Thane: Thane police have registered offences against 16 people, including a local MNS leader for allegedly abducting, beating and threatening two persons.

The victims – Jayesh Gavari and Kiran Kadam – were allegedly kidnapped by the accused, who had a dispute with them, last night near the Tekdi bungalow area.

The two men were forcefully taken on a two-wheeler to a place in Chandawadi locality where MNS city unit chief Avinash Jadhav and others allegedly threatened the duo and beat them up with iron rods and other weapons, Naupada police station sub-inspector NG Shishupal said.

The attackers also snatched a gold chain from one of the victims, he said quoting the complaint filed by the two men.

Offences have been registered against the accused under sections 397 (robbery, or dacoity, with an attempt to cause death or grievous hurt), 326 (voluntarily causing grievous hurt by dangerous weapons or means), 363 (kidnapping), 323, 504, 506(2) (criminal intimidation) of the IPC and section 25 (C) of the Arms Act, the SI said.

No arrest had been made so far in this connection, police added.

Jammu: PDP patron Mufti Mohammad Sayeed will be the Jammu and Kashmir chief minister after his party reached an agreement for forming a government with the BJP, top party sources said on Saturday.

Sources close to PDP patron Mufti Muhammad Sayeed, who returned to winter capital Jammu Friday after spending a week in Mumbai, told IANS an agreement had been reached on all contentious issues between the PDP and the BJP.

“Yes, main agreement has been reached on the draft of the CMP (common minimum programme) on contentious issues like article 370, armed forces special powers act (AFSPA) and the plight of West Pakistan refugees.

“It has been agreed that without any written reference to it, both the parties would respect the wishes of the people of the state in consonance with the constitution of the country with regard to article 370,” a top party source told IANS.

As per the agreement, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed will be the chief minister for the full six years.

The PDP insider who is engaged with the BJP in the dialogue process on government formation on behalf of his party also said instead of accepting the demand that the AFSPA should be revoked from the entire state within one year, it has now been agreed by the two parties that a committee would be formed which would recommend gradual, but timely, revocation of the act from areas in the state.

Sources in the BJP said: “The PDP has agreed to the BJP demand that the CMP should accept that the problems faced by West Pakistan refugees should not be politicized, but treated as a humanitarian issue that needs to be addressed on humanitarian grounds.”

When asked to comment on media reports that government formation in the state was imminent because the PDP and the BJP had agreed on the draft of the common minimum programme (CMP) for governance, party chief spokesman Naeem Akhtar told IANS in winter capital Jammu: “I am meeting Mufti Sahib today and if anything has been worked out, we will hold a briefing about it during the day.”

Unlike his steady dismissal of any agreement with the BJP during the last nearly two months when he maintained the “structured dialogue between the BJP and the PDP had not even started”, Akhtar sounded less circumspect Saturday about his lack of knowledge regarding an agreement on the common minimum programme with the BJP.

West Pakistan refugees are those over 25,000 families who came to the state after the India-Pakistan wars of 1947, 1965 and 1971.

Since these people were not citizens of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir as it existed before accession to India in 1947, they cannot vote in the state assembly elections, nor buy property in the state.

These refugees cannot apply for government jobs since all the state government jobs in Jammu and Kashmir are reserved for permanent residents of the state.

As an anomaly, the West Pakistan refugees can vote in the parliament elections, but not in the state assembly elections since the state has a constitution of its own in addition to the country’s constitution and both apply concomitantly to the state.

With regard to the PDP demand on return of NHPC owned hydro-electric power projects in the state to state ownership, the sources said it had been agreed that the two would work together for central assistance for state ownership of these projects.

“The nuts and bolts job has been completed. All that now remains is an announcement on the agreement between the two which could be made within the next two to three days,” said sources.

The sources added that Mufti Mohammaad Sayeed would formally call on Prime Minister Narendra Modi after the PDP and the BJP announce having formalized the draft of the CMP.

Patna: Bihar Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi on Friday resigned ahead of trust vote in Assembly. Here are the live updates from Bihar:

4:45 pm: Nitish Kumar arrives at Raj Bhavan to meet Bihar governor Keshari Nath Tripathi.

3:06 pm: The entire incident has exposed Nitish Kumar. First he made Manjhi CM; now after eight months, he himself wants to become CM again – Sushil Modi

3:05 pm: BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi is addressing a press conference.

2:08 pm: I had said I have chosen a senior colleague. Other people interpreted that I was making a ‘Mahadalit’ man CM, says Nitish in response to a question

2:05 pm: We have already staked claim to form government, Nitish in response to question on staking claim

2:02 pm: It is upon him to make his decision now, about what he wants to do – Nitish Kumar on Manjhi

2:00 pm: I want to thank all the parties who supported us amid all this, including Mamata Banerjee, Shiv Sena and BSP – Nitish

1:58 pm: I appeal to people of Bihar, don’t get misled by BJP, they are power hungry – Nitish

1:55 pm: BJP used to play religion card earlier, now they are playing caste card – Nitish

1:55 pm: A person who sits on a constitutional post isn’t identified by his caste – Nitish

1:53 pm: Mahadalit term coined by me only, BJP today trying to play caste card – Nitish

1:52 pm: I again admit I committed a mistake by resigning as CM. I seek forgiveness from the people of Bihar. I assure of good governance if I become CM again – Nitish

1:52 pm: If we get another chance to govern, we will work in the same manner and with the same pace with which worked for over eight years. We will provide governance – Nitish

1:51 pm: We had staked claim to form government earlier – Nitish

1:51 pm: I am ready to take up responsibility, awaiting Governor’s decision – Nitish

1:50 pm: Today, they (BJP) have failed despite everything – Nitish

1:48 pm: I admitted it was a mistake to resign as CM in the wake of Lok Sabha poll loss – Nitish

1:47 pm: We and allies had advised Manjhi several times not to work according to BJP’s game plan but he never listened – Nitish

1:47 pm: I have never interfered in Manjhi’s working – Nitish

1:46 pm: Entire script of the drama written by BJP, says Nitish

1:44 pm: Every effort made to split JD(U). BJP leader Nand Kishore Yadav even said it was Manjhi’s job to secure majority through ‘jugaad’ – Nitish

1:43 pm: Manjhi should have acted gracefully, should have resigned earlier if he didn’t have majority, should have also respected party decision – Nitish

1:42 pm: What has been claimed by Manjhi at press conference today are laughable – Nitish

1:41 pm: The drama continued till last night. BJP fully involved in it – Nitish

1:39 pm: First of its kind event happened in India’s parliamentary democracy that CM called the session but resigned ahead of Governor’s address to the joint session of the Assembly.

1:37 pm: JD(U) leader Nitish Kumar is addressing a press conference.

12:00 noon: I have a long list of scams, would have exposed them had I got more time – Manjhi

11:55 am: I was surprised by Lalu Prasad’s silence – Manjhi

11:54 am: Manjhi alleges widespread corruption in Bihar in awarding and implementing government projects.

11:50 am: I was asked by Sharad Yadav to step down without being told the reason – Manjhi

11:48 am: Meanwhile, Bihar Assembly has been adjourned sine die.

11:47 am: Allegations were levelled against me – Manjhi

11:47 am: Nitish ji acted like ‘Bhishma Pitamah’, did not utter a word when I was not allowed to do any work – Manjhi

11:46 am: I was forced to work in a certain manner at the start of my tenure as CM. I was asked to sign on certain files – Manjhi

11:45 am: I come from a dalit background. I don’t have big ambitions.

11:43 am: I still have majority, support of over 140 MLAs – Manjhi

11:42 am: Keeping all this in mind, I handed over my resignation to Governor at around 10:30 am.

11:42 am: Some of the JD(U) MLAs were planning to resort to violence in Assembly during trust vote – Manjhi

11:41 am: We had asked the Governor to hold secret ballot during trust vote but he expressed his inability to do so. If secret voting was not held, our MLAs, including me, would have faced death threat and even revocation of their Assembly membership – Manjhi

11:40 am: Some of our MLAs got threatening SMSes not to vote in my favour. We were also doubtful of Speaker’s actions.

11:39 am: We could also not find the name of BJP leader Nand Kishore Yadav as leader of opposition in the sitting arrangement. The Speaker had also recognised a different party as main opposition. Further, we found names of some of our supporting legislators missing from sitting arangement – Manjhi

11:38 am: When we got the Assembly proceedings order sheet in the morning, we found long-held traditions were not being followed in it – Manjhi

11:35 am: Jitan Ram Manjhi is now addressing a press conference at his residence.

11:31 am: Senior JD(U) leader KC Tyagi says “we have been saying from day one that we have majority. Manjhi ji resigned due to lack of numbers.

“We are hopeful that the Governor will invite Nitish ji to stake claim to form government,” he adds.

11:30 am: BJP MLAs hold protest outside Bihar Assembly over Jitan Ram Manjhi’s resignation.

11:25 am: RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav says Manjhi should have quit earlier. “He should have resigned earlier; by getting involved with the BJP he has ruined his future,” says Lalu.

“Acha hua, swagat hai, ab mil kar kaam karein, BJP mein na jayein (Whatever happened is good, it is welcome. Now, let’s work together; don’t join BJP),” Lalu adds.

11:00 am: BJP leader Shahnawaz Hussain says the BJP stood by the Bihar CM. “We stood by a Mahadalit, we did not ditch him. The BJP has always been on the side of the truth,” Hussain told reporters.

10:55 am: JD(U) leader Nitish Kumar says their stand has been vindicated that things should become clear before the commencement of Assembly’s Budget Session.

“I will give my reaction after the situation becomes clear. We have not got any formal communication (on Manjhi’s resignation). This has happened suddenly when Governor and others have arrived for the Governor’s address,” Nitish tells reporters outside Assembly.

“BJP’s game plan has been exposed,” he adds.

10:45 am: As per reports, Manjhi has recommended to the state Governor that the Assembly be dissolved and fresh polls conducted in the state.

10:40 am: Reports say Manjhi will address a press conference at 11:30 am.

10:35 am: In a sudden development, Bihar Chief Minister Jitan Ram Majhi has resigned ahead of trust vote in Assembly.

10:30 am: Ahead of the trust vote later today, CM Manjhi has just met state Governor KN Tripathi.

10:25 am: JD(U), RJD, Congress, CPI legislators and one Independent MLA supporting Nitish Kumar will boycott Governor’s inaugural speech in the Assembly, says JD(U) chief whip Sharawan Kumar. He adds that these MLAs will enter the Assembly during the trust vote.

10:00 am: The Bihar Assembly session will start today at 11:00 am with Governor’s address to the joint session. Manjhi will table the proposal to hold trust vote at 12 noon and voting is expected to be held on the same at 2:30 pm.

09:45 am: BJP has issued a whip to its Bihar MLAs asking them to vote for Manjhi during the trust vote.

09:30 am: D-day has arrived for Bihar Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi. He, Friday, faces a trust vote on the floor of the Bihar Legislative Assembly to prove majority of his government.

In a good news for the embattled CM, BJP yesterday announced that it will support the ‘Mahadalit’ CM during the floor test.

“After a long meeting of the BJP legislators, the party has decided to support Manjhi during his confidence vote in the Assembly,” said BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi.

The BJP’s offer of support came on a day when Bihar Speaker Uday Narain Choudhary notified JD-U leader Vijay Kumar Chaudhary as the leader of opposition, replacing Nand Kishore Yadav of the BJP.

The Speaker also accepted former chief minister Nitish Kumar’s demand that Janata Dal (United) (JD-U) be given the status of the main opposition party.

Following the Speaker’s decision, BJP MLAs created a ruckus and protested in the Assembly complex .

“How could the Speaker take away the opposition party tag from the BJP,” asked senior party leader Shahnawaz Hussain.

“We protest against this move as well as the way the JD-U is treating Manjhi, who is a Mahadalit,” Hussain said at a press conference in New Delhi.

He also said that the BJP has nothing to with the charges of horse-trading being made by the Nitish Kumar’s camp.

Manjhi, after being expelled from the JD-U on February 9, has been declared as an unattached member in the Assembly. He was expelled for allegedly “indulging in anti-party activities”. But he has refused to resign and has to prove his majority in the house today.

Manjhi yesterday said he will offer Cabinet berths to legislators, who will support him during the confidence motion. “Aaiye mera samarthan kijiye, mantri pad lijiye (come to support me and become a minister),” he told reporters, attending a function here.

Also yesterday, the Patna High Court ordered that eight rebel JD-U legislators, considered close to Manjhi, would not vote during the confidence motion in the Assembly.

A bench of Justice Iqbal Ahmad barred the JD-U MLAs from voting after hearing their petition, seeking permission to vote during the floor test.

Manjhi was picked by Nitish Kumar as his replacement when he quit last year after JD-U’s rout in the Lok Sabha polls.

In the 243-member Assembly, the JD-U has 115 legislators — most of whom are with Nitish Kumar. The party has the support of 24 Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) legislators, five Congress MLAs, two Independents and a CPI MLA.

The BJP has 88 legislators and is supported by three Independents.

Patna: Embattled Bihar Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi dramatically resigned on Friday just ahead of a floor test, the move coming despite the BJP extending support to him.

Manjhi, while announcing the decision to quit, said that he did not get respect as chief minister.

“I have submitted my resignation letter to the State’s Governor. I should have quit before,” said Manjhi soon after he met Governor Keshri Nath Tripathi this morning.

Manjhi claimed that he as well as some legislators had received threats to their lives.

Manjhi was picked by former chief minister and JD-U leader Nitish Kumar as his replacement when he quit last year after JD-U’s rout in the Lok Sabha polls.

In the 243-member assembly, the JD-U has 115 legislators – most of whom are with Nitish Kumar. The party has the support of 24 Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) legislators, five Congress MLAs, two Independents and a CPI MLA.

The BJP has 88 legislators and is supported by three Independents.

Nitish Kumar was quick to react on Manjhi’s resignation and said, “Our stand has been vindicated.”

He told reporters that the “BJP game plan has been exposed”.

Manjhi said that he had requested Governor Tripathi to hold a secret ballot and “in that case, I would have had the support of 40-50 JD-U legislators”.

But, since “I realised that secret ballot may not happen, a lot of legislators would have lost their membership if it would have been known that they had voted for me, that’s why I decided to quit”.

He accused JD-U of “horse-trading”, an euphemism for driving a hard bargain to ensure adequate numbers in a floor test.

On Thursday, BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi said that the BJP decided to support Manjhi during the confidence vote in the assembly Friday.

“After a long meeting of the BJP legislators, the party has decided to support Manjhi during his confidence vote in the assembly,” Modi had said.

The fast-paced political development took place a day after Speaker Uday Narain Choudhary notified JD-U leader Vijay Kumar Chaudhary as leader of opposition, replacing Nand Kishore Yadav of the BJP which will support Manjhi during the confidence vote.

The Speaker accepted Nitish Kumar’s demand that JD-U be given the status of the main opposition party.

Manjhi, after being expelled from the JD-U Feb 9, has been declared as an unattached member in the assembly. He was expelled for allegedly “indulging in anti-party activities.

Mumbai: RPI(A) Leader Ramdas Athavale today demanded that smaller allies of the BJP-Shiv Sena government in Maharashtra should also get a representation in the ministry and coordination committee.

All ‘Mahayuti’ (grand alliance) partners played a key role in defeating the Congress and NCP and installation of the new government. But the smaller allies are now being sidelined, he said.

“The smaller allies should get a place in the ministry and coordination committee as well,” Athavale demanded while addressing reporters here.

All the smaller allies of BJP and Sena are meeting on February 21 to discuss their strategy to stay united.

“Our aim is not to oppose the government, but discuss issues concerning the state and the need to stay united,” he said.

Athavale said that apart from him, Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghthana leaders Raju Shetty and Sadabhau Khot, Shiv Sangram’s Vinayak Mete and Mahadev Jankar of Rashtriya Samaj Paksha will attend the meeting.

Condemning the attack on senior CPI leader Govind Pansare, Athavale expressed concern over the attackers still being at large.

“I will not say the Home department under Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has been a failure, but intelligence network needs to be strengthened,” he said.

When asked about Shiv Sena youth wing President Aditya Thackeray’s proposal for the revival of Mumbai’s night life, the RPI(A) leader said the facilities should be for poor people as well.

“Mumbai’s famed street food joints should be open 24 hours at affordable price in the vicinity of main railway stations,” he suggested.

The issue of Mumbai’s night life should be discussed in the BJP-Sena’s coordination committee as both the allies are not on the same page over the subject, he said.

Stating that earlier railway budgets had ignored Maharashtra’s interests, he said that, “Now there are lot of hopes from (Railway Minister) Suresh Prabhu. There should be a separate track for Express trains in Mumbai,” he demanded.

When asked about the proposed Ambedkar memorial at the Indu mill compound here, Athavale said all formalities have been completed and the Bill in this regard would be tabled during the state Budget session which will begin on March 9.

“I have got an assurance that the foundation stone laying ceremony would be done on April 14, the birth anniversary of Dr Ambedkar,” he added.

Darjeeling: Gorkha National Liberation Front (GNLF) supporters blocked NH-55 near Ghoom station in Darjeeling in protest against the assault on them allegedly by cadre of Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM), the police said Thursday.

Acknowledging the receipt a complaint against GJM cadre, Superintendent of Police of Darjeeling Akhilesh Chaturvedi said, “There was a confrontation between GNLF and GJM supporters at Ghoom yesterday. We have assured the complainants of arresting those involved in the assault.”

The incident took place around 3:30 pm when GNLF supporters were returning home after attending the death ritual of their party founder Subash Ghisingh, he said.

The police said that the clash broke out when some GNLF supporters allegedly started to abuse GJM president Bimal Gurung who was returning home to Darjeeling from Maneybhanjyang.

Subash Ghisingh died on January 29 in a Delhi hospital and was cremated in his ancestral home in Mirik. As per Buddhist custom, his death ritual was held yesterday at his residence in Darjeeling after 21 days of his death.

New Delhi: Newly elected Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday held janata darbar at party’s Kaushambi office in Ghaziabad where he heard grievances of people.

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief hed a similar kind of darbar on Wednesday.

Unlike last time, when the darbar was marred with problems of mismanagement and over-crowding, this time it was a well-organised affair.

While Kejriwal gave them a patient hearing, the residents participating in the Janata Durbar (public meet) complained of the chief minister giving an audience for just 10-12 people. Others were asked to wait for their turn.

Most complaints were related to police. About half of the visitors had come to greet Kejriwal with bouquets on being the chief minister of Delhi.

Most of them preferred clicking photographs with the new chief minister.

The visitors were attended from 10.00 am to 12.00 pm before Kejriwal left the office for the day.

During his earlier stint as the chief minister, Kejriwal, had held a similar darbar. However, it was marred by chaos as a large number of people had turned up. The security personnel had to take Kejriwal away from darbar venue.

Patna: Bihar Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi, who returned from Delhi on Tuesday, cancelled his official programmes and was closeted with ministers and legislators to draw up the strategy for the February 20 trust vote.

Manjhi did not take any question from mediapersons at Patna airport and went straight to his official residence.

In addition to cancelling two functions here, he also called off his visit to Khagaria, Chief Minister Office sources said.

State Art and Culture minister Vinay Bihari, who received Manjhi at the airport told reporters “We are confident of proving majority on the floor of House on February 20.”

Though BJP is yet to spell out its strategy on confidence vote, he said “Our talks with senior BJP leaders in Delhi have been positive.”

Dissident JD(U) leader Gyanendra Singh Gyanoo, who met Manjhi at his residence also exuded confidence of sailing through the confidence vote.

“We will get it. Good response has been coming from legislators,” he told PTI refusing to disclose the names of MLAs who had promised support to Manjhi.

Expelled JD(U) former MP Shabir Ali also met Manjhi.

“The scenario will change in the state in the next 24 hours,” Ali said later.

Bihari said Manjhi has held consultation with legal experts for action against JD(U) MLA Anant Singh, a close confidante of Nitish Kumar, who had recently threatened to beat the Chief Minister.