The Phoenix Mills which had been shut down for the past three days resumed work on Thursday. Rashtriya Mill Mazdoor Sangh (RMMS) workers held a meeting at the entrance gate at 7 am. RMMS general secretary Sachin Ahir charged that the politicians were holding the mill workers to ransom. He said Labour Minister Shabir Shaikh had at a meeting with the workers pointed out that RMMS had not signed any contract with the processing department of the company to retrench 500 employees.

Mahavir Jayanti celebrated

Over 20 lakh Jains celebrated the birth of Mahavir with gaiety and religious fervour. Followers of the Jain religion visited Jain temples and offered prayers. They also listened to the religious discourse of their leaders. People from other religions and communities also joined them in celebrating Mahavir Jayanti. Many of the Jains performed abhishek and made offerings of milk, rice, fruit, incense, lamps and water to the Tirthankar. Mahavir, born as aprince in 599 BC, renounced worldly life at the age of 30 and undertook austere penance till he achieved realisation.