Shiv Sena MPs from Nashik and Hingoli in Maharashtra, both loyalists of Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, have resigned in support of the Maratha reservation demand.

Hingoli MP Hemant Patil submitted his resignation to the Lok Sabha secretariat in New Delhi on Monday, while Nashik MP Hemant Godse sent his resignation letter to CM Shinde.

“As Lok Sabha Speaker was not present in his office, my resignation letter was submitted to the office secretary. I have also received an acknowledgement,” Patil told a Marathi news channel in New Delhi.

Notably, he decided to step down when he was stopped by agitators in Yavatmal who asked him to clarify his stand on the reservation demand. Patil drafted his resignation letter on the spot and handed it over to the agitators.

Reacting to NCP (Sharad Pawar faction) working president Supriya Sule’s jibe that his resignation was a stunt, Patil said, “‘I am not born in Nehru-Gandhi family. There two-three generations are in power. They would have taken the initiative (to grant quota)”, he said, adding if leaders are concerned about Marathas, they should resign.

“Several leaders from the Maratha community went on to become chief ministers but the community didn’t get anything,” he added.

In Nashik, Shiv Sena MP Godse drafted his resignation letter when Maratha protesters observing a fast asked him to clarify his position on the issue.

He sent the resignation letter to CM Shinde and appealed to him to grant reservation to the Maratha community as soon as possible.

“For the last many years, the Maratha community has been striving to get the reservation. Earlier, the reservation for the community didn’t survive in the court. After becoming the chief minister, you (Shinde) focused your attention on the issue of the reservation.

“After you took oath in front of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s bust at Dussehra rally to provide reservation to the Maratha community, members of the Maratha community felt assured,” the letter stated.

Godse said the government could not solve the reservation issue in the time limit given by Jalna-based quota activist Manoj Jarange, whose indefinite fast for reservation entered the sixth day on Monday.

“The health of Manoj Jarange is deteriorating with each passing day. Considering the strong feelings of the Maratha community, I am resigning as the Member of Parliament,” Godse stated.

A hero police dog was stabbed to death while searching for an armed robbery suspect on Friday night. K-9, Kenzo died of its injuries. According to Tucson.com, deputies from the Pima County Sheriff’s Department were looking for the two male suspects when they saw a man enter a fenced-in commercial yard at 8 p.m. on Friday. 

The deputies sent Kenzo inside to search the area. When the canine did not come back, deputies went in to search for Kenzo. They found Kenzo lying next to one of the suspects and suffered life-threatening injuries, the department said in a release. 

They rushed the dog to the veterinarian, but Kenzo couldn’t be saved. The Pima County Sheriff’s Department says Kenzo had injuries that were consistent with stab wounds, and a necropsy will be scheduled.

An investigation is ongoing. “We are saddened by the loss of K-9 Kenzo and reminded of the dangers our deputies face along with their K-9 partners who serve right beside them,” said the Pima County Sheriff’s Department.

Arizona Law Enforcement Canine Association also paid a tribute to Kenzo on Instagram. The caption reads, “We are saddened to learn of the death of @pimasheriff K9 Kenzo. K9 Kenzo was tragically killed in the line of duty while protecting his handler and additional deputies. Please keep the Pima County K9 Unit, Pima County Deputies and K9 Kenzo’s family in your thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.”

Further in the investigation, two men Cody D. Bartlett, 36 and Juan Tacho, 32 were arrested on charges of armed robbery and aggravated robbery.

A private bus with 23 passengers on board caught fire in Madhya Pradesh’s Vidisha district on Monday, and no casualties were reported in the incident, police said.

The bus caught fire on the Bhopal-Sagar Highway near Chakk Patni area, around 20 km from the district headquarters, around 1 pm, additional superintendent of police Sameer Yadav told PTI.

The driver stopped the bus after noticing smoke coming from the rear end of the vehicle, and all passengers with their belongings alighted safely, he said.

Fire tenders fought the blaze, but it engulfed and gutted the bus, the official said, adding that an investigation is underway to ascertain the cause of the fire.