Latest news with #Salunke
The Hindu
5 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Ruckus in Belagavi council over MES member's demand for govt. documents in Marathi
A demand by a council member belonging to Maharashtra Ekikaran Samiti (MES) for providing documents and council proceedings in Marathi led to heated arguments and ruckus in the monthly council meeting of the Municipal Corporation in Belagavi on Thursday. The demand was made to MES member Ravi Salunke and it was supported by MES-backed members Shivaji Mandolkar and Viashali Bhatkande. However, this was strongly opposed and condemned by other members, including those of the ruling party (BJP). Reacting strongly to the demand, nominated member Ramesh Sontakki pointed out that although Kannadigas are a majority in Akkalkot, Jath and Solapur, government documents are being provided there only in Marathi and not in Kannada. He urged the council not to pass any resolution in favour of giving documents in Marathi and pointed out that the MES members are repeatedly raising the issue unnecessarily. Floor leader Hanumanth Kongali demanded that the proceedings of the council should be conducted as per the agenda and none, including Ravi Salunke, should be allowed to deviate from it. Taking strong exception to Mr. Salunke's demand, other BJP members demanded that Mr. Salunke should be disqualified for taking a stand that is against the State of Karnataka. As the altercation among ruling party members and MES members escalated leading to cacophony, Mayor Mangesh Pawar adjourned the meeting for five minutes. Meanwhile, MLA Abhay Patil said that Congress support extended to him is the reason for such behaviour of Mr. Salunke. After the meeting resumed, the BJP members demanded that the proceedings be conducted as per agenda and rules and that none should speak in between or create confusion by raising unwarranted issues. Mr. Mangesh Pawar ruled that if members violated the rules, then he will be forced to take action.
New Indian Express
20-07-2025
- Business
- New Indian Express
Is India's food security under threat from China?
NEW DELHI: Bapu Salunke, a 43-year-old grape grower based in Nashik, is increasingly worried about the rising prices of water-soluble fertilizers (WSF), which are essential for growing high-quality grapes suitable for export. The price of WSF has surged up to 30% and is expected to rise further in September when the grape growing season begins. Water-soluble fertilizers, which are easily absorbed by plants, can be applied through drippers, sprinklers, or foliar spray, delivering nutrients directly to the plants rather than through the soil. 'WSF sellers are accusing China of choking off its supply to India,' said a concerned Salunke, whose family's subsistence relies heavily on grape exports. Rising input costs will render him and many other growers uncompetitive in the international market. China's actions are impacting not only India's automotive industry but also its agricultural sector. After surprising the automobile market by limiting the supply of rare earth magnets, China has now restricted the supply of key ingredients for WSF used in India's horticulture sector. These restrictions could threaten the viability of India's booming horticulture industry, which contributes approximately one-third of the agricultural GDP. Major horticulture crops that would be affected include grapes, pomegranates, bananas, and those grown in polyhouses for export. Foliar spray is also used on crops like wheat to sustain their nutrient levels.
Time of India
28-05-2025
- Time of India
Chikhali police arrest trio for robbing South Korean national on Baner Hill
1 2 Pune: Three individuals have been arrested by the Chikhali police on charges of robbing a South Korean national on Baner Hill on May 17. The suspects were apprehended within 10 days of the incident, and the stolen cellphone recovered as well. The victim is a South Korean planning engineer working with a car manufacturing MNC in Talegaon Dabhade MIDC. The police also rescued two minor girls, who were abducted by two from the trio on May 19 from Chikhali. The two men had fled with the girls to Washim, from where a Chikhali police team, led by senior police inspector Vitthal Salunkhe, rescued them. The South Korean national, currently residing in Balewadi, went to Baner Hill on May 17 for a walk, as it was his day off. The trio, who were sitting in an open area at the time, called him over. One of them grabbed his bag while the other two frisked him. A scuffle ensued as the victim tried to resist. One of the aggressors pushed the victim to the ground, and another pulled a smartphone from the pocket of his trousers before the trio fled. The victim later approached the Baner police and lodged a complaint against the unknown men. Assistant police inspector Ram Gomare of the Chikhali police told TOI that constable Kabir Pinjari received a tip-off on Tuesday about a person in Jadhavwadi, Chikhali, attempting to sell a stolen smartphone. "We laid a trap and took Digambar Salunke (20) into custody. We recovered the smartphone from him. During questioning, Salunke, a vehicle mechanic, admitted that he and his two accomplices robbed the smartphone from a foreigner on Baner Hill 10 days ago," Gomare said. Salunke also revealed the names of his two accomplices, Vishal Samukharao (19) and Vishal Kamble (19). "We contacted Baner police, who confirmed the incident. We also recovered another cellphone and a motorcycle from Salunke," Gomare added. Police investigations revealed that Samukharao and Kamble eloped with two minor girls from Chikhali on May 19. Two separate cases of kidnapping had already been registered against them. "We traced the duo to Washim and took them into custody on Tuesday. We have rescued the girls and handed them over to their parents," said Gomare.
Time of India
22-04-2025
- Automotive
- Time of India
All auto drivers don't refuse rides, a few still ply by meter
Pune: Autorickshaw driver Kishor Salunke didn't flinch once when he found a laptop worth around Rs1 lakh a passenger left in his autorickshaw. He drove back to Pargenagar in Kondhwa, traced the laptop owner and returned it to him. "It didn't belong to me. Had I kept it, I wouldn't be able to sleep properly. The best thing was to give it back to its rightful owner," Salunke said. Auto driver Ifran Hussain Shaikh recently did the ditto. He returned a bag containing important documents, including the passport, of a passenger he had picked up from the airport. "I know well how important a passport is. Last year too, a passenger had left his iPhone in my autorickshaw. I returned it to him. I am not greedy or a thief," he said. Amid several complaints of autorickshaw drivers fleecing people, refusing rides and being rude, a few still play by the books. They uphold their sincerity and integrity. According to these drivers, cheating customers is not their cup of tea. After Uber and Rapido gave its driver partners the option of plying by meter, such people would be commuters' "favourites". Sagar Kumte from Kondhwa has been driving an autorickshaw for five years. "We get food on our table because of customers. As far as I recall, I haven't refused any passenger a ride, be it short or long. If there is a genuine problem, like I have to go home or have some work, I explain to customers the reason why I can't ferry him or her. I even try to get them an alternative autorickshaw," Kumte said. Nilesh Lorrence John ferries passengers to and from Pune railway station. He recently returned a bag of a passenger he had dropped at Patrakar Bhawan. "I saw the bag after I returned to my home in Hadapsar. I darted back to the pre-paid booth, from where I had picked him up. After some coordination, the bag was returned to him. He thanked me, saying his crucial medicines were in it. Such things make people like us happy. At Pune station, a majority of auto drivers fleece passengers and refuse to operate by the meter. I don't like it at all. Thus, I have joined the pre-paid system," John said. Working professional Animesh Thakur from Lohegaon fondly recalled an incident from last year. "I was desperate to trace an old friend's place in the Pradhikaran area. I took an autorickshaw and the driver went out of his way to drop me there. He asked different people about the proper location of my friend's home as we rode. It took us an hour to spot it. Without his help, I couldn't have located my friend's house," Thakur said. "During our way back, he told me a story about a woman he had once picked up from a nightclub late in the night. She was drunk and not in senses. He made it a point to safely drop her at her location in Koregaon Park. Such rickshaw drivers are hard to find nowadays," he said. Pallavi Sinha from the NIBM Road area agreed. "Not all are bad apples. I have my music class each weekend, barely 1km from my place. Last week, my husband was not in the town and I needed an auto to go. I tried several applications but none accepted my ride as the distance was too short. I went out and asked an auto driver standing outside my building if he would go. He immediately agreed. When I asked him how much I had to pay, he turned the meter on and smiled. The next day too, he dropped me and didn't charge a penny extra. It was an unexpected experience," she said.
