Mumbai: CM Devendra Fadnavis on Thursday alleged that the student-led protests in the country seeking accountability over paper leaks have been infiltrated by those with vested interests.“It is seen that there are people in the protests who have come not for students’ demands. The agitators must pay attention to this,” he told reporters. He said the protests have attracted all kinds of people, even those hoping to gain popularity through reels. Asked about the attack on protesters by police in Delhi this Monday, Fadnavis said policemen were assaulted and pelted with stones. On the Thackeray cousins, Uddhav and Raj, announcing a rally in support of students, he said the two are searching for their parties’ identities through such agitations. Fadnavis alleged Maharashtra’s biggest teacher eligibility test (TET) scam was during the tenure of former CM Uddhav Thackeray. “It was not just a paper leak. Candidates who failed the test were made to pass. Ministers and IAS officers faced allegations,” he said. He said recently, his govt detected irregularities before a TET and acted swiftly, preventing a paper leak. “We took action against those responsible. Those who are hiding their own record should stop pointing fingers at others,” he said.He slammed opposition parties for shying away from discussions on education and reforms in the sector, saying they would otherwise have to answer for exam paper leaks in states governed by them. “Rahul Gandhi does not have the courage to debate education because he will have to explain paper leaks in Karnataka, Telangana, Punjab and Rajasthan. Every scam during their govts’ tenure will come out, and that is why they do not want a discussion,” he said. Defending the Centre, Fadnavis said the Union education budget had increased from about Rs 8,000 crore during UPA’s tenure to Rs 1.4 lakh crore now. The Centre had expanded premier institutions such as IITs and AIIMS, increased the number of seats, and created more opportunities in medical, engineering and management education, he pointed out.

Navi Mumbai: Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis launched the Bharat Taxi Service at the Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA) on Thursday, flagging off 600 cabs in the first phase.Fadnavis said the app-based passenger service operates on a zero-commission model wherein the drivers, referred to as sarathis (charioteers), own the cab and retain 100% of their fare earnings. They sarathis are also protected from surge pricing, the benefits of which were only for the aggregator and not the driver in other services.“Against this backdrop, a very transparent, safe and cheap alternative has emerged through Bharat Taxi, based on the strength of the cooperative sector. All three types of services, namely car, autorickshaw and bike taxi, have been made available through a single mobile app, and this will be a revolution that will directly connect the driver and the passenger by breaking the chain of intermediaries. While, the flexible rate fixed on the lines of black-yellow taxis of only Rs 31 for the first one and a half kilometers and Rs 21 per kilometer thereafter is affordable for the common man. Also, the taxi drivers are share holders in the co-operative and will earn dividends and a share of the platform’s profits. The cooperative-led, app-based Bharat Taxi service model ensures safety of passengers, especially women, prevents exorbitant fare demand from passengers and provides better public transport service,” Fadnavis said.Fadnavis further said, “An important MoU has been inked with Late DB Patil Sahakari Vahatuk Sangha, a union of taxi owners and drivers, wherein around 3,000 to 4,000 Project Affected People (PAP), for whose welfare the veteran PAP leader Late DB Patil strived his entire life, will be provided vehicle loan from banks for buying a taxi for their source of livelihood by enrolling the cab drivers for operating Bharat Taxi Service at NMIA.Speaking to the locals and PAPs of NMIA, Fadnavis clarified that Bike Taxi transport system will provide huge employment opportunities to the people of the region and the youth of this area. The state government has outlined a framework for an aggregator policy with digital signature, and the Cooperative Department will have control over all financial transactions. In the first phase, 600 taxis have been unveiled and the target is to reach more than 1000 taxis in the coming days. The first phase of this service is starting from two important cities of Mumbai and Pune.Fadnavis expressed his resolve to provide a safer and more pleasant experience to the passengers by taking this service to every corner of Maharashtra in the coming days. Union Minister of State (Cooperatives and Civil Aviation, Government of India) Muralidhar Mohol said, “Due to the ‘Cooperative Taxi’ organization, drivers have now become direct members and owners instead of being employees. The dividend of the organization’s profits will now be deposited directly into the drivers’ accounts. About 8 lakh drivers from across the country have been connected to this organization, and in a short period of time, Rs 77 crore has been transferred directly to the drivers’ bank accounts without any commission. After Delhi and Ghaziabad, this service has been launched in Mumbai Metropolitan Region, and it will soon be expanded to Pune and Nagpur.”

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Mumbai: Bracing for a crackdown under citywide prohibitory orders, demonstrators moved online from the streets on Thursday after four consecutive days of protests.Social media influencers like Oamkaar posted on their handles that “it is unadvisable to protest on the 23rd as Section 144 has been imposed and restrictions on gatherings of 5 or more people have been imposed”, adding that police will be out in full force. He urged students to take a break and recuperate.Similarly, influencer Ishika B uploaded a reel advising students not to step out unnecessarily, clarifying that this pivot did not mean giving up, but rather finding a way around the situation while taking time to rest.Taking the cue, protesters shifted their operations online, creating and sharing digital placards, campaign banners and video clips across social platforms that have been the hallmark of these protests as well as key rallying points to maintain momentum amid a protest not being led by any known political face or activist.However, frustration among student aspirants was palpably high. Speaking to TOI during Wednesday’s Dadar protest, a 19-year-old student from Sathaye College reflected the growing desperation within the community, stating that it was the last day to protest, fight for their rights, and make themselves seen before the prohibitory orders were officially put in place and street-level visibility was completely cut off.The lull came on the back of prohibitory orders issued by DCP (pperations) Akbar Pathan under Section 37 of Maharashtra Police Act. Officially effective from July 23-Aug 6, the orders strictly ban the public assembly of five or more persons, unauthorised rallies, the use of loudspeakers, musical bands, and bursting of firecrackers to prevent potential peace breaches and property damage.Irrespective of the fresh prohibitory orders, street demonstrations and public protests are not allowed anywhere across the city, with agitations restricted exclusively to the court-designated area within Azad Maidan. Routine activities at schools, colleges, workplaces and cinema halls, and permitted events like weddings remain exempt.Since July 18, Mumbai police have registered 15 FIRs under sections related to breach of prohibitory orders at various police stations against more than 900 people. (With inputs from Ahmed Ali)

Kalyan: Nearly 19 years after a youth was pushed off a bridge into the flooded Kalu river near Titwala following a quarrel, the Kalyan Sessions Court convicted three men for culpable homicide not amounting to murder and assault, while acquitting them of the charge of murder.Additional Sessions Judge Parveen Sayyad sentenced the three convicts — Vineet Meher (41), Vikas Dalvi (37), and Harish Meher (36) — to pay a fine of Rs 1 lakh each. The court directed that the total compensation amount be paid to the victim’s father, Akaram Pawar. In default of payment, each convict will have to undergo two years’ simple imprisonment. The court also imposed an additional Rs 1,000 fine each for the offence of assault.According to the prosecution, the incident occurred on Aug 15, 2007, when Vinayak Pawar and his friends visited the Titwala Ganesh Temple and later went to the Kalu river. Following a sudden altercation on the bridge, the accused allegedly pushed Pawar into the river, where he drowned in the strong current.During the trial, the prosecution examined nine witnesses. Additional public prosecutor Sachin Kulkarni represented the state in the case. The court held that while the accused knew that pushing a person into a flooded river was likely to cause death, the prosecution failed to prove beyond reasonable doubt that they had the intention to commit murder. The accused were therefore convicted for culpable homicide not amounting to murder instead of murder.In its order, the court observed that the incident arose out of a sudden quarrel on the bridge and noted evidence showing that the accused jumped into the river in an attempt to rescue Pawar after he fell. The judgement also recorded that the accused earlier warned the deceased not to venture near the riverbank, informing him that four youths from Dombivli had previously drowned at the spot.The judge further took into account that the accused were 27, 24 and 21 years old at the time of the incident. Considering the overall circumstances, the court held that imposing a substantial fine and directing it to be paid as compensation to the victim’s family, instead of awarding imprisonment, would meet the ends of justice.A case was registered at Titwala police station soon after the incident, and a chargesheet was subsequently filed. After a trial, the court delivered its verdict on Wednesday.

Mumbai: A video showing a cop in the city allegedly threatening to plant drugs on student protestors to deter them from protesting in support of Cockroach Janta Party surfaced on Thursday and triggered a fresh row over police conduct during the ongoing protests over the NEET paper leak, prompting the Mumbai police to suspend the police constable seen in the video.The purported conversation took place in a police vehicle on Wednesday. In the video, the policeman, Pawan Sangle, attached to Sion police station, is seen sitting in the driver’s seat and allegedly telling the students, “If I see you here again, there won’t be anyone worse than me. I will directly plant 50 grams of powder in your pockets, and it will ensure you won’t get bail and your life will be ruined. We are facing trouble because of you.”CM Devendra Fadnavis, who also holds the home portfolio in Maharashtra, said the police constable has been suspended. An inquiry has been ordered into the matter, a senior police officer said. Politicians of the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi termed the video as extremely serious and demanded prompt action.Harshvardhan Kadam (18), one of the protesters who is seen in the video, recorded the alleged conversation on his mobile phone. Kadam told TOI, “The cops caught me and my friends near Shivaji Park, and this policeman was abusing us and threatening us. I decided to secretly video-record his abusive language.”Kadam lives in Ulhasnagar and, after clearing his Class 12 exams, is pursuing further studies and also doing a part-time job. He said that after issuing the warning to the students, the constable dropped them near Dadar Metro station, asked him and his friends to leave the area, and warned them not to return, saying the consequences would otherwise be worse. Kadam said apart from recording the cop’s abusive language, the idea of making the clip was also to ensure his own protection. Persons found with drugs are booked under stringent narcotics laws.Reacting to the video going viral, Kadam said, “I did not do this to become famous. I am happy that my voice has reached the masses. There is nothing political about this, nor am I against the system. I only want youngsters not to stop protesting. I am against violence and want them to continue their protest peacefully.”Protestors in Mumbai have been critical about police action, saying they have been receiving notices on messaging apps at 3 am, have faced hours-long detention at police stations, and phones surrendered during detention have been returned to them with signs of surveillance. The protestors have also alleged they have not been provided copies of FIRs being registered against them. FIR copies were given to the protesters on Thursday. Thirteen FIRs have been filed in the city over the protests so far.The constable, Sangle, has now been attached to the Central Control Room till the inquiry is over. Police said an officer of the rank of assistant commissioner of police (ACP) has been assigned to conduct the inquiry and submit a report to the commissioner of police.Police sources said the various viral video clips from the protests which were circulating would first be sent for forensic examination to ascertain whether they were genuine or had been doctored. “Once forensic experts confirm that the video is genuine, we may not even need to call the person who recorded it. We will begin recording the statement of the police personnel involved and recommend strict action,” an official said.