Maha Dy CM intervenes to rescue tourists stranded in Dubai

Posted on by Vividh Bharathi

Mumbai, March 2 (IANS) As tensions escalate between Iran, Israel, and the US, the ripple effects have severely impacted Gulf nations, leaving a significant number of citizens from Maharashtra stranded in Dubai.

In a swift response, Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has taken the lead to ensure the safety and repatriation of these citizens.

Following the outbreak of conflict-like conditions, residents from various parts of the state, including Thane, Murbad, Pune, and Ahilyanagar, who are currently in Dubai, reached out to the Deputy CM’s office for assistance.

Among those seeking urgent help are 84 students from the Indira School of Business Studies in Pune, who are currently stuck in Dubai.

Deputy CM Shinde established direct communication with these students through Sanjeev Paithankar and Somnath Patil of the Brihan Maharashtra Mandal in Dubai.

During his interaction, Shinde provided much-needed reassurance to the anxious students and citizens.

“Do not worry; Eknath Shinde stands firmly behind you in this difficult hour. Every possible effort is being made to ensure you are brought back to Maharashtra safely,” Shinde stated.

He further informed the stranded individuals that the state government is working closely with the Brihan Maharashtra Mandal to ensure that their immediate needs, including food and shelter, are met while they remain in Dubai.

Shinde has personally reached out to stranded groups via video calls to assess their safety and mental well-being.

He has publicly assured them that the state is working closely with the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and the Ministry of Civil Aviation for their safe return.

Reiterating the state’s commitment, Shinde assured all affected citizens that the Maharashtra government is closely monitoring the situation and coordinating with relevant authorities to facilitate their safe return to their homeland.

Meanwhile, the state administration has instructed local district collectors, tehsildars, and talathis (village officials) to compile lists of residents currently in the Gulf. This helps the government track specific groups, such as the 84 MBA students from Pune’s Indira School of Business and over 40 senior citizens from Pimpri-Chinchwad.

Officials have confirmed that prominent figures, including Jalna MP Kalyan Kale, are among those safe but stuck in Dubai, ensuring high-level attention to the crisis.

The state government is acting as a bridge between the families in Maharashtra and the Indian Embassy in Abu Dhabi and the Consulate in Dubai. They are pushing for “special windows” or evacuation flights once the DGCA and international aviation bodies deem the airspace secure.

The state has issued a formal advisory urging all Maharashtrians currently abroad to remain calm, avoid unnecessary travel, and rely only on official information to avoid scams.

While the UAE government is currently covering hotel stays for many stranded transit passengers, the Maharashtra government is coordinating with private travel agencies (like Girikand Travels) to ensure that independent tourist groups are not left without shelter or food.

–IANS

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Lucknow, June 23 (IANS) The Samajwadi Party has defended its decision to expel three sitting MLAs, stating that the action was justified as the legislators had betrayed the party and compromised their integrity.

Party’s deputy whip in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly, Dr R.K. Verma, said, “These MLAs won on the SP symbol but betrayed the party and the democratic process. During the Rajya Sabha elections, they sold their conscience. They violated the party whip and voted for the BJP. That was a clear insult to democratic traditions. Their expulsion may have come late, but it was absolutely justified.”

He went on to highlight the gravity of their actions: “This was not just political defection, it was ideological betrayal. They acted against the interests of the PDA (Pichhda, Dalit, Alpsankhyak) coalition, which lies at the heart of the Samajwadi Party’s mission. Instead of strengthening the movement, they worked against it, and openly favoured the BJP’s agenda.”

Targeting Manoj Pandey specifically, who previously held the post of SP’s chief whip in the Assembly, Verma said, “When the Rajya Sabha elections were held, a clear whip was issued by the party. Yet Pandey, who was the chief whip himself, along with others, defied it. Whether it was fear, money, or promises, the BJP found a way to corrupt these MLAs. Such disloyalty cannot be tolerated in a party committed to democratic and socialist principles.”

Earlier, the Samajwadi Party on Monday expelled three of its sitting MLAs — Abhay Singh (Gosaiganj), Rakesh Pratap Singh (Gauriganj), and Manoj Kumar Pandey (Unchahar) — for indulging in what it described as anti-party activities and ideological deviation.

The decision was announced through an official statement on the party’s X handle.

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An era ends in Congress party in Kerala as Thennala Balakrishna Pillai passes away

Thiruvananthapuram, June 6 (IANS) One of the Congress party’s top leaders in Kerala, who was always known as the soft face in the party, Thennala Balakrishna Pillai passed away at a hospital here on Friday.

He was 95-years-old and was suffering from age-related illnesses.

Of late, he was in and out of hospital and on Friday early morning he was rushed to the hospital, but he breathed his last thereafter.

A two-time legislator, he had three terms in the Rajya Sabha.

He also was the President of the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee ( KPCC) on two occasions.

Known for his clean image, he was a hugely respected Congress leader and was famous for selling his property to raise money for the party.

Hailing from the capital city’s outskirts when he began his political career more than seven decades ago, he had around 17 acres of land and when his full-time political career ended in around 2015, he was left with just a small home in a 11 cent plot of land.

Pillai will always be remembered for bowing out as the President of the KPCC after A.K. Antony was sworn in as the Chief Minister in 2001.

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Moments after Antony was sworn in, Muraleedharan was installed as the new KPCC chief replacing Pillai, who left the post without a whimper.

KPCC President Sunny Joseph, while condoling the passing away of the illustrious leader, said he was the ideal role model for every Congressman to follow.

“He was an elder brother to all of us and he will be ever remembered for the way he carried himself in the most dignified manner. He always stood like a rock for the interest of the party,” said Joseph.

Paying tribute to the departed leader on his official X handle, senior Congress leader K.C. Venugopal wrote, “Deeply saddened by the passing of former KPCC President Thennala Balakrishna Pillai, a man of simplicity and unwavering ideological commitment. A true Congressman to the core and a refined Parliamentarian, he served the people and the Party with rare dedication and humility. His unparalleled organisational discipline, gentle presence, wisdom, and integrity were hallmarks of his public life. Heartfelt condolences to his family and loved ones. A personal loss beyond words.”

“We have lost a grand leader of our party. He was always the one the party High Command turned to when the Congress was going through difficult times. When he said something, everyone in the party abided by it. This is a big loss for the party in Kerala,” said Leader of Opposition V.D. Satheesan.

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BJP Central Election Committee to finalize Bihar candidate list in crucial meeting today

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Senior party leaders will be present to deliberate on the election strategy and shortlist candidates for all major constituencies in the state. The selection process is expected to be thorough, with discussions focused on ensuring strong contenders in each seat.

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