Latest news with #KiritSomaiya
Time of India
24-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Four political outfits to join hands in Malegaon for civic polls
Nashik: In Malegaon, four political organisations are expected to form a pre-poll alliance for the upcoming municipal elections in the textile town. The coalition comprises Samajwadi Party , Indian Secular Largest Assembly of Maharashtra (ISLAM), CPI and RJD. These parties established the minority defence committee (MDC) in Jan this year to advocate and provide legal support to Malegaon residents following state govt's formation of a special investigation team (SIT) to investigate potential illegal immigrants from Bangladesh and Myanmar. BJP's Kirit Somaiya had claimed that illegal immigrants from Bangladesh and Myanmar obtained birth certificates through deception, enabling them to acquire Indian citizenship. The local functionaries of Samajwadi Party and ISLAM, Md Mustaqueem and Asif Sheikh, respectively, indicated the possibility of the four MDC-affiliated groups contesting the elections together. "Although the stakeholders of MDC are yet to have formal talks on civic polls, there is a distinct possibility we could have a pre-poll alliance. Our work on the illegal migrants issue has been hugely appreciated by people in Malegaon town," said Sheikh, who is the former MLA of Malegaon Central constituency. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Trade Bitcoin & Ethereum – No Wallet Needed! IC Markets Start Now Undo Mustaqueem confirmed the strong coordination between MDC-affiliated parties. "I feel that these parties should have an alliance for the civic elections in Malegaon. The seat sharing would not be a problem," he said. Amongst these groups, Samajwadi Party and ISLAM maintain substantial support in Malegaon. MDC sources indicated that parties would field candidates in their allocated constituencies under their respective symbols, with full support from other MDC partners. MDC sources dismissed potential collaboration with Congress, despite Malegaon being its traditional stronghold where it emerged dominant in the 2012 and 2017 civic elections. "Congress's popularity is on the wane in Malegaon. The party did not come forward to help the locals on the illegal migrants issue. It would not be possible for MDC to have an understanding with Congress," insiders of MDC said. Congress experienced a significant setback in Jan 2022 when 28 corporators, including mayor Tahira Sheikh, left for undivided NCP. Tahira is ISLAM party chief's mother. Following NCP's division, Asif Sheikh remained with Sharad Pawar's faction before leaving to establish ISLAM. He subsequently lost the Malegaon Central election to AIMIM's Mufti Mohammad Ismail by 162 votes. Malegaon Municipal Corporation comprises 84 seats–60 in the eastern section with minority community voters predominating, and 24 in the western section where Shiv Sena and BJP maintain significant influence among majority community voters. Political analysts suggest that control of the civic body depends on success in the eastern section, where Congress previously performed well. "This time, the main contest in the eastern part will be between AIMIM and MDC, if there is an alliance among the parties associated with the latter," said political observers.
United News of India
23-05-2025
- Politics
- United News of India
Implement SOP for issuing birth registration certificates: Maha minister
West Mumbai, May 22 (UNI) Maharashtra Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule on Thursday directed that Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) should be followed while issuing birth registration certificates. Former MP Kirit Somaiya as well as officials of Revenue, Health and Urban Development Departments were present at the meeting held at the Mantralaya. Bawankule said that the Revenue Department should use the SOP prepared by the Public Health Department to issue birth certificates, as the government has cancelled the birth certificates issued earlier and it has been decided to return them. He instructed the Public Health, Urban Development, Revenue and Police Departments to take joint action for this. All the district collectors should submit all the cancelled birth certificates to the government. The Additional Chief Secretary of the Revenue Department will review this matter every 15 days, he added. UNI VKB SS Tags: #Implement SOP for issuing birth registration certificates: Maha minister
Hindustan Times
17-05-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
BMC to amend rules to allow temporary film studios in Mumbai
MUMBAI: The Development Plan department of the BMC has decided to allow temporary studios/sets for the shooting of films, TV serials, advertisements, documentaries and allied activities in the city by amending the Development Control and Promotion Regulations (DCPR) 2034. Sources in the BMC allege that this is being done to save the illegal studios in the Madh-Marve-Gorai belt. The notice to invite suggestions and objections was published on Friday. The BJP had created a major ruckus when the erstwhile Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government allowed temporary studios on land falling in CRZ (Coastal Regulation Zones) areas where construction activity is kept strictly in check. BJP leader Kirit Somaiya had taken up the issue, lodged complaints and toured the area extensively. The BJP had blamed two MVA ministers for allowing construction in coastal areas, some of it on land owned by the tourism department. When HT contacted the officials in question, a senior BMC officer said that the state government had directed them to make the change in the DCPR and allow studios on a temporary basis with the permission of the municipal commissioner for a minimum period of six months and a maximum of three years. The DCPR pertains to Mumbai city. A Development Plan department officer told HT that there was no provision for temporary structures in the DCPR, but there was one in the Unified Development Control And Promotion Regulations, 2020 (which apply to the whole state), and thus they were incorporating permission for temporary studios in Regulation 57 of the DCPR. When Somaiya raised a stink about the studios, he cited the National Green Tribunal (NGT), which had observed that the studios were built in gross violation of environmental norms. The BJP leader had alleged that illegal film studios worth around ₹1,000 crore were constructed in 2021 'with the blessings of the (Uddhav) Thackeray sarkar'. The studio owners' legal teams had sought some time to remove the studios at their own cost but their request was refused. The NGT had stated in its order that the permission, which was granted by the BMC in conjunction with the Maharashtra Coastal Zone Management Authority, was only for setting up temporary structures. However, the film studios were huge structures in which a lot of steel and concrete material was used. Seven studios were demolished while nearly 40 are still existing due to stay orders by courts. Somaiya on Friday told HT that the 'fraud activity of constructing studios and multi-storey structures in the name of shooting' would be stopped. 'There is no question of allowing temporary studios,' he said. 'Guidelines can be released for particular shootings of film and television serials.' Malwani MLA Aslam Shaikh, in whose area the temporary studios are located, and Sunil Rathod, chief engineer of the DP, both did not respond to calls from HT.
Time of India
03-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Fake Birth Certs: BJP leader Flags Rohingya Infiltration Risk In Amravati
Nagpur: BJP leader Kirit Somaiya recently visited Amravati to pursue his demand for stringent action in the alleged issuance of fake birth certificates , some reportedly used by illegal Rohingya immigrants, who predominantly reside in Bangladesh and Rakhine state, Myanmar, to secure Indian identity documents. He met Amravati municipal commissioner Sachin Kalantre and police commissioner Navinchandra Reddy to discuss the issue and review progress made by authorities. Somaiya has been raising concern over delayed birth certificates allegedly issued on the basis of forged documents in various parts of Maharashtra, including Anjangaon Surji and Achalpur tehsils of Amravati district. His continued pressure prompted action from the district administration, which recently cancelled several such documents issued over the past few years. In Amravati district alone, authorities revoked 1,554 birth certificates issued by Amravati Municipal Corporation following an inquiry. The district collector had earlier ordered review of delayed certificates issued by naib tehsildars, which also resulted in multiple cancellations. During his meeting with Kalantre, Somaiya inquired whether all cancellations were formally executed and urged that future issuances of delayed certificates be subjected to strict scrutiny. He also asked the civic administration to retrieve previously cancelled documents from recipients to prevent misuse. Later, during his interaction with Reddy, Somaiya alleged that fraudulent certificates were also issued within the city and pressed for accountability. A case was already registered against six individuals following a complaint by an officer from Amravati tehsil. Somaiya demanded that criminal cases also be filed against govt officials and staff found complicit in issuing forged documents.
Time of India
02-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
200 bogus birth certificates likely issued in Nagpur district: Somaiya
Nagpur: Former BJP MP Kirit Somaiya said offences have been registered in 24 cases of availing delayed birth certificates through fraudulent means in the state. Action has been initiated in the 25th case following his complaint with the police in Achalpur, he said. Somaiya, who has been carrying out a campaign against Bangladeshi infiltration by securing fake documents like birth certificates, drove down to Nagpur from Achalpur on Wednesday. At Nagpur he held meetings with the district collector Dr Vipin Itankar and NMC commissioner Abhijeet Choudari over the delayed birth certificate issue. Somaiya alleged that the Bangladeshis have been living in India by obtaining fake delayed birth certificates. Later, talking to TOI, Somaiya said at least 200 delayed birth certificates based on fraudulent documents are suspected to have been issued in Nagpur district . The numbers may easily reach 40,000 in the entire state, he said. Apart from this, 10,000 delayed birth certificates issued in Nagpur district need to be withdrawn, he said. These certificates were issued by officials of Naib Tehsildar ultra vires of their powers. Of these 1,200 were issued to residents of Nagpur city. As per rules, the certificates must be issued by the district magistrate or a tehsildar, Somaiya said. The statewide figures of birth certificates issued by Naib Tehsildars come to over 50,000, the former BJP MP added. Such certificates need to be taken back so that there is no misuse by the person possessing them, he said. Orders have been issued to withdraw such certificates, but the process has not started yet. A delayed birth certificate can be obtained if the birth is not registered within one year. In 2023, the norms were further eased. However, a clearance that there is no other certificate issued in the person's name has to be obtained from a local body. In Nagpur, it is the NMC. Somaiya's contention is that the provision is being misused by Bangladeshis for getting Indian birth certificates. The system of issuing delayed birth certificates has been put on hold following his allegations.
