
Train blasts verdict shocking, will move SC, says Fadnavis
MUMBAI: CM
Devendra Fadnavis
expressed shock at the Bombay HC verdict quashing conviction of all 12 accused in the 11/7 train blasts case. 'Bombay HC decision is very shocking. We will challenge it in Supreme Court,' he said.
Speaking to the media in Mumbai late on Monday Devendra Fadnavis said, 'The lower court gave a verdict, and in 2006, after the blasts, ATS caught the accused, collected evidence and presented it before the courts. I have not read the full (HC) judgment, but I discussed it with the lawyers and informed them it must be challenged in Supreme Court. We will go to SC at the earliest,' he said.BJP's Kirit Somaiya, who has been advocating for the train blasts survivors, said the CM had assured him that the state would appeal against the verdict.
'We are all shocked and pained by the verdict. I have spoken to CM Fadnavis. He has assured us the govt will seek help of top legal experts and an appeal will be filed as soon as possible,' said Somaiya, who had taken a group of survivors to meet additional chief secretary Iqbal Singh Chahal in Mantralaya Monday.
'The lower court had awarded the death sentence. But there must have been some shortcomings in the investigation conducted in 2006.
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I am convinced SC will give us justice,' Somaiya added.
Shiv Sena MP Milind Deora said on X, 'As a Mumbaikar, I cannot accept the verdict of HC. In 2006, I was an MP from Mumbai and went and saw what happened in that terrorist attack. I appeal to Maharashtra govt that they should involve the best lawyers and appeal against the verdict as soon as possible.'
Congress MP Varsha Gaikwad said on X, 'Victims of the the train blasts must get justice. The CM should urgently intervene in this matter. An appeal must be filed in SC.' She added, 'I think Maharashtra govt may not have done what we expected in terms of collection of evidence or appointment of public prosecutor.' Rohit Pawar from NCP (SP) said, 'We will have to look at why HC gave this decision and whether the evidence fell short.
Did state govt fall short in presenting its position?'

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Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis's wife Amruta Fadnavis leads 'Say No to Drugs' rally by Ekata Manch
MUMBAI: Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis's wife and well-known socio-cultural icon recently led a 'Say No to Drugs' campaign and really by Mumbai's noted social organisation Ekata Manch. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Led by founder - president Ajay Kaul, Ekta Manch, in association with Nashabandi Mandal, Maharashtra State, organized the 'Drugs Awareness Rally' to create awareness and drive urgent dialogue around substance abuse. The rally witnessed an overwhelming turnout from common citizens, dignitaries, and Bollywood celebrities, all echoing one powerful message — Say No to Drugs. The rally commenced from Chacha Nehru Park, Model Town, near Versova Metro Station and concluded at Orchid The International School, Yari Road, Andheri West. More than 5000 participants marched holding placards, slogans and playing music, spreading the message of a drug-free neighbourhood. The Drugs Awareness Rally stood out not just for its star-studded presence and political participation, but also for the incredible unity shown by communities and sections of society cutting across caste, creed and gender. From local citizens to political leaders, the streets of Lokhandwala, Versova and Andheri were filled with people marching with one voice: No to drug abuse. Various associations, social organizations, and youth groups actively participated in the rally. Members from the Koli community, transgender groups, students, senior citizens and local housing societies all joined in, creating a vibrant and united front against drug diverse representation added power and credibility to the message that drug addiction affects everyone. The rally route also featured striking artistic depictions, including street art, placards, posters and performances that conveyed strong message about the dangers of substance abuse. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now These visual elements turned the march into a moving exhibition of activism and awareness, drawing attention from bystanders and media alike. Ajay Kaul, the force behind the rally, emphasized the urgent need to combat the rising drug menace, particularly among youth. 'The initiative was born out of growing concern over the normalization of substance use, including casual cannabis smoking and party drugs, especially among teenagers and college youth. Many young individuals today see these substances as harmless source of recreation, unaware of the long-term impact on physical health, mental well-being, academic performance,and overall life prospects," said Kaul. He added that the rally aimed to spotlight how drug use, peer pressure, and accessibility are silently pushing an entire generation into danger. It sought to educate, empower, and encourage open conversations — across homes, campuses, and communities. "This rally is not just a march, it's a movement,' he declared. From emotional speeches to engaging youth performances with a special song on No Drugs, the event highlighted the collective will to create a healthier, addiction-free society. Amruta Fadnavis, the chief guest, said: 'I want to thank Ekata Manch for the incredible work they've done to bring this cause to the forefront. Today, we are standing together to fight something that is spreading like a pest — destroying the minds, health, and futures of our youth. From anxiety to isolation, addiction is silently eating into the lives of so many. Reports show crores of people in India are using drugs, and the most vulnerable are those between the ages of 10 to 24 — our school and college students. Calling upon the people to declare a war against drug abuse, she said: 'We must create a wave — a 'sailab' of awareness — across the city to protect our children. Drug nahi, zindagi chuno. Every step we take today can save a life tomorrow.' Yogesh Kadam, minister of state for home, said:"I cancelled two other events today because this cause demands urgent attention. Substance abuse is no longer just a personal problem — it has national and global implications, from narco-terrorism to synthetic drug networks. Mumbai Police has recently cracked down on illegal imports of new synthetic drugs like hydroganja, which may be legal in some foreign countries, but are banned here. The government is taking strict action under MCOCA and other laws, even against officials if found complicit. But unless the public stands with us — unless every household, every neighbourhood is alert and cooperative — our efforts won't reach full impact. We need zero tolerance from every corner of society.' Sameer Wankhede, IRS officer, known for his anti-narcotics efforts, said: 'I thank Mr. Ajay Kaul and Ekata Manch for organizing this timely rally. Areas like Lokhandwala, Versova and Andheri have unfortunately become ground zero for a surge in drug-related activities — from peddlers to seizures of charas and ganja. But this isn't just a health issue; it's also a matter of national security. Narco-terrorism is real, and drug-linked crimes are growing. With stricter implementation of laws like MCOCA and increased public vigilance, we can and will bring these numbers down. Awareness drives like today's play a key role in making that happen.' Ravindra Waikar, Member of Parliament, observed: 'Awareness is the first weapon in our fight against drugs. And when I see people from all walks of life come together — leaders, celebrities, social workers, and students — I truly believe change is possible. Campaigns like this help shift the narrative.' Arbaaz Khan, Bollywood actor, said: 'We often use our voice in films to entertain, but today, I am proud to lend my voice to something real. Every young person educated today is one life potentially saved. I applaud Ekata Manch's leadership in driving this mission.' Chunky Pandey, another Bollywood actor, said:'There is a famous dialogue of my movie, I'm just joking – similarly, I would urge the citizens to not joke with their lives. Drug abuse doesn't just affect users; it shatters families." "I stand here not as a celebrity, but as a concerned citizen. We all have a role to play, in awareness, prevention and healing," he added. Meanwhile, well-known social activist Mohammed Patel has appealed for a Padmashree Award to Ajay Kaul for his long, dedicated works in the field of education and social services.


India Today
2 hours ago
- India Today
How Gadchiroli moved on from rifle bore to iron ore
Today, when trains halt at Chandrapur and Ballarpur (formerly Balharshah) stations in eastern Maharashtra's Vidarbha region, passengers often get down on the quiet platforms to grab a cup of tea with vada paos and freshly fried banana is a stark contrast to how things used to be here just a decade ago — platforms had hardly any shops, and passengers rarely opened their coach doors. It's because Chandrapur, which borders the Maoism-hit district of Gadchiroli, was once equally scarred by Left-Wing Extremism (LWE).advertisementInterestingly, Gadchiroli, a hotbed of Maoist activity, was carved out of the larger Chandrapur district back in 1982. Chandrapur has been an industrial town since the 1970s — rich in coal mines, with a ferro alloy plant and a super-thermal power station. Most importantly, its neighbouring district has been Nagpur, a significant mainstream the other hand, Gadchiroli, equally rich in natural resources such as iron ore and forest produce, was defined more by its 76% forest cover, and its proximity to Chhattisgarh's Bastar region, India's most dangerous Maoist fact, until the late 2000s, Chandrapur was severely affected by LWE. But today, only sporadic incidents are reported, and the district no longer features among the Union Home Ministry's 38 LWE-affected after sunset, when trains pass through the Chandrapur-Ballarpur stretch, windows and doors remain shut due to the lingering fear of eyes watching from the surrounding fear stems from an incident that remains fresh in people's minds. Around 50 masked Maoists attempted to set a Mumbai-bound passenger train on fire in Chandrapur in up of railway tracks using dynamite was also common in the until a decade ago, this fear persisted even during the day. But today, just about 80 kilometres from Gadchiroli, when passengers step off the train, it signals an improvement not only in the law-and-order situation but also in the overall security perception of the progress appears to be spilling over into neighbouring Gadchiroli as well.A BEACON OF HOPE FORGED IN IRON OREToday, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis will inaugurate the first phase of a 5-Million Tonnes Per Annum (MTPA) iron ore grinding plant and a 10 MTPA slurry pipeline project at Hedri in Gadchiroli – the first operational iron ore slurry pipeline in the state, giving a much-needed infrastructural and industrial boost to the ore mining began in Gadchiroli's Surjagarh area in 2016, but the new iron ore beneficiation plant is the first dedicated facility of its kind in a district where the economy is primarily driven by forest produce and will also lay the foundation stone for several projects in the Maoist insurgency-affected region, including a 4.5 MTPA integrated steel plant at Konsari, a 100-bed multi-speciality hospital, a school, and the 116-acre Lloyds Township. Lloyds is India's leading iron ore bringing development to a region hasn't been 2010 to 2020, over 50 security personnel have lost their lives here. But there are positive signs too. Not a single fatality from among the security forces has been reported since 2020 in Gadchiroli, only the Gadchiroli Police's elite C-60 commandos, backed by CRPF units and drone surveillance, are disrupting Maoist networks with more force than ever MAOISTS SURRENDERED IN HORDES IN MAHARASHTRAOver the last five years, more than 70 Maoists, with a collective bounty of Rs 2.8 crore, have surrendered in Gadchiroli primary reason for this has been disillusionment with Maoist ideology. Additionally, the Surrender and Rehabilitation policy, which offers an immediate grant of Rs 5 lakh for higher-ranked LWE cadres, and Rs 2.5 lakh for middle/lower-ranked cadres per surrender, has also seemingly served as a major 2005, as many as 704 Maoists have surrendered in to officials, only 40 Maoist cadres remain on record and just 24 are active armed cadres in Gadchiroli, according to intelligence sources, reported The Indian Express in recent surrenders include that of Vimala Chandra Sidam, who had a bounty of Rs 25 lakh and gave herself up in January this year, and Nangsu Tumaretti, who surrendered last year with a bounty of Rs 41 of the biggest blows to the outlawed Communist Party of India (Maoist) came in 2021, when top fugitive commander Milind Teltumbde, brother of noted academic and writer Anand Teltumbde, was among 26 Maoists killed in an encounter in Gadchiroli. A central committee member of the CPI (Maoist), Teltumbde carried a bounty of Rs 50 2021, security forces have neutralised at least 56 Maoists in encounters in all comes amid Union Home Minister Amit Shah's declared deadline to end Maoism by March 31, IN GADCHIROLI IS A SLOW BURNThese successes are largely credited to the fact that Gadchiroli has mostly had influential or firebrand leaders as its guardian ministers. Over the past 25 years, the district has been overseen by former Maharashtra Home Minister RR Patil, former CM (now Deputy CM) Eknath Shinde, senior Congress leader Vijay Wadettiwar, and current CM Devendra has been a significant contribution from the people too. It must be noted that in the 2024 Maharashtra Assembly elections, Gadchiroli recorded the second-highest voter turnout in the state at 73.68%, surpassing Mumbai (52.07%) and Pune (60.7%), showing the region's strong engagement with the democratic BJP's Milind Ramji Narote is the MLA from of now, according to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Maoist insurgency in Maharashtra is limited to just two districts, Gadchiroli and claim in June, however, raised eyebrows as Fadnavis had declared part of Gadchiroli, particularly the northern part of the district, "free of Maoist activities" over five months ago and asserted south Gadchiroli would also soon be rid of the Maoist the latest groundwork for one of the most significant development projects in this Maoist-affected district may change the region's development projects come shortly after the state government passed the Maharashtra Special Public Security Bill, aimed at combating LWE and "urban Maoism". Introduced in the Assembly by Fadnavis himself, the law empowers the state to declare organisations unlawful, seize their assets, and impose prison terms ranging from 2 to 7 years for involvement in such INITIATIVES HAVE PLAYED A BIG ROLESeveral other initiatives also signal change in the Red the unique "Ek Gaon, Ek Granthalaya" ("One Village, One Library") programme, 71 libraries have been set up over the past two years, enroling more than 8,000 students and providing access to books and learning resources in remote May, Gadchiroli got Maharashtra's first state-of-the-art inflatable theatre. The facility features an air-conditioned auditorium, Dolby 5.1 surround sound, and push-back seating, with tickets priced at Rs 100, offering residents a modern cinema experience amid have been quiet contributors too. In the midst of insurgency, individuals like Dr Abhay and Dr Rani Bang have been providing low-cost healthcare to both tribals and local community since the by insurgency, their NGO, SEARCH (Society for Education, Action and Research in Community Health), based in Shodhgram, Gadchiroli, has been pioneered maternal and child health. They train tribal women to deliver neonatal care, and have significantly reduced infant mortality in the bamboo economy offers hope for the region. Reports suggest that villages like Mendha Lekha have benefited through direct sales of bamboo, bypassing middlemen and boosting farmers' incomes. The Forest Rights Act, 2006, which enables tribal villagers to harvest and sell bamboo directly, is proving successful in certain villages of Gadchiroli a region that has been gripped by the roots of Red terror for decades, change may be slow. But the much-needed push for infrastructure signals a potential turning education, and healthcare in the hinterland could further weaken the ideological hold of Maoist groups.- Ends


Hans India
2 hours ago
- Hans India
PM Modi extends birthday greetings to Maha CM Fadnavis, Deputy CM Ajit Pawar
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday extended warm birthday wishes to Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, lauding their contributions to the state and wishing them long and healthy lives. Fadnavis, born on July 22, 1970, in Nagpur to a Marathi Deshastha Brahmin family, and Pawar, born on the same date in 1959 in Maharashtra's Ahmednagar district, received praise and blessings from leaders across the political spectrum. Taking to X, PM Modi wrote, "Best wishes to Maharashtra Chief Minister, Shri Devendra Fadnavis Ji on his birthday. He's working tirelessly for Maharashtra's progress and empowering the poor and downtrodden. May he lead a long and healthy life in service of the people." For Ajit Pawar, who leads the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) faction aligned with the Mahayuti, PM Modi posted, "Birthday greetings to Shri Ajit Pawar Ji. He is making a valuable contribution to strengthening the NDA's good governance agenda in Maharashtra. May he be blessed with a long and healthy life." Union Home Minister Amit Shah also extended heartfelt greetings. "Happy birthday to Chief Minister of Maharashtra Shri Devendra Fadnavis. Under the leadership of Modi ji, you are continuously doing commendable work towards public welfare and revival of cultural heritage in Maharashtra," Shah wrote on X. "We are also moving forward firmly on the path of public welfare by providing basic facilities to the poor, deprived and exploited in a transparent manner. May Ganpati Bappa grant you long life and healthy life," he added. For Ajit Pawar, Shah wrote, "Heartiest birthday wishes to Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar. You are playing a commendable role in bringing the work of the Mahayuti government to the ground in Maharashtra. I pray to God for your good health and long life." Joining in the celebrations, Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde offered his wishes to both leaders. In a message posted in Marathi (loosely translated into English), he wrote, "Heartfelt birthday wishes to the Honourable Chief Minister Devendraji Fadnavis, the steadfast warrior of Maharashtra's development journey! A trusted friend and colleague of the Mahayuti alliance, leading all comrades with strength, a leader who amplifies the voice of the people, taking bold steps in Maharashtra's journey toward prosperity." He further praised Fadnavis as "an excellent administrator, a wise leader with expertise in economics and law, and a visionary leader," and prayed for his long and healthy life. Wishing his counterpart Ajit Pawar, Shinde wrote, "Heartfelt birthday wishes to Deputy Chief Minister Hon. Ajitdada Pawar, who steadfastly supports the Mahayuti! An exceptional administrator with a remarkable grasp of economics, a steadfast companion of visionary development, and a sensitive and punctual leader who carries the aspirations of Maharashtra's progress -- that's our Ajitdada." He added, "To our friend who firmly believes nothing comes before Maharashtra's development and walks this path with conviction, we pray at the feet of the Almighty for a long and healthy life!"