Latest news with #Mahajan
Indian Express
2 days ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
A day ago, Khadse targeted Mahajan; Opp says misuse of police machinery
A day before the arrest of Eknath Khadse's son-in-law in connection with the alleged drug seizure at a Pune apartment Sunday, the former state minister had launched an attack on BJP minister Girish Maharaj alleging lack of development in Jalgaon. After the arrest as well, Khadse, hinting at his tussle with Mahajan, said: 'I was suspecting that something like this would happen because of the prevailing political scenario.' The Opposition leaders also linked the arrest to Khadse's allegations against Mahajan, claiming that the BJP-led government is using police to target opponents. Meanwhile, minister Mahajan said that if Khadse believed his son-in-law would be framed, he should have alerted him. On Saturday, at a press conference, Khadse targeted his long-time rival Mahajan asking what development has he brought to Jalgaon — both the leaders hail from the district. 'What has he brought for Jalgaon in the name of development ? Where is the textile park project. ? Tell me, which big development project has this minister brought in for Jalgaon district ?…Where is the animal husbandry college ?…For 30 years, several projects of Jalgaon district are pending…I am the only one who was raising issues of Jalgaon and issues of farmers from Maharashtra,' Khadse said. Claiming that he will continue his work on the development front in Maharashtra , he said, 'I have never bowed before anyone and will never bow before anyone…I have always taken things to a logical conclusion.' Challenging Mahajan, Khadse said, 'He should accept the challenge of getting a narco test on Praful Lodha…Why is he running away ?' The Opposition had claimed that Praful Lodha, alleged to be a close aide of Mahajan once, was the alleged mastermind behind a 'honeytrap operation' which was used to bring down the MVA government in 2022. Demanding Mahajan's resignation, Khadse said, 'Girish Mahajan should take moral responsibility and resign…Whenever there is an issue, why is Girish Mahajan's name always right upfront ?' On Sunday, Khadse's son-in-law Pranjal Khewalkar and six others were arrested after the Pune City police said it seized drugs during a raid at an apartment where they were allegedly partying. Minutes after the arrest, Mahajan said, 'At yesterday's press conference Khadse had raised the question as to how drugs are making their way into Chalisgaon. And today, his son-in-law has been caught holding a rave party with drugs.' Mahajan said if Khadse was alleging conspiracy, then he should wait for the investigation to get over. 'His son-in-law is not a small child to be taken away at night,' he said. Slamming the state government over the arrest, Sena (UBT) spokesperson Sanjay Raut said, 'Khadse held a press conference and spoke against the state government with proof and a day later, his son-in-law was arrested. The government is not ready to investigate the allegations made by Khadse but instead it prefers to arrest those who make allegations.' 'Anything can happen during the tenure of the Mahayuti government. The police machinery is being used to target the opponents of BJP,' he alleged. State Congress spokesperson Atul Londhe alleged that the government is going behind those who bring out its wrongdoings. 'We don't trust what the police and the state government have done. They might even have planted the drugs. This government and its police machinery are highly untrustworthy. The Mahayuti government is going after the opposition leaders and their families because we are bringing out their wrongdoings,' he said.
Indian Express
3 days ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
A day ago, Khadse targeted Mahajan; Oppn says misuse of police machinery
A day before the arrest of Eknath Khadse's son-in-law in connection with the alleged drug seizure at a Pune apartment Sunday, the former state minister had launched an attack on BJP minister Girish Maharaj alleging lack of development in Jalgaon. After the arrest as well, Khadse, hinting at his tussle with Mahajan, said: 'I was suspecting that something like this would happen because of the prevailing political scenario.' The Opposition leaders also linked the arrest to Khadse's allegations against Mahajan, claiming that the BJP-led government is using police to target opponents. Meanwhile, minister Mahajan said that if Khadse believed his son-in-law would be framed, he should have alerted him. On Saturday, at a press conference, Khadse targeted his long-time rival Mahajan asking what development has he brought to Jalgaon — both the leaders hail from the district. 'What has he brought for Jalgaon in the name of development ? Where is the textile park project. ? Tell me, which big development project has this minister brought in for Jalgaon district ?…Where is the animal husbandry college ?…For 30 years, several projects of Jalgaon district are pending…I am the only one who was raising issues of Jalgaon and issues of farmers from Maharashtra,' Khadse said. Claiming that he will continue his work on the development front in Maharashtra , he said, 'I have never bowed before anyone and will never bow before anyone…I have always taken things to a logical conclusion.' Challenging Mahajan, Khadse said, 'He should accept the challenge of getting a narco test on Praful Lodha…Why is he running away ?' The Opposition had claimed that Praful Lodha, alleged to be a close aide of Mahajan once, was the alleged mastermind behind a 'honeytrap operation' which was used to bring down the MVA government in 2022. Demanding Mahajan's resignation, Khadse said, 'Girish Mahajan should take moral responsibility and resign…Whenever there is an issue, why is Girish Mahajan's name always right upfront?' On Sunday, Khadse's son-in-law Pranjal Khewalkar and six others were arrested after the Pune City police said it seized drugs during a raid at an apartment where they were allegedly partying. Minutes after the arrest, Mahajan said, 'At yesterday's press conference Khadse had raised the question as to how drugs are making their way into Chalisgaon. And today, his son-in-law has been caught holding a rave party with drugs.' Mahajan said if Khadse was alleging conspiracy, then he should wait for the investigation to get over. 'His son-in-law is not a small child to be taken away at night,' he said. Slamming the state government over the arrest, Sena (UBT) spokesperson Sanjay Raut said, 'Khadse held a press conference and spoke against the state government with proof and a day later, his son-in-law was arrested. The government is not ready to investigate the allegations made by Khadse but instead it prefers to arrest those who make allegations.' 'Anything can happen during the tenure of the Mahayuti government. The police machinery is being used to target the opponents of BJP,' he alleged. State Congress spokesperson Atul Londhe alleged that the government is going behind those who bring out its wrongdoings. 'We don't trust what the police and the state government have done. They might even have planted the drugs. This government and its police machinery are highly untrustworthy. The Mahayuti government is going after the opposition leaders and their families because we are bringing out their wrongdoings,' he said.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
No need to worry about border dispute; Mahajan report is final: Minister HK Patil
Pic: Minister held a meeting with Kannada organisations on Saturday Belagavi: Minister for law, parliamentary affairs and tourism, HK Patil, stated that Kannadigas need not worry about the cases in the Supreme Court regarding the border dispute, as Maharashtra's case is a constitutional matter. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Presiding over a meeting with leaders of pro-Kannada organisations at the deputy commissioner's office on Saturday, minister HK Patil mentioned that the language dispute is also an election issue in Maharashtra. Therefore, there should be no concern about this. The Karnataka govt agreed to form the Mahajan Commission, respecting the federal system of the country. Our stance is that the Mahajan report is the solution to the border dispute. The minister clarified that it is the firm decision of the Karnataka state that if they agree, they should accept the Mahajan report; otherwise, the status quo should continue. The harmonious life of Kannada-Marathi is a model for the entire country. Those who are making unnecessary noise should understand this and change their mindset, he suggested. Steps will also be taken to rectify the inconveniences faced by Kannadigas in the state of Goa. In addition to taking all measures to prevent injustice against Kannadigas in Goa, this matter will also be discussed with the central govt, he said. Some steps will have to be taken to withdraw the cases against pro-Kannada activists. The attention of the concerned will be drawn to it, he clarified. Action to strengthen border schools Border in-charge minister HK Patil assured that appropriate action will be taken after discussing in detail with the education minister, along with the Belagavi delegation, regarding the necessary steps to strengthen Kannada schools on the state's border, including Belagavi. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Public allowed to view Vidhana Soudha The Vidhana Soudha in Bengaluru has been converted into a tourist attraction by providing access to the public. Similarly, action will be taken at the govt level to provide access to the Suvarna Vidhana Soudha in Belagavi. Special funds provided for the celebration of the Belagavi Kannada Rajyotsava on the model of Mysuru Dasara will be examined. He instructed the officials of the Kannada and culture department to do more to provide encouragement to border artists. While constructing a flyover at Channamma Circle, a large-sized Channamma statue will be installed. The minister said that a plan is being formulated for this. Kittur Karnataka Sena President Mahadev Talwar, Abhilash, leader of the Karnataka Rakshana Vedike (KRV- Praveen Shetty faction), Srinivas Talurakar, president of Sarvodaya Swayamseva Sansthe, Deepak Gudaganatti, district president of KRV, and pro-Kannada activist Mehboob Makanadar participated. MLA Vishwas Vaidya, DC Mohammed Roshan, police commissioner Bhushan Borase, zilla panchayat CEO Rahul Shinde, superintendent of police Bhimashankar Guled, and pro-Kannada organisation leader Ashok Chandaragi were present.
Time of India
5 days ago
- Time of India
Air India's Delhi-Pune flyers spend two hours in plane after taxiing
Pune: About 150 passengers of Air India's Delhi-Pune flight (AI-2982) spent about two hours sitting in the aircraft anxiously as it returned to the bay after taxiing on Friday afternoon because of a "technical problem". The flight was supposed to take off from Delhi at 1.05pm and reach Pune at 3.20pm. It finally departed from the national capital around 3pm and landed in the city at 4.42pm. Delhi's Anand Singh and his friend, Mohit Mahajan, came to Pune on the flight for a business meeting. Singh told TOI, "The boarding started at 12.05pm and we took our seats by 12.20pm. The aircraft, an Airbus A-320, started taxiing at 1pm and stopped behind two other aircraft for its turn to take off. A little later, the pilot announced that they might have to turn around and head back to the bay because of a technical problem. After some time, the aircraft indeed turned around and went to the bay." You Can Also Check: Pune AQI | Weather in Pune | Bank Holidays in Pune | Public Holidays in Pune Mahajan said they expected some information from the pilot, but nothing came from the deck. "We had an important meeting in Pune, which we missed. Saturday being a weekend, we will have to wait till Monday for it now. We just kept sitting in the aircraft trying to get some inkling as to what was going on. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like American Investor Warren Buffett Recommends: 5 Books For Turning Your Life Around Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo The announcement that there was a technical issue left many passengers worried," he said. TOI sent a detailed query about the incident to the Air India spokesperson. A reply was awaited till going to press. Singh said a cabin crew member told him that additional fuel was being taken just in case of any problems because of the bad weather in Pune. "We anticipated that we would be deboarded and taken to the terminal building, but nothing of that sort happened. We just kept sitting in the plane," he said. Mahajan said the airline should have anticipated this. "Even we knew that the weather in Pune was bad. The pilot, I am sure, knew it too. The additional fuel should have been taken earlier," he said.
The Hindu
5 days ago
- General
- The Hindu
No nearby centres for disabled: UGC NET exam raises accessibility concerns
Siddharth B. Mahajan was looking forward with confidence towards the Junior Research Fellowship exam. 'After qualifying UGC-NET in my first attempt, I was determined to get the JRF. But I had to cancel my participation,' said Mr. Mahajan, a 100 percent visually impaired student from Christ University, Bengaluru. When Mr. Mahajan applied for the UGC NET 2025 exam, he was allotted a centre 35 kilometres away from his residence in Bengaluru. Unable to travel such a long distance independently, he cancelled his attempt. His experience highlights a recurring concern among candidates with physical disabilities — lack of clear guidelines or accommodations when it comes to examination centre allocation. While the National Testing Agency (NTA), which conducts the UGC-NET, allows all candidates to select their preferred cities during registration, it does not provide assurances about the exact centre location within those cities, regardless of disability status. In some cases, candidates from nearby towns and villages have reported having to travel to city centres, spend the night on campus grounds, and appear for the exam the next day. Though the agency mentions that 'all efforts will be made' to consider the comfort and convenience of persons with disabilities (PwD), there is no specific provision in the UGC-NET information bulletin that ensures visually impaired candidates are allotted nearby or accessible centres. Although there are many provisions for relating to Persons with Disability (PwD)/ Persons with Benchmark Disability (PwBD) in the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities's 'Guidelines for conducting written examination for persons with benchmark disabilities 2018,' such as the option of using a scribe, reader, or lab assistant, writing the exam in Braille, availing compensatory time, and being provided proper seating arrangements at the venue, however, these provisions do not extend to centre allocation. Mr. Mahajan's case has triggered questions around whether India's examination system truly can truly accommodate persons with disabilities, particularly when it comes to logistical and infrastructural access. Despite existing legal protections under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016, candidates and advocates argue that such policies fall short, leaving students such as Mr. Mahajan navigate gaps on their own. Medical and social problems On June 27, Mr. Mahajan was fully prepared for his UGC NET exam and had even arranged for a scribe to accompany him. However, upon assessing the route to his allotted centre, he realised the journey involved navigating multiple modes of transport and following signboards, something particularly challenging for someone who is 100 percent visually impaired. Considering Bengaluru's infamous traffic congestion, restrictions like the bike ban, and his disability certificate, he had expected the UGC or the NTA to provide a centre closer to his residence. Ultimately he decided to cancel going to the venue. Gyanendra Purohit, a disability rights advocate based in Indore who works closely with students who are deaf, mute, and blind, says that students with physical disabilities, especially those who are visually impaired, often face difficulties arranging scribes. 'Scribes sometimes cancel at the last moment, fall ill, or simply refuse to show up on the day of the exam,' he said. He also said that when a scribe cancels last-minute or the venue is too far to reach, students often lose the opportunity despite being academically prepared. Speaking about Mr. Mahajan's situation, Mr. Purohit said: 'It's not that they lack academic ability but It's the behaviour of society that disables people.' Dr. Mita Joshi, an Indore-based ophthalmologist who specialises in advanced treatments in treating young adults with visual impairments, explains that once a thorough eye examination is conducted, doctors determine whether the condition is treatable or not, depending on the medical status of the cornea. 'When the condition is found to be untreatable, we categorise the degree of visual impairment. Based on this, a disability certificate is issued, ranging from 50%, 70% to 100% blindness,' she said. Dr. Joshi added that individuals certified with 100% blindness are typically only able to perceive light, without the ability to detect shapes, movements, or any visual cues in front of them. Support measures UGC Chairman, Vineet Joshi, responded to a request for an interview on candidates with disabilities, saying due to 'prior official commitments and important official meetings' he was unable to 'accede to your request.' According to the official information bulletin, candidates can indicate their preferred cities when applying for the UGC NET exam. However, there is no explicit mention of additional considerations during centre allocation for candidates with disabilities, including those who are visually impaired. Both the UGC and NTA guidelines refer to broad provisions under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016, including the availability of scribes and compensatory time. Yet, specifics around exam centre proximity, transport challenges, or facilitation on the day of the exam are not mentioned in the publicly available documents. In such situations candidates often rely on informal support systems or self-arrangements to reach exam venues, which may prove difficult, especially in large, traffic-heavy cities or while moving between cities.
