Maharashtra state government has imposed a complete ban on plastic across the state becoming the 18th state of the country to impose such ban.

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Effective from today, the ban has been put on storage, manufacture, use, &nbsp;distribution, wholesale and retail sale import and transportation of all kinds of plastic bags.

Use of thermocol and disposable cutlery&nbsp;including straws,&nbsp;pouches to store food items and liquid items are also banned.

The government has given one month to traders, manufacturers and consumers to dispose of the banned plastic items.

Local administrations of the state have also been asked to start a collection point to accept the banned item from consumers only while manufacturers and traders will have to look for recycling facilities.

The proposal of the ban was cleared by Maharashtra cabinet on March 15.

In&nbsp;case&nbsp;of violation, the manufactures and users will have to pay fine of 5,000 rupees.

Plastic products that have been exempted from the ban are milk pouches, wrappers for processed food, dustbin liners, medicines packs, solid waste and agricultural products and PET bottles.

However, the PET bottles and milk pouches will be sold on an additional price of 1-2 rupees which will be refunded to the consumer after the return the retailer for recycling.&nbsp;

Dairies have also been instructed to make an attempt to sell milk in glass bottles.

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Effective from today, the ban has been put on storage, manufacture, use, distribution, wholesale and retail sale import and transportation of all kinds of plastic bags

Maharashtra state government has imposed a complete ban on plastic across the state becoming the 18th state of the country to impose such ban. × Effective from today, the ban has been put on storage, manufacture, use, distribution, wholesale and retail sale import and transportation of all kinds of plastic bags. Use of thermocol and disposable cutlery including straws, pouches to store food items and liquid items are also banned. The government has given one month to traders, manufacturers and consumers to dispose of the banned plastic items. Local administrations of the state have also been asked to start a collection point to accept the banned item from consumers only while manufacturers and traders will have to look for recycling facilities. The proposal of the ban was cleared by Maharashtra cabinet on March 15. In case of violation, the manufactures and users will have to pay fine of 5,000 rupees. Plastic products that have been exempted from the ban are milk pouches, wrappers for processed food, dustbin liners, medicines packs, solid waste and agricultural products and PET bottles. However, the PET bottles and milk pouches will be sold on an additional price of 1-2 rupees which will be refunded to the consumer after the return the retailer for recycling. Dairies have also been instructed to make an attempt to sell milk in glass bottles.

Maharashtra becomes 18th state to ban plastic, effective from Saturday

Maharashtra Environment Minister has urged the plastic manufacturers to produce cotton bags. He also said that the state was banning thermocol.&nbsp;

Also read:<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/maharashtra-becomes-18th-state-to-ban-plastic-effective-from-today-36943" target="_blank"> Maharashtra becomes </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/maharashtra-becomes-18th-state-to-ban-plastic-effective-from-today-36943" target="_blank">18th</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/maharashtra-becomes-18th-state-to-ban-plastic-effective-from-today-36943" target="_blank"> state to ban plastic, effective from Saturday</a>

State&nbsp;Environment Minister Ramdas Kadam has said that the government will recycle milk pouches and&nbsp;PET bottles adding that an additional charge of 50 paise and 1 Re would be put on every milk pouch and PET bottle respectively.

The extra amount will be refunded&nbsp;after the consumers return the milk pouch and the PET bottle which will then be sent for recycling.&nbsp;

PET bottles and milk pouches have been exempted from the ban, however, these will be sold at an additional price.

Other items exempted from the ban are&nbsp;wrappers for processed food, dustbin liners, medicines packs, solid waste and agricultural products.

He added that&nbsp;Maharashtra produces 1100 tonnes of waste every day&nbsp;and currently there&nbsp;were tonnes of waste in the state.

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Thermocol used for decoration also stands banned. I would like to urge the plastic manufacturers to produce cotton bags. Recycling of milk pouches and PET bottles will be done. Customers will have to pay 50 paise extra on every milk pouch and Re 1 for PET bottle: Ramdas Kadam <a href="https://t.co/R3pTByzxFz">pic.twitter.com/R3pTByzxFz</a>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/977744072747122689?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 25, 2018</a></blockquote>
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Maharashtra is the 18th state of the country which has imposed a complete plastic ban.

The ban has been put on storage, manufacture, use, &nbsp;distribution, wholesale and retail sale import and transportation of all kinds of plastic bags. Use of thermocol and disposable cutlery&nbsp;including straws,&nbsp;pouches to store food items and liquid items are also banned.

The government has given one month to traders, manufacturers and consumers to dispose of the banned plastic items.

The proposal of the ban was cleared by Maharashtra cabinet on March 15.

In&nbsp;case&nbsp;of violation, the manufactures and users will have to pay fine of 5,000 rupees.

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Maharashtra Environment Minister said 'Thermocol used for decoration also stands banned'

Maharashtra Environment Minister has urged the plastic manufacturers to produce cotton bags. He also said that the state was banning thermocol. Also read: Maharashtra becomes 18th state to ban plastic, effective from Saturday State Environment Minister Ramdas Kadam has said that the government will recycle milk pouches and PET bottles adding that an additional charge of 50 paise and 1 Re would be put on every milk pouch and PET bottle respectively. The extra amount will be refunded after the consumers return the milk pouch and the PET bottle which will then be sent for recycling. PET bottles and milk pouches have been exempted from the ban, however, these will be sold at an additional price. Other items exempted from the ban are wrappers for processed food, dustbin liners, medicines packs, solid waste and agricultural products. He added that Maharashtra produces 1100 tonnes of waste every day and currently there were tonnes of waste in the state. Thermocol used for decoration also stands banned. I would like to urge the plastic manufacturers to produce cotton bags. Recycling of milk pouches and PET bottles will be done. Customers will have to pay 50 paise extra on every milk pouch and Re 1 for PET bottle: Ramdas Kadam pic.twitter.com/R3pTByzxFz — ANI (@ANI) March 25, 2018 × Maharashtra is the 18th state of the country which has imposed a complete plastic ban. The ban has been put on storage, manufacture, use, distribution, wholesale and retail sale import and transportation of all kinds of plastic bags. Use of thermocol and disposable cutlery including straws, pouches to store food items and liquid items are also banned. The government has given one month to traders, manufacturers and consumers to dispose of the banned plastic items. The proposal of the ban was cleared by Maharashtra cabinet on March 15. In case of violation, the manufactures and users will have to pay fine of 5,000 rupees.

After plastic, Maharashtra also bans thermacol

As the country celebrates the spring festival of Gudi Padwa, Mumbai witnessed a colourful parade of women bikers clad in traditional Marathi attire to commemorate the new year for Marathi Hindus.

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Women ride two wheelers wearing traditional Maharashtrian sarees in Mumbai&#39;s Girgaon during <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GudiPadwa?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GudiPadwa</a> celebrations. <a href="https://t.co/V8o4ng927Q">pic.twitter.com/V8o4ng927Q</a>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/975275116249649152?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 18, 2018</a></blockquote>
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Women in Mumbai&#39;s Girgaon area took to the streets, riding two-wheelers in traditional Maharashtrian sarees. Some pinions carried elaborate parasols to save themselves from the scorching heat and add more drama to their grand avatar.

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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WATCH?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WATCH</a>: Women ride two wheelers wearing traditional Maharashtrian sarees in Mumbai&#39;s Girgaon during <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GudiPadwa?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GudiPadwa</a> celebrations. <a href="https://t.co/jUVk0lSXhP">pic.twitter.com/jUVk0lSXhP</a>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/975277345090293761?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 18, 2018</a></blockquote>
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Every year, Gudi Padwa is celebrated in Maharashtra and adjoining regions on the first day of the Chaitra month of the Hindu calender.&nbsp;

The day marks the onset of the New year according to the lunisolar Hindu calendar.&nbsp;

The day marks the onset of the New year according to the lunisolar Hindu calendar

As the country celebrates the spring festival of Gudi Padwa, Mumbai witnessed a colourful parade of women bikers clad in traditional Marathi attire to commemorate the new year for Marathi Hindus. Women ride two wheelers wearing traditional Maharashtrian sarees in Mumbai's Girgaon during #GudiPadwa celebrations. pic.twitter.com/V8o4ng927Q — ANI (@ANI) March 18, 2018 × Women in Mumbai's Girgaon area took to the streets, riding two-wheelers in traditional Maharashtrian sarees. Some pinions carried elaborate parasols to save themselves from the scorching heat and add more drama to their grand avatar. #WATCH: Women ride two wheelers wearing traditional Maharashtrian sarees in Mumbai's Girgaon during #GudiPadwa celebrations. pic.twitter.com/jUVk0lSXhP — ANI (@ANI) March 18, 2018 × Every year, Gudi Padwa is celebrated in Maharashtra and adjoining regions on the first day of the Chaitra month of the Hindu calender. The day marks the onset of the New year according to the lunisolar Hindu calendar.

Mumbai: Saree-clad biker women take to streets to celebrate Gudi Padwa

&nbsp;Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has announced the withdrawal of all cases, except for serious ones,&nbsp;in connection with the <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/the-battle-of-bhima-koregaon-and-its-significance-28406" target="_blank">Bhima-Koregaon violence</a>.

He also said that his government would compensate for the loss of Rs 13 crore incurred during the violence.

He said that their government will not spare anyone found responsible for the violence.

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Will not spare anyone found responsible for <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BhimaKoregaon?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BhimaKoregaon</a> incident. Government is giving financial assistance to those who suffered losses. Appointed Inquiry Committee headed by Retd Chief Justice J.N.Patel: CM Devendra Fadnavis (file pic) <a href="https://t.co/who6NgrARo">pic.twitter.com/who6NgrARo</a>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/973523298624720896?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 13, 2018</a></blockquote>
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Fadnavis added that the Maharashtra government would form a committee under Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order) to examine serious offenses committed during the violence. The committee will submit recommendations to a cabinet sub-committee within three months&nbsp;deciding on the cases that should be withdrawn.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/one-killed-3-injured-in-clashes-at-koregaon-bhima-battle-anniversary-in-pune-28313" target="_blank">One killed, 3 injured in clashes at Koregaon Bhima battle anniversary in Pune</a>

Out of the total 622 cases registered in the violence, 350 were serious offenses, the CM said.&nbsp;

He added that as many as 1,119 people were arrested after the violence. Seventeen cases were registered under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act and 2,053 people were taken into preventive custody.

The chief minister also clarified that the government will not withdraw the cases against history-sheeters who took advantage of the situation and indulged in a shooting.&nbsp;

The chief minister also denied Opposition&#39;s allegation that the government did not take immediate action against Milind Ekbote, chief of Samasta Hindu Ekta Aghadi. He also said that those responsible for negligence will be dealt with strictly.

Fadnavis announced that the state government will take control of the Samadhi (memorial) of Chhatrapati Sambhaji at Vadhu dismissing the allegation that Ekbote&#39;s organisation had taken control of the Samadhi.

An inquiry will also be conducted to examine the harassment against women&nbsp;during the combing operations in Aurangabad (to arrest rioters). 
 
To mark the 200th anniversary of the <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/the-battle-of-bhima-koregaon-and-its-significance-28406" target="_blank">battle of Koregaon</a>, several Dalits on January 1 gathered around the victory pillar erected by the British at Koregaon-Bhima - 40 kilometres from Pune. The gathering was to commemorate the&nbsp;victory of&nbsp;British East India Company over the army of Peshawa Bajirao II.&nbsp;&nbsp;It is widely believed that the Mahar community - then considered untouchable - played a key role in East India Company&#39;s win.

Soon, violence broke out and many vehicles were torched <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/one-killed-3-injured-in-clashes-at-koregaon-bhima-battle-anniversary-in-pune-28313" target="_blank">leading to the death of one youth</a>.

Incidents of violence were reported from many parts of Maharashtra, including Ahmednagar, Jalgaon, Nagpur, Dhule, Beed, Akola, Nashik, Pune, Solapur, Thane and Palghar as Dalits protested against Monday&#39;s incidents in Koregaon-Bhima.

Many prominent Dalit outfits, including Bharipa Bahujan Mahasangh, a party headed by BR Ambedkar&#39;s grandson Prakash Ambedkar, called for a &#39;<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/maharashtra-tense-after-pune-violence-28374">Maharashtra bandh</a>&nbsp;(shutdown)&nbsp;to express anger over violence.

(With input from agencies)

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has announced the withdrawal of all cases, except for serious ones, in connection with the Bhima-Koregaon violence

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has announced the withdrawal of all cases, except for serious ones, in connection with the Bhima-Koregaon violence. He also said that his government would compensate for the loss of Rs 13 crore incurred during the violence. He said that their government will not spare anyone found responsible for the violence. Will not spare anyone found responsible for #BhimaKoregaon incident. Government is giving financial assistance to those who suffered losses. Appointed Inquiry Committee headed by Retd Chief Justice J.N.Patel: CM Devendra Fadnavis (file pic) pic.twitter.com/who6NgrARo — ANI (@ANI) March 13, 2018 × Fadnavis added that the Maharashtra government would form a committee under Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order) to examine serious offenses committed during the violence. The committee will submit recommendations to a cabinet sub-committee within three months deciding on the cases that should be withdrawn. Also read: One killed, 3 injured in clashes at Koregaon Bhima battle anniversary in Pune Out of the total 622 cases registered in the violence, 350 were serious offenses, the CM said. He added that as many as 1,119 people were arrested after the violence. Seventeen cases were registered under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act and 2,053 people were taken into preventive custody. The chief minister also clarified that the government will not withdraw the cases against history-sheeters who took advantage of the situation and indulged in a shooting. The chief minister also denied Opposition's allegation that the government did not take immediate action against Milind Ekbote, chief of Samasta Hindu Ekta Aghadi. He also said that those responsible for negligence will be dealt with strictly. Fadnavis announced that the state government will take control of the Samadhi (memorial) of Chhatrapati Sambhaji at Vadhu dismissing the allegation that Ekbote's organisation had taken control of the Samadhi. An inquiry will also be conducted to examine the harassment against women during the combing operations in Aurangabad (to arrest rioters). To mark the 200th anniversary of the battle of Koregaon, several Dalits on January 1 gathered around the victory pillar erected by the British at Koregaon-Bhima - 40 kilometres from Pune. The gathering was to commemorate the victory of British East India Company over the army of Peshawa Bajirao II. It is widely believed that the Mahar community - then considered untouchable - played a key role in East India Company's win. Soon, violence broke out and many vehicles were torched leading to the death of one youth. Incidents of violence were reported from many parts of Maharashtra, including Ahmednagar, Jalgaon, Nagpur, Dhule, Beed, Akola, Nashik, Pune, Solapur, Thane and Palghar as Dalits protested against Monday's incidents in Koregaon-Bhima. Many prominent Dalit outfits, including Bharipa Bahujan Mahasangh, a party headed by BR Ambedkar's grandson Prakash Ambedkar, called for a 'Maharashtra bandh (shutdown) to express anger over violence. (With input from agencies)

Bhima-Koregaon violence: Maharashtra government to withdraw minor cases

About 14 people died in Yavatmal village of Maharashtra due to alleged consumption of&nbsp;water from a 250-ft borewell.

While 38 others were being treated in a hospital.

The locals in the area have said that the deaths were the result of toxins present in a 250-ft borewell in Yavatmal.

A doctor from the hospital said that 13 patients were found to have a high level of keratin. He also added that the water of the area&nbsp;seems to have a high amount of nitrate.&nbsp;

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Locals allege that 14 people have died due to toxins present in the water in a 250-ft borewell in Maha Village of Yavatmal. 38 people have been admitted in the hospital &amp; are being currently treated. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Maharashtra?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Maharashtra</a> <a href="https://t.co/QfGbqNjeVw">pic.twitter.com/QfGbqNjeVw</a>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/973589703780962305?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 13, 2018</a></blockquote>
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38 patients humaare yahaan abhi admit huye hain, jinme 13 logon mein keratin ki value badhi huyi hai. Paani mein nitrate ka pramaan bahot zyada dikh raha hai: Dr. Abhyuday Meghe, OSDM Acharya Vinoba Bhave Rural Hospital <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Maharashtra?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Maharashtra</a> <a href="https://t.co/SAu83JmcqQ">pic.twitter.com/SAu83JmcqQ</a>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/973589707882926083?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 13, 2018</a></blockquote>
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The locals in the area have said that the deaths were the result of toxins present in a 250-ft borewell in Maharashtra village Yavatmal

About 14 people died in Yavatmal village of Maharashtra due to alleged consumption of water from a 250-ft borewell. While 38 others were being treated in a hospital. The locals in the area have said that the deaths were the result of toxins present in a 250-ft borewell in Yavatmal. A doctor from the hospital said that 13 patients were found to have a high level of keratin. He also added that the water of the area seems to have a high amount of nitrate. Locals allege that 14 people have died due to toxins present in the water in a 250-ft borewell in Maha Village of Yavatmal. 38 people have been admitted in the hospital & are being currently treated. #Maharashtra pic.twitter.com/QfGbqNjeVw — ANI (@ANI) March 13, 2018 × 38 patients humaare yahaan abhi admit huye hain, jinme 13 logon mein keratin ki value badhi huyi hai. Paani mein nitrate ka pramaan bahot zyada dikh raha hai: Dr. Abhyuday Meghe, OSDM Acharya Vinoba Bhave Rural Hospital #Maharashtra pic.twitter.com/SAu83JmcqQ — ANI (@ANI) March 13, 2018 ×

Maharashtra: 14 people dead due to toxins in well, say locals

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has assured the farmers protesting in Mumbai for taking a positive step towards fulfilling their demands.

He said that his government has tried to discuss the matter with them since the first day of the &#39;&#39;Morcha&quot; adding that the Cabinet Minister for Water Resources,&nbsp;Girish Mahajan, was in touch with them.&nbsp;

He added that the farmers were, however firm on taking out the protest.&nbsp;

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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WATCH?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WATCH</a> Maharashtra CM speaks in the state assembly on farmers&#39; march, says, &#39;We&#39;re positive towards fulfilling their demands.Since 1st day of Morcha we tried to discuss issues with them. Girish Mahajan was in touch with them from day 1. But they were firm on taking out the march&#39; <a href="https://t.co/zE8Ut79dRB">pic.twitter.com/zE8Ut79dRB</a>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/973136906094546944?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 12, 2018</a></blockquote>
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A meeting was conducted between the delegation of <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/mumbai-farmers-complete-180-km-protest-march-reach-azad-maidan-to-demand-loan-waiver-35468" target="_blank">farmers protesting in Maharashtra </a>and political parties at Vidhan Bhawan on Monday.

A six-member&nbsp;committee is formed to look into the matter.&nbsp;

The meeting which continued for about three hours has decided to take an action on the transfer of forest land to the cultivators, within six months.

Over <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/50000-protesting-farmers-to-march-on-mumabi-vidhan-sabha-six-member-committee-to-look-into-demands-35420" target="_blank">50,000 farmers had marched to Mumbai</a> on Sunday to protest at the legislative assembly in Maharashtra.

The farmers are demanding&nbsp;a complete loan waiver amongst&nbsp;other things.

The meet&nbsp;is led by the chief minister Devendra Fadnavais.&nbsp;

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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Flash?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Flash</a>: Meeting with delegation of farmers and all political parties begins at Vidhan Bhawan under the chairmanship of Maharastra CM Devendra Fadnavis.
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/973128149637783552?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 12, 2018</a></blockquote>
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Their other demands included higher&nbsp;prices for their produce and implementation of the Swaminathan Committee recommendations.&nbsp;Longtime cultivators of Adivasi&nbsp;land also demanding transfer of the land to their names.&nbsp;

The farmers&#39;&nbsp;had marched to Mumbai from Nashik on Sunday, with the 180-km-long march being led by All India Kisan Sabha National President Ashok Davle, local MLA JP Gavit and other leaders.

They are protesting against the Maharashtra government which had promised&nbsp;loan waiver for them in November 2018&nbsp;after they had staged a long protest of over 10 days in the state.&nbsp;

The meet is led by the chief minister Devendra Fadnavais

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has assured the farmers protesting in Mumbai for taking a positive step towards fulfilling their demands. He said that his government has tried to discuss the matter with them since the first day of the ''Morcha" adding that the Cabinet Minister for Water Resources, Girish Mahajan, was in touch with them. He added that the farmers were, however firm on taking out the protest. #WATCH Maharashtra CM speaks in the state assembly on farmers' march, says, 'We're positive towards fulfilling their demands.Since 1st day of Morcha we tried to discuss issues with them. Girish Mahajan was in touch with them from day 1. But they were firm on taking out the march' pic.twitter.com/zE8Ut79dRB — ANI (@ANI) March 12, 2018 × A meeting was conducted between the delegation of farmers protesting in Maharashtra and political parties at Vidhan Bhawan on Monday. A six-member committee is formed to look into the matter. The meeting which continued for about three hours has decided to take an action on the transfer of forest land to the cultivators, within six months. Over 50,000 farmers had marched to Mumbai on Sunday to protest at the legislative assembly in Maharashtra. The farmers are demanding a complete loan waiver amongst other things. The meet is led by the chief minister Devendra Fadnavais. #Flash: Meeting with delegation of farmers and all political parties begins at Vidhan Bhawan under the chairmanship of Maharastra CM Devendra Fadnavis. — ANI (@ANI) March 12, 2018 × Their other demands included higher prices for their produce and implementation of the Swaminathan Committee recommendations. Longtime cultivators of Adivasi land also demanding transfer of the land to their names. The farmers' had marched to Mumbai from Nashik on Sunday, with the 180-km-long march being led by All India Kisan Sabha National President Ashok Davle, local MLA JP Gavit and other leaders. They are protesting against the Maharashtra government which had promised loan waiver for them in November 2018 after they had staged a long protest of over 10 days in the state.

Positive towards fulfilling their demands, CM says of 50,000 farmers protesting in Mumbai

The Farmers who were protesting against the Maharashtra&nbsp;government demanding a complete loan waiver were returning to their native villages after the <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/government-has-accepted-most-demands-of-farmers-cm-devendra-fadnavis-35538" target="_blank">government assented to their demands</a>.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, 300 farmers were undergoing treatment in JJ Hospital over complaints of fever, stomach-related ailment, and leg injuries.&nbsp;

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Mumbai: Farmers returning to their native villages after Maharashtra government accepted their demands <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MaharashtraFarmersProtest?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MaharashtraFarmersProtest</a> <a href="https://t.co/9DX9FwUhRN">pic.twitter.com/9DX9FwUhRN</a>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/973232415635394560?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 12, 2018</a></blockquote>
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Mumbai: Treatment of 300 farmers from Nashik underway at JJ Hospital following complaints of fever, stomach related ailment and leg injuries. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MaharashtraFarmersProtest?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MaharashtraFarmersProtest</a>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/973243501390520320?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 12, 2018</a></blockquote>
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Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis said on Monday that his government has accepted most of the demands of the farmers protesting in Mumbai. He also added that they have given a written letter to the farmers.

Earlier in the day, Maharashtra Cabinet Minister Girish Mahajan had said&nbsp;that the farmers seemed satisfied after meeting with the ministers.

Over&nbsp;<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/50000-protesting-farmers-to-march-on-mumabi-vidhan-sabha-six-member-committee-to-look-into-demands-35420" target="_blank">50,000 farmers had marched to Mumbai</a>&nbsp;on Sunday to protest at the legislative assembly demanding a complete loan waiver amongst&nbsp;other things, in Maharashtra.

Their other demands included higher&nbsp;prices for their produce and implementation of the Swaminathan Committee recommendations.&nbsp;Longtime cultivators of Adivasi&nbsp;land also demanding transfer of the land to their names.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, 300 farmers were undergoing treatment in JJ Hospital over complaints of fever, stomach-related ailment, and leg injuries

The Farmers who were protesting against the Maharashtra government demanding a complete loan waiver were returning to their native villages after the government assented to their demands. Meanwhile, 300 farmers were undergoing treatment in JJ Hospital over complaints of fever, stomach-related ailment, and leg injuries. Mumbai: Farmers returning to their native villages after Maharashtra government accepted their demands #MaharashtraFarmersProtest pic.twitter.com/9DX9FwUhRN — ANI (@ANI) March 12, 2018 × Mumbai: Treatment of 300 farmers from Nashik underway at JJ Hospital following complaints of fever, stomach related ailment and leg injuries. #MaharashtraFarmersProtest — ANI (@ANI) March 12, 2018 × Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis said on Monday that his government has accepted most of the demands of the farmers protesting in Mumbai. He also added that they have given a written letter to the farmers. Earlier in the day, Maharashtra Cabinet Minister Girish Mahajan had said that the farmers seemed satisfied after meeting with the ministers. Over 50,000 farmers had marched to Mumbai on Sunday to protest at the legislative assembly demanding a complete loan waiver amongst other things, in Maharashtra. Their other demands included higher prices for their produce and implementation of the Swaminathan Committee recommendations. Longtime cultivators of Adivasi land also demanding transfer of the land to their names.

Maharashtra farmers return to village after govt's assent to demand

&nbsp;A committee of six ministers has been appointed to look into the matter of the farmers&#39; protest in Maharashtra.

The members include&nbsp;Chandrakant Patil, Pandurang Fundkar, Girish Mahajan, Vishnu Savara, Subhash Deshmukh and Eknath Shinde, sources from Maharashtra CMO said.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/maharashtra-farmers-protest-demanding-loan-waiver-reaches-thane-35177">30,000 farmers head towards Mumbai to demand complete loan waiver</a>

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A committee of 6 ministers comprising Chandrakant Patil, Pandurang Fundkar, Girish Mahajan, Vishnu Savara, Subhash Deshmukh and Eknath Shinde to look into the matter of farmers&#39; demands: Maharashtra CMO sources.
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/972858196355362816?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 11, 2018</a></blockquote>
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Earlier Aditya Thackeray from the Shiv Sena interacted with the farmers protesting in Mumbai.&nbsp; Leaders from opposition parties such as Congress, Nationalist Congress Party have also extended their support to the farmers.&nbsp;

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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Mumbai?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Mumbai</a>: Shiv Sena&#39;s Aditya Thackeray met farmers of All India Kisan Sabha and interacted with them. Over 30,000 farmers marched from Nashik to Mumbai demanding a complete loan waiver among other demands. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Mahrashtra?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Mahrashtra</a> <a href="https://t.co/Vl6MsqTRgG">pic.twitter.com/Vl6MsqTRgG</a>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/972795899725451264?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 11, 2018</a></blockquote>
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In a single day, the numbers of the farmers protesting in Maharashtra swelled to 50,000.

Some&nbsp;<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/over-30000-farmers-marching-from-nashik-demanding-farm-loan-waiver-to-reach-mumbai-today-35356" target="_blank">35,000 farmers had reached Mumbai on Sunday&nbsp;</a>demanding, among other things, a complete loan waiver.

Their other demands include higher&nbsp;prices for their produce and implementation of the Swaminathan Committee recommendations.&nbsp;Longtime cultivators of Adivasi&nbsp;land also demanding transfer of the land to their names.&nbsp;

The farmers who reached Mumbai today were received by Girish Mahajan, a senior minister in the Maharashtra cabinet in Mulund in suburban Mumbai.

They plan to&nbsp;gherao the Vidhan Sabha on Monday.

The farmers&#39;&nbsp;had marched to Mumbai from Nashik, with the 180-km-long march being led by All India Kisan Sabha National President Ashok Davle, local MLA JP Gavit and other leaders.

They are protesting against the Maharashtra government which had promised&nbsp;loan waiver for them in November 2018&nbsp;after they had staged a long protest of over 10 days in the state.&nbsp;

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The members include Chandrakant Patil, Pandurang Fundkar, Girish Mahajan, Vishnu Savara, Subhash Deshmukh and Eknath Shinde, sources from Maharashtra CMO said

A committee of six ministers has been appointed to look into the matter of the farmers' protest in Maharashtra. The members include Chandrakant Patil, Pandurang Fundkar, Girish Mahajan, Vishnu Savara, Subhash Deshmukh and Eknath Shinde, sources from Maharashtra CMO said. Also read: 30,000 farmers head towards Mumbai to demand complete loan waiver A committee of 6 ministers comprising Chandrakant Patil, Pandurang Fundkar, Girish Mahajan, Vishnu Savara, Subhash Deshmukh and Eknath Shinde to look into the matter of farmers' demands: Maharashtra CMO sources. — ANI (@ANI) March 11, 2018 × Earlier Aditya Thackeray from the Shiv Sena interacted with the farmers protesting in Mumbai. Leaders from opposition parties such as Congress, Nationalist Congress Party have also extended their support to the farmers. #Mumbai: Shiv Sena's Aditya Thackeray met farmers of All India Kisan Sabha and interacted with them. Over 30,000 farmers marched from Nashik to Mumbai demanding a complete loan waiver among other demands. #Mahrashtra pic.twitter.com/Vl6MsqTRgG — ANI (@ANI) March 11, 2018 × In a single day, the numbers of the farmers protesting in Maharashtra swelled to 50,000. Some 35,000 farmers had reached Mumbai on Sunday demanding, among other things, a complete loan waiver. Their other demands include higher prices for their produce and implementation of the Swaminathan Committee recommendations. Longtime cultivators of Adivasi land also demanding transfer of the land to their names. The farmers who reached Mumbai today were received by Girish Mahajan, a senior minister in the Maharashtra cabinet in Mulund in suburban Mumbai. They plan to gherao the Vidhan Sabha on Monday. The farmers' had marched to Mumbai from Nashik, with the 180-km-long march being led by All India Kisan Sabha National President Ashok Davle, local MLA JP Gavit and other leaders. They are protesting against the Maharashtra government which had promised loan waiver for them in November 2018 after they had staged a long protest of over 10 days in the state.

50,000 protesting farmers to march on Mumabi Vidhan Sabha, six-member committee to look into demands

The former Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Narayan Rane has accepted the offer to fight in the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections from the&nbsp;BJP ticket.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Rane will file the nomination papers from the party&nbsp;quota for the biennial Rajya Sabha seat on March 12.

The elections&nbsp;to the 58 seats of the&nbsp;upper house of the Parliament are scheduled for March 23.

Rane was part of&nbsp;Congress for over a decade. He had joined the party in 2005 after&nbsp;quitting from Shiv Sena.

He ended his longtime association with Congress in September 2017 accusing&nbsp;the party that it was not fulfilling its promise of appointing&nbsp;him as the chief minister of Maharashtra.&nbsp;

After quitting Congress, Rane formed his own party called the Maharashtra Swabhiman Party and allied with BJP led NDA.

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Maharashtra Swabhiman Party (MSP) chief Narayan Rane accepts BJP&#39;s offer of Rajya Sabha seat, to file nomination papers on 12 March. He will meet Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis later today. <a href="https://t.co/YjhCVmJrF5">pic.twitter.com/YjhCVmJrF5</a>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/972447416044675073?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 10, 2018</a></blockquote>
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Rane will file the nomination papers from the party quota for the biennial Rajya Sabha seat on March 12

The former Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Narayan Rane has accepted the offer to fight in the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections from the BJP ticket. Rane will file the nomination papers from the party quota for the biennial Rajya Sabha seat on March 12. The elections to the 58 seats of the upper house of the Parliament are scheduled for March 23. Rane was part of Congress for over a decade. He had joined the party in 2005 after quitting from Shiv Sena. He ended his longtime association with Congress in September 2017 accusing the party that it was not fulfilling its promise of appointing him as the chief minister of Maharashtra. After quitting Congress, Rane formed his own party called the Maharashtra Swabhiman Party and allied with BJP led NDA. Maharashtra Swabhiman Party (MSP) chief Narayan Rane accepts BJP's offer of Rajya Sabha seat, to file nomination papers on 12 March. He will meet Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis later today. pic.twitter.com/YjhCVmJrF5 — ANI (@ANI) March 10, 2018 ×

Narayan Rane to contest Rajya Sabha polls in Maharashtra from BJP ticket

Nearly 30,000 farmers in Maharashtra, marching from Nashik to Mumbai to protest what they term as government&#39;s anti-farmer policies, reached Thane on Friday morning.&nbsp;

The 180-km-long march is led by All India Kisan Sabha&nbsp;National President Ashok Davle, local MLA J P Gavit and other leaders.

Davle claimed that&nbsp;1,753 farmers have killed themselves since June last year when the BJP-led state government announced a conditional farm loan waiver of Rs 34,000 crore.

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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Maharashtra?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Maharashtra</a>: All India Kisan Sabha protest reaches Thane. More than 30,000 farmers from across the state of Maharashtra are heading towards Mumbai from Nashik demanding a complete loan waiver for the farmers of the state. The march will reach Mumbai on 12th March. <a href="https://t.co/pvadOFrxQr">pic.twitter.com/pvadOFrxQr</a>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/971942163436072961?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 9, 2018</a></blockquote>
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Apart from seeking a complete waiver of farmers&#39; loans and electricity bills, the farmers&nbsp;are demanding the implementation of recommendations of the Swaminathan Commission, which addresses issues of providing minimum support prices (MSP) and safeguarding interests of small farmers.

Davle accused the BJP government of having betrayed farmers. He said that&nbsp;promises made have remained unfulfilled.

He is also demanding transfer of forest land to those who have been tilling it for years and an increase in the compensation for peasants whose crops were damaged in the recent hailstorms and pink bollworm infestation.

Farmers and farm labourers in large number from various districts of the state gathered in Nashik city before setting off on a six-day &lsquo;long march&rsquo; to Mumbai on Tuesday afternoon.

They aim to reach Mumbai by Monday and gherao the Maharashtra Vidhan Sabha on March 12.

The Devendra Fadnavis government has been under immense pressure after continuous protests by farmers who alleged that he did not honour assurances given to farmers for a farm loan waiver of Rs. 34,000 crore in June last year. 
&nbsp;

The 180-km-long march is led by All India Kisan Sabha

Nearly 30,000 farmers in Maharashtra, marching from Nashik to Mumbai to protest what they term as government's anti-farmer policies, reached Thane on Friday morning. The 180-km-long march is led by All India Kisan Sabha National President Ashok Davle, local MLA J P Gavit and other leaders. Davle claimed that 1,753 farmers have killed themselves since June last year when the BJP-led state government announced a conditional farm loan waiver of Rs 34,000 crore. #Maharashtra: All India Kisan Sabha protest reaches Thane. More than 30,000 farmers from across the state of Maharashtra are heading towards Mumbai from Nashik demanding a complete loan waiver for the farmers of the state. The march will reach Mumbai on 12th March. pic.twitter.com/pvadOFrxQr — ANI (@ANI) March 9, 2018 × Apart from seeking a complete waiver of farmers' loans and electricity bills, the farmers are demanding the implementation of recommendations of the Swaminathan Commission, which addresses issues of providing minimum support prices (MSP) and safeguarding interests of small farmers. Davle accused the BJP government of having betrayed farmers. He said that promises made have remained unfulfilled. He is also demanding transfer of forest land to those who have been tilling it for years and an increase in the compensation for peasants whose crops were damaged in the recent hailstorms and pink bollworm infestation. Farmers and farm labourers in large number from various districts of the state gathered in Nashik city before setting off on a six-day ‘long march’ to Mumbai on Tuesday afternoon. They aim to reach Mumbai by Monday and gherao the Maharashtra Vidhan Sabha on March 12. The Devendra Fadnavis government has been under immense pressure after continuous protests by farmers who alleged that he did not honour assurances given to farmers for a farm loan waiver of Rs. 34,000 crore in June last year.

Maharashtra: 30,000 farmers head towards Mumbai to demand complete loan waiver

Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) officials destroyed 7700 litres of adulterated milk recently. According to reports, milk procured from Sangram milk collection centre and one other centre smelled of oil and was tasteless.&nbsp;

The destroyed amount of milk was worth Rs 2.42 lakh.

&quot;Acting on a tip-off, sleuths of FDA from Pune division raided Sangram milk collection centre, run by one Dhanaji Pawar in Pandharpur taluka, and recovered 30 cans of cow milk (approximately 1200 litres). Milk in the cans smelled like oil and was tasteless. Upon raiding the house of Pawar, we found powder and soyabean oil in large quantity, which were used for adulteration,&quot; an FDA official said.

According to an official, samples of milk and other products were sent for forensic examination. Nearly 1200 litres of milk was destroyed after the investigation.

&quot;During the investigation, it was revealed that Pawar used to supply the adulterated milk to Srichakra Milk Products Pvt Ltd in Pandharpur taluka. We then raided the firm and took samples of milk and destroyed approximately 6500 litres milk,&quot; said the officer.

Maharashtra FDA is currently in the process of cancelling the permit of Sangram milk collection centre.&nbsp;

(With inputs from PTI)

 
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The destroyed amount of milk was worth Rs 2.42 lakh

Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) officials destroyed 7700 litres of adulterated milk recently. According to reports, milk procured from Sangram milk collection centre and one other centre smelled of oil and was tasteless. The destroyed amount of milk was worth Rs 2.42 lakh. "Acting on a tip-off, sleuths of FDA from Pune division raided Sangram milk collection centre, run by one Dhanaji Pawar in Pandharpur taluka, and recovered 30 cans of cow milk (approximately 1200 litres). Milk in the cans smelled like oil and was tasteless. Upon raiding the house of Pawar, we found powder and soyabean oil in large quantity, which were used for adulteration," an FDA official said. According to an official, samples of milk and other products were sent for forensic examination. Nearly 1200 litres of milk was destroyed after the investigation. "During the investigation, it was revealed that Pawar used to supply the adulterated milk to Srichakra Milk Products Pvt Ltd in Pandharpur taluka. We then raided the firm and took samples of milk and destroyed approximately 6500 litres milk," said the officer. Maharashtra FDA is currently in the process of cancelling the permit of Sangram milk collection centre. (With inputs from PTI)

Maharashtra: FDA destroys 7700 litres of adulterated milk

Maharashtra is on the verge of achieving a trillion dollar economy status. The state will be the first in India to achieve&nbsp;the milestone, said Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Modi was addressing the inaugural address of&nbsp;Global Investors&#39; Summit - &#39;Magnetic Maharashtra: Convergence 2018&#39;&nbsp;in Mumbai on Sunday evening.

&quot;I am sure that Maharashtra will achieve the objective of being first trillion dollar economy state in India,&quot; he stated.

&quot;India&#39;s ranking in ease of doing business has increased. 51 per cent of Foreign Direct Investments (FDIs) stems from Maharashtra,&quot; Modi added.&nbsp;

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Our budget is not limited to outlay, focus of our budget is not limited to output, focus of our budget is on outcome: PM Modi at the Global Investors&#39; Summit-Magnetic Maharashtra: Convergence 2018 in Mumbai <a href="https://t.co/HTSynSfLT5">pic.twitter.com/HTSynSfLT5</a>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/965222502069882882?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 18, 2018</a></blockquote>
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Referring to Gujarat&#39;s model of development, PM Modi noted that the state&#39;s prosperity is visible across the nation; now &quot;there is competition among states to attract investment&quot;.

The Prime Minister shared that during his tenure the government repealed nearly 1400 laws and brought new laws to facilitate simplification and not complication.&nbsp;

&quot;Our budget is not limited to outlay, the focus of our budget is not limited to output, the focus of our budget is on the outcome,&quot; the Prime Minister noted.&nbsp;

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited exhibition at the Global Investors&#39; Summit-Magnetic Maharashtra: Convergence 2018 in Mumbai <a href="https://t.co/NvM6v2fTFf">pic.twitter.com/NvM6v2fTFf</a>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/965232946079813632?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 18, 2018</a></blockquote>
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He further said that in the last three years the budget has been reformed and that these changes will transform the social and economic aspects. &quot;The time of the budget is also now fixed one month ahead, this all will lead to funds reaching departments in advance.&quot; &nbsp;&nbsp;

&quot;We believe potential, policy, planning and performance leads to progress,&quot; he further added.&nbsp;

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We believe potential, policy, planning and performance leads to progress: PM Narendra Modi in Mumbai <a href="https://t.co/1xaFJzbtMT">pic.twitter.com/1xaFJzbtMT</a>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/965221494912667648?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 18, 2018</a></blockquote>
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Prime Minister Modi also attended the ground-breaking ceremony of the Navi Mumbai International Airport and laid its foundation stone earlier today.&nbsp;

He dedicated the 4th container terminal at Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust to the nation -- the country&#39;s largest container terminal.

 
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Referring to Gujarat's model of development, PM Modi shared that the state's prosperity is visible across the nation

Maharashtra is on the verge of achieving a trillion dollar economy status. The state will be the first in India to achieve the milestone, said Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Modi was addressing the inaugural address of Global Investors' Summit - 'Magnetic Maharashtra: Convergence 2018' in Mumbai on Sunday evening. "I am sure that Maharashtra will achieve the objective of being first trillion dollar economy state in India," he stated. "India's ranking in ease of doing business has increased. 51 per cent of Foreign Direct Investments (FDIs) stems from Maharashtra," Modi added. Our budget is not limited to outlay, focus of our budget is not limited to output, focus of our budget is on outcome: PM Modi at the Global Investors' Summit-Magnetic Maharashtra: Convergence 2018 in Mumbai pic.twitter.com/HTSynSfLT5 — ANI (@ANI) February 18, 2018 × Referring to Gujarat's model of development, PM Modi noted that the state's prosperity is visible across the nation; now "there is competition among states to attract investment". The Prime Minister shared that during his tenure the government repealed nearly 1400 laws and brought new laws to facilitate simplification and not complication. "Our budget is not limited to outlay, the focus of our budget is not limited to output, the focus of our budget is on the outcome," the Prime Minister noted. Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited exhibition at the Global Investors' Summit-Magnetic Maharashtra: Convergence 2018 in Mumbai pic.twitter.com/NvM6v2fTFf — ANI (@ANI) February 18, 2018 × He further said that in the last three years the budget has been reformed and that these changes will transform the social and economic aspects. "The time of the budget is also now fixed one month ahead, this all will lead to funds reaching departments in advance." "We believe potential, policy, planning and performance leads to progress," he further added. We believe potential, policy, planning and performance leads to progress: PM Narendra Modi in Mumbai pic.twitter.com/1xaFJzbtMT — ANI (@ANI) February 18, 2018 × Prime Minister Modi also attended the ground-breaking ceremony of the Navi Mumbai International Airport and laid its foundation stone earlier today. He dedicated the 4th container terminal at Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust to the nation -- the country's largest container terminal.

Maharashtra will become first trillion dollar economy state in India: PM Modi

At least 13 people died and three others injured after a minibus fell into a river in Maharashtra&#39;s Kolhapur city on the intervening night of Friday and Saturday.

News agency ANI quoting local officials said that many were also feared missing in the accident that took place in Panchganga river at about midnight.

The bus was travelling from the coastal city of Ratnagiri to Kolhapur when the accident took place.

The initial reports suggest that the driver lost control due to some reasons following which the bus fell into the river.

As of now, police have reached the spot and search and rescue operations are underway.

The bus was travelling from the coastal city of Ratnagiri to Kolhapur.

At least 13 people died and three others injured after a minibus fell into a river in Maharashtra's Kolhapur city on the intervening night of Friday and Saturday. News agency ANI quoting local officials said that many were also feared missing in the accident that took place in Panchganga river at about midnight. The bus was travelling from the coastal city of Ratnagiri to Kolhapur when the accident took place. The initial reports suggest that the driver lost control due to some reasons following which the bus fell into the river. As of now, police have reached the spot and search and rescue operations are underway.

Maharashtra: 13 dead as minibus falls into river

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/pm-modi-in-davos-highlights-of-his-speech-at-wef-30514" target="_blank">Highlights: PM Narendra Modi&#39;s big India pitch at Davos</a>

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday addressed the plenary session of the 48th edition of the World Economic Forum at Davos in Switzerland. PM Narendra Modi is the first Indian prime minister to attend Davos summit in 20 years.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/bsf-launches-operation-bhima-against-pak-rangers-along-loc-30509" target="_blank">BSF launches &#39;Operation Bhima&#39; against Pak Rangers along LoC</a>

BSF launched &quot;Operation Bhima&quot; against<a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pakistani-pm-says-committed-to-seizing-charities-run-by-hafiz-saeed-30454">&nbsp;Pakistan Rangers even as firing&nbsp;</a>stopped along the Line of Control(LoC) today. Reports said&nbsp;<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/pakistan-firing-positions-fuel-dump-destroyed-in-retaliation-bsf-30385">Pakistan Army chief met Pakistani&nbsp;</a>Rangers as India&#39;s border security force(BSF) released a video on Monday and informed about the planned firing on Pakistan&#39;s post.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/sensex-closes-at-36140-nifty-ends-above-11000-mark-30507" target="_blank">Sensex closes above 36,000 </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/sensex-closes-at-36140-nifty-ends-above-11000-mark-30507" target="_blank">mark</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/sensex-closes-at-36140-nifty-ends-above-11000-mark-30507" target="_blank"> at all-time high</a>

The BSE Sensex on Tuesday BSE Sensex breached the 36,000 level mark to end at an all-time high at 36, 140 after the International Monetary Fund said India would regain the title as the world&#39;s fastest growing major economy in 2018-19.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-should-focus-on-womens-inclusion-in-economy-imf-chief-lagarde-30519" target="_blank">India should focus on women&#39;s inclusion in economy: IMF Chief Lagarde</a>

IMF chief Christine Lagarde today said India must continue with reforms especially in the financial services sector and should urgently focus on broad- based and the true inclusion of women in its economy.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/uddhav-thackeray-lok-sabha-maharashtra-elections-could-be-held-in-2018-30484" target="_blank">Uddhav Thackeray: Lok Sabha, Maharashtra elections could be held in 2018</a>

Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray said Tuesday that the next general elections and the elections to the Maharashtra state assembly could be held in December 2018.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Highlights: PM Narendra Modi's big India pitch at Davos Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday addressed the plenary session of the 48th edition of the World Economic Forum at Davos in Switzerland. PM Narendra Modi is the first Indian prime minister to attend Davos summit in 20 years. BSF launches 'Operation Bhima' against Pak Rangers along LoC BSF launched "Operation Bhima" against Pakistan Rangers even as firing stopped along the Line of Control(LoC) today. Reports said Pakistan Army chief met Pakistani Rangers as India's border security force(BSF) released a video on Monday and informed about the planned firing on Pakistan's post. Sensex closes above 36,000 mark at all-time high The BSE Sensex on Tuesday BSE Sensex breached the 36,000 level mark to end at an all-time high at 36, 140 after the International Monetary Fund said India would regain the title as the world's fastest growing major economy in 2018-19. India should focus on women's inclusion in economy: IMF Chief Lagarde IMF chief Christine Lagarde today said India must continue with reforms especially in the financial services sector and should urgently focus on broad- based and the true inclusion of women in its economy. Uddhav Thackeray: Lok Sabha, Maharashtra elections could be held in 2018 Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray said Tuesday that the next general elections and the elections to the Maharashtra state assembly could be held in December 2018.

WION Evening News brief, January 23, 2018

Indian Meteorological Department(IMD) has issued an advisory urging farmers to prepare for &quot;untimely rains and hailstorms&quot;.

On Sunday, several states in&nbsp;the country woke up to sudden change in the weather with heavy rains and hailstorms causing severe crop&nbsp;damage.

Districts which were most hit in Maharashtra included Beed, Osmanabad, Latur, Nanded, Parbhani, Hingoli, Dhule, Nandurbar, Aurangabad among others.

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Rain and hailstorm lashed <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Maharashtra?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Maharashtra</a>&#39;s Jalna, yesterday afternoon. The sudden weather change has partially damaged crops &amp; other property. <a href="https://t.co/Sg1n1xEKYb">pic.twitter.com/Sg1n1xEKYb</a>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/962880558274613250?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 12, 2018</a></blockquote>
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According to the media reports, three farmers have lost&nbsp;their lives during the hailstorms.&nbsp;Rabi crops was reportedly damaged during the unexpected hailstorm. Several farmers lost&nbsp;cotton&nbsp;and wheat crops, reports said.

Agriculture minister of Maharashtra Pandurang Pundalik Fundkar ordered assessment into the crop&nbsp;damage.

Madhya Pradesh also experienced unexpected rain and&nbsp;hailstorm causing crop damage.

Sehore, Vidisha, Hoshangabad, Guna, Rajgarh, Harda, Betul and Raisen districts were among the badly&nbsp;hit districts of Madhya Pradesh.

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Rain and hailstorm lashed Sehore, Vidisha, Hoshangabad, Guna, Rajgarh, Harda, Betul and Raisen districts of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MadhyaPradesh?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MadhyaPradesh</a> yesterday. The sudden weather change has damaged crops in these districts. <a href="https://t.co/TDPVLXy5kc">pic.twitter.com/TDPVLXy5kc</a>
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Reports said&nbsp;thunderstorms with hails are expected to&nbsp;remain for another two days.&nbsp;

According to the media reports, three farmers have lost their lives during the hailstorms

Indian Meteorological Department(IMD) has issued an advisory urging farmers to prepare for "untimely rains and hailstorms". On Sunday, several states in the country woke up to sudden change in the weather with heavy rains and hailstorms causing severe crop damage. Districts which were most hit in Maharashtra included Beed, Osmanabad, Latur, Nanded, Parbhani, Hingoli, Dhule, Nandurbar, Aurangabad among others. Rain and hailstorm lashed #Maharashtra's Jalna, yesterday afternoon. The sudden weather change has partially damaged crops & other property. pic.twitter.com/Sg1n1xEKYb — ANI (@ANI) February 12, 2018 × According to the media reports, three farmers have lost their lives during the hailstorms. Rabi crops was reportedly damaged during the unexpected hailstorm. Several farmers lost cotton and wheat crops, reports said. Agriculture minister of Maharashtra Pandurang Pundalik Fundkar ordered assessment into the crop damage. Madhya Pradesh also experienced unexpected rain and hailstorm causing crop damage. Sehore, Vidisha, Hoshangabad, Guna, Rajgarh, Harda, Betul and Raisen districts were among the badly hit districts of Madhya Pradesh. Rain and hailstorm lashed Sehore, Vidisha, Hoshangabad, Guna, Rajgarh, Harda, Betul and Raisen districts of #MadhyaPradesh yesterday. The sudden weather change has damaged crops in these districts. pic.twitter.com/TDPVLXy5kc — ANI (@ANI) February 12, 2018 × Reports said thunderstorms with hails are expected to remain for another two days.

Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh experience unexpected hailstorm; crops damaged

Swedish home furnishing major Ikea has opened a Rs 100-crore distribution centre in Pune, and is also scouting for land in Maharashtra to build more facilities at an investment of Rs 750 crore, a senior company executive has said.

&quot;We have opened a 2.3 lakh sq ft distribution centre in Pune, on leased land and have pumped in Rs 100 crore into this. We will expand this to 3.7 lakh sq ft by next year,&quot; Bimal Patel, the manager, distribution operations at Ikea India, told.

&quot;We are also scouting for more land in Maharashtra to build our own warehousing facilities over the next two to three years, and have earmarked an outlay of Rs 750 crore for this,&quot; he said.

The distribution centre has been set up to service its first store scheduled to be opened in Hyderabad by the middle of the year, followed by the second store in Mumbai in 2019.

The company has also purchased land in Bengaluru and Gurgaon to open more outlets. Ikea India plans to set up 25 stores by 2025, investing Rs 10,500 crore.

The company has so far hired 100 people for its distribution operations in Pune, and is looking to employ at least 200 more there.

&quot;We have hired about 100 people and 50 per cent of them are women. We are looking to hire another 200 people once our distribution operations are running in full steam,&quot; he said.

The company will employ 600-700 people per unit, he said.

Ikea will operate a non-bonded warehouse for domestic goods, and a custom warehouse which will stock imported goods, Patel said.

Last year, Ikea India had committed to double its local sourcing from Euro 318 million to Euro 600 million by 2020.

According to the retail policy, the overseas companies have to mandatorily source 30 per cent of their wares locally, preferably from small suppliers.

Ikea India plans to set up 25 stores by 2025, investing Rs 10,500 crore.

Swedish home furnishing major Ikea has opened a Rs 100-crore distribution centre in Pune, and is also scouting for land in Maharashtra to build more facilities at an investment of Rs 750 crore, a senior company executive has said. "We have opened a 2.3 lakh sq ft distribution centre in Pune, on leased land and have pumped in Rs 100 crore into this. We will expand this to 3.7 lakh sq ft by next year," Bimal Patel, the manager, distribution operations at Ikea India, told. "We are also scouting for more land in Maharashtra to build our own warehousing facilities over the next two to three years, and have earmarked an outlay of Rs 750 crore for this," he said. The distribution centre has been set up to service its first store scheduled to be opened in Hyderabad by the middle of the year, followed by the second store in Mumbai in 2019. The company has also purchased land in Bengaluru and Gurgaon to open more outlets. Ikea India plans to set up 25 stores by 2025, investing Rs 10,500 crore. The company has so far hired 100 people for its distribution operations in Pune, and is looking to employ at least 200 more there. "We have hired about 100 people and 50 per cent of them are women. We are looking to hire another 200 people once our distribution operations are running in full steam," he said. The company will employ 600-700 people per unit, he said. Ikea will operate a non-bonded warehouse for domestic goods, and a custom warehouse which will stock imported goods, Patel said. Last year, Ikea India had committed to double its local sourcing from Euro 318 million to Euro 600 million by 2020. According to the retail policy, the overseas companies have to mandatorily source 30 per cent of their wares locally, preferably from small suppliers.

Ikea opens distribution centre in Pune; to invest Rs 750 cr in Maharashtra

Former Maharashtra Chief Minister and state party unit chief Ashok Chavan noted that the Congress will join hands with &quot;like-minded&quot; parties in Maharashtra to take on the ruling BJP.

Chavan spoke at a party meeting which was attended by senior Congress leaders of the state.

&quot;The prevailing social situation in Maharashtra, the political situation and the fight against the government in future was discussed at the meeting,&quot; Chavan said.

&quot;The problems currently plaguing the state, the prevailing political situation and the upcoming Budget session of the Maharashtra Legislature were discussed at the meeting,&quot; Chavan added.

Chavan noted that the Congress and the National Congress Party (NCP) have decided to put up a fight on issues like &quot;deteriorating condition of farmers in the state, issues being faced by middle class and rising dictatorship like the attitude of the BJP-led government&quot;.&nbsp;

In a separate meeting, Congress and NCP leaders met at the official residence of Leader of Opposition Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil in South Mumbai.

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

 
&nbsp;

Chavan spoke at a party meeting which was attended by senior Congress leaders of the state

Former Maharashtra Chief Minister and state party unit chief Ashok Chavan noted that the Congress will join hands with "like-minded" parties in Maharashtra to take on the ruling BJP. Chavan spoke at a party meeting which was attended by senior Congress leaders of the state. "The prevailing social situation in Maharashtra, the political situation and the fight against the government in future was discussed at the meeting," Chavan said. "The problems currently plaguing the state, the prevailing political situation and the upcoming Budget session of the Maharashtra Legislature were discussed at the meeting," Chavan added. Chavan noted that the Congress and the National Congress Party (NCP) have decided to put up a fight on issues like "deteriorating condition of farmers in the state, issues being faced by middle class and rising dictatorship like the attitude of the BJP-led government". In a separate meeting, Congress and NCP leaders met at the official residence of Leader of Opposition Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil in South Mumbai. (With inputs from agencies)

Congress to join hands with 'like-minded' parties to fight BJP in Maharashtra: Ashok Chavan

Around 11,700 staffers in the Maharashtra government may be running a risk of getting sacked after forging caste certificates to get employment under the Schedule Caste quota, reports said on Sunday.&nbsp;

Devendra Fadnavis-led Maharastra government will follow the SC order that directed dismissal of the staffers after the apex court passed the rule for dismissal of those who got government jobs or education through fake certificates.&nbsp;

The state&rsquo;s decision to conform to the SC order was confirmed by Chief Secretary Sumit Mallick after a meeting was held at the state secretariat on January 20, reports said.

It has also sought an opinion from the law and judiciary department and the advocate general (AG).

&ldquo;Both the law department and AG have opined there is no way to protect these employees. I don&rsquo;t have the number of employees against whom action has to be taken, but we will follow the SC order,&rdquo; Mallick said.

The government, so far, was reluctant to oust the employees as it would be one of the largest sacking exercises in one sweep.

It has also been reported that BJP MLA from Nagpur Vikas Kumbhare will meet CM Devendra Fadnavis on Monday to request him to ensure injustice is not done to genuine tribals.

Devendra Fadnavis-led Maharastra government will follow the SC order that directed dismissal of the staffers after the apex court passed the rule of for dismissal of those who got government jobs or education through fake certificates

Around 11,700 staffers in the Maharashtra government may be running a risk of getting sacked after forging caste certificates to get employment under the Schedule Caste quota, reports said on Sunday. Devendra Fadnavis-led Maharastra government will follow the SC order that directed dismissal of the staffers after the apex court passed the rule for dismissal of those who got government jobs or education through fake certificates. The state’s decision to conform to the SC order was confirmed by Chief Secretary Sumit Mallick after a meeting was held at the state secretariat on January 20, reports said. It has also sought an opinion from the law and judiciary department and the advocate general (AG). “Both the law department and AG have opined there is no way to protect these employees. I don’t have the number of employees against whom action has to be taken, but we will follow the SC order,” Mallick said. The government, so far, was reluctant to oust the employees as it would be one of the largest sacking exercises in one sweep. It has also been reported that BJP MLA from Nagpur Vikas Kumbhare will meet CM Devendra Fadnavis on Monday to request him to ensure injustice is not done to genuine tribals.

Maharashtra: SC/ST staff to get sacked after forging caste certificates

The 84-year-old farmer, who had consumed a poisonous chemical at the Maharashtra secretariat here on January 22 seeking adequate compensation for land, died at the J J Hospital tonight, police said.

The farmer, Dharma Patil, had consumed the chemical to protest low returns offered by state government while acquiring his land for a solar power plant.

He hailed from North Maharashtra.

&quot;Patil&#39;s postmortem was conducted at the J J Hospital. His body will be handed over to his family later,&quot; officials said.

Patil was rushed to a government hospital in south Mumbai after the suicide bid.

The farmer&#39;s family had claimed that he took the extreme step after several attempts to get appropriate compensation for his land did not yield any results.

The farmer&#39;s son Narendra Patil had told reporters that his father got only Rs four lakh compensation for his five acres of land.

The octogenarian had been visiting the state administrative headquarters for the last three months to complain about the inadequate compensation for his land, his son had said.

The Maharashtra government had offered an assistance of Rs 15 lakh to the farmer, but his son refused to accept it.

Meanwhile, Narendra Patil told reporters that the family members will not accept the body until the state government gives a written assurance granting a &quot;martyred status&quot; to the deceased and proper compensation for the five acre land.

Following the incident, the opposition Congress and NCP have blamed the government.

Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Council Dhananjay Munde said despite the farmer killing himself in Mantralaya, &quot;the government did not feel like giving him justice&quot;.

&quot;Only this government is to be blamed for the farmer&#39;s death,&quot; the NCP leader said.

Munde&#39;s counterpart in the Assembly and Congress leader Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil said the farmer died due to &quot;the government apathy and the anti-farmer policies&quot;.

&quot;The government is yet to wake up even after thousands of farmers have ended their lives,&quot; Vikhe Patil said.&nbsp;

The farmer, Dharma Patil, had consumed the chemical to protest low returns offered by state government while acquiring his land for a solar power plant

The 84-year-old farmer, who had consumed a poisonous chemical at the Maharashtra secretariat here on January 22 seeking adequate compensation for land, died at the J J Hospital tonight, police said. The farmer, Dharma Patil, had consumed the chemical to protest low returns offered by state government while acquiring his land for a solar power plant. He hailed from North Maharashtra. "Patil's postmortem was conducted at the J J Hospital. His body will be handed over to his family later," officials said. Patil was rushed to a government hospital in south Mumbai after the suicide bid. The farmer's family had claimed that he took the extreme step after several attempts to get appropriate compensation for his land did not yield any results. The farmer's son Narendra Patil had told reporters that his father got only Rs four lakh compensation for his five acres of land. The octogenarian had been visiting the state administrative headquarters for the last three months to complain about the inadequate compensation for his land, his son had said. The Maharashtra government had offered an assistance of Rs 15 lakh to the farmer, but his son refused to accept it. Meanwhile, Narendra Patil told reporters that the family members will not accept the body until the state government gives a written assurance granting a "martyred status" to the deceased and proper compensation for the five acre land. Following the incident, the opposition Congress and NCP have blamed the government. Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Council Dhananjay Munde said despite the farmer killing himself in Mantralaya, "the government did not feel like giving him justice". "Only this government is to be blamed for the farmer's death," the NCP leader said. Munde's counterpart in the Assembly and Congress leader Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil said the farmer died due to "the government apathy and the anti-farmer policies". "The government is yet to wake up even after thousands of farmers have ended their lives," Vikhe Patil said.

Farmer who attempted suicide at Mantralaya dies; Opposition blames govt

A US-based Indian engineer married his gay lover on December 30 in a traditional ceremony at Yavatmal, Maharashtra.

The two got married only a few days before the Supreme Court agreed to review criminalisation of homosexuality.&nbsp;

Yavatmal native Hrishi Mohankumar Sathawane (40) married Vinh, reportedly from Vietnam, at a hotel just a few steps away from the office of the superintendent of police.

Hrishi, who holds a BTech from IIT-Bombay, currently lives in California and has a US green card.&nbsp;

According to Hrishi&#39;s social media page, he got engaged to Vinh in mid-2017 and married later in October.&nbsp;

Although his parents were initially against his homosexual affiliation, he successfully convinced them and took their blessings before getting married.&nbsp;

The photo of the couple has made rounds on the internet.

Superintendent of Police, Yavatmal, Amarsingh Jadhav first said he did not want to comment, but later added he had ordered an investigation.

Yavatmal native Hrishi Mohankumar Sathawane (40) married Vinh, said to be from Vietnam got married at a hotel just a few steps away from the office of the superintendent of police

A US-based Indian engineer married his gay lover on December 30 in a traditional ceremony at Yavatmal, Maharashtra. The two got married only a few days before the Supreme Court agreed to review criminalisation of homosexuality. Yavatmal native Hrishi Mohankumar Sathawane (40) married Vinh, reportedly from Vietnam, at a hotel just a few steps away from the office of the superintendent of police. Hrishi, who holds a BTech from IIT-Bombay, currently lives in California and has a US green card. According to Hrishi's social media page, he got engaged to Vinh in mid-2017 and married later in October. Although his parents were initially against his homosexual affiliation, he successfully convinced them and took their blessings before getting married. The photo of the couple has made rounds on the internet. Superintendent of Police, Yavatmal, Amarsingh Jadhav first said he did not want to comment, but later added he had ordered an investigation.

US-based Indian engineer marries gay lover in Maharashtra

Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on Wednesday had a narrow escape in the helicopter he was flying in. The tail rotor of the helicopter got entangled in a cable while landing in Bhayandar on the outskirts of Mumbai. After having a safe landing the chief minister had to take a vehicle for reaching his destination.&nbsp;

This is not the first time when Fadnavis experienced such helicopter mishap.

Last year four of the helicopter he was flying in had suffered from technical issues.&nbsp;

On 9 December, his helicopter was landed midway because of overloading. The chopper was flown again after unloading some luggage.&nbsp;

On 7 July, he was rescued by security guards from getting hit by the chopper&#39;s tail roter after the piolet started the engine even before Fadnavis could board the chopper.&nbsp; He was saved by the security guards who pushed him out of the copter&#39;s way.&nbsp;

On May 25 , the rotor of the helicopter carrying him had crashlanded. The chief minister was again rescued unharmed.

On May 10, the helicopter that was alloted&nbsp;to him had undergone difficulties even before reaching the pick-up location.&nbsp;

The tail rotor of the Maharashta chief minister's helicopter got entangled in a cable while landing on the outskirts of Mumbai

Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on Wednesday had a narrow escape in the helicopter he was flying in. The tail rotor of the helicopter got entangled in a cable while landing in Bhayandar on the outskirts of Mumbai. After having a safe landing the chief minister had to take a vehicle for reaching his destination. This is not the first time when Fadnavis experienced such helicopter mishap. Last year four of the helicopter he was flying in had suffered from technical issues. On 9 December, his helicopter was landed midway because of overloading. The chopper was flown again after unloading some luggage. On 7 July, he was rescued by security guards from getting hit by the chopper's tail roter after the piolet started the engine even before Fadnavis could board the chopper. He was saved by the security guards who pushed him out of the copter's way. On May 25 , the rotor of the helicopter carrying him had crashlanded. The chief minister was again rescued unharmed. On May 10, the helicopter that was alloted to him had undergone difficulties even before reaching the pick-up location.

Devendra Fadnavis has another near-miss in helicopter, his fifth

Data procured by the&nbsp;home ministry has unearthed shocking facts about the rate of suicide&nbsp;in the country.

According to statistics, one student commits suicide every hour in India which amounts to close to 26 suicides committed in a day.

Going by the latest data, nearly 26,476 students took their life between 2014 and 2016. Around 9,474 students committed suicide in the year 2016.

Maharashtra and Bengal emerged on top with the highest number of suicides cases.

Lakshadweep, on the other hand, reported no suicide.&nbsp;

Research blames acute stress and depression for suicide among teenagers and young adults.

Data also attributes 10% to 15% of suicide incidents to drug and alcohol abuse.

Adolescence is a critical phase which can often get exceedingly overwhelming for some individuals.

World Health Organisation&#39;s &#39;Health for the world&rsquo;s adolescents&#39; report reveals depression as the predominant cause of &quot;illness and disability for both boys and girls aged 10 to 19 years&quot;.

&quot;Globally, depression is the number 1 cause of illness and disability in this age group, and suicide ranks number 3 among causes of death. Some studies show that half of all people who develop mental disorders have their first symptoms by the age of 14. If adolescents with mental health problems get the care they need, this can prevent deaths and avoid suffering throughout life,&quot; notes the WHO report.

President Ram Nath Kovind also addressed the issue recently urging students not to&nbsp;stigmatise mental health issues.

President Kovind spoke at the National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS) on December 30 and asked people to talk openly about depression and mental health.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Going by the latest data, nearly 26,476 students took their life between 2014 and 2016

Data procured by the home ministry has unearthed shocking facts about the rate of suicide in the country. According to statistics, one student commits suicide every hour in India which amounts to close to 26 suicides committed in a day. Going by the latest data, nearly 26,476 students took their life between 2014 and 2016. Around 9,474 students committed suicide in the year 2016. Maharashtra and Bengal emerged on top with the highest number of suicides cases. Lakshadweep, on the other hand, reported no suicide. Research blames acute stress and depression for suicide among teenagers and young adults. Data also attributes 10% to 15% of suicide incidents to drug and alcohol abuse. Adolescence is a critical phase which can often get exceedingly overwhelming for some individuals. World Health Organisation's 'Health for the world’s adolescents' report reveals depression as the predominant cause of "illness and disability for both boys and girls aged 10 to 19 years". "Globally, depression is the number 1 cause of illness and disability in this age group, and suicide ranks number 3 among causes of death. Some studies show that half of all people who develop mental disorders have their first symptoms by the age of 14. If adolescents with mental health problems get the care they need, this can prevent deaths and avoid suffering throughout life," notes the WHO report. President Ram Nath Kovind also addressed the issue recently urging students not to stigmatise mental health issues. President Kovind spoke at the National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS) on December 30 and asked people to talk openly about depression and mental health.

1 student commits suicide every hour in India, over 9,000 died in 2016: Report

Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray slammed the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government on Sunday over the proposed chemical industry projects in Konkan region of Maharashtra, saying that they would not let the party spoil Konkan and its beauty.

Pointing that the chemical industries were &quot;forcibly established&quot; in Maharashtra, Thackeray said that Gujarat, on the other hand, was reaping such benefits of development as the bullet train project.

&quot;Shiv Sena will not allow to spoil Konkan and its beauty and make Gujarat prosperous&quot;, Thackeray said at Global Konkan Mahotsav in Navi Mumbai`s CIDCO exhibition centre.

The Shiv Sena Chief was referring to the Jaitapur Nuclear Power Project, the West Coast Refinery and Petrochemical project proposed to go on floors in Ratnagiri district along the Konkan coast of Maharashtra.

&quot;Appeals are made that development projects should not be opposed but why hazardous projects in Konkan? Shift these projects to somewhere else, who is preventing you?&quot; asked Thackeray and added, &quot;Mumbai, our Mumbai is not only the capital of Maharashtra but was recognised as the financial centre of the country, but now Gujarat is being made as the new business centre.

&quot;The Shiv Sena has been opposing both projects citing these are hazardous to the environment as well as detrimental to the health of residents of the region.

&quot;People are here, they have also their opinion, have you asked them what these people want? Every area has their own MPs and MLAs, and if their opinion is not taken or heard for development projects of their constituencies, then what is the point?&quot; asked Thackeray.&nbsp;

The Shiv Sena Chief was referring to the Jaitapur Nuclear Power Project proposed to go on floors in Ratnagiri district along the Konkan coast of Maharashtra

Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray slammed the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government on Sunday over the proposed chemical industry projects in Konkan region of Maharashtra, saying that they would not let the party spoil Konkan and its beauty. Pointing that the chemical industries were "forcibly established" in Maharashtra, Thackeray said that Gujarat, on the other hand, was reaping such benefits of development as the bullet train project. "Shiv Sena will not allow to spoil Konkan and its beauty and make Gujarat prosperous", Thackeray said at Global Konkan Mahotsav in Navi Mumbai`s CIDCO exhibition centre. The Shiv Sena Chief was referring to the Jaitapur Nuclear Power Project, the West Coast Refinery and Petrochemical project proposed to go on floors in Ratnagiri district along the Konkan coast of Maharashtra. "Appeals are made that development projects should not be opposed but why hazardous projects in Konkan? Shift these projects to somewhere else, who is preventing you?" asked Thackeray and added, "Mumbai, our Mumbai is not only the capital of Maharashtra but was recognised as the financial centre of the country, but now Gujarat is being made as the new business centre. "The Shiv Sena has been opposing both projects citing these are hazardous to the environment as well as detrimental to the health of residents of the region. "People are here, they have also their opinion, have you asked them what these people want? Every area has their own MPs and MLAs, and if their opinion is not taken or heard for development projects of their constituencies, then what is the point?" asked Thackeray.

Won't let them spoil Konkan, Uddhav Thackeray slams BJP-led chemical industry projects

The New Year couldn&rsquo;t have begun on a worse note than what we came across on the very first day of 2018. As the rest of the nation was indulging in a food and dance binge wishing even strangers with the cheers of &ldquo;Happy New Year&rdquo;, villagers from Koregaon Bhima, Pabal, and Shikrapur in Pune district of Maharashtra were pelting stones to hit the skulls of those with whom they might be living in harmony since generations. As the maelstrom subsided, one person had died and 25 vehicles were torched in clashes that broke out between villagers on 1st January over a celebration of a 200-yrs old &ldquo;victory&rdquo; of Mahars over Peshwa Bajirao II&#39;s Army on January 1, 1818.

The ripples of the incident travelled far and wide across Maharashtra with many incidences of violence in Nagpur, Aurangabad and Mumbai on 3rd January in a day-long state-wide shutdown called by various Dalit parties on Wednesday.&nbsp;

The question is what led to the violence?

It all started with Koregaon-Bhima, a small village in Pune district, where many members of Dalit communities gathered on January 1st on the dawn of the new year to commemorate the 200th-anniversary celebrations of a small Anglo-Maratha War fought on January 1, 1818, which some traditions claim that the British won. However, the war, otherwise fit for the footnotes of history, is important because it is flaunted as the victory of the &lsquo;Mahars&rsquo; over the upper caste Marathas. Hence, the incident fits perfectly in the jigsaw of &lsquo;Dalits vs Upper Castes&rsquo; narrative and finds instant takers by some opinion leaders.

A careful digging of history on this war may take you to the Poona District Gazetteer, which was compiled by an ICS officer James Campbell as part of the Bombay Presidency Gazetteers. The Gazetteer, mentions that as a part of the Third Anglo-Maratha War, a battle had taken place at the village of Koregaon, 16 miles northeast of Pune, where 834 British troops faced 28,000 Marathas on January 1, 1818. It would be interesting to delve a little deeper into it in order to debunk the various insinuations originating around it.

As per the official record, the British troop comprised of the second battalion of the first regiment Bombay Native Infantry of 500 soldiers led by Captain Francis Staunton who was assisted by 300 auxiliary horsemen and two six-pounder guns manned by 24 European and 4 Native Madras artillerymen. The troops marched from Sirur to Poona at 8 pm on December 31, 1817 and reached the Bhima River next morning to face the Peshwa&rsquo;s army of 25,000 Maratha horses.&nbsp;

However, Peshwa Bajirav-II sent only three small infantry units comprising 300-600 men each from the Arabs, Gosavis and native fighters, which under the support of the cannon and rocket fires, crossed the river from three sides and besieged the British troops in Koregaon village cutting off their food and water supplies.&rdquo; Devastated by hunger and thirst, the British thought of surrendering but held on to their position.

However, &ldquo;as night fell&rdquo;, the Gazette mentions, &ldquo;the attack lightened and they (the British) got water.&rdquo; By 9 PM the firing ceased and the Marathas left, fearing the rumor of arrival of a larger troop of General Smith, while Capt Staunton marched back to Sirur the next morning with his army carrying his near-death experience. The British record mentions that out of 834 British soldiers, 275 were killed, while the Maratha casualty was around 500 to 600. The above account is also mentioned by James Grant Duff in his book, &lsquo;History of Marathas.&rsquo;

&nbsp;

The East India Company, however, strongly praised the bravery of its soldiers and erected an obelisk in 1822 at Koregaon to serve as a &lsquo;victory tower&rsquo; for one of the &ldquo;proudest triumphs of the British Army&rdquo; in India.

&nbsp;

The Gazetteer doesn&rsquo;t mention a Maratha defeat, nor does it mention a British Victory. Secondly, the Gazetteer doesn&rsquo;t mention the caste composition of the British army. Some later descriptions mention that the British army consisted mainly of Mahars, although historical accounts revealed by Vasant Moon (Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar, Writing and Speeches Ed. 2003) that the British army under Capt Staunton consisted of native Parwaris, Marathas, Rajputs, Muslims and Jews, apart from Mahars. The inscription on the Koregaon obliske mentions the names of the 49 dead Indian soldiers of the British army and as per V. Longer in his History of the Mahar Regiment (1981), 22 were Mahars or Parwaris, 16 were Marathas, 8 were Rajputs, two were Muslims, and one or two were probably Indian Jews.

&nbsp;

So, let&rsquo;s summarise our lessons. First, no matter what the tradition says, it&rsquo;s a historical fact that neither side achieved a decisive victory in the battle. Second, it was not a battle between the Mahars at one side and the Marathas at the other, as both armies were a strategic potpourri of castes, races, religions and nationalities. Whereas the Marathas formed a part of the British army, some Mahars also fought from the Maratha side, as the Mahars had historically been a part of the Maratha armies.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

To quote R.K. Kshirsagar (Dalit Movement of India and Its Leaders: 1857-1956), Mahar warriors and leaders always played prominent roles during Shivaji, Rajaram and various Peshwa rulers. He mentions that Nagnak Mahar was prominent in the reign of Rajaram so was Shivnak Mahar, who was gifted the village of Kalambi by Rajaram, Rainak Mahar fought Raigarh and Shidnak Mahar saved the life of Peshwa general Parshuram Patwardhan during the Battle of Kharda in 1795. Third, the memorial at Koregaon has nothing to do with the glorification of the Mahars or has got least to do with the claimed &ldquo;victory&rdquo; of Mahars over the Marathas.

&nbsp;

Hence, the &ldquo;Them Vs Us&rdquo; narrative at Bhima-Koregaon is nothing but a mischievous spin-off of the Dalit identity movements of the first half of the 20th century, when Dalit leaders, especially Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar, started visiting the Victory Tower of Koregaon from 1927 and propounded the theory in 1941 that the Mahars defeated the Marathas in the battle of Bhima-Koregaon. Thus, he appropriated a pure British legacy as a Mahar symbol and used the Victory Tower to give muscle and credence to his brand of identity politics.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

The same brand of identity politics, i.e. demonisation of the Brahmins and the Upper Castes and presenting themselves as a victim of Brahmin atrocities, has been sequestrated by the contemporary Dalit leaders and leftist academicians who succeeded in marketing it well on the global forum.

&nbsp;

The narrative of atrocities has never been put to a rigorous academic scrutiny, which would reveal that caste atrocity is coterminous with caste hierarchy where any caste higher in the hierarchy than the others tends to oppress and exploit the latter. Even Mahars considered fellow Dalits, like Mang and Bhangis as inferior and polluted and didn&rsquo;t accept food from them till late. Further, as far the exploitation goes, they didn&rsquo;t allow a Mang caste groom to ride a horse during the Peshwa period and forced them to ride oxen during marriages.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Several studies point that many Dalit castes are rivals and communal tensions among them are frequent. A study by Prem K. Shinde found more than 900 Dalit sub-castes throughout India, with internal divisions, who compete among themselves for higher status and, claiming relative higher gotra status, refuse to dine and intermarry with lower gotras.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Although the Khateek (butchers) are generally viewed as a higher caste than Bhangis, the latter refuses to offer cleaning services to Khateeks, believing that their profession renders them unclean. They also consider the Balai, Dhobi, Dholi and Mogya as unclean and do not associate with them. A Dalit Sikh claims a superior status over the Hindu Raigars, Chamars and Ravidasis and refuses to intermarry with them.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Sociologists like M.N. Srinivas have showed that atrocities on Dalits are often more committed by the intermediate castes, like Vanniyar in the South and the land-owning Yadavas in the north. However, a &ldquo;Brahman Vs Dalit&rdquo; narrative sells well in the west that ensures flow of huge money from western Churches, donors and Foundations.

&nbsp;

Jignesh Mewani, Prakash Ambedkar, Kanhaiya Kumar and Chandrashekhar (Bheem Army), apart from many others, are some of the few claimants of that coveted narrative and its resultant benefits. Thus, with competing enthusiasm, such Dalit leaders have blamed the RSS for the violence against Dalits in Bhima-Koregaon. Rahul Gandhi has also remarked that RSS&rsquo;s vision is to keep Dalits on the bottom of society.

&nbsp;

The &ldquo;Brahman Vs Dalit&rdquo; narrative is not complete unless the fountainhead of Hindu unity and consciousness - the RSS - is dragged into the debate and run down as an anti-Dalit and pro-poor outfit. That&rsquo;s why there has been a conscious, deliberate and persistent attempt by the leftist and Dalit ideologues to denigrate the RSS and, through selective research and sponsored publications, besmirch its pro-Dalit credentials.

&nbsp;

Although this write-up is not about RSS or its activities, it&rsquo;s pertinent to mention that no organisation has done as much for the upliftment of the Dalits and eradication of the caste-system in rural India as the RSS has done. There are volumes of research and publication available to support how the top leadership from Golwarkar to Deoras to Mohan Bhagavat, have not only maintained it as an official policy but ensured that it translates into ground action.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Incidentally, defragmentation of Hindus and ending all forms of caste discrimination in the hinterlands of India has been fundamental to the RSS ideological core, i.e. Hindu unity. However, partially due to inability of the RSS to effectively dispel the canard by positive campaigning about its actions on the ground level and partly also because of the historical suppression of Pro-RSS research and publications in the left-dominated academia, the &ldquo;anti-Dalit RSS&rdquo; narrative has become the mainstream intellectual discourse, which is as mindlessly consumed by the masses as a fast-food delicacy.

&nbsp;

This doesn&rsquo;t, however, absolve &lsquo;Shivjagar Pratisthan&rsquo; President Sambhaji Bhide Guruji and &lsquo;Hindu Janjagruti Samiti&rsquo; President Milind Ekbote from their culpability in inciting the villagers around Bhima-Koregaon to attack the people participating in the January 1st commemoration.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

The state government must deal the Hindu Ekta Manch goons with iron hands and RSS must intervene to reign in the two leaders, who are undoing many things that the RSS has been doing. Although much detail is not available on the exact sequence of action in Koregaon violence, but the acts of the followers of Sambhaji Bhide and Govind Ekbote are surprising as none of the two leaders have displayed any anti-Dalit approach in the past. Rather, many Dalits form the core of their respective outfits. Yet, the onus is on the state government to unravel the plot and punish the wrongdoers.

&nbsp;

However, various media reports point to the dubious role of Jignesh and Umar Khalid who made provocative speeches suggesting an open rebellion against the democratic process with a call to hit the streets. Such anti-democratic provocations appear to be the part of a larger conspiracy to defame and destabilise the elected governments. &nbsp; They create division among Hindus so that those surviving on identity politics could take advantage of it in 2019. The seeds of this divide-India conspiracy are being sprinkled since long, but the same sprouted during the Gujarat election and, with active incubation provided by the Congress, is fast taking roots all across India.

&nbsp;

There appears to be a well-orchestrated attempt to spread disharmony and create disaffection in society using few local freelancers of chaos like Jignesh Mewani, Hardik Patel, Kanhaiya Kumar and Umar Khaled, who have already showed their intent with slogans like &ldquo;Bharat ki Barbaadi tak jung rahegi jung rahegi&rdquo;.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

The jung has begun and the Gujarat model is spreading its reach. Now, the onus is on the government to unravel the conspiracy and defeat these merchants of disintegration.&nbsp;

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL).

There appears to be a well-orchestrated attempt to spread disharmony and create disaffection in society using few local freelancers of chaos like Jignesh Mewani, Hardik Patel, Kanhaiya Kumar and Umar Khaled.

The New Year couldn’t have begun on a worse note than what we came across on the very first day of 2018. As the rest of the nation was indulging in a food and dance binge wishing even strangers with the cheers of “Happy New Year”, villagers from Koregaon Bhima, Pabal, and Shikrapur in Pune district of Maharashtra were pelting stones to hit the skulls of those with whom they might be living in harmony since generations. As the maelstrom subsided, one person had died and 25 vehicles were torched in clashes that broke out between villagers on 1st January over a celebration of a 200-yrs old “victory” of Mahars over Peshwa Bajirao II's Army on January 1, 1818. The ripples of the incident travelled far and wide across Maharashtra with many incidences of violence in Nagpur, Aurangabad and Mumbai on 3rd January in a day-long state-wide shutdown called by various Dalit parties on Wednesday. The question is what led to the violence? It all started with Koregaon-Bhima, a small village in Pune district, where many members of Dalit communities gathered on January 1st on the dawn of the new year to commemorate the 200th-anniversary celebrations of a small Anglo-Maratha War fought on January 1, 1818, which some traditions claim that the British won. However, the war, otherwise fit for the footnotes of history, is important because it is flaunted as the victory of the ‘Mahars’ over the upper caste Marathas. Hence, the incident fits perfectly in the jigsaw of ‘Dalits vs Upper Castes’ narrative and finds instant takers by some opinion leaders. A careful digging of history on this war may take you to the Poona District Gazetteer, which was compiled by an ICS officer James Campbell as part of the Bombay Presidency Gazetteers. The Gazetteer, mentions that as a part of the Third Anglo-Maratha War, a battle had taken place at the village of Koregaon, 16 miles northeast of Pune, where 834 British troops faced 28,000 Marathas on January 1, 1818. It would be interesting to delve a little deeper into it in order to debunk the various insinuations originating around it. As per the official record, the British troop comprised of the second battalion of the first regiment Bombay Native Infantry of 500 soldiers led by Captain Francis Staunton who was assisted by 300 auxiliary horsemen and two six-pounder guns manned by 24 European and 4 Native Madras artillerymen. The troops marched from Sirur to Poona at 8 pm on December 31, 1817 and reached the Bhima River next morning to face the Peshwa’s army of 25,000 Maratha horses. However, Peshwa Bajirav-II sent only three small infantry units comprising 300-600 men each from the Arabs, Gosavis and native fighters, which under the support of the cannon and rocket fires, crossed the river from three sides and besieged the British troops in Koregaon village cutting off their food and water supplies.” Devastated by hunger and thirst, the British thought of surrendering but held on to their position. However, “as night fell”, the Gazette mentions, “the attack lightened and they (the British) got water.” By 9 PM the firing ceased and the Marathas left, fearing the rumor of arrival of a larger troop of General Smith, while Capt Staunton marched back to Sirur the next morning with his army carrying his near-death experience. The British record mentions that out of 834 British soldiers, 275 were killed, while the Maratha casualty was around 500 to 600. The above account is also mentioned by James Grant Duff in his book, ‘History of Marathas.’ The East India Company, however, strongly praised the bravery of its soldiers and erected an obelisk in 1822 at Koregaon to serve as a ‘victory tower’ for one of the “proudest triumphs of the British Army” in India. The Gazetteer doesn’t mention a Maratha defeat, nor does it mention a British Victory. Secondly, the Gazetteer doesn’t mention the caste composition of the British army. Some later descriptions mention that the British army consisted mainly of Mahars, although historical accounts revealed by Vasant Moon (Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar, Writing and Speeches Ed. 2003) that the British army under Capt Staunton consisted of native Parwaris, Marathas, Rajputs, Muslims and Jews, apart from Mahars. The inscription on the Koregaon obliske mentions the names of the 49 dead Indian soldiers of the British army and as per V. Longer in his History of the Mahar Regiment (1981), 22 were Mahars or Parwaris, 16 were Marathas, 8 were Rajputs, two were Muslims, and one or two were probably Indian Jews. So, let’s summarise our lessons. First, no matter what the tradition says, it’s a historical fact that neither side achieved a decisive victory in the battle. Second, it was not a battle between the Mahars at one side and the Marathas at the other, as both armies were a strategic potpourri of castes, races, religions and nationalities. Whereas the Marathas formed a part of the British army, some Mahars also fought from the Maratha side, as the Mahars had historically been a part of the Maratha armies. To quote R.K. Kshirsagar (Dalit Movement of India and Its Leaders: 1857-1956), Mahar warriors and leaders always played prominent roles during Shivaji, Rajaram and various Peshwa rulers. He mentions that Nagnak Mahar was prominent in the reign of Rajaram so was Shivnak Mahar, who was gifted the village of Kalambi by Rajaram, Rainak Mahar fought Raigarh and Shidnak Mahar saved the life of Peshwa general Parshuram Patwardhan during the Battle of Kharda in 1795. Third, the memorial at Koregaon has nothing to do with the glorification of the Mahars or has got least to do with the claimed “victory” of Mahars over the Marathas. Hence, the “Them Vs Us” narrative at Bhima-Koregaon is nothing but a mischievous spin-off of the Dalit identity movements of the first half of the 20th century, when Dalit leaders, especially Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar, started visiting the Victory Tower of Koregaon from 1927 and propounded the theory in 1941 that the Mahars defeated the Marathas in the battle of Bhima-Koregaon. Thus, he appropriated a pure British legacy as a Mahar symbol and used the Victory Tower to give muscle and credence to his brand of identity politics. The same brand of identity politics, i.e. demonisation of the Brahmins and the Upper Castes and presenting themselves as a victim of Brahmin atrocities, has been sequestrated by the contemporary Dalit leaders and leftist academicians who succeeded in marketing it well on the global forum. The narrative of atrocities has never been put to a rigorous academic scrutiny, which would reveal that caste atrocity is coterminous with caste hierarchy where any caste higher in the hierarchy than the others tends to oppress and exploit the latter. Even Mahars considered fellow Dalits, like Mang and Bhangis as inferior and polluted and didn’t accept food from them till late. Further, as far the exploitation goes, they didn’t allow a Mang caste groom to ride a horse during the Peshwa period and forced them to ride oxen during marriages. Several studies point that many Dalit castes are rivals and communal tensions among them are frequent. A study by Prem K. Shinde found more than 900 Dalit sub-castes throughout India, with internal divisions, who compete among themselves for higher status and, claiming relative higher gotra status, refuse to dine and intermarry with lower gotras. Although the Khateek (butchers) are generally viewed as a higher caste than Bhangis, the latter refuses to offer cleaning services to Khateeks, believing that their profession renders them unclean. They also consider the Balai, Dhobi, Dholi and Mogya as unclean and do not associate with them. A Dalit Sikh claims a superior status over the Hindu Raigars, Chamars and Ravidasis and refuses to intermarry with them. Sociologists like M.N. Srinivas have showed that atrocities on Dalits are often more committed by the intermediate castes, like Vanniyar in the South and the land-owning Yadavas in the north. However, a “Brahman Vs Dalit” narrative sells well in the west that ensures flow of huge money from western Churches, donors and Foundations. Jignesh Mewani, Prakash Ambedkar, Kanhaiya Kumar and Chandrashekhar (Bheem Army), apart from many others, are some of the few claimants of that coveted narrative and its resultant benefits. Thus, with competing enthusiasm, such Dalit leaders have blamed the RSS for the violence against Dalits in Bhima-Koregaon. Rahul Gandhi has also remarked that RSS’s vision is to keep Dalits on the bottom of society. The “Brahman Vs Dalit” narrative is not complete unless the fountainhead of Hindu unity and consciousness - the RSS - is dragged into the debate and run down as an anti-Dalit and pro-poor outfit. That’s why there has been a conscious, deliberate and persistent attempt by the leftist and Dalit ideologues to denigrate the RSS and, through selective research and sponsored publications, besmirch its pro-Dalit credentials. Although this write-up is not about RSS or its activities, it’s pertinent to mention that no organisation has done as much for the upliftment of the Dalits and eradication of the caste-system in rural India as the RSS has done. There are volumes of research and publication available to support how the top leadership from Golwarkar to Deoras to Mohan Bhagavat, have not only maintained it as an official policy but ensured that it translates into ground action. Incidentally, defragmentation of Hindus and ending all forms of caste discrimination in the hinterlands of India has been fundamental to the RSS ideological core, i.e. Hindu unity. However, partially due to inability of the RSS to effectively dispel the canard by positive campaigning about its actions on the ground level and partly also because of the historical suppression of Pro-RSS research and publications in the left-dominated academia, the “anti-Dalit RSS” narrative has become the mainstream intellectual discourse, which is as mindlessly consumed by the masses as a fast-food delicacy. This doesn’t, however, absolve ‘Shivjagar Pratisthan’ President Sambhaji Bhide Guruji and ‘Hindu Janjagruti Samiti’ President Milind Ekbote from their culpability in inciting the villagers around Bhima-Koregaon to attack the people participating in the January 1st commemoration. The state government must deal the Hindu Ekta Manch goons with iron hands and RSS must intervene to reign in the two leaders, who are undoing many things that the RSS has been doing. Although much detail is not available on the exact sequence of action in Koregaon violence, but the acts of the followers of Sambhaji Bhide and Govind Ekbote are surprising as none of the two leaders have displayed any anti-Dalit approach in the past. Rather, many Dalits form the core of their respective outfits. Yet, the onus is on the state government to unravel the plot and punish the wrongdoers. However, various media reports point to the dubious role of Jignesh and Umar Khalid who made provocative speeches suggesting an open rebellion against the democratic process with a call to hit the streets. Such anti-democratic provocations appear to be the part of a larger conspiracy to defame and destabilise the elected governments. They create division among Hindus so that those surviving on identity politics could take advantage of it in 2019. The seeds of this divide-India conspiracy are being sprinkled since long, but the same sprouted during the Gujarat election and, with active incubation provided by the Congress, is fast taking roots all across India. There appears to be a well-orchestrated attempt to spread disharmony and create disaffection in society using few local freelancers of chaos like Jignesh Mewani, Hardik Patel, Kanhaiya Kumar and Umar Khaled, who have already showed their intent with slogans like “Bharat ki Barbaadi tak jung rahegi jung rahegi”. The jung has begun and the Gujarat model is spreading its reach. Now, the onus is on the government to unravel the conspiracy and defeat these merchants of disintegration. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL).

Opinion: 'Brahman Vs Dalit' narrative sells well in the West

Dalit history by Dalit historians for Dalit consumers has always had a different perspective. Celebrating the victory of British-led Mahar Regiment against the Peshwas is not new but violence meted out to the Dalit on this occasion was first in the recent past. The violence in itself was a telling reminder of the fact that, in this country, the Dalits have an alternate perspective of historical issues and its engagement with Sanatan Dharma.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

There is nothing wrong in Dalits celebrating the victory as Peshwai, like many other medieval institutions, was casteist.

&nbsp;

The Dalits continue to be orphans in the Hindu pantheon. They are needed to gain numbers in electoral politics but are not accorded social, political and cultural space in our society. Seven decades into post-colonial India, the Dalits still don&rsquo;t have an intellectual or political say in what they consider to be the history of their own lived past.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Even to the &#39;Father of the Nation&#39;, matters concerning the Dalit community was not about the Dalits in the final analysis; it always had to be in a subsidiary position with the main concern being the integrity of the Hindu community at large. This mindset was amply evident in the conclusion of the Poona Pact.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Even now, Dalit issues get related to questions of conversion, purity, pollution and, lately, anti-nationalism. Consequently, political discrimination and violence does not remain limited to political space. Dalits continue to witness violence which manifests itself in the form of rape and public humiliation.

&nbsp;

The point is that, with Constitution, the rights of Dalits have been enshrined but its accommodation at the level of the leadership and sacred has not taken place. After Babu Jagjivan Ram, there has been no national Dalit national leader in post-independent India. Ambedkar, despite being the &#39;Father of the Constitution&#39; could not rally Dalits as a political constituency after independence. The community had already electorally invested itself with Gandhinian vision, and voted for the Congress party.

&nbsp;

A disillusioned Ambedkar converted to Buddhism. His disappointment was more than one; not only have the Dalits failed to emerge as a political constituency, the moral landscape also remained unaltered. Ambedkar died a bitter man.

&nbsp;

The violence in Maharashtra, specifically, has less to do with Hinduism and more to do with Hindutva. Shivaji, a fantastic historical figure, has been appropriated by the nationalistic discourse. So, in the process, he has been situated beyond criticism. The evaluation makes Shivaji a human being which ultimately deconstructs the macho nationalistic discourse because it thrives on fantasy. It is this fantasy which denies Dalits their right to breathe and live a different history.

&nbsp;

&nbsp;The violence by the dominant caste in this context should not be surprising. The dominant castes have been agitating throughout India on a number of issues over the past 10 years. Two things have happened simultaneously. Whether it is Patel in Gujarat or Jats in UP or Maratha in Maharashtra, all of them want jobs. The dominant castes have run their course in Indian contemporary history. This is the bitter truth. When India became independent, they were not well represented and still saw the world from the angle of socialist politics which was being led by OBC leaders who championed the agrarian cause.

&nbsp;

Within 25 years after independence, not only the dominant castes came to dominate the assemblies but also ended up controlling the land. India&rsquo;s Prime Minister Charan Singh heralded this shift. Despite being a Jat, he was far more focused building a broader alliance of backward leaders. From Laloo to Nitish, all started their careers under him.

&nbsp;

&nbsp;Today, the land is not giving money and the communities are not invested fully in other economic activities. On top of it, everyone cannot get reservation. Lastly, they have been Sanskritised and feel more at home with upper castes than Dalits under whose name the biggest of OBC politicians have done socialist politics in India.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

It is this tectonic shift which is visible through this violence. In desperation, it latches on to pride and past. It does three things: it discredits them; it tells us that how far dominant castes are removed from their point of political origin. The dominant caste movement, which was socialist and more agrarian in outlook under Charan Singh, today has become completely castist. The rest have been incorporated by Hindutva. &nbsp;

&nbsp;

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL).

There is nothing wrong in Dalits celebrating the victory as Peshwai, like many other medieval institutions, was casteist.

Dalit history by Dalit historians for Dalit consumers has always had a different perspective. Celebrating the victory of British-led Mahar Regiment against the Peshwas is not new but violence meted out to the Dalit on this occasion was first in the recent past. The violence in itself was a telling reminder of the fact that, in this country, the Dalits have an alternate perspective of historical issues and its engagement with Sanatan Dharma. There is nothing wrong in Dalits celebrating the victory as Peshwai, like many other medieval institutions, was casteist. The Dalits continue to be orphans in the Hindu pantheon. They are needed to gain numbers in electoral politics but are not accorded social, political and cultural space in our society. Seven decades into post-colonial India, the Dalits still don’t have an intellectual or political say in what they consider to be the history of their own lived past. Even to the 'Father of the Nation', matters concerning the Dalit community was not about the Dalits in the final analysis; it always had to be in a subsidiary position with the main concern being the integrity of the Hindu community at large. This mindset was amply evident in the conclusion of the Poona Pact. Even now, Dalit issues get related to questions of conversion, purity, pollution and, lately, anti-nationalism. Consequently, political discrimination and violence does not remain limited to political space. Dalits continue to witness violence which manifests itself in the form of rape and public humiliation. The point is that, with Constitution, the rights of Dalits have been enshrined but its accommodation at the level of the leadership and sacred has not taken place. After Babu Jagjivan Ram, there has been no national Dalit national leader in post-independent India. Ambedkar, despite being the 'Father of the Constitution' could not rally Dalits as a political constituency after independence. The community had already electorally invested itself with Gandhinian vision, and voted for the Congress party. A disillusioned Ambedkar converted to Buddhism. His disappointment was more than one; not only have the Dalits failed to emerge as a political constituency, the moral landscape also remained unaltered. Ambedkar died a bitter man. The violence in Maharashtra, specifically, has less to do with Hinduism and more to do with Hindutva. Shivaji, a fantastic historical figure, has been appropriated by the nationalistic discourse. So, in the process, he has been situated beyond criticism. The evaluation makes Shivaji a human being which ultimately deconstructs the macho nationalistic discourse because it thrives on fantasy. It is this fantasy which denies Dalits their right to breathe and live a different history. The violence by the dominant caste in this context should not be surprising. The dominant castes have been agitating throughout India on a number of issues over the past 10 years. Two things have happened simultaneously. Whether it is Patel in Gujarat or Jats in UP or Maratha in Maharashtra, all of them want jobs. The dominant castes have run their course in Indian contemporary history. This is the bitter truth. When India became independent, they were not well represented and still saw the world from the angle of socialist politics which was being led by OBC leaders who championed the agrarian cause. Within 25 years after independence, not only the dominant castes came to dominate the assemblies but also ended up controlling the land. India’s Prime Minister Charan Singh heralded this shift. Despite being a Jat, he was far more focused building a broader alliance of backward leaders. From Laloo to Nitish, all started their careers under him. Today, the land is not giving money and the communities are not invested fully in other economic activities. On top of it, everyone cannot get reservation. Lastly, they have been Sanskritised and feel more at home with upper castes than Dalits under whose name the biggest of OBC politicians have done socialist politics in India. It is this tectonic shift which is visible through this violence. In desperation, it latches on to pride and past. It does three things: it discredits them; it tells us that how far dominant castes are removed from their point of political origin. The dominant caste movement, which was socialist and more agrarian in outlook under Charan Singh, today has become completely castist. The rest have been incorporated by Hindutva. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL).

Opinion: Maharashtra violence shows Dalits have no history

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A 16-year-old boy died in Nanded on Wednesday during the Dalit protests.&nbsp;

News reports said the boy was part of a mob blocking the road. The reports said the protesters had run when police chased them. &nbsp;

Police said the boy, identified as Yogesh Jadhav, had run along with the other demonstrators. But that he lost his balance and fell and was crushed by other protesters.&nbsp;

 
<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/trump-breaks-with-bannon-says-former-aide-lost-his-mind-28476" target="_blank">Trump says Bannon &#39;lost his mind&#39; after comments about Donald Jr</a>

President Donald Trump on Wednesday blasted former White House chief strategist Steve Bannon as having &quot;lost his mind&quot; in the fallout over damaging comments Bannon made about Trump&#39;s son Donald Trump Jr. in excerpts from a new book.

 
<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/indian-or-not-muslims-fret-amid-drive-against-illegal-immigrants-in-assam-28485" target="_blank">Indian or not? Fear in Assam over citizens&#39; register</a>

Marzina Bibi, a Muslim woman living in Assam, is petrified she will be declared stateless.

The 26-year-old&#39;s name was not on a preliminary list of citizens that was published at midnight on Sunday, although she holds a voter identity card and had voted in state elections in 2016.

&quot;Why are they doing this to me?&quot; Bibi asked, sitting beside a bamboo mat she was weaving outside her mud house in Assam&#39;s Fofonga village. &quot;They think I am a Bangladeshi. I was born here, my parents were born here, I am an Indian.&quot;

Video: 4 dead after fire breaks out at Maimoon building in Marol, Mumbai Four people are dead and five injured after a fire broke out at the Maimoon building in Marol, Mumbai. Chinese road-building teams entered 1 km into Arunachal, forced back: Sources Chinese road-building teams entered around 1 kilometre inside Indian territory in Tuting area of Arunachal Pradesh last week but returned after being confronted by Indian troops, government sources said on Wednesday. Maharashtra protests: 16-year-old dies fleeing police in Nanded A 16-year-old boy died in Nanded on Wednesday during the Dalit protests. News reports said the boy was part of a mob blocking the road. The reports said the protesters had run when police chased them. Police said the boy, identified as Yogesh Jadhav, had run along with the other demonstrators. But that he lost his balance and fell and was crushed by other protesters. Trump says Bannon 'lost his mind' after comments about Donald Jr President Donald Trump on Wednesday blasted former White House chief strategist Steve Bannon as having "lost his mind" in the fallout over damaging comments Bannon made about Trump's son Donald Trump Jr. in excerpts from a new book. Indian or not? Fear in Assam over citizens' register Marzina Bibi, a Muslim woman living in Assam, is petrified she will be declared stateless. The 26-year-old's name was not on a preliminary list of citizens that was published at midnight on Sunday, although she holds a voter identity card and had voted in state elections in 2016. "Why are they doing this to me?" Bibi asked, sitting beside a bamboo mat she was weaving outside her mud house in Assam's Fofonga village. "They think I am a Bangladeshi. I was born here, my parents were born here, I am an Indian."

WION Morning News Brief, January 4, 2018

A 16-year-old boy died in Nanded on Wednesday during the Dalit protests.&nbsp;

News reports said the boy was part of a mob blocking the road.&nbsp;

The reports said the protesters had run when police chased them.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Police said the boy, identified as Yogesh Jadhav, had run along with the other demonstrators. But that he lost his balance and fell and was crushed by other protesters.&nbsp;

&quot;He, however, lost his balance and fell on road. He suffered serious injuries to his forehead and other parts of the body as he was trampled upon by fleeing protesters,&quot; PTI quoted a police official as saying.&nbsp;

&quot;Jadhav was admitted in government hospital in Hadgaon, where he succumbed to his injuries,&quot; Hadgaon police station senior inspector Keshav Latpate told PTI.&nbsp;

PTI however reported another official as saying the protesters had alleged Yogesh had died in the police lathicharge.&nbsp;

Police said he lost his balance and fell, and was crushed by other protesters as they ran from the authorities

A 16-year-old boy died in Nanded on Wednesday during the Dalit protests. News reports said the boy was part of a mob blocking the road. The reports said the protesters had run when police chased them. Police said the boy, identified as Yogesh Jadhav, had run along with the other demonstrators. But that he lost his balance and fell and was crushed by other protesters. "He, however, lost his balance and fell on road. He suffered serious injuries to his forehead and other parts of the body as he was trampled upon by fleeing protesters," PTI quoted a police official as saying. "Jadhav was admitted in government hospital in Hadgaon, where he succumbed to his injuries," Hadgaon police station senior inspector Keshav Latpate told PTI. PTI however reported another official as saying the protesters had alleged Yogesh had died in the police lathicharge.

Maharashtra protests: 16-year-old dies fleeing police in Nanded

It is said that being a male is a matter of birth, being a man is a matter of age but being a gentleman is a matter of choice. Similarly for women: being a female is a matter of birth, being a woman is a matter of age but being a fine lady is a matter of choice. This notion was proved by none other than the Phule couple.

This British-era feminist was born on 3 January 1831, in Naigaon near Satara district of Maharashtra and was married to Jyotirao Phule a feminist man of that era at an early age of 9. She was a woman whose stature will remain unmatched with any of the modern twitter feminist.&nbsp;

Mahatma Gandhi gave a speech in about 1920, appealing education for women; his point was that it would be more fruitful than teaching men. 70 years before Mahatma, there was a lady who was headmistress of not only one but three schools!

Jyotiba Phule or Mahatma Phule, as he is called commonly in Maharashtra, did an applauding job by teaching his wife how to read and write. Savitribai was later trained at Ms.Farhar&#39;s institution in Ahemadnagar and Ms.Mitchell&#39;s school in Pune. She became the first female teacher of the school started by Mahatma Phule in Bhide Wada, Pune.&nbsp;

At that time there was a stereotype that education is meant just for boys of Brahmin caste. The orthodox used to say, teach a girl and then she will get hell for one birth. Savitribai used to tackle this insane rhetoric by saying, don&#39;t teach a girl she will get hell all the seven births.

Savitribai was so committed that by 1851 she had 150 female students in her 3 schools of which she was the headmistress. She also introduced the concept of stipends for sincere girls and the parents-teachers meet was done regularly.

Apart from being an excellent education reformer, Savitribai was an ardent social worker. Alongside her husband Jyotirao Phule, she was quite vocal about the atrocities of the upper caste over the lower ones. She spoke against the practice of tonsure and child marriage and supported the idea of widow marriage.&nbsp;

The Phule couple started a centre called Balhatya Pratibandhak Gruha to serve as a facility for rape victims, especially the widowed ones. She also adopted a child named Yashwant who was a son of a Bramhin widower.

During the plague epidemic, she asked her son Yashwant, who was a doctor, to give free treatment to the poor. It is documented that Savitribai used to carry the patients on her back all the way to her son&#39;s clinic. Eventually, Savtribai succumbed to plague herself.&nbsp;

The purpose of this piece isn&#39;t just to glorify the works of Savitribai Phule.

Yesterday, I went to Pune University campus and I was staring at the serious face of Savitribai on the statue. Even though I see Chanda Kocchar, Shikha Sharma, Sudha Murty, Sushma Swaraj, Mamata Banerjee as great achievers but I still felt a gloom on her face.

What happened at Koregaon Bhima was very shameful for Maharashtrians. Surely, incidents such as these would have pained the souls of Savitribai Phule, Babasaheb Ambedkar, Gopal Krishna Gokhle, Lokmanya Tilak and many more. &nbsp;

I won&#39;t point a finger at either the right-wingers or the Dalits. Each of them must have played a part to instigate violence. What is undeniable though is the incident is a blot on the peaceful image of Maharashtra and disgrace on the struggle of Savitribai Phule.

Even after 70 years of Indian Independence, 36% of women still don&#39;t know how to read and write. Only 13.4% of Indian women have regular salaried jobs. 51.4% of women of SC backgrounds are still illiterate. 41% of rural women are illiterate too. Too few women are in politics and mostly imbibed in this stream through nepotism.

Along the lines of the ideology of Phule couple, the government should increase their spending on education. Savitribai used to give stipends to sincere girls, so government should give stipends to sincere girls whose parents are illiterate. Free sanitary napkins must be given to girls who can&#39;t afford it. We can see girls regularly topping all sorts of exams. We have Tina Dabi, a Dalit girl, who is UPSC topper. So the situation is not entirely hopeless, and I can feel a smile on Savitribai&#39;s face.

&nbsp;

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL).

Alongside her husband Jyotirao Phule, she was quite vocal about the atrocities of the upper caste over the lower ones.

It is said that being a male is a matter of birth, being a man is a matter of age but being a gentleman is a matter of choice. Similarly for women: being a female is a matter of birth, being a woman is a matter of age but being a fine lady is a matter of choice. This notion was proved by none other than the Phule couple. This British-era feminist was born on 3 January 1831, in Naigaon near Satara district of Maharashtra and was married to Jyotirao Phule a feminist man of that era at an early age of 9. She was a woman whose stature will remain unmatched with any of the modern twitter feminist. Mahatma Gandhi gave a speech in about 1920, appealing education for women; his point was that it would be more fruitful than teaching men. 70 years before Mahatma, there was a lady who was headmistress of not only one but three schools! Jyotiba Phule or Mahatma Phule, as he is called commonly in Maharashtra, did an applauding job by teaching his wife how to read and write. Savitribai was later trained at Ms.Farhar's institution in Ahemadnagar and Ms.Mitchell's school in Pune. She became the first female teacher of the school started by Mahatma Phule in Bhide Wada, Pune. At that time there was a stereotype that education is meant just for boys of Brahmin caste. The orthodox used to say, teach a girl and then she will get hell for one birth. Savitribai used to tackle this insane rhetoric by saying, don't teach a girl she will get hell all the seven births. Savitribai was so committed that by 1851 she had 150 female students in her 3 schools of which she was the headmistress. She also introduced the concept of stipends for sincere girls and the parents-teachers meet was done regularly. Apart from being an excellent education reformer, Savitribai was an ardent social worker. Alongside her husband Jyotirao Phule, she was quite vocal about the atrocities of the upper caste over the lower ones. She spoke against the practice of tonsure and child marriage and supported the idea of widow marriage. The Phule couple started a centre called Balhatya Pratibandhak Gruha to serve as a facility for rape victims, especially the widowed ones. She also adopted a child named Yashwant who was a son of a Bramhin widower. During the plague epidemic, she asked her son Yashwant, who was a doctor, to give free treatment to the poor. It is documented that Savitribai used to carry the patients on her back all the way to her son's clinic. Eventually, Savtribai succumbed to plague herself. The purpose of this piece isn't just to glorify the works of Savitribai Phule. Yesterday, I went to Pune University campus and I was staring at the serious face of Savitribai on the statue. Even though I see Chanda Kocchar, Shikha Sharma, Sudha Murty, Sushma Swaraj, Mamata Banerjee as great achievers but I still felt a gloom on her face. What happened at Koregaon Bhima was very shameful for Maharashtrians. Surely, incidents such as these would have pained the souls of Savitribai Phule, Babasaheb Ambedkar, Gopal Krishna Gokhle, Lokmanya Tilak and many more. I won't point a finger at either the right-wingers or the Dalits. Each of them must have played a part to instigate violence. What is undeniable though is the incident is a blot on the peaceful image of Maharashtra and disgrace on the struggle of Savitribai Phule. Even after 70 years of Indian Independence, 36% of women still don't know how to read and write. Only 13.4% of Indian women have regular salaried jobs. 51.4% of women of SC backgrounds are still illiterate. 41% of rural women are illiterate too. Too few women are in politics and mostly imbibed in this stream through nepotism. Along the lines of the ideology of Phule couple, the government should increase their spending on education. Savitribai used to give stipends to sincere girls, so government should give stipends to sincere girls whose parents are illiterate. Free sanitary napkins must be given to girls who can't afford it. We can see girls regularly topping all sorts of exams. We have Tina Dabi, a Dalit girl, who is UPSC topper. So the situation is not entirely hopeless, and I can feel a smile on Savitribai's face. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL).

Opinion: Savitribai Phule and identity of backward castes in Maharashtra

A battle fought on January 1, 1818, between the British East India Company, containing Dalits in its infantry, and the Peshwas, who were upper-caste Brahmins, at Bhima Koregaon, has come to haunt the citizens residing in the 21st century.&nbsp;

On the 200th anniversary of the battle, clashes broke out between the Dalits and alleged right-wing groups on January 1, across towns and cities in Maharashtra. 
&nbsp; 
The Dalit protesters blocked major roads in Mumbai, disrupted road traffic and train services, bringing the life to a standstill after over 160 buses were damaged and heavy security was deployed to control the situation.&nbsp;

BR Ambedkar&#39;s grandson Prakash Ambedkar called for Maharashtra bandh on Wednesday, after the clashes killed one person and injured several others.&nbsp;

Groups of Dalit activists jumped on the railway tracks, raising slogans and waving flags to attempt a rail-blockade at Thane and Virar stations in Palghar.

However, they were prevented by the security forces and nearly 100 protesters were detained.&nbsp;

Commuters have been left stranded due to lack of mode of transport in the state today. Scores of people were witnessed waiting near Thane&#39;s Vartak Nagar.&nbsp;

Metro services between Asalfa and Ghatkopar Metro station in Mumbai were stopped by the protesters.

Violence spilled over to adjoining parts of Maharashtra after the right-wing groups were objecting to the observance of &#39;Victory Day&#39; since they considered it to be an anti-national celebration.

Even the Dabbawala association decided not to run its delivery service, fearing the law and order issues in the city.&nbsp;

The bus service towards Pune&#39;s Baramati and Satara and inter-state bus services from Karnataka-Maharashtra have been temporarily suspended till further order as a precautionary measure.&nbsp;

To prevent further damage the administration has also suspended internet services in Aurangabad.&nbsp;

Schools and colleges in Thane remain closed considering the safety and security of students.

Earlier, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Pravin Mundhe appealed to the citizens to carry on with their daily routine.&nbsp;

&quot;There will be peace in the city. Don&#39;t trust rumours being spread on social media,&quot; he added.

Meanwhile, the Rajya Sabha was adjourned today till noon after opposition including Congress and BSP, sought to raise the issue of caste violence in the state.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

Clashes broke out between the Dalits and alleged right-wing groups on January 1

A battle fought on January 1, 1818, between the British East India Company, containing Dalits in its infantry, and the Peshwas, who were upper-caste Brahmins, at Bhima Koregaon, has come to haunt the citizens residing in the 21st century. On the 200th anniversary of the battle, clashes broke out between the Dalits and alleged right-wing groups on January 1, across towns and cities in Maharashtra. The Dalit protesters blocked major roads in Mumbai, disrupted road traffic and train services, bringing the life to a standstill after over 160 buses were damaged and heavy security was deployed to control the situation. BR Ambedkar's grandson Prakash Ambedkar called for Maharashtra bandh on Wednesday, after the clashes killed one person and injured several others. Groups of Dalit activists jumped on the railway tracks, raising slogans and waving flags to attempt a rail-blockade at Thane and Virar stations in Palghar. However, they were prevented by the security forces and nearly 100 protesters were detained. Commuters have been left stranded due to lack of mode of transport in the state today. Scores of people were witnessed waiting near Thane's Vartak Nagar. Metro services between Asalfa and Ghatkopar Metro station in Mumbai were stopped by the protesters. Violence spilled over to adjoining parts of Maharashtra after the right-wing groups were objecting to the observance of 'Victory Day' since they considered it to be an anti-national celebration. Even the Dabbawala association decided not to run its delivery service, fearing the law and order issues in the city. The bus service towards Pune's Baramati and Satara and inter-state bus services from Karnataka-Maharashtra have been temporarily suspended till further order as a precautionary measure. To prevent further damage the administration has also suspended internet services in Aurangabad. Schools and colleges in Thane remain closed considering the safety and security of students. Earlier, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Pravin Mundhe appealed to the citizens to carry on with their daily routine. "There will be peace in the city. Don't trust rumours being spread on social media," he added. Meanwhile, the Rajya Sabha was adjourned today till noon after opposition including Congress and BSP, sought to raise the issue of caste violence in the state.

Maharashtra comes to standstill after protests over Bhima-Koregaon violence

Maharashtra remained on edge after the anniversary of a battle fought 200 years ago brought to fore simmering caste tensions even as a statewide bandh called today to protest the state government&#39;s alleged failure to stop violence witnessed stray protest by Dalits.

Dalit protesters tried to block tracks at the Thane railway station today morning, but they were chased away soon and the traffic on the Central Railway line remained uninterrupted, said a railway official.

Protesters also tried to block rail traffic on the Western line in suburban Goregaon, said a police official.

Today&#39;s Class 11 exams at St Xavier&#39;s College in South Mumbai have been cancelled, college authorities said.

Bharipa Bahujan Mahasangh (BBM) leader and Dr B R Ambedkar&#39;s grandson Prakash Ambedkar have called for Maharashtra bandh today to protest the state government&#39;s &quot;failure&quot; to stop the violence at Bhima Koregaon village in Pune district two days ago.

Ambedkar alleged that Hindu Ekta Aghadi was responsible for the violence.

He said Maharashtra Democratic Front, Maharashtra Left Front and some 250 other organisations have supported the call for shutdown.

While the state government clarified that it hasn&#39;t declared a school holiday, bus operators said they won&#39;t run school buses in Mumbai today.

&quot;We can&#39;t risk students&#39; safety and security. Will take a second decision at 11 am if we can run them in the second half, depending on the situation,&quot; a School Bus Owners&#39; Association spokesperson said.

Gujarat MLA and Dalit leader Jignesh Mevani, who was in Mumbai yesterday, alleged the attacks on Dalits in Pune district two days ago were carried out by supporters of the BJP and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh.

&quot;These organisations are modern-day Peshwas, representing Brahminism in its worst form. Two hundred years ago, our forefathers fought against the Peshwas. Today, Dalits of my generation are fighting against the new Peshwas,&quot; he said.

&quot;Why can&#39;t Dalits peacefully commemorate the anniversary of the Bhima Koregaon battle? The attackers have resorted to such methods because they are scared of Dalit assertion,&quot; he said.

Pune police last night said they had received a complaint against Mevani and Delhi&#39;s Jawaharlal Nehru University&#39;s (JNU) student leader Umar Khalid for their &quot;provocative&quot; speeches at an event in Pune on December 31.

Mevani and Khalid had attended the &quot;Elgar Parishad&quot;, an event organised to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the battle of Bhima-Koregaon, at Shaniwar Wada in Pune.

Violence erupted in Pune district when Dalit groups were celebrating the bicentenary of the Bhima-Koregaon battle in which the forces of the British East India Company defeated the Peshwa&#39;s army.

Dalit leaders commemorate the British victory, as it is believed that soldiers from the Mahar community - then considered untouchable - were part of the East India Company&#39;s forces. The Peshwas were Brahmins, and the victory is seen as a symbol of assertiveness by Dalits.&nbsp;

A statewide bandh has been called by Prakash Ambedkar, Bharipa Bahujan Mahasangh leader and BR Ambedkar's grandson

Maharashtra remained on edge after the anniversary of a battle fought 200 years ago brought to fore simmering caste tensions even as a statewide bandh called today to protest the state government's alleged failure to stop violence witnessed stray protest by Dalits. Dalit protesters tried to block tracks at the Thane railway station today morning, but they were chased away soon and the traffic on the Central Railway line remained uninterrupted, said a railway official. Protesters also tried to block rail traffic on the Western line in suburban Goregaon, said a police official. Today's Class 11 exams at St Xavier's College in South Mumbai have been cancelled, college authorities said. Bharipa Bahujan Mahasangh (BBM) leader and Dr B R Ambedkar's grandson Prakash Ambedkar have called for Maharashtra bandh today to protest the state government's "failure" to stop the violence at Bhima Koregaon village in Pune district two days ago. Ambedkar alleged that Hindu Ekta Aghadi was responsible for the violence. He said Maharashtra Democratic Front, Maharashtra Left Front and some 250 other organisations have supported the call for shutdown. While the state government clarified that it hasn't declared a school holiday, bus operators said they won't run school buses in Mumbai today. "We can't risk students' safety and security. Will take a second decision at 11 am if we can run them in the second half, depending on the situation," a School Bus Owners' Association spokesperson said. Gujarat MLA and Dalit leader Jignesh Mevani, who was in Mumbai yesterday, alleged the attacks on Dalits in Pune district two days ago were carried out by supporters of the BJP and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh. "These organisations are modern-day Peshwas, representing Brahminism in its worst form. Two hundred years ago, our forefathers fought against the Peshwas. Today, Dalits of my generation are fighting against the new Peshwas," he said. "Why can't Dalits peacefully commemorate the anniversary of the Bhima Koregaon battle? The attackers have resorted to such methods because they are scared of Dalit assertion," he said. Pune police last night said they had received a complaint against Mevani and Delhi's Jawaharlal Nehru University's (JNU) student leader Umar Khalid for their "provocative" speeches at an event in Pune on December 31. Mevani and Khalid had attended the "Elgar Parishad", an event organised to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the battle of Bhima-Koregaon, at Shaniwar Wada in Pune. Violence erupted in Pune district when Dalit groups were celebrating the bicentenary of the Bhima-Koregaon battle in which the forces of the British East India Company defeated the Peshwa's army. Dalit leaders commemorate the British victory, as it is believed that soldiers from the Mahar community - then considered untouchable - were part of the East India Company's forces. The Peshwas were Brahmins, and the victory is seen as a symbol of assertiveness by Dalits.

Maharashtra on edge after Bhima-Koregaon violence, protests

Protesters in Mumbai <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/watch-protesters-in-chembur-disrupt-traffic-over-bhima-koregaon-clash-28335">disrupted traffic on Tuesday over the</a> death of one person in Pune yesterday during an event to mark the 200th anniversary of the Bhima Koregaon battle.&nbsp;

Bharipa Bahujan Mahasangh (BBM) leader Prakash Ambedkar has called for a strike in Maharashtra on Wednesday even as Mumbai&#39;s central railway suspended suburban services between Kurla and Vashi on its harbour corridor.

The protesters forced shops to close in Mumbai area and disrupted eastern suburbs of Chembur, Vikhroli, Mankhurd and Govandi.

Hundreds of protesters gathered in Priyadarshini, Kurla, Sidharth Colony and Amar Mahal areas on the Eastern Express Highway, took out processions and raised slogans against the government.

Congress president Rahul Gandhi blamed the BJP for the crisis, tweeting: &quot;Una, Rohith Vemula and now Bhima-Koregaon are potent symbols of the resistance.&quot;

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
A central pillar of the RSS/BJP&rsquo;s fascist vision for India is that Dalits should remain at the bottom of Indian society. Una, Rohith Vemula and now Bhima-Koregaon are potent symbols of the resistance.
&mdash; Office of RG (@OfficeOfRG) <a href="https://twitter.com/OfficeOfRG/status/948158586676326400?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 2, 2018</a></blockquote>
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Maharashtra: Republican Party of India workers protest in Thane <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BhimaKoregaonViolence?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BhimaKoregaonViolence</a> <a href="https://t.co/v9mMS2APNR">pic.twitter.com/v9mMS2APNR</a>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/948153436893167618?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 2, 2018</a></blockquote>
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Police said that over 100 people have been detained from various locations. (WION Web Team)
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Congress president Rahul Gandhi blamed the BJP for the crisis

Protesters in Mumbai disrupted traffic on Tuesday over the death of one person in Pune yesterday during an event to mark the 200th anniversary of the Bhima Koregaon battle. Bharipa Bahujan Mahasangh (BBM) leader Prakash Ambedkar has called for a strike in Maharashtra on Wednesday even as Mumbai's central railway suspended suburban services between Kurla and Vashi on its harbour corridor. The protesters forced shops to close in Mumbai area and disrupted eastern suburbs of Chembur, Vikhroli, Mankhurd and Govandi. Hundreds of protesters gathered in Priyadarshini, Kurla, Sidharth Colony and Amar Mahal areas on the Eastern Express Highway, took out processions and raised slogans against the government. Congress president Rahul Gandhi blamed the BJP for the crisis, tweeting: "Una, Rohith Vemula and now Bhima-Koregaon are potent symbols of the resistance." A central pillar of the RSS/BJP’s fascist vision for India is that Dalits should remain at the bottom of Indian society. Una, Rohith Vemula and now Bhima-Koregaon are potent symbols of the resistance. — Office of RG (@OfficeOfRG) January 2, 2018 × Maharashtra: Republican Party of India workers protest in Thane #BhimaKoregaonViolence pic.twitter.com/v9mMS2APNR — ANI (@ANI) January 2, 2018 × Police said that over 100 people have been detained from various locations. (WION Web Team) ×

Bhima Koregaon row: BBM leader calls for Maharashtra strike, Rahul Gandhi blames BJP

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