QMumbai: BJP Not to Back Rane; Shiv Sena Backs Activist Afroz Shah

Shiv Sena comes out in support of activist Afroz Shah who has been cleaning up Mumbai’s Juhu beach.

1. BJP Not To Back Rane In MLC Bypoll

The BJP succumbed to sustained pressure from its estranged ally, Shiv Sena, and decided not to support former chief minister Narayan Rane’s candidature for a seat in the state Legislative Council. Now, the party is considering to field any one from amongst its chief spokesman Madhav Bhandari, state unit treasurer and spokesperson Shaina NC and former organisational general secretary Raghunath Kulkarni.

Rane quit the Congress in September this year and also resigned from the post of Member of Legislative Council. Election for the seat that fell vacant after Rane’s resignation will take place on December 7.

It was widely believed that Rane would contest the by-election for the seat with the support of the BJP. However, Sena which sees Rane as its bête noire made it clear to the BJP that it won’t support Rane’s candidature and started exploring the possibility of joining hands with Congress-NCP.

(Source: Mumbai Mirror)

2. We’ve Got Your Back, Sena Tells Afroz Shah

Three days after suspending his beach clean-up drive at Versova, lawyer Afroz Shah, the talismanic, much-feted spearhead of the citizen’s initiative, met Yuva Sena chief Aditya Thackeray and mayor Vishwanath Mahadeshwar at the BMC headquarters on Wednesday evening. A meeting with Ajoy Mehta, the civic body’s chief, however, did not materialise.

Shah told Mirror that Thackeray had called him to find out why he had suspended the drive. “I discussed the issues with him, and he has assured us of all possible support. The mayor and BMC officials, too, have promised us assistance. It was a positive meeting and I thank Aditya for supporting us.”

The Shiv Sena said that it would work at increasing police presence at the beach during Shah’s clean-up drive, which takes place on weekends. It also said that its activists would ensure they were no hindrances in the form of goons, who, according to Shah, heckle and abuse volunteers of the citizen’s initiative.

(Source: Mumbai Mirror)

3. Furious John Abraham Wants To Catch Man Who Hacked Stray Dog's Testicles And Paws

Four days after a severely mutilated stray dog was found in critical condition on the streets of Mira-Bhayander, several animal lovers, including actor John Abraham, have come forward to help the animal. The dog, Champion, had been left to die after unknown people multilated his testicles and penis, and chopped off his paws. Two animal lovers rescued the dog and brought it to a Malad-based NGO, Animals Matter to Me (AMTM), for treatment.

The animal is currently recovering. According to the NGO, the projected treatment cost would be anywhere between Rs 75,000 and Rs 1 lakh. The dog would require medical care and attention for at least three months. After news of the barbaric act went viral on social media, Abraham, who is an avid animal lover himself, got in touch with Ganesh Nayak, founder of AMTM, and vouched to do his best to nab the perpetrators, while promising to take care of his treatment.

Another animal lover, Rohiqa Mistry, and countless AMTM supporters have also came forward to financially support the treatment and rehabilitation of the animal. When Mid-Day contacted Abraham, he said that what happened to Champion was very disturbing. "While Champion's recovery is priority, our concern is also that people who hurt him, exist in society. Simply treating the mutilated animal isn't the only objective, we need to send the perpetrators behind bars," Abraham said. "I am going to take every effort possible to make sure that the deviants who hurt Champion are disciplined," he added.

(Source: Mid-Day)

4. Woman Loses Gold Worth Lakhs Stored In Bank Locker At Matunga

In another bank locker thievery incident, a 57-year-old woman has alleged that gold ornaments worth Rs 2,65,000 have been stolen from her bank locker in Matunga. As reported by DNAindia the woman had alleged in her complaint that while most of her gold ornaments were intact inside the locker, some were missing.

The Matunga Police have registered a case in this regard and say that the woman, a resident of Tulsi Pride in Chembur said that when she went to nationalised bank’s locker she found that her locker was open and her jewellery was missing. Now, the police say they are checking the CCTV camera footage to check if the complaint is valid and if an employee of the bank is behind the robbery.

(Source: Mid-Day)

5. Land Mafia Sets Fire To Mangroves In Kandivli, Mangrove Cell Looks The Other Way

Just weeks after Mid-Day reported on the local mafia destroying mangroves in Versova, land mafia has begun destroying one of the last remaining mangrove patches near Atharva College in Kandivli. The Forest Department needs to document and safeguard all remaining patches in the larger interest of the city, say environmentalists.

RTI activist and environment lover Shariq Raza has been fighting to save the mangroves forest in Malad and Kandivli west. The mangroves patch along the New Link Road stretch between Malad and Borivali has been facing a threat from illegal encroachments. A couple of days back, residents from Kandivli west saw smoke coming from the mangroves forest, which they believe was an attempt to destroy them.

Speaking to Mid-Day Raza said, "Over the years the mangroves forest stretch between Malad and Dahisar has been facing threats from illegal encroachments. The mangroves forests are being systematically killed to construct houses but the authorities are least bothered. A few days back one of my friends had sent me a picture of the fire that seems to have been set off in the mangroves forest patch opposite Atharva College in Kandivli west. I think the concerned authorities need to take this issue seriously and take action against those responsible before the entire patch disappears."

(Source: Mid-Day)

6. Mumbai Woman Files Molestation Complaint After Man Calls Her Fat On Twitter

A 32-year-old woman on Monday filed a complaint of molestation after a Twitter user called her “fat” on the micro-blogging site, police said.

The complainant, a resident of Dadar in central Mumbai and whose identity is not being revealed, approached the police alleging that a Twitter contact had abused and defamed her on the social media platform, said Sunil Deshmukh, assistant commissioner of police, Dadar division.

Officers said the accused, who is said to be from an African nation, had voiced an opinion to the effect that “fat people don’t have the right to live”. The discussion went viral on Twitter, and the complainant tweeted a comment that opposed the man’s opinion. The duo got into an argument, each defending their stand.

“The argument continued on both sides, where the woman and the accused wrote a series of comments with inputs and comments from other people as well,” said an officer from Shivaji Park police station, who did not wish to be named.

(Source: Hindustan Times)

7. Navi Mumbai Kids Conquer Everest Base Camp

Even as most parents prefer keeping their kids occupied with gaming gadgets and smartphones, a Navi Mumbai-based trekker couple decided to acquaint their two children with the perilous Himalayas. The risks notwithstanding, their kids, Ayanna, 9, and Shreerang, 6, have achieved a feat only a few their age could have scripted.

Last month, the duo, along with their parents, Vishwanath and Suchitra Mane, climbed 17,598 feet to reach the Everest Base Camp in Nepal, arguably becoming the youngest sibling pair from Mumbai to do so. The trek spanned 16 days and involved climbing around 10 to 12 km daily.

Both Vishwanath, who works as an engineer with the BMC, and his wife Suchitra, are avid trekkers. The couple from Airoli has together climbed several ranges across the state and India. In August, the duo decided to get their children, who study at the New Horizon Scholars School in Navi Mumbai, to join them. But, instead of opting for a less arduous climb, the Manes took the toughest path possible — the Everest Base Camp, the world's highest base camp below Mt Everest in Nepal. "My aim was to introduce my kids to nature, but by doing things differently. Climbing higher altitudes is not an easy task. One has to face several challenges, including oxygen depletion, breathlessness and acute mountain sickness," said Vishwanath.

(Source: Mid-Day)