After Sena's 'will go alone in Navi Mumbai polls' warning, BJP minister Naik hits back
Thane, May 19 (PTI): Maharashtra minister and senior BJP leader Ganesh Naik on Monday said "no one needs to teach Navi Mumbaikars common sense", his comment being seen as a reply to Thane Lok Sabha MP Naresh Mhaske who had claimed his party could fight the civic polls there alone.
Addressing a Sena gathering on Saturday night, Mhaske had said the civic polls will be contested by the Mahayuti but the Sena would fight independently in Navi Mumbai "if no one is ready to join the Shiv Sena-saffron alliance".
Navi Mumbai is a stronghold of the BJP, which is part of the Mahayuti alliance comprising the Sena as well as the Ajit Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party.
Speaking to reporters after his 'janata darbar' here, Naik extolled the benefits people were getting in Navi Mumbai due to the civic body there.
Asked about Shiv Sena leaders asking him to solve water woes before taking such meetings, Naik said, "Navi Mumbai is a city that has not increased house rent or water rent for the last 25 years. The education, health, parks, solid waste management departments in Navi Mumbai are 100 times ahead of other cities. Therefore, there is no need to teach common sense to Navi Mumbaikars."
"People shout that there is no water in this village, that village. The water from our villages was stolen. See from where the water of Navi Mumbai was stolen, return the stolen water, then there will be no shortage of water in Navi Mumbai. Everyone knows who stole Navi Mumbai's water," he said without elaborating.
On the construction of the Navi Mumbai International Airport, Naik said it was not the responsibility of the civic corporation alone and highlighted the need for coordinated efforts in developing supporting infrastructure like elevated bridges, metro, railways and roads for a comfortable life for citizens.
He said the country was on the path to progress and happiness and "recent action", a reference to Operation Sindoor, has made not just Pakistan but the entire realise the "potential of Bharat".
"In future without blaming anyone it is better everyone carries out their responsibilities," he said in a swipe at detractors.
Lamenting the presence of corruption in various sectors, including politics, administration, media and "even law and judiciary", Naik said the need was for unity.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
UP court rejects plea seeking Rahul Gandhi's voice sample in defamation case
Sultanpur (UP) (PTI): A local MP/MLA court on Saturday rejected a plea seeking a voice sample of Rae Bareli MP Rahul Gandhi in a defamation case filed by a BJP functionary against the Congress leader, and posted the matter for next hearing on May 11.
The plea, filed by BJP leader Vijay Mishra through his counsel Santosh Kumar Pandey, had sought Gandhi's voice sample for a forensic test to compare it with an audio clip.
After the petition was dismissed, Pandey said they would file a revision plea before the sessions court against the order.
The court rejected the plea after hearing the arguments of both sides, including Gandhi's counsel Kashi Prasad Shukla.
The matter dates back to 2018 when Mishra, a local BJP leader, filed a defamation suit over Gandhi’s alleged objectionable remarks targeting Amit Shah while campaigning for the Karnataka Assembly elections.
After five years of legal proceedings, the court issued a warrant against Gandhi in December 2023.
The Rae Bareli MP surrendered before the court in February 2024, and was granted bail on two sureties of Rs 25,000 each by a special magistrate.
On July 26 last year, the Congress leader recorded his statement before the court, claiming innocence and calling the case a political conspiracy.
Earlier this year, multiple hearings were postponed due to a strike by lawyers and the ill-health of Gandhi’s counsel.
