coming together ahead of the upcoming BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections slated to be held within the next six months, Uddhav and Raj have decided to jointly rake up the issues of Marathi language and 'Marathi Manoos' in a serious bid to corner the BJP-led MahaYuti government in Maharashtra. Both the parties have decided not to display party flags and banners but the Shiv Sainiks and ManSainiks have worked hard to put up a major show of strength on Saturday. Uddhav and Raj Thackeray will be seen on the same platform as they will reach the joint rally venue at 11.30 A.M. Before they speak, the Communist leader Prakash Reddy, the Peasants and Workers Party of India leader Jayant Patil and NCP (SP) leader and party MP Supriya Sule will address the rally. Incidentally, NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar has conveyed his inability to be part of the joint rally due to prior engagements but said his party is against the imposition of Hindi in Maharashtra. The senior Pawar chose to stay away so that the focus will remain on both the Thackeray brothers. The Congress has decided not to join the rally especially due to differences with Raj Thackeray's protests against Hindi speaking people, especially North Indians. Shiv Sena (UBT) and MNS sources said that if the Congress decides to join at the last moment the party representative will be given an opportunity to address the joint rally. Big screens have been installed inside and outside the joint rally venue as the organisers expect a big turnout. Both the Thackeray cousins have said that the issue of imposition of Hindi is not yet over as the government's move to appoint the Narendra Jadhav committee is meaningless and they will continue to oppose the introduction of Hindi.
The Hindu
38 minutes ago
- The Hindu
A.P. CM urged to exert pressure on Centre to drop VSP ‘strategic sale' plan
The tendering for Expression of Interest (EOI) to hand over the operation and maintenance of Raw Material Handling Plant (RMHP) and Sinter Plant departments in Visakhapatnam Steel Plant (VSP) will pave the way for its privatisation, opined the speakers at a roundtable on Friday. The meeting was organised by the Visakha Ukku Parirakshna Porata Committee (VUPPC) at Alluri Vignana Kendram. Andhra Pradesh Intellectuals' Forum convener Chalasani Srinivas, VUPPC chairmen Ch. Narasinga Rao, D. Adinarayana and Mantri Rajasekhar, convener K.S.N. Rao, Visakhapatnam district trade unions JAC chairman M. Jaggunaidu, vice-chairman M. Manmadha Rao, CFTUI national president N. Kanaka Rao, AITUC leaders K. Satyanarayana, Sk. Rahaman, CITU leader U. Ramaswamy, INTUC leader Ramana Murthy, VUPPC leaders Varasala Srinivasa Rao, David and TVK Raju were among those who participated. They sought that Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, Deputy Chief Minister K. Pawan Kalyan should exert pressure on the Centre to 'protect the VSP'. The participants demanded the withdrawal of the call for EOI. They sought a halt to the termination of contract workers and the immediate restoration of the services of workers who have already been terminated. Alleging that 'the process to privatise VSP' was hastened after TDP-led NDA government came to power, they said that the government had purchased 60 lakh tonnes of steel from a private company in Raipur for the construction of the capital city in Amaravati, instead of procuring the same from the VSP. They alleged that the police force was being used against the workers who had been opposing the privatisation move. The VSP plant management was resorting to various methods to cut down its workforce. Already, 1,125 workers have been given VRS, and 4,000 contract workers shown the door without any standard procedures. The roundtable adopted resolutions on several demands—to revoke the decision of strategic sale of VSP in the coming Parliament sessions, allocation of captive mines to the VSP, restoration of the services of contract workers, and stopping the privatisation of various departments in the name of 'operation and maintenance'.
Indian Express
40 minutes ago
- Indian Express
Meet the latest MNS leaders enforcing Marathi one slap at a time
Among the seven Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) supporters booked by police in Mira Bhayandar, Thane district, on the charges of assaulting a shopkeeper after demanding that he speak in Marathi, three are office-bearers or active members of the party. Identified via video footage of the incident, which is part of the investigation, the three are members of the MNS Mira Bhayandar unit, led by its 'City Chief' Sandeep Rane. In addition to registering an FIR, the police Friday also initiated proceedings against the seven, requiring them to sign bonds promising not to engage in any criminal activity. Senior Inspector Rajendra Kambale of Kashimira Police Station said preventive notices have been served on the seven and investigation is on to verify the sequence of events. The Mira Bhayandar incident follows several such incidents involving MNS workers. In December last year, some of its activists slapped a shopkeeper at Girgaon in south Mumbai, a day after he allegedly asked a woman to speak to him in Marwari instead of Marathi. No complaint was lodged in the incident. In March this year, MNS workers were accused of slapping an employee of a leading supermarket store in Mumbai for not speaking in Marathi. The following month, MNS chief Raj Thackeray said at a Gudi Padwa rally that Marathi should be made mandatory for all official purposes in the state, and said people should not hesitate to slap anyone who refuses to speak Marathi. The same month, police in Powai, Mumbai, booked three MNS members and a grocery app delivery agent for allegedly slapping a security guard of a Powai residential society for not speaking in Marathi. They also forced the guard to apologise, the police complaint stated. In June, MNS workers attacked an auto-rickshaw driver in Mumbai and forced him to apologise for allegedly using objectionable language against a Marathi-speaking passenger as well as Raj Thackeray. The matters are in court. Following the latest incident, Rane, the Mira Bhayandar MNS chief, said the shop owner was to blame as he started arguing with his party workers who were celebrating the withdrawal of the three-language policy order by the government, and insulted the Marathi language. 'We do not support the assault, but at the same time, we will also not tolerate the insult of Marathi language and Marathi-speaking people,' Rane said. MNS spokesperson Sandip Deshpande claimed the same. Asked about the FIRs against MNS workers, he said the law had to take its course, 'but we will not tolerate the insult of Marathi'. The three MNS leaders behind latest case: The 'Deputy City Chief' of the MNS in the Mira Bhayandar region, Kandangire has been active in the party for the past six years, regularly organising protests and political activities in the area. He is considered a close aide of Sandeep Rane, and is frequently seen with him at party events. There are also photographs of Kandangire with MNS chief Raj Thackeray and his son Amit Thackeray on several occasions. Kandangire, who is married, runs a 'labour supply' and 'real estate services' business. Police records show he was previously booked in a case of obstructing a public servant during Covid-19. He was part of a group of MNS workers who allegedly created disturbance at the Vasai Virar Mira Bhayandar Municipal Corporation office, accusing civic officials of consuming alcohol on duty. After the FIR was filed against him, Kandangire posted on social media: 'I have many non-Marathi-speaking friends… and they respect Marathi-speaking people and Marathi language. But there are some who despise Marathi language and Marathi people. They should always be shown their place.' Nilekat is the 'District Organiser' of the MNS's Vaahtuk Sena (transport wing). Also associated with the party for several years, he like Kandangire has been actively involved in the MNS's organisational work in the Mira Bhayandar region. He also took part in the Maratha quota agitation, and is seen as close to Rane. Nilekat, who is married, runs an outlet selling pastries, cakes and ice-cream in Mira Bhayandar. There are no previous police cases registered against him. A party worker who lives in Dahisar, Mumbai, unlike the other two who are based in Mira Bhayandar, Dalvi, who is married, is employed with a private firm. He too has been active in the Mira Bhayandar unit of the MNS, organising party activities. He has no other cases registered against him.
