Opposition slams BJP Over Nagpur violence; Aaditya Thackeray warns of ‘Manipur-like situation’
Nagpur: Opposition parties have strongly criticised the BJP-led Maharashtra government over the violent clashes that erupted in central Nagpur late Monday night. Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA Aaditya Thackeray alleged that the BJP is attempting to turn Maharashtra into "the next Manipur," while Congress MP Praniti Shinde accused the ruling party of trying to implement the "Gujarat model" in the state.
Thackeray questioned the government’s silence on the incident. "Why was there no response from the Chief Minister’s Office when violence was spreading in Nagpur?" he asked, adding that the BJP is deliberately creating unrest to divide people along religious and caste lines. "Manipur has been burning since 2023, and they want to push Maharashtra into the same chaos," he said.
Shinde, daughter of former Union Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde, accused the BJP of stoking communal tensions. "Since they came to power, they have repeatedly tried to divide society in the name of religion, just as they did in Gujarat," she told PTI. She also criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi, alleging that his speeches further provoke such incidents.
The clashes broke out late Monday night amid rumours of the desecration of a holy book during a protest by a right-wing group demanding the removal of Aurangzeb’s tomb. The violence left 40 police personnel and five civilians injured.
Nagpur Police Commissioner Ravinder Singal confirmed on Tuesday that over 50 people have been taken into custody and five FIRs have been registered in connection with the incident.
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Eggs safe for consumption, cancer risk claims unfounded: FSSAI
New Delhi (PTI): The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has categorically dismissed recent claims linking eggs to cancer risk, terming them "misleading, scientifically unsupported and capable of creating unnecessary public alarm".
In a statement issued on Saturday, the food safety regulator clarified that eggs available in the country are safe for human consumption and that reports alleging the presence of carcinogenic substances in eggs lack a scientific basis.
The clarification comes in response to media reports and social media posts claiming detection of nitrofuran metabolites (AOZ) -- substances purportedly linked to cancer -- in eggs sold in India.
FSSAI officials emphasised that the use of nitrofurans is strictly prohibited at all stages of poultry and egg production under the Food Safety and Standards (Contaminants, Toxins and Residues) Regulations, 2011.
The regulator explained that an Extraneous Maximum Residue Limit (EMRL) of 1.0 µg/kg has been prescribed for nitrofuran metabolites -- but solely for regulatory enforcement purposes. This limit represents the minimum level that can be reliably detected by advanced laboratory methods and does not indicate that the substance is permitted for use.
"Detection of trace residues below the EMRL does not constitute a food safety violation nor does it imply any health risk," an FSSAI official said.
FSSAI said India's regulatory framework is aligned with international practices. The European Union and the United States also prohibit the use of nitrofurans in food-producing animals and employ reference points for action or guideline values only as enforcement tools.
Differences in numerical benchmarks across countries reflect variations in analytical and regulatory approaches, not differences in consumer safety standards, the authority noted.
On public health concerns, FSSAI cited scientific evidence indicating that there is no established causal link between trace-level dietary exposure to nitrofuran metabolites and cancer or other adverse health outcomes in humans.
"No national or international health authority has associated normal egg consumption with increased cancer risk," the regulator reiterated.
Addressing reports related to the testing of a specific egg brand, officials explained that such detections are isolated and batch-specific, often arising from inadvertent contamination or feed-related factors, and are not representative of the overall egg supply chain in the country.
"Generalising isolated laboratory findings to label eggs as unsafe is scientifically incorrect," the statement said.
FSSAI urged consumers to rely on verified scientific evidence and official advisories, reiterating that eggs remain a safe, nutritious, and valuable component of a balanced diet when produced and consumed in compliance with food safety regulations.
