Man who shot Sena (UBT) leader had met CM Eknath Shinde four days ago, claims Sanjay Raut
Mumbai (PTI): Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut on Thursday claimed that Mauris Noronha, who shot dead party leader Abhishek Ghosalkar, had met Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde at his official residence only four days ago.
Noronha ended his own life after the shocking incident which took place in suburban Dahisar in the evening and was captured in a Facebook Live video.
In a post on X, Raut tweeted a photograph, purportedly showing Noronha with chief minister Shinde.
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The Shiv Sena (UBT) Rajya Sabha member also claimed that Shinde had invited Noronha to join his party.
`Varsha', the official residence of the chief minister, has become a den of mobsters and Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis (who also holds the home portfolio) has failed miserably and should resign, Raut said.
Abhishek Ghosalkar, a former corporator, was shot dead during a Facebook Live by Noronha, a `social activist', during a program at Noronha's office, police said.
Noronha then shot himself dead while Ghosalkar succumbed to bullet injuries at a hospital in north Mumbai, police said.
Ghosalkar and Noronha had "personal enmity" but the Facebook Live was to clarify that they had come together ending their bitterness for the betterment of the IC Colony area in Borivli, an official said.
Abhishek was the son of Vinod Ghosalkar, a senior leader of the Uddhav Thackeray-led party.
Chief Minister Shinde said a probe is being launched into the incident.
VIDEO | "Abhishek Ghosalkar had been a councillor. The way he was killed in Mumbai, it is a serious issue. There is 'gundaraj', 'mafiaraj' in Maharashtra. This 'mafiaraj' has the blessings of the Shinde government. Where is Home Minister Devendra Fadnavis?" says Shiv Sena (UBT)… pic.twitter.com/UGAVrGiAbv
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) February 9, 2024
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T'gana RTC strike: Talks between govt, employees successful
Hyderabad (PTI): Talks between employees of Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (RTC) who were on strike and the state government concluded successfully on Friday as the government agreed to the key demands of the workmen.
Following a day-long marathon of talks between the leaders of the employees' Joint Action Committee (JAC) and the cabinet sub-committee, the government announced after midnight that it acceded to the demands, including a merger of RTC with the government, 11 per cent pay revision and elections to the employees' unions.
A committee comprising officials and employee leaders would be appointed over the merger of RTC with the government, it said.
The RTC management has also agreed to address the remaining issues as well, an official release said.
The employees would call off their strike and the RTC buses would hit the roads shortly, it said.
The employees had been on an indefinite strike since April 22 over a series of demands, including the merger of RTC with the government.
Earlier in the day, a driver of the RTC, who attempted suicide on April 23 during the strike, died at a hospital here in the early hours of Friday.
Shankar Goud, a 55-year-old driver, set himself ablaze by pouring petrol at Narsampet in Warangal district when the employees were staging a protest on Thursday in support of their demands.
Goud suffered serious burns, was initially admitted to a state-run hospital in Warangal, and later shifted to a super-speciality hospital in Hyderabad for advanced treatment.
"He succumbed (to injuries) at about 1.30 am on Friday," a senior official said.
The driver’s body was taken to his relative’s village, Muttojipet in Warangal district, for funeral rites.
Tension prevailed in Muttojipet as his family members and RTC employees attempted to take the body to the Narsampet bus station, where he worked, to enable his colleagues to pay their last respects. However, police did not permit this, citing law-and-order concerns.
This led to a deadlock before the funeral could proceed.
Union Minister Bandi Sanjay Kumar criticised the Telangana government for not allowing the body to be taken to the Narsampet bus station.
Kumar, Minister of State (Home), visited Muttojipet village in Warangal district, where the funeral was held, and paid homage to Goud.
“They (family members) want to take the body to the bus depot for five minutes. Is the RTC bus depot in Pakistan or Bangladesh? They are emotionally attached to taking the body there. The government is hurting sentiments and creating fear among RTC employees,” Kumar told reporters.
He also expressed anger at the police for not allowing the body to be taken to the bus station and staged a protest, according to a release from his office.
RTC employees and BJP workers attempted to take the mortal remains in an ambulance to Narsampet, but were stopped by the police.
Later, after discussions with the police, the family members and RTC employees agreed to conduct the funeral in the village.
Sanjay Kumar, stating he would abide by the family’s decision, left the village after the funeral was conducted there.
Transport Minister Ponnam Prabhakar said an ex gratia of Rs 10 lakh, a house, and a government job would be provided to the kin of Goud.
Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy expressed shock over the employee’s death and conveyed deep condolences to the grieving family, according to the release.
The RTC employees’ JAC had earlier announced an agitation programme from April 24 to 29, including silent marches and submission of memorandums to MLAs and other leaders.
