Latest news with #Kasab
Indian Express
13-07-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Mumbai blasts lawyer, man who prosecuted Ajmal Kasab, Ujjwal Nikam nominated to Rajya Sabha
Just over a year since his Lok Sabha election loss from the Mumbai North Central seat, prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam has been nominated to the Rajya Sabha by President Droupadi Murmu. Best known as the man who prosecuted 26/11 terrorist Ajmal Kasab, the 72-year-old Nikam has been the go-to man for politicians cutting across party lines and state governments in Maharashtra for years. Recently, he was appointed the prosecutor in the politically charged Beed sarpanch murder case. 'Ujjwal Nikam's devotion to the legal field and to our Constitution is exemplary,' Prime Minister Narendra Modi wrote on X. 'He has not only been a successful lawyer but also been at the forefront of seeking justice in important cases. During his entire legal career, he has always worked to strengthen Constitutional values and ensure common citizens are always treated with dignity. It's gladdening that the President of India has nominated him to the Rajya Sabha. My best wishes for his Parliamentary innings.' Nikam told ANI, 'I thank President Droupadi Murmu for nominating me … When I met PM Narendra Modi during the Lok Sabha election campaigning, he expressed his faith in me. Yesterday, the PM called me and asked, 'Ujjwal ji, should I speak in Marathi or Hindi? I started laughing, and he also laughed. I told him, 'You know both languages well.' He then spoke to me in Marathi and told me that the President has entrusted me with new responsibilities and asked if I was ready to take them on. I immediately said yes. I thank the party leadership …,' Nikam told ANI. Nikam started as a civil lawyer in Jalgaon. His first big break came when he was appointed to represent the state in the 1993 Bombay blast trials. He went on to represent the state in the 1997 Gulshan Kumar murder case and the 2006 murder of BJP leader Pramod Mahajan. Priding himself on securing 'over 30 death penalties and 'over 600 life sentences, Nikam has represented the government in other high-profile cases such as the 2006 Khairlanji massacre, in which four members of a Dalit family were murdered and two women paraded naked; the Shakti Mills gangrape cases; and the Kopardi rape and murder case. However, Nikam became a household name across the country after he tried Kasab, who was hanged in November 2021. During the trial, Nikam claimed Kasab had demanded biryani in jail. However, he later told the media that he had 'made up the statement as there was a sympathetic wave building towards Kasab'. In recent years, Nikam has taken a back seat as a prosecutor and has opted out of cases such as the 2011 Mumbai triple blast case and the 2014 Mohsin Shaikh murder case, in which the members of a Hindu outfit are accused. In May 2024, he resigned as special public prosecutor to contest the Lok Sabha elections on a BJP ticket. During the campaign, Nikam termed himself a 'patriot' and evoked numerous terror-related cases that he had been a part of as a lawyer. However, he lost to the Congress's Varsha Gaikwad by more than 16,000 votes. Following his loss, he sought to make a return as the special public prosecutor and was appointed to the post. At present, he serves as the public prosecutor in cases such as the 26/11 attack case against Zaibuddin Ansari alias Abu Jundal and the serial killing charges against Vijay Palande, who had challenged Nikam's reappointment claiming 'he would act to further the BJP's agenda and may go to any extent to secure false convictions'. However, Palande's plea was rejected.
Economic Times
13-07-2025
- Politics
- Economic Times
Ex-Foreign Secy Harsh Vardhan Shringla, Kasab Case prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam nominated as Rajya Sabha members
(You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel The Centre has nominated former Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla and former Special Public Prosecutor in Kasab case, Ujjwal Deorao Nikam, to the Rajya Sabha , marking two high-profile entries into the Upper House of official announcement came on Sunday through a government notification. Shringla, a 1984-batch Indian Foreign Service officer, previously served as India's Ambassador to the High Commissioner to Bangladesh. He was Foreign Secretary from January 2020 to April 2022, navigating India's diplomatic landscape during the Covid-19 a prominent criminal lawyer, is best known for his role as the Special Public Prosecutor in several high-profile cases, including the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks trial of Ajmal Kasab and the 1993 Bombay blasts case. Over his decades-long legal career, Nikam has represented the Maharashtra government in many criminal nominations were made by the President of India under Article 80 of the Constitution, which allows for the appointment of individuals with special knowledge or practical experience in fields such as literature, science, art, and social service.
North Wales Chronicle
10-07-2025
- Politics
- North Wales Chronicle
Union accuses council of ‘abhorrent' practices and calls for leader to quit
Onay Kasab visited a picket line in the Tyseley area of the city on Thursday to speak to dozens of the hundreds of workers who went on all-out strike four months ago over fears some could face pay cuts of up to £8,000. Birmingham City Council leader John Cotton said in a statement issued on Wednesday that the council had 'sought to be reasonable and flexible, but we have reached the absolute limit of what we can offer'. Mr Cotton added that the authority had 'now run out of time' after negotiating in good faith 'but unfortunately Unite has rejected all offers so we must now press ahead to both address our equal pay risk and make much needed improvements to the waste service'. The Labour-run council would communicate with staff and trade unions as to its next steps, with voluntary redundancy remaining on the table alongside opportunities for training and redeployment, Mr Cotton said. Speaking after meeting Unite members on the picket line outside a city council depot, Mr Kasab stressed that the dispute was about planned cuts to pay and not about workers looking for better pay and conditions. Mr Kasab said: 'The council's announcement effectively means that they are looking at fire and rehire and that's one of the most abhorrent of employment practices. 'We were told previously that under a Labour government that that would be outlawed. 'We have now got a Labour government that said it would be outlawed and a Labour council who are now looking at implementing fire and rehire to bully these workers for the council to get its way, which is about cutting people's pay. 'That's absolutely appalling.' Accusing the council of being dishonest by not referring to fire and rehire in its 'unhelpful' statement, the trade union official added that workers were determined to stay out on strike 'not just as a point of principle, not just because we have been out on strike for all this time already, but because what the council are looking to do simply cannot happen'. The only way to resolve the dispute was through negotiation, said Mr Kasab, who claimed the council's statement gave false impression that there had been 'offer after offer' to settle the issues. 'The question to the council is how do redundancies and cuts to people's pay improve services,' Mr Kasab continued. 'And that's the question that John Cotton really has to answer now.' Accusing the council of a 'shambolic' mishandling of the dispute, including a 'daft' attempt to negotiate via a statement to the media, Mr Kasab said of Mr Cotton: 'I think he really has to seriously consider his position. 'The way his council under his leadership has mishandled this dispute and with yesterday's appalling announcement, as a Labour councillor he really needs to be considering his position.' Responding to Mr Kasab's comments, a spokesperson for Birmingham City Council said: 'The Government have been very clear on fire and rehire, introducing some of the toughest restrictions in the world, and the council leader supports their stance. 'Unite rejected the council's fair and reasonable offer and voluntary redundancy remains on the table, as do opportunities for training and redeployment across the council. We will be communicating with our staff and trade unions as to next steps.' 'We absolutely have to have fair and equitable pay across the council, so that the council isn't plunged into another equal pay crisis.'
Leader Live
10-07-2025
- Politics
- Leader Live
Union accuses council of ‘abhorrent' practices and calls for leader to quit
Onay Kasab visited a picket line in the Tyseley area of the city on Thursday to speak to dozens of the hundreds of workers who went on all-out strike four months ago over fears some could face pay cuts of up to £8,000. Birmingham City Council leader John Cotton said in a statement issued on Wednesday that the council had 'sought to be reasonable and flexible, but we have reached the absolute limit of what we can offer'. Mr Cotton added that the authority had 'now run out of time' after negotiating in good faith 'but unfortunately Unite has rejected all offers so we must now press ahead to both address our equal pay risk and make much needed improvements to the waste service'. The Labour-run council would communicate with staff and trade unions as to its next steps, with voluntary redundancy remaining on the table alongside opportunities for training and redeployment, Mr Cotton said. Speaking after meeting Unite members on the picket line outside a city council depot, Mr Kasab stressed that the dispute was about planned cuts to pay and not about workers looking for better pay and conditions. Mr Kasab said: 'The council's announcement effectively means that they are looking at fire and rehire and that's one of the most abhorrent of employment practices. 'We were told previously that under a Labour government that that would be outlawed. 'We have now got a Labour government that said it would be outlawed and a Labour council who are now looking at implementing fire and rehire to bully these workers for the council to get its way, which is about cutting people's pay. 'That's absolutely appalling.' Accusing the council of being dishonest by not referring to fire and rehire in its 'unhelpful' statement, the trade union official added that workers were determined to stay out on strike 'not just as a point of principle, not just because we have been out on strike for all this time already, but because what the council are looking to do simply cannot happen'. The only way to resolve the dispute was through negotiation, said Mr Kasab, who claimed the council's statement gave false impression that there had been 'offer after offer' to settle the issues. 'The question to the council is how do redundancies and cuts to people's pay improve services,' Mr Kasab continued. 'And that's the question that John Cotton really has to answer now.' Accusing the council of a 'shambolic' mishandling of the dispute, including a 'daft' attempt to negotiate via a statement to the media, Mr Kasab said of Mr Cotton: 'I think he really has to seriously consider his position. 'The way his council under his leadership has mishandled this dispute and with yesterday's appalling announcement, as a Labour councillor he really needs to be considering his position.' Responding to Mr Kasab's comments, a spokesperson for Birmingham City Council said: 'The Government have been very clear on fire and rehire, introducing some of the toughest restrictions in the world, and the council leader supports their stance. 'Unite rejected the council's fair and reasonable offer and voluntary redundancy remains on the table, as do opportunities for training and redeployment across the council. We will be communicating with our staff and trade unions as to next steps.' 'We absolutely have to have fair and equitable pay across the council, so that the council isn't plunged into another equal pay crisis.'
Glasgow Times
10-07-2025
- Politics
- Glasgow Times
Union accuses council of ‘abhorrent' practices and calls for leader to quit
Onay Kasab visited a picket line in the Tyseley area of the city on Thursday to speak to dozens of the hundreds of workers who went on all-out strike four months ago over fears some could face pay cuts of up to £8,000. Birmingham City Council leader John Cotton said in a statement issued on Wednesday that the council had 'sought to be reasonable and flexible, but we have reached the absolute limit of what we can offer'. Members of Unite on the picket line in Tyseley in April (Jacob King/PA) Mr Cotton added that the authority had 'now run out of time' after negotiating in good faith 'but unfortunately Unite has rejected all offers so we must now press ahead to both address our equal pay risk and make much needed improvements to the waste service'. The Labour-run council would communicate with staff and trade unions as to its next steps, with voluntary redundancy remaining on the table alongside opportunities for training and redeployment, Mr Cotton said. Speaking after meeting Unite members on the picket line outside a city council depot, Mr Kasab stressed that the dispute was about planned cuts to pay and not about workers looking for better pay and conditions. Mr Kasab said: 'The council's announcement effectively means that they are looking at fire and rehire and that's one of the most abhorrent of employment practices. 'We were told previously that under a Labour government that that would be outlawed. 'We have now got a Labour government that said it would be outlawed and a Labour council who are now looking at implementing fire and rehire to bully these workers for the council to get its way, which is about cutting people's pay. Uncollected rubbish bags in the Aston area last month (Jacob King/PA) 'That's absolutely appalling.' Accusing the council of being dishonest by not referring to fire and rehire in its 'unhelpful' statement, the trade union official added that workers were determined to stay out on strike 'not just as a point of principle, not just because we have been out on strike for all this time already, but because what the council are looking to do simply cannot happen'. The only way to resolve the dispute was through negotiation, said Mr Kasab, who claimed the council's statement gave false impression that there had been 'offer after offer' to settle the issues. 'The question to the council is how do redundancies and cuts to people's pay improve services,' Mr Kasab continued. 'And that's the question that John Cotton really has to answer now.' Accusing the council of a 'shambolic' mishandling of the dispute, including a 'daft' attempt to negotiate via a statement to the media, Mr Kasab said of Mr Cotton: 'I think he really has to seriously consider his position. 'The way his council under his leadership has mishandled this dispute and with yesterday's appalling announcement, as a Labour councillor he really needs to be considering his position.'
