MUMBAI:  A tug-of-war continues between Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena and deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar-led NCP over allocations of key portfolios such as finance, urban development department, cooperation, irrigation and agriculture. Both sides have decided to meet Union Home Minister Amit Shah to resolve the issue.

Sources said Shinde has refused to concede the key portfolios to NCP ministers, including Ajit Pawar, arguing that it will reduce his importance in the government.

“Shinde has conveyed to the BJP leadership that unless Shiv Sena MLAs are sworn in, he will not allocate the portfolios to the NCP ministers. Shinde fears that after the allocation of portfolios to the NCP ministers, the BJP may not allow him further cabinet expansion. Shinde plans to meet top BJP leaders in Delhi,” said a source.i

Another senior minister said the BJP has conveyed it will be reluctant to induct Shiv Sena MLA Bharat Gogawale and Sanjay Shirsat into the cabinet.

“Shinde told the BJP leadership that if these two faces — Gogawale and Shirsat ­- are not inducted, then he will have a tough time keeping the flock together.  Most of the Shiv Sena MLAs of Shinde factions already started extending olive branches to Uddhav Thackeray and opening the communications line. If a significant number of Shiv Sena MLAs join Uddhav Thackeray, then Shinde’s CM chair will be in trouble and his party will also face another split. This can damage the BJP. Therefore BJP needs to stand by him,” said a Shiv Sena minister.

Meanwhile, Sunil Tatkare, the state NCP chief (Ajit Pawar faction) said that there is no dispute over allocations of ministries.  

BENGALURU: Former UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi is expected to attend the all-opposition parties’ meeting scheduled in Bengaluru on July 17 and 18, said Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar here on Monday.

Interestingly, Congress is planning a massive silent protest on July 12 against Rahul Gandhi’s disqualification as Lok Sabha member, terming it a ‘BJP conspiracy’. Political analysts wondered if Rahul’s removal would be included as an agenda in the opposition parties’ meeting.

Shivakumar said, “We unitedly condemn the conspiracy to try to harm him politically. Opposition parties should send out a message that they and the entire country is behind Rahul.’’

He said Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, cabinet ministers, party national general secretary Randeep Singh Surjewala, MPs, MLAs, Congress workers and supporters will hold the day-long protest at Freedom Park from 10 am on Wednesday. “AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge has given the call for the protest at all major centres across the country. I appeal to all party workers in the state to take part in this protest,’’ he added.

“BJP is jealous and unable to bear the sight of love and affection showered on Rahul during the Bharat Jodo Yatra. He was disqualified virtually overnight. Let us not forget that the party won all the seats along the route that he took during the yatra in the state,’’ he said.

“As the first yatra was such a success, Rahul’s political advisors have told him to take another yatra from east to west. In the meantime, BJP has hatched this cruel conspiracy as they are unable to tolerate his success and popularity,” he said.

On scrapping Muslim reservations, he said, “We will discuss the matter at length. I will come back with the government’s response after getting complete information.”

On most states not interested in buying rice from the Food Corporation of India (FCI), he said, “We want to buy rice from FCI and we are not asking it for free.”

Asked about his visit to Indira Canteen on Sunday, he said, “I urge all MLAs to visit Indira Canteens at least once a week and see how they are functioning.’’ On the murder of Jain seer Acharya Kamakumar Nandi Maharaj, he said, “Home Minister Dr G Parameshwara will respond to this because the police are investigating the matter.”

NEW DELHI: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday said water supply may be affected in parts of the city with the shutting down of treatment plants at Wazirabad, Chandrawal and Okhla following rising levels of the Yamuna.

Thursday morning, inundating nearby streets and public and private infrastructure, and causing immense hardships to people living in close proximity to the river.

It is expected to rise further, according to the Central Water Commission, which has termed it an “extreme situation”.

“The water treatment plants at Wazirabad, Chandrawal and Okhla are being shut due to the rising Yamuna water level. Due to this, there will be a problem with water supply in some areas. These plants will start functioning as soon as the Yamuna water recedes,” he tweeted in Hindi.

BHOPAL: A day after male cheetah Tejas died in Madhya Pradesh’s Kuno National Park (KNP), the post-mortem report revealed that the feline was “internally weak” and was unable to recover from a “traumatic shock” after a violent fight with a female cheetah, a forest official said on Wednesday.

Tejas, who was treated the KNP, was brought from South Africa in February this year and was about five-and-a-half years old.

The cheetah died in the park on Tuesday, the official said.

The cheetah weighed around 43 kilograms, which is less than the weight of normal male cheetahs and his internal body parts were not functioning properly.

The chances of his turning healthy in such a situation were quite less, the report said.

Possibly because of being internally weak, Tejas was unable to recover from the trauma after the violent clash with a female cheetah, it said.

“Prima facie, the cause of the death is traumatic shock,” the report said, adding the samples of Tejas’s internal body parts were sent to the Jabalpur-based School of Wildlife Forensic and Health for further examination.

The death of Tejas is yet another blow to the central government’s cheetah reintroduction programme launched with much fanfare in September last year.

BENGALURU: Police arrested three persons, including the main accused, Felix alias Joker Felix, at Kunigal in Tumakuru district on Wednesday in connection with the murder of the MD and CEO of a company providing internet services in the city on Tuesday.

While P Shabarish alias Felix alias Joker Felix (27) hails from Devarachikkanahalli on Bannerghatta Road, the other accused have been identified as V Vinay Reddy (23) of Roopena Agrahara and S Santosh alias Santhu (26) of Marenahalli.

Meanwhile, the investigation of the case has taken several twists and turns with the accused giving conflicting statements during their interrogation. Initially, it was suspected that business rivalry between the victims and Felix was the reason for the double-murder. The police are probing the involvement of the owner of another company providing broadband and ISP services on Bannerghatta Road where the two victims and Felix were working.

The latest twist to the case is the fight over a woman colleague between one of the victims and Felix. The woman working with the firm on Bannerghatta Road is said to be close to Felix. Subramanyam, one of the victims, who was working at the firm on Bannerghatta Road, was getting closer to the woman after divorcing his wife.

It is also alleged that he had fired Felix in order to keep him away from her. Meanwhile, the police picked up the owner of the firm on Bannerghatta Road on Wednesday for interrogation. After the double-murder, Felix made several calls to him. He was picked up from Kempegowda International Airport.

Cops probing biz rivalry angle

Subramanyam and Vinu Kumar, the victims, were earlier working with the firm on Bannerghatta Road. They later quit the firm and opened Aironics Media Private Limited at Amruthahalli. Police are investigating if there was any business rivalry between the owner of the firm on Bannerghatta Road and the two victims. During the investigation, it was learnt that Subramanyam used to force the former woman colleague to join his firm, which angered Felix.

“The police are investigating if the broadband firm’s owner has any role in the case. However, he has not been arrested. As of now, three persons have been arrested. We are probing all angles. The fight between one of the victims and the main accused over the woman is also being investigated. It is too early to come to any conclusion,” Raman Gupta, Additional Commissioner of Police (East), told The New Indian Express.

Bengaluru: Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar recently shared a news report on Twitter, shedding light on the allegations made against Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, the President of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI). The chargesheet filed by the Delhi Police states that Singh is “liable to be prosecuted and punished for offences of sexual harassment, molestation, and stalking.” Shivakumar expressed his satisfaction that the truth has been revealed for all to witness.

The chargesheet pertains to six wrestlers who have accused Singh of 15 incidents of sexual harassment, including inappropriate touching and stalking. Furthermore, 15 witnesses have corroborated the allegations. Shivakumar emphasized the significant sacrifices made by the wrestlers to have their voices heard, describing the backlash they faced as “unbelievably ridiculous.” The wrestlers endured mockery, vilification, and online trolling while bravely speaking out against the grave injustice they experienced.

These athletes also organized protests on multiple occasions. In May, prominent wrestlers such as Sakshi Malik, Bajrang Punia, and Vinesh Phogat were even detained by the Delhi Police when they attempted to march towards the new Parliament building. Subsequently, FIRs were filed against them.

Shivakumar posed pertinent questions, raising concerns about whether the top sports administrator will finally be held accountable for his actions. Additionally, he questioned whether the ruling party in the country will take concrete actions that align with their “Beti Bachao” (Save the Daughter) campaign.

Taking to Twitter, Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar stated, “The price paid by our wrestlers just to get their voice heard is unbelievably ridiculous. They were mocked, vilified, trolled for calling out the injustice done to them. Today, when the truth has come out for all to see, with the wrestlers vindicated, will the culprit finally be taken to task? Will the ruling regime finally walk the talk on ‘Beti Bachao’?”