1. Farmers to March From Nashik to Mumbai Again
As meeting with CM fails, Kisan Sabha says this time the number of protesters will be double.
All Indian Kisan Sabha (AIKS) members met Devendra Fadnavis at Sahyadri on Sunday, but despite the chief minister’s assurances they later confirmed that a second long march from Nashik to Mumbai would go ahead as planned.
The week-long march will leave Nashik on February 20; the state legislative session will start on February 25. The farmers’ demands include immediate drought relief, loan waiver, MSP at one-and-a-half the full cost of production, a profarmer insurance scheme and increased pensions.
Source: Mumbai Mirror
2. Killer Dumped Gun in Vasai, Karnataka Sit Tells Court
The 7.65 mm firearm that was used to kill journalist Gauri Lankesh was allegedly dismantled and dumped in the Vasai creek by Sharad Kalaskar, who was named in the supplementary chargesheet filed by the CBI last week as one of the alleged shooters of rationalist Narendra Dabholkar in 2013.
Lankesh was shot three times outside her residence at Rajarajeshwari Nagar in Bengaluru on September 5, 2017.According to probe documents submitted by the Karnataka Special Investigation Team (SIT) in a Bengaluru court in November 2018, it took Kalaskar into custody following his arrest by the CBI two months earlier for his alleged role in the Dabholkar case. The documents have been accessed by Mirror.
According to the SIT, Kalaskar showed its officers on October 6, 2018, the spot in the Vasai creek off the Mumbai-Nashik highway where he allegedly dismantled the weapon used in killing Lankesh, before flinging it into the estuary, in an attempt to destroy the evidence.
Source: Mumbai Mirror
3. UAE Firm With Funds From Royal Family Take up Dharavi Revamp Project
The ambitious Dharavi Revamp project, envisaged 15 years ago and which aims to turn India’s largest slum into a plush township, will now be redeveloped by Seclink Technology Corporation (STC) and be funded by the Royal family of the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
The STC is a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV), which will get ₹28,500 crore in funds to revamp 600 acres. There are indications that the bhoomipujan of this project will take place by next month if everything proceeds according to plan.
The Seclink Group was founded in 2017 and is based in UAE. The Dharavi revamp is one of the biggest urban renewal projects being executed by STC.
Source: Hindustan Times
4. Cong, NCP to Kick-Start Campaign From Nanded
Alliance likely to declare Chavan’s wife as LS candidate from seat.
Inching a step closer towards finalising the alliance for Lok Sabha elections, Congress and NCP will conduct their first joint rally on February 20 at Nanded, the home turf of former Chief Minister Ashok Chavan. NCP chief Sharad Pawar and senior Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge will be the key speakers at the rally to kick-start the election campaign. Chavan’s wife, Amita, is expected to contest the Lok Sabha polls this time in his place.
The Congress-NCP is yet to declare the formal alliance for the Lok Sabha polls, the talks are almost complete. According to the leaders from both the sides, the discussions have been smoother this time. Only, the seats allocation for the smaller alliance partners such as Prakash Ambedkar-led Bharip Bahujan Mahasangh, Raju Shetti’s Swabhiman Shetkari Sanghatana, Gavai and Kavade factions of RPI have to be worked out.
Source: Mumbai Mirror
5. Girgaum Chowpatty Set to Become Mumbai’s First ‘Clean Street Hub’
Girgaum Chowpatty is set to undergo a major revamp. Come February 28, the beach will be declared Mumbai's first Clean Street Hub by the Food Safety Standards of India (FSSI) and the Food & Drugs Administration (FDA).
Its famous bhelwallahs will sport uniforms with logos of their individual brands, and swachhta ambassadors will pick up litter, educating citizens about public hygiene. The beach will also transform into an interactive space, with live perfomances by street artistes.
"We received FDA and FSSI guidelines from Delhi under the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan on maintaining hygiene at Bhel Plaza. We had audited the stalls in December and completed their training in January," said Vishwas Mote, assistant commissioner, D Ward.
Source: Mumbai Mirror
