A protest in Delhi against the remission of sentence of the Bilkis Bano case convicts, on Thursday. (Express/Amit Mehra)Mumbai, Maharashtra Live News Today (August 19): Justice (retired) U D Salvi, who had sentenced 11 men to life imprisonment in 2008 for the gangrape of Bilkis Bano and murder of her family members during the 2002 Gujarat riots, said Thursday that “the one who suffers knows it better”. The 11 convicts were freed from jail Monday after a Gujarat government panel approved their application for remission of sentence. Presiding over the trial, Justice Salvi, then special judge in the Mumbai City Civil and Sessions Court, had convicted the men, while observing that Bilkis’s deposition was “courageous”.
Meanwhile, at 1,201 cases, Mumbai on Thursday recorded the highest single-day Covid surge since June 30. The tally over the last 24 hours saw a 23 per cent jump from 975 cases logged the previous day. Along with the surge in fresh infections, the financial capital also saw two Covid-related deaths over the last 24 hours. One of the deceased patients was 87 years of age and was suffering from an ischemic heart disease. The other was a 72-year-old man who had several comorbidities such as ischemic heart disease, diabetes, chronic kidney ailment and hypertension.
In other news, Independent MLA Bachchu Kadu from Vidarbha’s Achalpur constituency, who supports Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, wants the anti-defection law scrapped as he claimed it prohibits legislators from voicing opposition to their parties when they take anti-people decisions. “I can’t speak against the policies of my party even if it goes against the interests of my region…What is this? Aren’t we accountable to the people who voted for us?” Kadu asked while participating in a discussion on a resolution moved by the Opposition on plight of farmers in the wake of recent floods.
A festival celebrated with much fervour on Janmashtami, Dahi Handi will return to Maharashtra on Friday after a pandemic-induced gap of two years. The state’s Govinda mandals said they are very excited for this year and have prepared for a new world record of raising a human pyramid to bust the earthen pot.
The organisers said they have received an overwhelming response this year, which even surpassed the pre-pandemic year of 2019. Adding to the happiness and excitement of the mandals this year, the new government of the rebel Shiv Sena faction and the BJP has come out in support of them, with several leaders of the ruling parties organising Dahi Handi events in Mumbai and Thane.
The Jai Jawan Govinda Pathak from Mumbai, which holds the Guinness world record for forming a 43.79 feet tall human pyramid in 2012, said it hopes to set a new record while participating in the Dahi Handi event organised by Sanskriti Yuva Pratishantan mandal in Thane. David Fernandez (44), the vice-captain of the mandal, said, “Due to the pandemic, some Govindas had gained weight and have been repositioned after a fitness test. We have set sights on breaking our record and will try to make a 10-tier human pyramid this year. All safety measures have been taken and our 600 players are ready.” (Read More)
Local train services heading towards Karjat on the Central Railway were disrupted as loco engine of CSMT-Pune Sinhgad express failed near Neral on Thursday evening.
According to the central railway officials, the loco engine of the Train number 11009 CSMT-Pune Sinhgad Express had failed between Neral - Bhivapri down line around 7.45pm on Thursday owing which the trains going towards Karjat were impacted
"Another locomotive was rushed to the site in Karjat after which the train departed after 9.30pm," Said a railway official.
Independent MLA Bachchu Kadu from Vidarbha’s Achalpur constituency, who supports Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, wants the anti-defection law scrapped as he claimed it prohibits legislators from voicing opposition to their parties when they take anti-people decisions.
“I can’t speak against the policies of my party even if it goes against the interests of my region…What is this? Aren’t we accountable to the people who voted for us?” Kadu asked while participating in a discussion on a resolution moved by the Opposition on plight of farmers in the wake of recent floods.
As legislators from other parties told him that one needs a party flag, Kadu said, “I don’t require anyone’s flag.” (Read More)
Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Thursday announced in the state Assembly that Dahi Handi will now be considered an adventure sport.
Dahi Handi – organised to celebrate the birth of Lord Krishna – is a popular festival in which a human pyramid is formed to break an earthen pot, hanging mid-air, filled with curd. The adventure sport tag will allow young participants (govindas) in Dahi Handi events to apply for government jobs under the sports quota.
Speaking in the Assembly, Shinde said, “The Maharashtra government has decided to recognise the formation of human towers, a part of Dahi Handi celebration, as an adventure game. With this recognition, the players will become eligible for government jobs under 5 per cent sports quota.” (Read More)