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By:

Rajendra Joshi

3 December 2024 at 9:20:26 am

Thousands turn out to welcome ‘Madhuri’ home

Kolhapur: After 409 days away from home, Madhuri, the elephant belonging to the Swastishri Jinsen Bhattarak Pattacharya Sansthan Math at Nandani in Shirol taluka, finally returned to the monastery on Friday night, bringing an outpouring of emotion among residents of Nandani and neighbouring areas. Thousands of people from across communities gathered to receive the elephant, with many visibly moved to tears. The return of Madhuri, also known as Mahadevi, followed a 1,160-km journey from...

Thousands turn out to welcome ‘Madhuri’ home

Kolhapur: After 409 days away from home, Madhuri, the elephant belonging to the Swastishri Jinsen Bhattarak Pattacharya Sansthan Math at Nandani in Shirol taluka, finally returned to the monastery on Friday night, bringing an outpouring of emotion among residents of Nandani and neighbouring areas. Thousands of people from across communities gathered to receive the elephant, with many visibly moved to tears. The return of Madhuri, also known as Mahadevi, followed a 1,160-km journey from Vantara’s elephant rehabilitation centre in Jamnagar, Gujarat. She was transported in a specially equipped animal ambulance that left Jamnagar at 7.17 pm on Thursday. Accompanied by the Vantara team and a medical crew, the convoy travelled through Vadodara, Surat, Vapi, Navsari, Vasai, Virar, Thane, Pune, Satara and Karad before reaching Nandani after nearly 32 hours. At Gandhi Chowk in Nandani, thousands waited for her arrival. Drums and traditional dhol-tasha beats, flower showers and chants filled the streets as the convoy passed through the town. People lined both sides of the road merely to catch a glimpse of Madhuri. The celebrations also briefly affected traffic on the Pune-Bengaluru highway. Former MP Raju Shetti was among those who welcomed her, while MLAs Rajendra Patil-Yadravkar and Rahul Awade, Datt Group chairman Ganpatrao Patil, and former MLAs Ulhas Patil and Prakash Awade were also present. A specially prepared floral and fruit arrangement awaited Madhuri near her newly created residence. Banana bunches, papaya, beetroot, apples, oranges, sweet lime, sugarcane, watermelon, pomegranate, pineapple and other fruits were arranged along the route. Citizens also distributed sugar and jaggery and decorated the approach roads with colourful rangolis. The final arrival at the monastery was an emotional moment. Madhuri was brought down from the transport vehicle and entered her newly constructed accommodation amid religious rituals and chants. The monastery’s religious heads, including Swastishri Jinsen Bhattarak Pattacharya Mahaswami, Swastishri Dharmasen Bhattarak Pattacharya Mahaswami and Swastishri Laxmisen Bhattarak Pattacharya Mahaswami, formally welcomed her. Vantara Routine Madhuri was among 376 elephants housed at Vantara’s rehabilitation centre in Gujarat. Two mahouts were assigned to her care. Her daily routine included feeding in the morning, a walk, food and fruits, cleaning and time in the swimming tank. She was given wet and dry fodder and water during the day, followed by another walk in the evening and fruits and fodder at night. A veterinary team regularly monitored her health. ‘Kolhapur has made it happen’ The return follows a prolonged legal and public campaign. After a High Court order resulted in Madhuri being shifted to Vantara, the Nandani Math approached the Supreme Court. The campaign subsequently received support from people across communities, while Shetti led a major public mobilisation. The eventual return of Madhuri has been described by supporters as the result of sustained efforts by the Nandani Math, citizens of Kolhapur and neighbouring districts, and the wider public response across Maharashtra and beyond. Strict Conditions The permission for Madhuri’s return was granted following approval by the high-powered committee. Under the conditions, she will not be made to perform any work. She will receive round-the-clock care and undergo a health examination every 15 days. Vantara’s veterinary department will assist with medical examinations and treatment whenever required. A 40-member Vantara team reached Nandani on Friday to assist with her care and ensure a smooth transition. More than 27 police officers, over 100 police personnel and more than 70 home guards were deployed to maintain law and order during the homecoming.

Knives out in legislature

Writer: Abhijit Mulye
Abhijit Mulye
Mar 20, 2025
3 min read

Updated: Mar 21, 2025

Disha Salian

Mumbai: Death of celebrity manager Disha Salian in 2020 once again rocked the Maharashtra legislature on Thursday. While cabinet ministers Nitesh Rane and Shambhuraj Desai demanded that Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aditya Thackeray be arrested in the case, BJP MLA Amit Satam in the assembly and another BJP member Chitra Wagh in the council demanded that the report of SIT to probe Salian’s death be made public.


Incidentally, amidst repeated disruptions in both the houses, some members from the treasury benches were seen speaking in favour of Aditya Thackeray, while Shiv Sena (UBT) members like Adv Anil Parab were seen supporting the BJP members’ demand that the report of the SIT probe be made public. In addition, there were allegations and counter allegations and personal accusations among members from the treasury and opposition benches which led to heated debate on occasions.


The opposition termed the attempts from the treasury benches to link Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aditya Thackeray’s name in the case, as a ‘conspiracy’.


“I think this matter has gone to the court. We have no idea what he (Disha’s father) has said, but Aaditya Thackeray is a mature leader, a young leader. The Bharatiya Janata Party is conspiring to defame him by putting pressure on him. We don’t need to answer to this conspiracy. The court will answer,” Ambadas Danve said.


Earlier in the day, when the house gathered for the business, Minister of State for Home appraised the assembly of the status in this case. “SIT has been formed to probe in the case. Their report has not been received as yet. However, the government shall act according to directives from the court,” the minister told the house.


Another BJP minister Nitesh Rane, however, said that since Satish Salian has levelled allegations against an MVA minister, that leader be treated like a common person and that everybody should be treated equally before the law. Shiv Sena minister Shambhuraj Desai too supported the demand. “Since the allegations are grave, the person in question should be immediately arrested and the case be investigated,” he said.


Later, while speaking to media in the legislature premises, Rane asked Uddhav Thackeray to come clean on the issue. “If they say that we are politicizing the issue, Uddhav Thackeray should also tell the people why he had called, not just once but twice, to the then union minister Narayan Rane urging him to save his son?” Rane said.


He also accused the opposition of shying away from coming clean on the issue. “If they feel that we are not telling the truth, they should say so in the house. But they are shying away from doing so. Bhaskar Jadhav, who is always aggressive, was nowhere to be seen when this issue came up in the house. Sunil Prabhu too escaped the house under the pretext of a phone call. I challenge them to say that whatever I said on the issue is wrong,” Rane said.


He also said that Aditya Thackeray should resign on moral grounds till his name is cleared in the case.


BJP MLA Amit Satam demanded that the details of the SIT probe be made public so that the people would know if the probe is headed in right direction.


Interestingly, while the ruling parties were targeting the opposition in the case, senior BJP leader Sudhir Mungantiwar surprised all with his unexpected support to Thackerays. “I do not have any evidences in the case. But if her father has made any fresh allegations that needs to be investigated thoroughly. The assembly can discuss the issue at length tomorrow. In the meanwhile, members like Rane, who seem to have some evidences in the case should hand them over to the investigating agencies and help the probe,” he told the house.


Shiv Sena’s Sanjay Gaikwad and Sheetal Mhatre too toed the line and demanded that more and more evidences should come forth.


Similarly, when members of treasury benches were pushing for revealing the details of the probe till date to the public, Shiv Sena (UBT) member Anil Parab supported the demand. “Doing that shall conclusively prove the innocence of Aditya Thackeray,” he said.

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