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महाराष्ट्र में विधानसभा चुनाव की तारीख जैसे-जैसे नजदीक आ रही है, सूबे का सियासी पारा हाई होता जा रहा है. यूपी के सीएम योगी आदित्यनाथ के ‘बंटेंगे तो कटेंगे’ नारे को लेकर अजित पवार ने सवाल उठाए हैं. अजित ने कहा कि महाराष्ट्र शिवाजी, आंबेडकर, शाहू जी महाराज की धरती है. महाराष्ट्र में बाहर के लोग आकर ऐसे विचार बोल जाते हैं, दूसरे राज्यों के बीजेपी सीएम तय करें कि उन्हें क्या बोलना है. इसके साथ ही उनकी पार्टी के नेता नवाब मलिक ने आजतक से खास बातचीत में कहा कि जो लोग इस तरह के बयान दे रहे हैं, उन्हें इसका फायदा नहीं, बल्कि नुकसान होगा.

शिवसेना नेता संजय निरूपम ने कहा था कि अजीत दादा नहीं समझ रहे हैं, लेकिन आगे समझ जाएंगे. ‘बंटेंगे तो कटेंगे’ ये लाइन बिल्कुल ठीक है. इस पर नवाब मलिक ने कहा कि शिवसेना का नजरिया बदल रहा है. 

‘कोई नकारात्मक राजनीतिक करेगा तो लोग उसे स्वीकार नहीं करेंगे’

अजित पवार के बयान को लेकर नवाब मलिक ने कहा कि हमारी पार्टी की विचारधारा साफ है, हम धर्म पर आधारित राजनीति नहीं करते. हमें ऐसी पॉलिटिक्स स्वीकार नहीं है. हमार धर्मनिरपेक्षता औऱ लोकतांत्रिक मूल्यों में विश्वास रखते हैं. हमारा स्पष्ट मत है कि अगर कोई ऐसा बयान देता है तो वह गलत है. उन्होंने कहा कि धर्मनिरपेक्षता ही भारत की एकता का मूलमंत्र है. चुनाव में ऐसे बयान देने से उसकी चर्चा हो जाती है, लेकिन मुझे लगता है कि एकता ही सबसे बड़ा मंत्र है. अगर कोई नकारात्मक राजनीतिक करेगा तो लोग उसे स्वीकार नहीं करते, यूपी का नतीजा दर्शाता है कि ऐसे बयानों को लोगों की सहमति नहीं है.

‘हम बंटवारे की राजनीति नहीं करते’

एनसीपी कैंडिडेट नवाब मलिक ने कहा कि हमारी राजनीति साफ है कि महाराष्ट्र में जो भी ऐसी राजनीति करता है, अजितजी उसके खिलाफ खड़े होते हैं. उन्होंने कहा कि कुछ दल ऐसे भी हैं जो मुस्लिमों का वोट चाहते हैं, लेकिन उनके मुद्दों पर बोलने से परहेज करते हैं. उन्होंने कहा कि हम सभी को साथ में लेकर चलना चाहते हैं. जो भी बंटवारे की राजनीति करते हैं, उन्हें भी हम मैसेज देना चाहते हैं कि आप ऐसी राजनीति न करें, ये देशहित और जनहित में नहीं है. हम ऐसी राजनीति नहीं करते.

‘मोदीजी की पार्टी मेरे खिलाफ चुनाव लड़ रही’

एनसीपी अपनी चुनावी रैली में पीएम मोदी की तस्वीर का इस्तेमाल नहीं कर रही है, इस पर नवाब मलिक ने कहा कि मोदीजी की पार्टी तो मेरे खिलाफ चुनाव लड़ रही है. उन्होंने कहा कि ये हमारी मर्जी है कि हम किसका फोटो इस्तेमाल करें, किसके नाम पर वोट मांगें. हम अपनी विचारधारा पर वोट मांग रहे हैं, हम अपने नेताओं का फोटो इस्तेमाल करेंगे. हम अपने विचारों पर डटकर खड़े हुए हैं. विचारों से हमारा कोई समझौता नहीं है.

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has announced it may contest a few seats in next month’s Maharashtra assembly elections. Led by Arvind Kejriwal, AAP is part of the opposition’s INDIA bloc. In Maharashtra, three constituents of this bloc—Shiv Sena (UBT), Congress, and NCP (SP)—are competing under the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) banner against the ruling Mahayuti alliance.

Addressing a press conference at Kudal in Maharashtra’s coastal Sindhudurg district on Friday, AAP’s Goa unit president Amit Palekar said his party is working on strengthening its base in the Konkan belt, particularly in Sindhudurg and Ratnagiri districts, and also in Kolhapur in western Maharashtra, PTI reported.

The party has grown substantially in the Konkan belt, as the local population is looking at alternatives to BJP’s Union minister Narayan Rane and his “politics of vendetta”, he said.

“The AAP stands strongly with the INDIA bloc allies for the November 20 Maharashtra elections but if political developments permit, then the party may stake claim on a couple of seats where it is in a winnable position,” Palekar said. “There is a lot of pressure from the local party workers in Kolhapur as well as Sindhudurg to field party candidates for the upcoming elections,” he said. 

Palekar, who is the party’s Sindhudurg district in-charge, said the residents of Konkan were respectful and cannot tolerate Rane family’s “language of arrogance”.

“Clean and honest politics is the need of the hour and only dedicated politicians can do it,” he noted.

Elections for the 288-member Maharashtra Legislative Assembly are set to take place in a single phase on November 20, with vote counting scheduled for November 23.

Eknath Shinde became Chief Minister in June 2022 after a split in the Shiv Sena and has navigated various challenges while leading the coalition government. His journey from starting as a rickshaw driver to reaching the highest political office in Maharashtra is considered a remarkable underdog story.

The latest footage from the scene near Nirmal Nagar in Bandra East shows the location where NCP leader Baba Siddique was shot late last night.

Also Read: Baba Siddique Murder Live Updates: Ex-minister and NCP leader shot dead in Mumbai; two accused held

His body has been transported to Cooper Hospital for a post-mortem, after he succumbed to bullet injuries at Lilavati Hospital.

Also Read: Baba Siddique shot dead: ‘If this can happen to someone with Y security, then how can…’, Oppn leaders question govt

Siddique, a former Maharashtra minister and leader in Ajit Pawar’s faction of the NCP, was shot near Nirmal Nagar in Bandra and later died from his injuries at Lilavati Hospital late Saturday night.

His body was kept at the hospital, where a significant crowd of politicians and celebrities gathered to pay their respects to his family. Siddique, a three-time MLA from Bandra West, had joined Ajit Pawar’s NCP earlier this year after leaving the Congress.

Chief Minister Shinde described the incident as “extremely unfortunate,” stating that two suspects have been arrested, while one remains at large.

“This is an extremely unfortunate incident. I spoke with the doctors and the police. Two people have been arrested — the accused are from Uttar Pradesh and Haryana. The third accused is absconding. We have instructed Mumbai Police to take strict action against those who take law and order into their hands,” Shinde told reporters in Thane, CM Shinde told reporters a day earlier.

Doctors at Lilavati Hospital said that Baba Siddique sustained two gunshot wounds to his chest before being admitted for emergency treatment around 9:30 PM on Saturday.

Despite extensive resuscitation efforts, he succumbed to his injuries shortly thereafter.

Mumbai Additional CP Paramjit Singh Dahiya confirmed the arrest of two suspects, stating, “The incident occurred around 9:30 PM in Nirmal Nagar. Baba Siddique was taken to Lilavati Hospital after being shot. The Mumbai Crime Branch is investigating the case.”

Authorities also mentioned that the weapon used in the shooting has been recovered, identifying it as a 9.9mm pistol.

(With inputs from agencies)

Maharashtra Dussehra rally: Shiv Sena (UBT) Chief Uddhav Thackeray and Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Saturday launched a scathing attack on each other’s parties while addressing separate Dussehra rallies in Mumbai.

The Shiv Sena (UBT) rally was held at Shivaji Park while the Ekanth Shinde’s rally at Azad Maidan.

Holding their respective rallies, both Thackeray and Shinde set the tone for the upcoming Maharashtra assembly polls.

Both the leaders also claimed that the real Shiv Sena belongs to them.

While claiming that they freed Shiv Sena from those who betrayed Balasaheb Thackeray’s ideals, Eknath Shinde said that earlier everyone thought that the Shinde government would fall in 2–3 months. However, the government completed 2 years. “If the (Maha Vikas Aghadi) government had not been removed, Maharashtra would have been left far behind,” claimed Shinde. Whereas, taking a swipe at the BJP and the Shinde government, Thackeray said that he is ready to fight against the Delhi rule and ‘corrupt’ government.

What Uddhav Said:

— BJP is like Kauravas, smacks of arrogance.

— Parted ways with BJP as I don’t believe in its version of Hindutva.

— BJP should be ashamed of calling itself Bharatiya, it no longer belongs to people.

— I am ready to fight against this Delhi rule and corrupt government.

— Ratan Tata had the legacy of his father and I have the legacy of my father Balasaheb Thackeray. “We are the real Shiv Sena and Balasaheb Thackeray’s name is with me.”

— Will build temple of Chhatrapati Shivaji in every Maharashtra district when we come to power.

“It (Mahayuti government) built the statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj only for votes and that statue collapsed, but I want to tell you and promise you that when we come to power, we will build a temple of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in every district of Maharashtra. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj is a vote bank for them, but for us he is God.”

What Eknath Shinde Said

— MVA’s Lok Sabha poll success in Maharashtra accidental, not permanent.

— Shiv Sena won 7 seats in direct fight against Sena (UBT) in Lok Sabha polls which shows we are real Shiv Sena.

— Our government started the Dharavi project and I want to tell the people of Dharavi that no matter what the opposition says, our government is going to give you good houses.

— “Earlier Babu (Uddhav Thackeray) used to wake up, take a bath and go live on Facebook. People never liked Babu’s leadership, that’s why people brought down his government,” reported ANI quoting Shinde.

— Mahayuti government is going to be formed in Maharashtra.

— I thank the Prime Minister for giving Marathi the status of a classical language.

Malwan: A Shivaji statue inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi last year, collapsed on August 26, 2024.
| Photo Credit: PTI

When the statue of King Shivaji collapsed within eight months after it was unveiled in Maharashtra by the Prime Minister, the political wrangling began. The politics underlines the fact that it was not just a statue that fell, it reflects the fraying fabric of a State.

On December 4, 2023, Narendra Modi visited Malwan city in the Sindhudurg district of Maharashtra, where the Indian Navy celebrated its Navy Day. He spoke endlessly about the Maratha empire’s founder. Shivaji is inextricably linked to identity in Maharashtra. The statue reportedly cost Maharashtra government Rs.2.36 crore and it was installed by the Navy.

On August 26, 2024, when the statue fell, videos and photos went viral. Shivaji’s followers were livid. The State and Centre came under fire. Understanding the gravity of the situation, two ministers from the State cabinet, Ravindra Chavan and Deepak Kesarkar rushed to the location. Chavan is the guardian minister of Sindhudurg as well as the Minister for the Public Works Department. The Department had given the tender to the artist Jaydeep Apte.

As people started researching about the artist Apte, they found that he is inexperienced in building a statue of 25 feet. In an interview with a Marathi newspaper, just after Modi unveiled the statue, Apte said that he had no experience and had been making statues of two to four feet. So how did such an ill-experienced artist bag the tender? The buzz is that Apte is close to some of the right-wing organisations from Kalyan City. Chavan is from the Kalyan Dombivali municipal council area. The questions of favouritism are now being raised.

Also Read | Modi’s Mission Maharashtra

Apte said that he made this statue within a record time of a few months. The haste is being linked to Modi’s attempt to cover the ground ahead of the election.

The opposition slammed the governments for being corrupt, insensitive, and negligent on such an important issue. Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi (MVA), the opposition alliance, demanded the resignation of Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. The statements from the ruling side were bizarre, to say the least. Shinde, while condemning the falling of the statue, said, “The district collector has told me that there was a high-speed wind of 45 km/hr when the statue fell.” But in the coastal Konkan area, a wind speed of 45 km/hr wind is not considered high speed. Shivanand Bhanuse, the spokesperson of Sambhaji Brigade, an organisation of mainly Maratha community youth, told Frontline, “Shinde’s statement is a joke. This kind of wind speed is very normal. Instead of giving such reasons, he should have apologised.”

Not just Shinde, his cabinet colleague and Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis also made bizarre claims. He said, “An artist and Navy could not have anticipated the speed and the saltiness of winds in the coastal area.” Fadnavis was called out by the Congress leader Satej Patil for this statement. “We expect better answers from Devendra Fadnavis. Do not undermine the Navy for your faults. We are confident of the Navy’s work quality. It is your government who has messed up things,” said Patil.

Deepak Kesarkar, who is Minister for Primary Education and also chief spokesperson for Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena said, “This has happened because there must be something good coming up. We will build a 100-foot-tall statue in the same place.” This was criticised by everyone. Ulka Mahajan, State co-ordinator of Bharat Jodo Abhiyan, a civil society political initiative said, “The entire government has lost all sensitivity. They just think in numbers. You could not raise a 30-foot statue, why are you talking about a 100-ft one? To be more corrupt in the next tender?”

Also Read | Can the two Aghadis join hands in Maharashtra?

The only leader from the ruling side, who understood the gravity of the situation, and took a sensible stand was Mumbai BJP chief Ashish Shelar. He publicly apologised for the incident and said that in the coming days, these shortcomings will be fulfilled with a new and strong statue raised at the same location. “I apologised for the unfortunate incident to all the people of Maharashtra. The mistake will be rectified very soon and all the culprits will face the punishment,” reads Shelar’s statement.

Meanwhile, it has also come to the fore that the PWD’s local assistant engineer wrote to the Navy in the third week of August, telling them about the dilapidated condition of the statue and the urgent need to repair it. The statue was in possession of the Indian Navy. Also, the State government has announced the forming of a technical committee with the Navy to assess the reasons of the collapse. The artist and the consultant of the statue are booked under attempt to murder. Both are absconding.

The Maharashtra Assembly election is around the corner. As ruling leaders make controversial statements, the Opposition MVA has sensed the political opportunity and gave a call for a ‘Malwan Bandh’ on August 28. Congress leader Vijay Wadettiwar, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray and NCP (Sharad Pawar) leader Jayant Patil led the rally in Malwan. To oppose them, BJP’s local leadership also hit the streets. To make it a Statewide movement, the MVA has also given a call to ‘throw the shoes protest’ on September 1 and 2. It shows the matter is not going to rest for a while. 

Shivaji built the Sea Fort Sindhudurg in 1667. It is still standing in the middle of the sea, despite many storms and monsoon. People across the caste and the religious beliefs worship him.