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Quaid Najmi

4 January 2025 at 3:26:24 pm

Thackerays’ ‘Taandav’ for trees, tigers

AI generated image Mumbai: Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) President Raj Thackeray launched a sharp attack on the government for the systematic degradation of the state’s environment under the garb of development, even as the climate change poses a direct threat to the environment, economy, agriculture, public health and the future of both rural and urban centres. Questioning the state government’s claims of having planted millions of trees, he rued how the World Environment Day has been...

Thackerays’ ‘Taandav’ for trees, tigers

AI generated image Mumbai: Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) President Raj Thackeray launched a sharp attack on the government for the systematic degradation of the state’s environment under the garb of development, even as the climate change poses a direct threat to the environment, economy, agriculture, public health and the future of both rural and urban centres. Questioning the state government’s claims of having planted millions of trees, he rued how the World Environment Day has been reduced to an annual ritual of tree-planting drives and clicking selfies for social media, though 90 pc of the saplings don’t survive even a day. “Only the government knows where those trees really are,” said Raj sternly. He recalled a "Blueprint of Maharashtra’s Development" he had proposed in 2015, in which he advocated how development without environmental sensitivity is hollow. Justifying, he said that the consequences are visible where roads, bridges and infrastructure projects are hailed as achievements, but even a short spell of rainfall can paralyze entire cities. Referring to recent reports on farmers returning from the fields after 10 am due to the scorching heat, Raj said that the worsening climate crisis has become an everyday reality. Citing official statistics, Raj claimed that extreme heat has caused productivity losses of nearly USD 159 billion and slashing of 160 billion work-hours annually in recent years. He mentioned the World Bank estimates that India’s GDP could plummet by 2.5-4.5 pc while 57 pc of the country’s districts sheltering 76 pc of the population stare at serious climate-related crises. Taking a swipe, he said while the governments boast about growth figures and economical rankings, they are silent on the staggering costs of environmental destruction. He questioned the development model “whether flooded cities, washed-away crops and unbearable summers” genuinely indicate progress. Claiming that Maharashtra was increasingly becoming unliveable for upto 8 months in a year, he said excessive monsoon rains disrupt rural life and urban floods cripple cities, while extreme heat make normal life a torture in summers in both urban-rural areas. Targeting the Centre, Raj alleged that nearly 173,984 hectares of forest lands were diverted in the past 11 years for mining and infrastructure projects to benefit the PM’s single favourite Adani Group. He said that these lands amount to 1,730 sqkm, or equivalent to the area of 16 Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP) that is spread over barely 104 sqkm. Dissolve state wildlife board: Aaditya Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aditya Thackeray has accused the Maharashtra government for issuing a permit to carry out mining activity in the sensitive tiger corridor between the Tadoba-Andhari and Indravati sanctuaries housing the big striped cats. In a strongly-worded letter to the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) Member-Secretary Sanjay Kumar, Thackeray sought his immediate personal intervention, sacking the Maharashtra State Board for Wild-Life (SBWL), revoking the permit, and probe against the Chief Wildlife Warden & Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) M. Srinivasa Reddy for the alleged lacunae. Aditya’s two-pager says the permit has been granted for “scientific exploration and excavation/systematic recovery of low-grade iron ore in existing mines in villages Hedri, Bande, Parsalgondi and Round Parsalgondi, in the Etapalli taluka of Gadchiroli district”. Last January, Aditya – MLA from Worli – had first raised the issue saying that the proposed mine would create only 120 jobs, including 32 permanent, and the estimated output is pegged at 1.1 million tons in a year. Referring to two letters of Reddy – on April 28 and May 21 – the SS (UBT) leader claimed that in communications to the state government, the PCCF had changed his stance on the issue. Aditya said that in the first letter, Reddy had effectively opposed the government plans for mining activity but in the second letter, he took a somersault, ostensibly due to government pressures or some commercial interests, “the U-turn is disgraceful and detrimental to India’s national interest” – and this abrupt shift in stance must be investigated thoroughly. In view of the contrary stance of the PCCF Reddy, entrusted with protecting the wildlife but failing to defend the NTCA and NBWL, point to serious malfunctioning of the SBWL, and hence it must be dissolved, besides reviewing all its decisions in the past three years, particularly those pertaining to hazardous activities in sensitive areas, demanded Aditya. 444 tigers roam in 11,000 sq.km As per the Status of Tiger Report (2002), and the Maharashtra Economic Survey 2025-2026, the state boasts of 444 tigers prowling in the wild along with other menacing creatures. The state’s total protected wildlife network of 88 Notified Areas of National Parks, Sanctuaries, and Conservation Reserves - including 6 dedicated to the striped big cats – is spread over 11,092 sq. kms as per current data.

BJP demands ‘Bulldozer Justice’ as accused arrested

Stands accused of recording and circulating objectionable photographs and videos of over 180 minor girls

AI generated image
AI generated image

Mumbai: The BJP has demanded that the illegal residence of the accused in the Paratwada case, Ayan Ahmed Tanveer Ahmed be razed even as the police arrested the 19-year-old man on Monday.


A massive social media exploitation scandal rocked Paratwada in Amravati district following the arrest of Ayan Ahmed Tanveer Ahmed. He was arrested for allegedly recording and circulating objectionable photographs and videos of over 180 girls. Most of the victims identified in the case are minors. The police have invoked a stringent combination of laws to prosecute the accused on multiple fronts. These include sections 8 and 12 of the POCSO Act along with Section 294 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and Sections 67 and 67A of the Information Technology Act.


The investigation reveals a calculated pattern of exploitation that spanned nearly a year. Investigators state that Ayan Ahmed systematically befriended the girls to gain their trust. He then recorded inappropriate visuals without their knowledge or consent. These files were subsequently circulated online with the specific intent to defame the victims. This widespread distribution has caused severe mental distress and potentially permanent damage to the social reputations of the girls involved. The police initially received inputs about the explicit content on April 11.


Offences’ Gravity

The legal framework applied to this case reflects the gravity of the offenses. Section 8 of the POCSO Act addresses sexual assault and carries a rigorous imprisonment term of three to five years. Section 12 of the same act penalizes sexual harassment, which specifically includes the recording of images for pornographic purposes. Furthermore, Section 67A of the IT Act provides for a five-year prison term and a fine of 10 lakh rupees for transmitting sexually explicit content. By using these laws together, law enforcement aims to punish the violation of minor safety, the general circulation of obscene media, and the specific cybercrimes committed through social networks.


The political fallout from the incident has been immediate and intense. BJP leader Shivray Kulkarni has been vocal in demanding "bulldozer justice" for the victims. He has publicly called for the district administration to raze the illegal residence of the accused. Kulkarni also alleged that Ayan Ahmed is a member of the AIMIM party. He further suggested that the investigation may reveal a larger syndicate involving ten to twelve other individuals. The BJP has also demanded strict action against certain hotels that were allegedly used during the commission of these crimes.


Families of the victims remain in a state of utter shock as the scale of the exploitation becomes clear. Kulkarni stated that he has met with several affected families to assure them that the strictest possible legal action will be pursued. Public sentiment in Paratwada has turned aggressive with many residents echoing the demand for immediate and visible retribution against the accused. While the 19-year-old remains in custody, the police are continuing their technical investigation to identify any accomplices and to ensure all explicit material is removed from digital platforms.

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