News Analysis India

Tag: Uddhav Thackeray

  • Param Bir Singh letter: Anil Deshmukh must resign, says Shivraj Chouhan as he lashes out at Uddhav government

    By PTI
    BHOPAL: Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Sunday said Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh should resign after a former Mumbai police commissioner accused him of corruption.

    Chouhan said all records of corruption had been broken in Maharashtra under the present government there, adding that the alliance led by Uddhav Thackeray was stalling development.

    “The way allegations are being levelled, skeletons are coming out of the cupboard in a sequence. This is the limit of corruption. The concerned minister must resign immediately,” Chouhan told reporters here when queried about the upheaval currently underway in the western state.

    After the arrest of Mumbai police assistant inspector Sachin Waze in an NIA probe in connection with the recovery of an explosives-laden vehicle near industrialist Mukesh Ambani’s home, the state government had transferred Mumbai police commissioner Param Bir Singh.

    Singh, in a letter to Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, alleged that home minister Deshmukh had asked his officials to “collect” Rs 100 crore per month, over half of it from the 1,750-odd restaurants, bars and hotels in the megapolis.

  • MVA discusses Deshmukh’s future; Julio Ribeiro refuses to probe Param Bir’s letter

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, state unit NCP chief Jayant Patil, and Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut separately met NCP supremo Sharad Pawar in Delhi on Sunday evening in view of former Mumbai police chief Param Bir Singh’s allegations of corruption against state Home Minister Anil Deshmukh.

    The meetings took place hours after Pawar told reporters that Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray will decide the fate of Deshmukh, an NCP leader, amid speculation in state political circles that Maharashtra may soon have a new home minister.

    Singh has claimed Deshmukh wanted police officers to collect Rs 100 crore monthly from bars and hotels in Mumbai.

    Deshmukh had denied these allegations as baseless.

    However, what transpired during the meetings at Pawar’s residence in Delhi could not be known.

    Earlier in the day, Raut told reporters in Mumbai that allegations of Singh against Deshmukh and the Sachin Waze episode have dented the image of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government in the state.

    Waze was arrested by the NIA, which is probing the recovery of an explosives-laden vehicle from outside the south Mumbai residence of industrialist Mukesh Ambani last month and also the alleged murder of businessman Mansukh Hiran, the purported owner of that SUV.

    Raut said all allies- the Shiv Sena, NCP and Congress- need to introspect if their “feet are on the ground”.

    “Anil Deshmukh’s side also needs to be heard before taking any decision on him. We will take a decision on Deshmukh by tomorrow,” Pawar told reporters.

    Jayant Patil, who is also the state Water Resources Minister, had said that the Delhi visit was planned three days ago.

    “The Pandharpur Assembly bypoll is scheduled next month. Ajit Pawar and I decided to meet party workers in Solapur district to know their views over the selection of candidate and the party strategy, and then meet Pawar saheb in Delhi with the feedback before returning to Mumbai,” he said.

    “Accordingly, both of us are in Pandharpur to discuss issues related to the bypoll with party workers,” he said. The Pandharpur bypoll is scheduled to be held on April 17. It was necessitated due to the death of NCP MLA Bharat Bhalke last year.

    Meanwhile, Congress sources said Central leaders of the party are in touch with leaders in Maharashtra on the developments regarding Deshmukh.

    A Congress leader told PTI on Sunday night that the CM was in touch with all prominent leaders of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance in view of Singh’s letter.

    “I don’t think Anil Deshmukh will be asked to resign, as it will amount to accepting the allegations made against him,” he said.

    Meanwhile, former IPS officer Julio Ribeiro on Sunday rejected NCP chief Sharad Pawar’s suggestion that he should probe Singh’s claim that Home Minister Anil Deshmukh asked suspended police officer Sachin Waze to collect Rs 100 crore every month.

    ALSO READ | Won’t be fair to comment as NCP chief has spoken: Congress on graft charges against Deshmukh

    “I am not available. Nobody (in state government) has contacted me. And in any case even if they contact me, I am unavailable,” Ribeiro told PTI when asked about Pawar’s suggestion.

    “I am 92 years old. Nobody goes around doing this work at the age of 92. If the inquiry is against the home minister of Maharashtra, then Mr Pawar should make it because he is the head of the (ruling) party,” Ribeiro said.

    Ribeiro is a former Mumbai police commissioner, who eventually became the chief of Gujarat and Punjab police and was later named India’s ambassador to Romania.

    “Why should a retired police officer be asked to do this,” he said.

    Earlier in the day, Pawar told reporters in Delhi that he would suggest Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray to seek Ribeiros help to investigate the claims made by Singh.

    In a letter to Thackeray, Param Bir Singh alleged that Anil Deshmukh instructed suspended Mumbai police officer Sachin Waze to collect Rs 100 crore every month for him.

    Pawar’s comments came during a media briefing at Delhi amid speculation in state political circles that Maharashtra may soon have a new home minister.

    The allegations leveled by Singh against Dehsmukh are serious and require an in-depth probe, Pawar said.

    Singh has claimed that Deshmukh wanted police officers to collect Rs 100 crore monthly for him from bars and hotels.

    Pawar indicated that Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray will take a decision in this matter soon and also action against Deshmukh.

    “We will take a decision on Deshmukh by tomorrow,” Pawar said.

    Deshmukh’s side also needs to be heard before taking any decision, he added.

    Pawar said neither Thackeray nor Deshmukh were responsible for reinstatement of police officer Sachin Waze in the police force last year.

    The NCP chief said he has spoken to Thackeray regarding Singh’s letter.

    ALSO READ | BJP workers hold protests for resignation of Maharashtra Home minister Anil Deshmukh

    “I would suggest Thackeray to seek former IPS officer Julio Ribeiro’s help for looking into the claims made by Param Bir Singh,” he said.

    Ribeiro rejected the idea, saying he is unavailable for this kind of work.

    “I am 92 years old. Nobody goes around doing this work at the age of 92. If the inquiry is against the home minister of Maharashtra, then Mr Pawar should make it because he is the head of the (ruling) party,” Ribeiro told PTI.

    Pawar said Singh had complained to him aboutpolitical interference in police department.

    He said Singh had spoken of reports about his transfer, saying it would be an injustice to him.

    Pawar said Singh made the allegations after his transfer on March 17 to the Home Guards.

    There is no impact on the MVA government because of Singh’s allegations, Pawar said.

    Efforts are on to destabilise the Shiv Sena-NCP-Congress government in Maharashtra but they will prove futile, he added.

    In the eight-page letter to Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, Singh alleged that Deshmukh used to call police officers to his official residence and give them a “collection target” from bars, restaurants and other establishments.

    Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut admitted that the allegations made by Singh against Deshmukh and about the Waze case have tainted the image of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government in the state.

    Raut saio all the MVA allies need to introspect if their feet are on the ground.

    Former chief minister and BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis said Pawar was trying to save the Maha Vikas Aghadi government amid allegations of corruption leveled by Singh against Deshmukh.

    “How were important postings and cases given to Waze without the knowledge of the chief minister and the home minister?” Fadnavis told reporters in Nagpur.

    Waze is in the custody of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) for his alleged role in placing an explosives- laden SUV outside the south Mumbai residence of industrialist Mukesh Ambani last month.

    The NIA is also probing the alleged murder of Thane- based businessman Mansukh Hiran who was in possession of that SUV.

    ALSO READ | Allegations against Deshmukh: Sharad Pawar trying to save Maha govt, says Fadnavis

    “As the architect of the MVA government, Pawar is trying to save it, Fadnavis said and reiterated his demand for resignation of Deshmukh and a court-monitored probe into the allegations made by Singh.”

    “Waze (a former encounter specialist who was suspended after the alleged custodial death of bomb blast suspect Khwaja Yunis in 2003) was reinstated by a committee headed by Param Bir Singh. But how is it possible that he got important cases and postings without the knowledge of the CM and the home minister?” Fadnavis said.

    Former MP Sanjay Nirupam said his Congress party must take a stand on Singh’s claim that Deshmukh wanted police officers to collect Rs 100 crore monthly from bars and hotels.

    Meanwhile, BJP workers on Sunday staged demonstrations in various parts of the state demanding Deshmukh’s resignation over Singh’s letter.

    BJP workers led by former state energy minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule staged protests at Sanvidhan square in Nagpur and raised slogans against the Maha Vikas Aghadi government.

    A demonstration was organised by BJP Yuva Morcha wokers outside Deshmukh’s residence in Nagpur.

  • Letter to Maharashtra CM was sent from my email ID, says ex-Mumbai top cop Param Bir Singh

    By ANI
    Former Mumbai Police Commissioner Param Bir Singh has claimed that the letter sent to Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray was indeed sent from his email ID.

    “An unsigned letter in the name of Param Bir Singh, commandant general of Home Guards” was received on the official email ID of the chief minister’s secretariat in the afternoon, the Chief Minister’s Office said on Saturday.

    Param Bir Singh had alleged that Home Minister Anil Deshmukh had ordered to file a case of abetment to suicide in MP Mohan Delkar’s death who was found dead in Mumbai on February 22 this year.

    In a letter to Chief Minister Uddhav Thackrey, yesterday, Singh stated: “Abetment to suicide case in Mohan Delkar’s death was ordered to be filed by Home Minister Anil Deshmukh despite the legal opinion of experts being against this FIR.”

    ALSO READ: Letter from Param Bir Singh sent via unofficial email id without signature: Uddhav’s office

    Singh, who has now been posted as Commandant General of Home Guards, said that he has been “made a scapegoat to divert attention from the actual wrongdoers” also alleged that the FIR was filed for political mileage and he (Parambir Singh) had opposed the idea of said FIR in this case during a meeting of ministers including Chief Minister.

    Two people arrested by Anti Terrorist Squad (ATS) in Mansukh Hiren death case. @NewIndianXpress
    — Sudhir Suryawanshi (@ss_suryawanshi) March 21, 2021

    “From day one, the Home Minister desired a case of abetment of suicide to be registered at Mumbai. My professional view after seeking appropriate legal advice was that while the suicide had occurred in Mumbai, all the alleged acts of abetment had taken place in Dadra & Nagar Haveli. Thus, the abetment of suicide, if any, was required to be investigated by the Police at Dadra & Nagar Haveli who would have jurisdiction in that regard. You will recollect that in a briefing held at Varsha soon after the incident in the presence of a Minister and several other officials, after I drew attention of all concerned about my view, there was general agreement that the alleged acts of abetment could only be investigated by the Police at Dadra & Nagar Haveli,” the letter read.

    ALSO READ: Param Bir Singh letter bomb – Full text of former Mumbai top cop’s letter to Maharashtra CM

    “Dutybound to do so, I held to my professional view as advised by legal experts. The Home Minister kept insisting otherwise despite having been informed by me about the opinion of legal experts on this issue. Due to my resistance, the Home Minister was unhappy with me as the political mileage desired to be derived from the registration of the abetment of the suicide case.

    Despite being fully aware of the opinion of the legal experts, the general opinion and the reasons behind it, the Home Minister announced the setting up of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) and registration of an FIR into the alleged case on March 9 2021, the letter continued to read.

    Meanwhile, Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh yesterday said he is filing a defamation suit against the former Mumbai Police Commissioner.

  • ‘Marathi Manoos’ agenda evident in Hemant Nagrale’s selection as Mumbai top cop

    Express News Service
    MUMBAI: Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray has been pitching the son of the soil Marathi manoos agenda while appointing top administrative and police officials in the state.

    After the arrest of API Sachin Waze, Thackeray shunted out Mumbai Police Commissioner Param Bir Singh and brought back the DG of Maharashtra Police, Hemant Nagrale into the fold.

    Another Marathi, Vishwas Nagare Patil was earlier appointed Joint Police Commissioner (law and order), while Milind Bharambe became Joint Commissioner (crime). Maharashtra’s chief secretary Sitaram Kunte is also a Marathi manoos.

    Before Nagrale was appointed Police Commissioner, the NCP had almost zeroed in on Rajnish Seth for the post.

    “But the CM overruled and insisted Marathi manoos Nagrale be the man for the job. When Singh was chosen earlier, Thackeray was reluctant. But NCP chief Sharad Pawar insisted on him. Thackeray is keen on the Marathi manoos concept, which helps him expand his party base,” said a source.

    Sanjay Pandey, Maharashtra’s senior-most cop, had slammed the Maha Vikas Aghadi government for ending his career.

    He had said he was the senior-most and still not appointed commissioner.

    He was given the insignificant posting of head of Maharashtra state security cooperation. In a complaint to Thackeray, Pandey had said injustice had been done to him.

    Surendra Jhondale, professor of political science at Mumbai University, said Shiv Sena was born with the Marathi manoos agenda. Now that they are in the government, they are pursuing it more aggressively.

    “But Thackeray is also checking out the efficiency and uprightness of the officers while appointing them in crucial posts. This government is constantly fighting with the powerful government at the Centre. So Thackeray and Pawar need trusted lieutenants who will not succumb to Delhi’s pressure,” said Jondhale.

  • CM Uddhav Thackeray pitches ‘Marathi manoos’ agenda in crucial government appointments 

    Express News Service
    MUMBAI: Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray has been pitching the son of the soil, Marathi manoos, agenda while appointing the top administrative and police posts in the state.

    After the arrest of API Sachin Waze, Uddhav Thackeray shunted Mumbai police commissioner Param Bir Singh and brought back the Maharashtra DG police Hemant Nagrale in Mumbai police.

    As part of the son of the soil agenda, another ‘Marathi manoos’ Vishwas Nagare Patil was earlier appointed joint police commissioner, law and order while Milind Bharambe has given the charge of joint commissioner crime.

    Interestingly, Maharashtra chief secretary Sitaram Kunte is also a Marathi manoos. Interestingly, the Bihar cadre IPS office Shivdeep Lande has been promoted to DIG of Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS).

    While choosing Hemant Nagrale as the Mumbai police commissioner in the place of Parambir Singh, NCP has finalised the 1988 batch IPS officer Rajnish Seth as the new police commissioner.

    But chief minister Uddhav Thackeray overruled and insisted Marathi manoos Hemant Nagrale who comes from a very humble background as the new CP of Mumbai. When Parambir Singh was earlier chosen as Mumbai CP, that time also Uddhav Thackeray was reluctant, but NCP chief Sharad Pawar insisted on appointing Parambir Singh as Mumbai CP.

    “Thackeray is very comfortable with Marathi manoos that helps him to expand his party base and espouse his party agenda as well,” said a source in government on request of anonymity.

    Sanjay Pandey, Maharashtra’s senior-most cops lashed out at Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government for wrecking his career till the end. Pandey said he was the senior-most police officer and still wasn’t appointed for Mumbai police commissioner and DG, Police Maharashtra. Pandey was given the side posting, as a head of Maharashtra state security cooperation.

    Pandey in his complaint letter to chief minister Uddhav Thackeray said that the injustice has been done with him during the recent transfer. He said Uddhav Thackeray and NCP chief Sharad Pawar applauded his work and yet ignored him for top-posting.

    Surendra Jhondale, professor of Political Science at Mumbai University said that the “Shiv Sena was born for Marathi manoos agenda, now they are in power and hence are pursuing this agenda aggressively.”

    “But Uddhav Thackeray is also checking out efficiency and uprightness of the the officer while appointing them at crucial posts. This Maha Vikas Aghadi government is constantly fighting with the BJP led powerful centre government therefore Thackeray and Pawar needs the trusted, loyal and efficient lieutenants that will not succumb before the Delhi’s pressure in this long-drawn battle,” said Jondhale.

  • Lockdown is an option, says Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray as COVID-19 cases rise alarmingly

    By PTI
    MUMBAI: A day after Maharashtra witnessed the highest one-day spike of 25,833 COVID-19 cases, Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Friday said lockdown is an option but he trusts people to follow the norms on their own.

    Talking to reporters in Nandurbar, Thackeray also appealed people to get vaccinated against the virus without fear.

    The COVID-19 situation has become grimmer as the number of new cases on Thursday crossed the earlier highest rise which was recorded in September, he conceded.

    ALSO READ | COVID-19: Curbs for drama theatres, auditoriums in Maharashtra

    “I see lockdown as an option going ahead. But I trust people of the state to cooperate (and follow the COVID-19 norms voluntarily) like the last time,” he said.

    When the pandemic began last year, there was nothing to fight the virus with, Thackeray said.

    “But now at least we have vaccines as a shield. The priority now is to ensure that everyone is vaccinated. People should come forward to take the vaccine,” he said.

    The Union government has assured that there would be no shortage of vaccines, he said.

    There have been a few instances where a person caught the infection after vaccination, but such cases are not “life-threatening”, the chief minister said.

    “Everyone should get vaccinated without fear,” he added.

  • Uddhav had asked me to reinstate Waze when I was CM, says BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis

    By PTI
    MUMBAI: BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis on Wednesday claimed that when he was Maharashtra chief minister, Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray had called him in 2018 to seek reinstatement of the then suspended police officer Sachin Waze into the state police force.

    He also accused the Shiv Sena of pressuring him over this demand at that time.

    Mumbai police officer Waze is at the focus of a probe by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) into the case related to the recovery of an SUV with explosives near industrialist Mukesh Ambani’s house in south Mumbai on February 25.

    Waze, arrested in the case on March 13 for his alleged role in the crime, was attached to the Crime Intelligence Unit (CIU) of city police’s crime branch till recently.

    ALSO READ | Ambani bomb scare row: Mumbai police chief Param Bir Singh shifted to Home Guard

    Speaking to reporters in New Delhi, Fadnavis said, “I was Maharashtra chief minister in 2018 and also helmed the home department. Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray had called me to reinstate the then suspended police officer Sachin Waze back into the police force. Some Shiv Sena ministers later met me with the same request.”

    “When I received the proposal to reinstate Waze back into police force, I verbally sought advocate general’s opinion about it. I was told that Waze was suspended after the Bombay High Court’s order. Therefore, I decided not to reinstate him,” Fadnavis said.

    The Leader of Opposition in the state Legislative Assembly also alleged that the Shiv Sena even tried to pressurise him over it.

    The BJP and the Shiv Sena shared power between 2014 and 2019.

    However, after the 2019 Assembly polls, the Sena parted ways with the BJP over sharing the chief minister’s post and joined hands with the NCP and the Congress.

    Uddhav Thackeray heads the three-party Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government in the state.

    Credited with eliminating 63 alleged criminals in ‘encounters’, Waze, a 1990-batch officer of the state cadre, was suspended in 2004 over his role in the custodial death of a 2002 Ghatkopar blast suspect Khwaja Yunus and was reinstated last year.

  • COVID-19: Last warning, follow rules, Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray tells hotels, restaurants

    By PTI

    MUMBAI: Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Saturday ordered hotels and restaurants in the state to ensure strict adherence to COVID-19 protocols in their premises and not force the state to enforce drastic measures like lockdown.

    Speaking at a virtual meeting attended by representatives of hotel and restaurant associations, shopping centre groups, the CM said a “lackadaisical” attitude towards outbreak norms had crept in lately.

    “Do not force us to impose a strict lockdown. Consider this as the last warning. Follow all the rules. Everyone has to realise there is a difference between self-discipline and restrictions,” Thackeray said.

    The CM pointed out that crowds had increased in most places since activities resumed in a phased manner from October, and safety rules were not being followed and this had resulted in a steep surge in cases.

    Incidentally, Maharashtra on Saturday recorded 15,602 COVID-19 cases and 88 deaths, taking the tally to 22,97,793 and the toll to 52,811.

    “Last week, a Central team visited Mumbai and one of the members told me no one was wearing masks or following social distancing at a hotel they visited. Initially, hotels, restaurants were adhering strictly to COVID-19 norms, but now everyone has become lackadaisical,” he said.

    He said his government was not in favour of a lockdown to tackle the latest surge and asked people to cooperate to avoid having to take such a drastic decision.

    Mumbai municipal commissioner IS Chahal suggested that the hotel and restaurant associations can organise flying squads to check if outbreak norms were being followed.

    These association said member establishments not adhering to rules will be removed, while shopping centre representatives said they could deploy “COVID marshals” to check people in malls, while entry into food courts will be restricted.

  • MPSC exam postponed; after backlash CM Uddhav Thackeray says will be held by March 22

    By PTI
    MUMBAI: Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Thursday evening said the Maharashtra Public Service Commission’s (MPSC) preliminary examination would be held by March 22.

    Earlier in the day, the MPSC announced that the exam for government jobs which was to take place on March 14 (Sunday) has been postponed on account of rising coronavirus cases.

    It sparked protests with students blocking a road in Pune.

    “The preliminary examination will be held within eight days from March 14. The announcement of new dates will be made tomorrow, this is my promise to you,” Thackeray said in a televised message.

    Earlier, the decision of postponement was announced by the Relief and Rehabilitation Department in a circular.

    But Congress leader and Rehabilitation Minister Vijay Wadettiwar claimed he was kept in the dark by officials.

    “The decision has been taken at the secretary level without even discussing the issue with me. I know nothing about it. There will be inquiry into this matter,” he tweeted.

    ALSO READ: Maharashtra daily cases surge with over 14,000 new infections, 57 deaths

    The examination was to take place in April last year but was repeatedly delayed due to the COVID-19 outbreak.

    Senior Congress leader Prithviraj Chavan questioned the wisdom of the decision to defer it.

    Speaking to reporters in Pune, he said, “If the government can permit weddings, hold budget session and conduct exams for the health department, then it is wrong to cancel the MPSC examination.”

    BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis demanded that the decision be reversed.

    “The exams have been pushed forward already and it would result in the loss of opportunity for many students who invest their best years in preparation,” he tweeted.

    Rohit Pawar, NCP MLA and grandson of party chief Sharad Pawar, tweeted that the examination can be conducted in a fair and safe manner.

    News of postponement sparked protest by hundreds of MPSC aspirants in Pune who blocked Shastri Road in the city.

    Pune has emerged as a big hub of coaching classes for MPSC and UPSC examinations in the last few years.

    Mahesh Bade, one of the aspirants, demanded roll-back of the decision.

    “Is the government waiting for students to commit suicide?” he asked.

    Later, after Thackeray announced that the exam will be held before March 22, Bade said the candidates wanted that it be held on March 14 itself.

    Bade also claimed that a 28-year-old MPSC aspirant from Yavatmal who was among protesters suffered a heart attack and was admitted to a private hospital and was in ICU now.

    Another aspirant said the exam was first scheduled to take place in April 2020, then it was postponed till October, then to March and now it has been again deferred.

    BJP MLC Gopinath Padalkar who joined in the protest was detained by police as they tried to disperse the students.

  • COVID-19: Maharashtra daily cases surge with over 14,000 new infections, 57 deaths

    By Online Desk
    The upswing in COVID-19 cases continues in Maharashtra as State added 14,317 new infections on Thursday making this the single-day highest record in 2021. 

    In the last 24 hours, 57 patients died and 7193 got discharged from the hospital.

    With this hike, the active cases in the state have reached 1,06,070 and the total cases stand at 22,66,374.

    The total recoveries are around 21,06,400 while the total death toll is at 52,667.

    Maharashtra reports 14,317 new #COVID19 cases, 7193 discharges and 57 deaths in last 24 hours.Total cases 22,66,374Total recoveries 21,06,400Death toll 52,667Active cases 1,06,070 pic.twitter.com/ANPXCVeRDl
    — ANI (@ANI) March 11, 2021

    Addressing the people, Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray said that people should take the vaccine. 

    ALSO READ | Maharashtra Covid situation alarming; Haryana, Karnataka, Gujarat, MP at tipping point: Centre 

    Even after vaccination, using the mask is a must, even hand washing, and these small things are important, he added.

    Thackeray, 60, received the first dose of the vaccine against COVID-19 at the government-run J J Hospital on Thursday. Speaking after taking the jab, he said, “Some areas of Maharashtra will witness strict lockdown measures to curb the spread of the coronavirus infection. The government is going to hold a special meeting with officials before coming out with the lockdown measures.”

    “We are very worried about Maharashtra,” said V K Paul, Member, Health, Niti Aayog, who also heads the national Covid-19 task force.

    Earlier in the day, Maharashtra Minister Nitin Raut announced that ‘strict lockdown’ will be enforced in Nagpur from March 15 to 21 in view of spike in COVID-19 cases here. 

    On October 7 2020, the state had reported 14,578 cases after which the number of daily cases had declined. However, since February 14 new cases have surged.

    Nagpur city recorded the highest 1,701 new cases, followed by 1,514 cases in Pune and 1,509 in Mumbai city.

    Mumbai division reported 2,856 new cases and 11 deaths, taking the cumulative caseload to 7,49,849 and death toll to 19,921.

    Nashik division’s case tally stood at 3,09,421 and death toll at 5,340.

    Kolhapur division has reported 1,20,744 cases and 4,082 deaths till now, while Aurangabad division’s case tally stood at 87,369 and death count at 2,081.

    With 97,778 tests carried out on Thursday, the state has so far tested 1,72,13,312 samples for coronavirus.

    There are 4,80,083 people in home quarantine while 4,719 are in institutional quarantine. 

    (With agencies inputs)