1. To Remain a Team, Sena May Ask BJP to Give up Lost Seats
The Shiv Sena is in no mood to settle for anything less than 50:50 seat sharing with the BJP. With the BJP tirelessly reaching out to the Sena for support before the upcoming Lok Sabha and state assembly elections, the Sena has now pitched a new formula. As barter for an alliance, Sena has indicated that the BJP will have to give up the seats it lost in 2014 but came second.
The Sena has already made it clear that it will only talk to the BJP if there is a joint deal for the elections. “We are very much part of the NDA, but are against BJP’s policies. We have already made the Ram Mandir a key issue. An alliance can happen only if there is a joint discussion for the elections. We will not let the BJP take us for a ride like in 2014, when we were dumped after it got a complete majority in the Lok Sabha,” a Sena functionary told Mirror.
(Source: Mumbai Mirror)
2. RSS Meet in Palghar
The RSS will hold a three-day meet of its workers in Palghar from October 31 to November 2, which will be addressed by its chief Mohan Bhagwat on the first day. Arun Kumar, the all-India prachar pramukh of the RSS, said the Sangh took a review of its functioning twice-ayear, first at the Akhil Bharatiya Pratinidhi Sabha in March, and at the half-yearly meet between Vijaya Dashami and Diwali, called the Akhil Bharatiya Karyakari Mandal.
Ahead of the meet, Kumar pressed for the construction of Ram temple in Ayodhya, saying it will lead to an atmosphere of “goodwill and harmony” in the country. “The RSS is of the opinion that Ram temple should be constructed at the disputed site. The Supreme Court should immediately decide the case. If there are problems, the Centre should bring a legislation to remove obstacles and hand over the Ram Janamsthan bhoomi to the Shri Ramjanmabhoomi Nyas,” he said.
(Source: Mumbai Mirror)
3. SoBo Set to Get Two Floatels by End of the Year
South Mumbai is set to get two new nightlife addresses — its first-ever floatels off the Gateway of India. One of the two restaurants will start serving patrons on November 17.
Both the floatels, Queensline Sea-Yah and Queensline Neverland, will be stationed at ‘Charlie 1’ and ‘Charlie 2’ anchorage points, about 2 km from the Gateway.
“We had issued a tender for floating hotels and two companies approached us. The first two floatels will be operated by Queensline, which is owned by Shripriya Dalmia Thirani,” the Mumbai Port Trust’s deputy chairperson, Yashodan Wanage, told Mirror. “The company has bought two vessels from Turkey and they are being given finishing touches in the harbour. The second company that bid is yet to buy a vessel.”
(Source: Mumbai Mirror)
4. Ola-Uber Drivers to Hold Morcha Today, Meet Cm Devendra Fadnavis to End Stalemate
With the Ola-Uber strike entering the sixth day, the cab drivers have now decided to take out a morcha today. The labour unions originally wanted to take out a car morcha, but the police denied permission for it, as it would create massive traffic jams.
The protest would now be held outside the Ola and Uber offices at Saki Naka and Kurla West respectively. The drivers will start the morcha from the Ola office at Saki Naka and end it outside the Uber office in Kurla West. The labour unions also plan to meet Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis today to end the stalemate in the issue.
(Source: Mid-Day)
5. PNB Scam: Nirav Opposes ED’s Fugitive Offender Plea
Diamond trader Nirav Modi, a prime accused in the multicrore PNB scam, on Monday filed an application before a special court opposing the Enforcement Directorate’s (ED) complaint to have him declared a “fugitive economic offender” under the Fugitive Economic Offenders Act (FEOA).
Modi filed 10 applications before the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) court of judge MS Azmi, but his prime argument was that the ED’s complaint had not been filed in accordance with the law, and, thus, must not be considered valid by the court.
(Source: Mumbai Mirror)
6. State Wants to Grant 5 APMCs National Status
In an alleged bid to displace Congress-NCP’s hold on five Maharashtra agriculture produce market committees(APMCs), the state government has decided to include them among the nationally important APMCs. This move, sources claim, will help the government supersede the elected board of these committees and replace it with nominated board members.
The state government issued an ordinance last week amending the APMC Regulation Act (1963), allowing the state government to grant ‘national’ status to any APMCs in the state. The five APMCs that are likely to get ‘national status’ are Pune, Navi Mumbai, Nagpur, Latur and Nashik. The combined turnover of all APMCs in Maharashtra is about Rs 60,000 crore per annum and these five APMCs account for nearly 20 per cent of this trade.
(Source: Mumbai Mirror)
7. A Year On, HC Gets a Chief Justice
Justice Naresh Harishchandra Patil was sworn in as the Chief Justice (CJ) of the Bombay High Court on Monday, filling a post that had been vacant since former CJ Manjula Chellur retired in November last year. He had served as the acting CJ of the court since August.
Governor Vidyasagar Raoadministered the oath of office at a brief ceremony in Raj Bhavan, in the presence of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, several HC judges, Minister for Higher Education Vinod Tawde, Minister of Home (State) Deepak Kesarkar and Mayor Vishwanath Mahadeshwar.
(Source: Mumbai Mirror)
8. Mumbai: BMC Hammer Falls on Illegal Cafe Next to Petrol Pump in Matunga
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has finally acted on the illegal eateries in Matunga that were running abutting a petrol pump. After getting a go-ahead from the Bombay HC, BMC has demolished the unauthorised structure of VJ Cafe near Maheshwari Udyan.
mid-day had first reported (March 19 and 20) about the illegal VJ Cafe and Mawali Bhai Dosa, both operating near the gas station and causing inconvenience to pedestrians by encroaching on the footpath to serve customers.
(Source: Mid-Day)
(At The Quint, we question everything. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member today.)