Maharashtra state & Mumbai city yesterday registered their highest single day surge in Covid cases. The state reported 23,816 fresh cases, while Mumbai reported 2,227 cases, taking total cases to 9.6 lakh and 1.6 lakh respectively. The total death in Maharashtra state stands at 27,787 and in Mumbai city at 7,985. Looks like it is the aftermath effect of Inter district free travel during the just concluded Ganpati festival. The big irony is that state govt and BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) instead of spending time on how to contain this pandemic, they are engaging in the war of words with Kangana Ranaut, and BMC has gone ahead and demolished her office, when there was HC’s standing order that no demolition till 3oth Sep 2020. Bombay High Court yesterday hammered BMC and ordered BMC to stop demolition, but till the order was received almost 80% demolition was carried out.
In another development, which was also a setback for Maharashtra govt, yesterday Supreme Court (SC) stays quota for Marathas, says constitution bench will decide on this. The state govt had framed the law on 30th Nov 2018, with backing of all the major parties, granting 16% quota to Maratha community in govt jobs and educational institutions. While upholding the law Bombay High Court (HC) on 27th June last year directed that govt to bring it down to 12% for education and 13% for govt jobs, as per recommendation of state appointed backward class commission headed by former HC judge. Still with these changes the total reservation quota was exceeding the max limit of 50%, which limit is as per constitution. The petitioners in SC had pointed out that Maharashtra govt is not serious in implementing this quota as directed by HC. But contrary to expectations SC put interim stay on it. The SC made it clear that those who have availed of the benefit of the reservation, including admissions for medical colleges, will not be affected. Now leaders of Maratha community, across all the political parties, in their statements have blamed the present MVA govt, are alleging that the govt is not serious about keeping Maratha reservations intact, as govt did not represented govt’s views properly in the SC. So till the constitution bench decides on this matter, the stay on Maratha reservations will continue.
Friends, have you ever heard of Milk being sold at Rs 7000 per litre !!!! There is Gujarat’s breed of one donkey which fetches the world’s costliest price for the milk. Now this is worth braying about. Thanks to Halari breed of donkey, which is found in Saurashtra region of Gujarat, the state aims to add it to its list of milch animals. Harari donkeys look almost like a small horse and have snow white fur. Now the National Research Centre on Equines has embarked upon an innovative project to start a donkey milk dairy in Haryana’s Hissar district. For this project donkeys are currently undergoing breeding at Hissar. Two years back National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources had granted independent breed status to Halari donkey. It has been said in ancient Egypt history, Cleopatra is said to have taken baths in donkey milk to preserve her legendary beauty and youth. Donkey milk is known to contain anti ageing, antioxidant and regenerating compounds, donkey milk is indeed precious.
Friends, do you remember famous Sahara v/s SEBI case, which went to SC. SEBI’s main contention was that Sahara was running para banking operations, contrary to the amended law, and asked Sahara to return money to the investors. Sahara said that we have returned the money to almost 95% of the investors but SEBI did not agree, and asked Sahara to give the list of investors with name and their addresses. On the other hand SC court gave the ruling that Sahara group must deposit the money with interest with SEBI and SEBI will return the money to investors. As per the details released by Sahara in their press ad, till date approximately they have deposited Rs 22,000 Cr including interest in Sahara SEBI account. During the tenure of the case 3 Sahara directors including their Chairman Subroto Roy spent almost 3 years in jail. Now as claimed by Sahara, despite giving four rounds of advertisement in 154 newspaper across the country, SEBI has repaid only Rs 106.1 Cr to the esteem investors. In the last ad that was published around a year ago, SEBI made it clear that it would not entertain any further claim thereafter. It means there is no claimant left. It only means that , there are no claimant left, as Sahara group had already paid their investors. Now as per the SC, this amount roughly 22,000 Cr will eventually has to come back to Sahara after verification.
I fail to understand what was SEBI’s intention in this case, and for their action Sahara group , their directors, employees had to go through such a hardship. What about their loss of face due to jail term, and loss of company’s image and brand value. About a decade back Sahara was among the top 5 brands in the Indian market. I do not know whether anyone in SEBI will be accountable in this episode.
Awaiting your views/comments/feed backs.
Anil Malik
Mumbai, India
10th September 2020.
R. N. Mungale.
Mumbai & Maharashtra pandemic is there to stay for a long time.
MVA govt. didn’t argue their case properly.
It is a fantastic price for donkey milk!
Sahara was really a great Brand in the past.