Flooded Nepal, safe return: Marathi connect powers pilgrims’ safe return Nagpur: A coordinated rescue operation involving Marathi-speaking political and administrative contacts across multiple states and international borders successfully brought home 104 pilgrims stranded in flood-ravaged Nepal. The effort began after a distress call from Kathmandu reached Nagpur MLA Pravin Datke, who promptly escalated the matter to Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and his office. This triggered a multi-state, cross-border initiative that relied heavily on the shared linguistic and cultural ties of Marathi-speaking individuals to bridge communication gaps and ensure seamless coordination. The operation unfolded rapidly. Datke, speaking to The Times of India, explained that once the chief minister’s office (CMO) received the call, it contacted Nepal MP Sandeep Rana. Manoj Munde, associated with the CM’s office at Maharashtra Sadan in New Delhi, played a key role in initial coordination. Within minutes, contacts were established in Nepal, and arrangements were made for the pilgrims’ safe movement. The Marathi connection proved critical at every stage, from the initial outreach to the final return to Nagpur. In Nepal, the rescue effort was further facilitated by a Marathi-speaking aide of Sandeep Rana, who eased communication and coordination. Former Nagpur mayor and BJP city chief Dayashankar Tiwari highlighted the significance of this linguistic link, noting that it allowed for efficient problem-solving and decision-making. The pilgrims, after being stranded due to flood damage to key roads and disrupted travel routes, were eventually moved through Bihar, where another key Marathi connection emerged.#devendra_fadnavis #dayashankar_tiwari #pravin_datke #sandeep_rana #manoj_munde
After surviving floods & court cases, Swami Vivekananda Memorial fall prey to NMC neglect The iconic Swami Vivekananda Memorial at Ambazari overflow point, once celebrated as Nagpur's top landmark, stands neglected today. Despite surviving the devastating floods of September 23, 2023, and enduring legal scrutiny in the form of a high court case, the memorial has fallen into disrepair due to poor maintenance and inadequate upkeep. Residents and visitors have expressed concern over its deteriorating condition, which was developed at a cost of over Rs4 crore. The memorial, a towering bronze statue of Swami Vivekananda crafted by renowned sculptor Ram Sutar and his son Anil, was inaugurated in September 2016. The statue, mounted on a 30-foot pedestal, reaches a height of 51 feet above ground level and weighs nearly four tonnes, featuring a stainless-steel internal framework. It was proposed in 2012-13 by then-committee chairman and former mayor Dayashankar Tiwari, who expressed disappointment over its current state. Tiwari urged the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) to take immediate restoration steps, stating, "The memorial is one of Nagpur's most recognised landmarks. It is unfortunate to see it in such a condition." A visit to the site revealed broken stone railings, littered pathways, cracked tiles, and decaying infrastructure. Shockingly, empty beer bottles were also found strewn around the structure. While instances of vandalism and irresponsible behavior by visitors have contributed to the deterioration, residents claim the NMC has failed to provide proper maintenance. NMC commissioner Vipin Itankar assured that restoration work will begin soon, stating, "We are building a dam wall at the spot. The necessary repairs and maintenance work are part of the project.#dayashankar_tiwari #nagpur_municipal_corporation #neeta_thakre #swami_vivekananda_memorial #ram_sutar
WB Result Echoes In Nagpur: Bengalis Praise Verdict, BJP Celebrates Big Win Over 1,100 kilometers away from Kolkata, the impact of West Bengal's election results resonated strongly in Nagpur, where the Bengali diaspora celebrated the BJP's landslide victory. The party marked the win with a grand "Vijay Utsav" at its Vidarbha regional office in Dhantoli, led by city president Dayashankar Tiwari. The event featured drum beats, firecrackers, and the distribution of Bengal's iconic snack "jhalmuri," symbolizing the BJP's success in the state. Local BJP leaders, including Mayor Neeta Thakre, MLAs Pravin Datke and Krishna Khopde, joined the celebration, chanting slogans like "Bharat Mata Ki Jai" and "Vande Mataram." The victory sparked mixed reactions among Bengalis in Nagpur. Retired railway officer Pradeep Mukherjee, originally from Shibpur in Howrah, called the outcome a "collective awakening," linking it to years of economic stagnation. He emphasized that the result represented a shift toward survival and dignity, stating, "If industries revive, people will return. Jobs will follow." Similarly, Jayanti Chakravorty from Manish Nagar highlighted the need for safety and social stability, noting that many had lost faith in law and order. She pointed to the migration of youth from West Bengal in search of better opportunities. However, optimism was tempered with caution. Bomkeysh Biswas, a West Bengal native in Nagpur, attributed the verdict to "overconfidence and misgovernance of TMC" but stressed that development should not come at the cost of cultural identity. "I will never compromise with Bengal's thousand-year-old heritage—language, literature, music, and festivals," he said, adding emotionally, "Aamar Sonar Bangla, aami tomay bhalobashi (My Golden Bengal, I love you).#west_bengal #bjp #dayashankar_tiwari #neeta_thakre #pravin_datke
BJP Grapples With Crowded Field For Maha Council Seats As elections for nine seats in the Maharashtra Legislative Council approach, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is facing significant internal challenges in selecting candidates for the limited number of nominations. The party’s leadership is navigating a competitive landscape where multiple leaders from Nagpur and across the state are vying for a finite number of seats, creating tension within the organization. The BJP’s office-bearers have forwarded four names from Nagpur—Dayashankar Tiwari, Upendra Kothekar, Sanjay Bhende, and sitting MLC Sandip Joshi—for consideration in the party’s allocation of five seats based on its strength of 132 legislators. Joshi, who was appointed to the Council after Pravin Datke transitioned to the Assembly, has served only slightly over a year and is now being considered for renomination. However, nine MLCs, including Joshi, Ranjitsinh Mohite-Patil, Dadarao Keche, and Sanjay Kenekar, are set to retire on May 13, creating vacancies that have intensified the party’s internal deliberations. The leadership now faces a critical decision: retain experienced incumbents or introduce new faces to the Council. This choice is expected to shape the party’s internal dynamics and influence its strategy for balancing seasoned leadership with emerging talent. Beyond Nagpur, leaders such as Keshav Upadhye, Madhavi Naik, Ranjitsinh Nimbalkar, and Ram Satpute are also competing for seats within the BJP’s quota, further complicating the selection process. Party insiders suggest that the BJP, leveraging its current strength in the Assembly, is positioned to secure up to five seats. However, the number of aspirants has surged, particularly among leaders who were not included in recent Rajya Sabha nominations.#bjp #dayashankar_tiwari #maharashtra_legislative_council #upendra_kothekar #sanjay_bhende
Parshuram Jayanti Rally Draws Large Crowd in Nagpur Nagpur: The All India Brahmin Federation organized a scooter rally on Parshuram Jayanti, which coincided with Akshaya Tritiya on Sunday, across central and south Nagpur. The event, marked by a blend of religious devotion and cultural celebration, attracted hundreds of participants and spectators. The rally commenced after prayers led by MLA Pravin Datke at the Agyaram Devi temple, where an idol of Lord Parshuram was placed on a decorated chariot, becoming the focal point of the procession. As the rally progressed, devotees and citizens gathered at key junctions along the route to offer flowers and welcome the participants. The procession was accompanied by rhythmic drum beats, chants of "Jai Parshuram," and traditional performances that highlighted the region’s cultural heritage. The event maintained a steady momentum throughout, reflecting the community’s enthusiasm for preserving religious and cultural traditions. The rally concluded at Trikoni Maidan in Hanuman Nagar with a series of prayers. BJP Nagpur city president Dayashankar Tiwari addressed the gathering, emphasizing the importance of safeguarding cultural practices and fostering social unity. He highlighted the role of such events in strengthening communal bonds and promoting collective identity. Organizers Parag Joshi and Tushar Piddi stated that the rally aimed to deepen community engagement and raise awareness about the significance of Parshuram Jayanti. They noted that the event served as a platform to celebrate the deity’s legacy while encouraging participation from diverse segments of society. The gathering underscored the enduring relevance of religious festivals in uniting people and preserving cultural heritage in modern times.#dayashankar_tiwari #pravin_datke #all_india_brahmin_federation #agyaram_devi_temple #trikoni_maidan
Gandhibagh Zone Inaction Slows Fire Response in Nagpur A critical administrative failure has emerged in Nagpur’s municipal operations after the fire department highlighted severe access issues at a temporarily relocated fire station, raising alarms about emergency preparedness in a densely populated commercial area. The Ganjipeth Fire Station, which was moved to a vacant municipal school building near Model Mill Chowk in the Gadikhana area, faces operational challenges due to restrictive entry conditions. In a March 11 letter, station officer S Sayyed informed the assistant municipal commissioner that the main gate of the premises is too narrow for fire engines to navigate, forcing three firefighting vehicles to remain parked outside the compound. This has compromised the station’s ability to respond swiftly to emergencies. Despite repeated requests from the fire department to widen the gate and remove a road divider blocking access, the Gandhibagh zone office has taken no action. The urgency of the situation became evident on Sunday when a fire broke out at a two-storey building in the Handloom Market complex within the Gandhibagh area. The blaze, which started around 1pm, destroyed the office of advocate Shrichand Kundwani, damaging computers and furniture. While residents and traders managed to prevent the fire from spreading, the response required coordination from multiple stations. Station officer Sayyed and his team arrived at the scene, but additional fire tenders had to be dispatched from the Cotton Market and Civil Lines stations due to local congestion. Local leaders, including corporator Sanjay Balpande and BJP city president Dayashankar Tiwari, visited the site to assess the damage.#shrichand_kundwani #sanjay_balpande #dayashankar_tiwari #gandhibagh_zone #ganjipeth_fire_station
Lawyer’s Office Damaged in Gandhibagh Building Fire A fire broke out on Sunday afternoon in a two-storey handloom market building in Gandhibagh, Nagpur, reducing the furniture and a computer in the office of lawyer Shrichand Kundwani to ashes. The incident occurred around 1pm, and no one was present in the office at the time. Firefighters from the Ganjipeth fire brigade, led by officer Syed Shaukat Ali, arrived at the scene after receiving an alert. Additional fire engines were dispatched from Cotton Market and Civil Lines to assist with the extinguishing efforts. Local corporator Sanjay Balpande and BJP city president Dayashankar Tiwari visited the location to assess the damage. A police report was filed at the Tehsil police station. The exact cause of the fire remains under investigation. The Ganjipeth fire station has temporarily relocated to a closed NMC school building at Model Mills Chowk due to its narrow entrance, which has raised concerns about the difficulty of accessing crowded market areas during emergencies. Officials have acknowledged the challenge this poses for emergency response teams. The incident highlights the vulnerability of commercial spaces in densely populated areas, where fire safety measures and accessibility for emergency services are critical. While the lawyer’s office was the sole location affected, the broader implications of the fire underscore the need for improved infrastructure and preparedness in such environments. Authorities are expected to review the situation and consider long-term solutions to prevent similar incidents in the future.#shrichand_kundwani #syed_shaukat_ali #sanjay_balpande #dayashankar_tiwari #ganjipeth_fire_brigade
