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Correspondent

23 August 2024 at 4:29:04 pm

Exit that shocked the nation

Deputy CM Ajit Pawar, four others killed in plane crash; Probe begins into the reasons for the crash Mumbai: Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and four other persons on board an aircraft were killed after it crashed near the Baramati airport in Pune district on Wednesday. Pawar had taken off from Mumbai in the morning to address four rallies in the day in Pune district for the February 5 zilla parishad elections. The others killed in the tragedy were Captain Sumit Kapoor, who had a...

Exit that shocked the nation

Deputy CM Ajit Pawar, four others killed in plane crash; Probe begins into the reasons for the crash Mumbai: Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and four other persons on board an aircraft were killed after it crashed near the Baramati airport in Pune district on Wednesday. Pawar had taken off from Mumbai in the morning to address four rallies in the day in Pune district for the February 5 zilla parishad elections. The others killed in the tragedy were Captain Sumit Kapoor, who had a flying experience of 15,000 hours, co-pilot Capt. Shambhavi Pathak with 1,500 hours of flying, Personal Security Officer (PSO) Vidip Jadhav and flight attendant Pinky Mali. The government released a statement detailing the sequence of events that led to the crash and Pawar's death. The aircraft, a Learjet, was cleared for landing in Baramati on Wednesday morning after a go-around due to poor visibility, but having finally received a clearance it did not give any read-back' to the ATC, and moments later burst into flames on the edge of the runway. In aviation parlance, a go-around is a standard procedure where a pilot discontinues a landing attempt and initiates a climb to fly another approach. It is used when a landing cannot be completed safely due to factors like poor weather, an unstable approach, or traffic on the runway. It is a proactive safety measure rather than an emergency. In aviation, a readback is a crucial safety procedure where a pilot repeats back the essential parts of a message or instruction received from Air Traffic Control (ATC). It acts as a "closed-loop" communication system, ensuring that the controller's instructions were heard and understood correctly by the flight crew. The aircraft was trying to land amid poor visibility, Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu told reporters in Pune. The statement by his ministry recounted the final minutes of the ill-fated Learjet 45 belonging to VSR Ventures Pvt Ltd that crashed, leading to the death of all five persons on board, including Pawar. Fatal Flight The ill-fated aircraft was a Bombardier Learjet 45, a twin-engine business jet commonly used for corporate and charter travel. Designed to carry between six and nine passengers, the Learjet 45 has a range of approximately 2,000 nautical miles and is powered by twin turbofan engines. The aircraft involved in the crash belonged to a charter operator and was being used for a non-scheduled private flight.According to preliminary information from aviation authorities and Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) sources, the aircraft encountered severe weather conditions while approaching Baramati. Dense fog enveloped the Pune–Baramati region at the time, drastically reducing visibility and complicating the landing procedure. Probe Begins A team from the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has reached the Baramati crash site to launch a forensic probe into the VSR Venture's Learjet 45 aircraft accident. "The investigation team has reached the (crash) site. They are on the work," the AAIB official told PTI. The official, however, declined to share further details. Earlier in the day, AAIB, which has the mandate to investigate all accidents and serious incidents/incidents involving aircraft with a gross weight of 2,250 kg or turbojet aircraft, was handed the probe into the crash. The aircraft, bearing registration VT-SSK, was being operated by the Delhi-based non-scheduled operator VSR Ventures Pvt Ltd. The crew was advised to descend in visual meteorological conditions at the pilot's discretion, the Civil Aviation Ministry said in its statement. At that time, the winds were calm, and visibility was around 3,000 metres, it said. Baramati airfield does not have an instrumental landing system - a precision radio navigation system that provides short-range guidance to an aircraft, allowing it to approach a runway at night, during bad weather and poor visibility. Ajit Pawar's last rites will be held with full state honours on Thursday in Baramati. Union Home Minister Amit Shah is expected to attend the funeral, which will be held at Vidya Pratishthan ground at 11 am. The Maharashtra government on Wednesday declared three days of state mourning across state till January 30 as a mark of respect to Ajit Pawar. The national flag will be flown at half-mast on all buildings where it is flown regularly. There will be no official entertainment during the mourning period. “Ajit's death was a big shock for Maharashtra, which has lost a hardworking and efficient leader. This loss is irreparable. Not all things are in our hands. A stand was floated from Kolkata that there is some politics involved in this incident. But there is nothing like this. There is no politics in it. It was an accident. I request not to bring politics into it.” Sharad Pawar, President, NCP (SP)

Jarange ends fast after govt's concrete plan

Pic: Bhushan Koyande
Pic: Bhushan Koyande

Mumbai: Maratha quota activist Manoj-Jarange Patil finally ended his fast on Tuesday after the state government assured him that major demands raised by him are agreed to. Fresh government resolution (GR) was issued pertaining to setting up the procedures to grant Kunbi caste certificates to eligible individuals as per the entries in the Hyderabad gazetteer and mutually agreed time-line was agreed to for implementation of other demands raised by him.


Jarange-Patil was also informed that while the state government has already given Rs 15 crore to the next of kin of individuals deceased in the Maratha quota stir and the remaining money will be released within a week, eligible individuals from such families will be give jobs in state owned corporations. On demands regarding withdrawal of cases against the Maratha quota activists, the government told them that cases to be withdrawn in the various courts of law by this month-end.


The government sought two-weeks for setting up the procedures to grant Kunbi caste certificates to eligible individuals as per the entries in the Satara gazetteer citing legal issues. On over 58 lakh Kunbi entries found until now, the state government suggested that such names will be displayed at the Gram Panchayats.


The state government, however, remained non-committal over the key demands like blanket issuance of Kunbi status to all Marathas and widening the scope of Kunbi status to “sage soyre” (blood relations). Jarange-Patil was told that the state government has received over 8 lakh objections and suggestion and hence the administration would need time to study and clear these suggestions and objections. Essentially the things that the state government agreed to reiterated its earlier stated position.


The sub-committee was concerned about the decision taken by the state government should withstand legal validity. Therefore, the options are limited, said Vikhe-Patil. Jarange-Patil who had expressed disappointment with the government for not conceding his demands, expressed satisfaction over the GR and explained the provisions to his followers.

Earlier in the day Mumbai Police issued a notice to Jarange and his core team, asking them to vacate Azad Maidan immediately. The police said that while permission was granted for 5,000 protesters, more than 40,000 arrived from across Maharashtra which created chaos in south Mumbai. After the crowd’s approval, Jarange-Patil asked the ministers to ensure he gets to see the GR, which the ministers assured, would be served to him in an hour. Then Jarange-Patil formally announced that the agitation is over.


43-year-old Jarange has been on an indefinite fast demanding the inclusion of Marathas in the Other Backward Classes (OBC) category. In February 2024 the state government led by then CM Eknath Shinde had given a 10 per cent quota to Marathas under SEBC during a special session held at Vidhan Bhavan in Mumbai. The reservation before the court has not been stayed till now.

Azad Maidan erupts in joy

Mumbai: Scenes of triumph and jubilation unfolded at the historic Azad Maidan on Tuesday as Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange declared victory for his agitation after the Maharashtra government's cabinet sub-committee headed by Minister Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil on Maratha quota accepted most of his demands.


Thousands of protesters, who gathered in the city in support of Jarange's hunger strike last week, cheered for him and were moved to tears as he said, "Jitlo re raje ho apan" (we have won my friends).

They hung on to the activist's every word as he read the draft of the cabinet sub-committee and erupted in joyful cries.


"I warn Vikhe Patil if there is any attempt to deceive us on implementation of the Government Resolution (GR) on implementation of the Hyderabad gazette, in which a three-member committee will be set up at village level, and promises like providing jobs to the kin of Maratha activists who lost their lives in protests, withdrawal of cases against protesters, we will not keep quiet. I will come to Vikhe's home and sit there till I die."

Manoj-Jarange Patil

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