Tag: Aaditya Thackeray

  • Maha records 3,900 new COVID-19 infections; Tope says rise in cases ‘alarming’ 

    By PTI

    MUMBAI: The finance capital on Wednesday recorded a sharp rise in new Omicron variant cases, amid reports of Covid-19 third wave, by clocking 2,510 infections, the highest daily addition since May 8, which is reportedly an 82 percent surge. The national capital Delhi recorded 86 percent surge with 923 cases. Meanwhile, Kolkata reported 540 cases, Bengaluru 400 and Chennai 294 cases.

    Maharashtra recorded a spurt in new cases at 3,900, including 85 of Omicron, with the daily count rising by 1,728 from a day before, the state health department said even as Health minister Rajesh Tope expressed concern over the spiralling number and termed it as ‘alarming.’

    With the addition of 3,900 cases, which were detected after 1,23,248 coronavirus tests were conducted in the last 24 hours, the statewide infection count shot up to 66,65,386, the health department said.

    The state recorded 20 fresh deaths, taking the number of fatalities to 1,41,496, the health department said in a bulletin.

    It said 1,306 patients were discharged in the last 24 hours, taking the number of recovered cases to 65,06,137.

    Currently, 1,22,906 people are in home quarantine and 905 people in institutional quarantine, the bulletin added.

    On the Omicron front, Maharashtra recorded 85 fresh infections, the highest single-day tally by any state in the country of the new strain so far.

    “Today, 85 cases of the Omicron variant have been reported in the state.

    Of these, 47 patients have been reported by the National Institute of Virology (NIV) – (where samples were sent for genome sequencing) and 38 by the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER),” the health bulletin said.

    Thirty-eight Omicron cases reported by IISER are from community surveillance and as per preliminary information they do not have a history of any international travel, it said.

    Of the 47 patients reported by the Pune-based NIV, 43 are international travellers and four are their close contacts, the bulletin added.

    On Tuesday, the state had recorded 2,172 cases and on Wednesday it registered nearly 80 per cent rise in infections in a span of 24 hours.

    Health Minister Tope said in view of the rising coronavirus cases, the existing curbs have to be observed strictly at parties and other public events.

    He said in the last eight to 10 days, the active cases in the state stood in the range of 5,000 to 6,000.

    On December 10, the state had 6,543 active cases of COVID-19, according to a health department bulletin.

    On Tuesday, the state had 11,492 active cases and on Wednesday (Dec 29), their number may cross the 20,000-mark, the minister said earlier in the day.

    However, the health department data in the evening showed active cases stood at 14,065.

    The rise in active cases in Maharashtra is “alarming”, he said.

    State Tourism minister Aaditya Thackeray urged people not to panic, but exercise extreme caution in the wake sharp rise in coronavirus cases in Mumbai and stressed on vaccination and widespread use of face masks.

    Though hospitalisations and positivity rates were low, the COVID-19 cases have surged since last week, Thackeray said.

    After reporting daily cases under-500 on most days in the last few months, the city is witnessing a spike in infections.

    He further said that in the next 48 hours, the BMC will be getting in touch with all educational institutions in the city to plan an organised vaccination drive for children in the age group of 15 to 18 years, who are to be targeted in the expanded inoculation campaign.

    The authorities are also preparing a list of health workers, frontline staff and senior citizens who are eligible to take the booster dose of COVID-19 vaccine, which should be administered nine months after the second shot, the tourism minister said.

    Thackeray said all public places in the city will remain shut on December 31.

    Speaking about the bed capacity at hospitals, Thackeray said there were 54,000 beds available in the city at present.

    “We have also asked all the Covid care jumbo centres to be at stand by, at all readiness levels, along with basic facilities to medical infrastructure.

    Testing and tracing protocols for all that have been operational all through, were reviewed too,” Thackeray tweeted later on.

    Earlier in the day, NCP leader Supriya Sule said she and her husband had tested positive for coronavirus.

    Coronavirus figures of Maharashtra are as follows: Positive cases 66,65,386; new cases 3,900; death toll 1,41,496; recoveries 65,06,137; active cases 14,065; total tests 6,87,68,760.

  • Shiv Sena seeks suspension of BJP MLA Nitesh Rane over behaviour towards Aaditya Thackeray

    By PTI

    MUMBAI: The Maharashtra Assembly was briefly adjourned on Monday after the Shiv Sena members demanded that BJP legislator Nitesh Rane be suspended over his alleged inappropriate behaviour towards state Environment Minister Aaditya Thackeray.

    The issue was raised by Shiv Sena MLA Suhas Kande after the Question Hour.

    He alleged that last week, Rane, while sitting in the Vidhan Bhavan premises, made ‘meow’ sounds looking in the direction of Thackeray, who he was going inside the building.

    Kande said while all members agree that indecent behaviour against political party leaders shouldn’t be allowed, Rane justified his behaviour and told reporters that he would continue to do so.

    “Aaditya Thackeray, being a dignified man, walked away ignoring Nitesh Rane. We will not tolerate insult of our leader,” Kande said.

    He demanded that Rane apologise in the House or he be suspended.

    Sena legislator Sunil Prabhu supported Kande.

    Another Sena member Bhaskar Jadhav demanded that Rane be permanently suspended as member of the Assembly.

    The Shiv Sena members shouted slogans in support of their demand following which the Chair adjourned the House for 10 minutes.

    Nitesh Rane is the son of Union minister Narayan Rane.

    After the House resumed, Leader of Opposition Devendra Fadnavis said Nitesh Rane will be reprimanded for his comments.

    “But, suspending a member for an incident that had happened outside the House is not right,” he said.

    Fadnavis said earlier Bhaskar Jadhav would make noises when NCP leader Chhagan Bhujbal used to enter the House.

    Chandrakant Patil (of BJP) wondered why the issue, about the incident which happened outside, was being discussed in the House.

    “Did Nitesh Rane take any name?” he asked.

    The presiding officer said a meeting of all group leaders will be held on Tuesday to ensure such incidents do not take place again.

  • Mumbai Diary: All that is happening in the country’s financial capital

    Express News Service

    ‘Secret ops’ reason for I-T raids on Ajit Pawar’s sister

    The Income Tax department’s search at the residence of Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar’s sister has taken the state’s political circles by surprise. It was unexpected that the I-T sleuths would raid Ajit Pawar’s family members. A major political reason attributed to the development is the move by 20 BJP MLAs to jump ship to the NCP.

    The deputy CM has been handling this highly confidential political operation which has sent alarms across the BJP state camp. The I-T raid comes as a message to Pawar that if he dares to welcome BJP MLAs, he and his family members will have to face the music.

    Sonia Gandhi to meet party’s state general secretary Rajesh Sharma on plaint against minister

    Congress national president Sonia Gandhi will soon meet party state general secretary Rajesh Sharma to discuss his complaint against Maharashtra School Education Minister Varsha Gaikwad after he raised questions over the latter’s conduct.

    Earlier, Sharma had written to Sonia Gandhi stating that Gaikwad had not been effective in ensuring the education of poor students. The minister’s move in okaying the acquisition of two colleges by private players has been flagged by the general secretary.

    Sharma had said that he met several Congress leaders and ministers but none bat an eye. Following this,  he addressed the complaint against Varsha Gaikwad to the party national president. Now, she has agreed to meet the general secretary in Delhi. 

    Aaditya Thackeray receives climate action award 

    Maharashtra environment minister Aaditya Thackeray has received the Inspiring Regional Leadership Award from Under2 Coalition for Climate Action – a global network of states and provinces on climate action – on the sidelines of COP26 in Glasgow, the UK, on Sunday.

    However, another controversy is brewing over a few bureaucrats without the Centre’s approval having travelled to Glasgow as part of the state delegation. These officials include Ashish Singh, who is personal assistant to Maharashtra chief minister, and his wife Valsa Nair Singh.  

    Youth Congress president, Mumbai unit chief tussle deepens further

    Infighting within the Congress is not new. The tussle between Mumbai Congress president Bhai Jagtap with Youth Congress president and MLA Zeeshan Siddique has hit a new low with the former directing derogatory comments against the latter.

    They literally fought during a Congress rally in Mumbai. Siddiqui was not happy with Bhai Jagtap because Jagtap spent his MLC fund in Siddiqui’s constituency. It was said that it was a deliberate attempt by Jagtap to interfere in the affairs of Siddiqui’s constituency and make him look bad.

  • Maharashtra unveils new electric vehicle policy, sets 10% share in total registrations by 2025

    By PTI
    MUMBAI: The Maharashtra government on Tuesday announced its new electric vehicle (EV) policy with an aim of making such vehicles achieve 10 per cent share of total registrations by 2025.

    The new policy, which has updated the one announced in 2018, was released by Additional Chief Secretary (Transport) Ashish Singh and state environment minister Aaditya Thackeray and others here.

    “The policy has some ambitious targets. Electric vehicles must comprise at least 10 percent of total vehicles registered by 2025. We also want to achieve 25 percent EV share in public transport in Mumbai, Pune, Nagpur, Aurangabad and Nashik. It includes converting 15 percent of the MSRTC fleet into EVs by 2025. We also intend to make Maharashtra the top producer of battery-driven EVs in India in terms of annual production capability,” Singh said.

    He said another target laid down in the new policy was to establish one gigawatt of battery manufacturing capability in the state.

    Speaking on the occasion, minister Thackeray said the conventional fuel-based passenger vehicle market may be hesitant as engines are getting upgraded in Euro-IV and V models but a major change can be brought about in the public transport sector by tapping MSRTC and civic-run undertakings for the EV initiative.

    “The Union government’s FAME-II policy and Maharashtra’s new EV policy can be combined for greater effectiveness. We are trying to set up EV charging stations in these five major cities though several incentives, with residential and office areas being on the priority list to set up EV charging stations,” Thackeray said.

    He brushed aside a query on whether EV manufacturer Tesla was being contacted by the state government to be part of this sector by claiming that “a state cannot endorse a single car making company”.

    “We are in talks with all EV makers. Some 73-74 per cent ancillary makers of such vehicles are in Maharashtra. If any company conducts a study, they will naturally find Maharashtra a preferred destination in terms of ancillary suppliers as well as purchasers of such vehicles,” the minister said.

  • After son Aaditya, Maharashtra CM’s wife also tests positive for coronavirus

    By PTI
    MUMBAI: After Maharashtra minister Aaditya Thackeray, his mother and chief minister Uddhav Thackeray’s wife Rashmi Thackeray too has tested positive for COVID-19, officials said on Tuesday.

    The chief minister and his wife had taken a first dose of the vaccine against coronavirus at the government-run J J Hospital here on March 11.

    “Her COVID-19 test came out positive on Monday night. She has been quarantined at `Varsha’, the official residence of the chief minister,” said an official.

    Aaditya Thackeray, state tourism minister, had disclosed two days ago that he had tested positive for the viral infection.

    On Sunday, the state had reported 30,535 COVID-19 cases, the highest rise in a single day so far.

  • Maharashtra minister Aaditya Thackeray tests positive for COVID-19

    By Online Desk
    Maharashtra tourism minister Aaditya Thackeray tested positive for COVID-19 on Saturday. Taking to Twitter, he said, “on having mild symptoms of COVID, I had myself tested and I am COVID positive”.

    He asked everyone who came in contact with him to get themselves tested.” I urge everyone to realise that it is extremely important to not let your guard down”.

    On having mild symptoms of COVID, I had myself tested and I am COVID positive. I request everyone who came in contact with me to get themselves tested.I urge everyone to realise that it is extremely important to not let your guard down. Please follow COVID protocols & stay safe
    — Aaditya Thackeray (@AUThackeray) March 20, 2021

    Meanwhile, the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai on Saturday informed that Rapid Antigen Testing will be done randomly without citizens’ consent at crowded places like malls, railway stations, bus depots, markets, tourist places and government offices. 

    One who refuses to get tested will be booked under the Epidemic Act. In wake of increasing COVID-19 cases, Nagpur district authorities on Saturday decided to extend the lockdown till March 31. 

    ​Only essential services such as vegetable and fruit shops and milk booths will stay open, according to the order issued by the district administration. 

    Earlier, the state government decided to impose a lockdown in Nagpur district from March 15 to 21. Districts like Amaravati, Yavatmal, and Latur have already been put under restrictions whereas the Aurangabad administration has imposed a complete lockdown on weekends till further orders. 

    On the other hand, a total of 40,953 new coronavirus cases and 23,653 recoveries were reported in the country in the last 24 hours, the health ministry informed on Saturday morning.

    (Inputs from ANI)

  • Farmers to hold protest rally over agri laws in Mumbai; Pawar, Aaditya Thackeray to attend

    By PTI
    MUMBAI: A large numbers of farmers left for Mumbai from Maharashtra’s Nashik district on Saturday for a rally to demand repealing of the Centre’s three new farm laws.

    The rally organised by Akhil Bharatiya Kisan Sabha will be held in Mumbai on January 25, a statement issued by the organisation said.

    The rally will be addressed by former Union agriculture minister and NCP chief Sharad Pawar, state Congress president Balasaheb Thorat and Shiv Sena leader Aaditya Thackeray.

    A delegation will also present a memorandum to Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari, the release said.

    Enacted in September last year, the three laws have been projected by the Centre as major reforms in the agriculture sector that will remove middlemen and allow farmers to sell their produce anywhere in the country.

    Thousands of farmers, mostly from Punjab, Haryana and western Uttar Pradesh, have been camping at several border points of Delhi since November 28 last year, demanding a repeal of these laws.

    Multiple rounds of talks between the government and farmer unions have failed to break the impasse so far, while the Supreme Court has appointed a panel for resolution.