Mumbai underground

Maharashtra BJP leaders were so confident of Nitin Gadkari getting a second term as national president of the party, they made all preparations to attend the crowing in New Delhi.

A private plane was hired to fly some leaders, while several others left for Delhi 24 hours in advance.

However, all of them were caught off-guard when Rajnath Singh replaced Gadkari.

Those who were yet to leave called off Delhi visit, but the ones already there decided to attend the ceremony. They had to clap for Rajnath, instead of Gadkari.

Going soft on hawkers

Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan has urged police commissioner Satyapal Singh to ensure his force does not violate norms during anti-hawker drives. This, after Congress MLAs and MPs urged him to restrain the men in khaki from harassing and terrorising innocent hawkers. CM indicated police should avoid confrontation and not cause physical harm to hawkers.

Not so Sushil

A local BJP leader criticising Union home minister Sushilkumar Shinde for Hindu terror remarks called his name into question. Addressing a large gathering outside the state party headquarters at Nariman Point, he said: “His insensitive remarks show he is the exact opposite of Sushil (well-mannered and courteous).”

A juvenile lie

On Tuesday, a day before a seven-year-old girl was to be sent home to Kanpur in Uttar Pradesh, she put officers of the juvenile aid protection unit of Mumbai Police in a fix by saying her parents lived in Allahabad. “She first said she lived in Kanpur. But on Tuesday, she told the superintendent

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