Mumbai, Sep 19: Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) President Harshwardhan Sapkal on Saturday demanded that the government immediately declare a drought, credit Rs 50,000 per hectare directly into farmers’ bank accounts, and grant a blanket loan waiver.

He warned that if these measures are not taken promptly, ministers will face public backlash and will not be permitted to move freely across the state.

Sapkal told reporters that a severe drought situation prevails in several parts of Maharashtra, with no rainfall recorded for over a month and a half, causing standing crops to wither completely.

He alleged that the BJP-led Mahayuti government remains indifferent to the crisis. While discussions take place during cabinet meetings, no concrete decisions have been made, and guardian ministers have failed to visit affected farmers.

“The government spends Rs 350 crore on CCTV installations for the Kumbh Mela, yet hesitates to release funds for farmers. Despite the desperate need, no decision was made to attempt cloud seeding,” he said.

Sapkal said public anger against the ruling coalition is at an all-time high, accusing the administration of caring only about corruption and commissions rather than citizens’ welfare.

He urged the government to act before the festive season and disburse aid before Dasara.

He sharply criticised the call to light lamps on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s birthday, questioning the administration’s performance over the past 12 years.

He pointed out that youth remain unemployed, women’s safety is compromised, farmers face ruin, the economy has deteriorated, and inflation continues to surge. “Celebrating birthdays while citizens are suffering in crisis is uncalled for,” Sapkal said.

He highlighted the hypocrisy of PM Modi previously urging the public to practice austerity, such as reducing oil consumption, limiting foreign travel, and avoiding gold purchases, while now asking people to light oil lamps for his birthday. He termed this an act of self-glorification and criticised the leadership for misleading the public.

The MPCC chief further accused the Election Commission of India of functioning as a tool for the ruling BJP. He asserted that implementing SIR threatens democracy by attempting to strip citizens of their right to vote.

Sapkal said the Commission’s functioning is leading toward lawlessness, adding that the Congress Party will firmly oppose these moves and continue to fight on the streets to protect democracy in the country.

Mumbai, Sep 19: Disha Salian’s father, Satish Salian, on Saturday slapped a Rs 500 defamation notice to Shiv Sena-UBT leader Aaditya Thackeray outside the latter’s Matoshree residence, over remarks made against the former as he is pursuing a fresh probe into his daughter’s death case.

Satish Salian and his lawyer Nilesh Ojha were not allowed to enter the Shiv Sena-UBT leader’s residence, so the notice was accepted by Thackeray’s advocate outside the building.

Speaking to reporters after serving the notice, Ojha claimed: “They (ShivSena-UBT members) had threatened us, saying they would not let us practice. So we came here (Matoshree) to show that we can serve a legal notice right at your home. Call as many goons as you want, let’s see what you do.”

Responding to Aaditya Thackeray’s allegations, Satish Salian’s lawyer said: “We have nothing to do with any politics. Now that the notice has been served, answer it…nobody could do a thing to us.”

The defamation notice concerns alleged false, malicious, and defamatory posts published by Aaditya Thackeray on his official X account on September 16 in English and Marathi. It accuses him of making allegations against Satish Salian regarding political motives and personal enmity in connection with the proceedings and Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) investigation into the death of his daughter Disha Salian. The notice seeks an additional Rs 500 crore as compensation and damages.

Earlier on Saturday, Satish Salian said he was not afraid of “any Shiv Sainik”.

“They are human beings and I am human too. I am from Mumbai, so I have no reason to fear anyone,” he told media.

Meanwhile, his lawyer Nilesh Ojha had previously said that Satish Salian has written to the CBI, which is currently probing the case, requesting immediate police protection.

“Satish Salian wrote a letter to the CBI requesting immediate police protection for four people: Satish Salian, myself, former Narcotics Control Bureau Zonal Director Sameer Wankhede, and Ashutosh Pathak. He requested the CBI to take swift steps to provide us with police security,” he told media.

Ojha also said: “The Narcotics Control Bureau report states that Aaditya Thackeray is involved in the drug business. There are CCTV footages, eyewitness testimonies, and allegations of rape and murder against him. We are stating all this openly. Don’t you have legal provisions if this is false?”

“Once they (Thackeray) did approach court (against the allegations) but they had to apologise because their affidavit turned out to be false. What anyone says doesn’t affect us. Let them do whatever they want; we are following our legal path,” he added.

Mumbai, Sep 19: Disha Salian’s father, Satish Salian, on Saturday said he was not afraid of anyone ahead of his planned visit to Matoshree to serve a defamation notice on Shiv Sena (UBT) leader, Aaditya Thackeray.

Speaking to media, Satish Salian said, “I am not afraid of any Shiv Sainik. They are human beings and I am human too. I am from Mumbai, so I have no reason to fear anyone.”

Asked about the ongoing CBI investigation into the Disha Salian case, he said, “Yes, it is proceeding in the right direction.”

When asked how he viewed the progress of the case and what new developments he expected, Satish Salian said, “Justice will be delivered 100 per cent. Whoever is guilty will be punished.”

Six years after Disha Salian’s death, her father is set to personally serve a fresh defamation notice on Aaditya Thackeray at his Matoshree residence on Saturday, September 19, according to a report by Mid-Day.

Salian and his lawyers are expected to arrive at 4 p.m., the report said, adding that he has informed the Mumbai Police and the media about the visit through a press release.

Salian has sought police security for the visit, citing fears of obstruction or intimidation while serving the notice, the report noted.

The move comes days after the Bombay High Court ordered a CBI probe into Disha Salian’s death and directed the agency to register an FIR. The order followed a fresh statement from her father. The court also made it clear that no one should be treated as an accused unless sufficient material emerges during the investigation.

The fresh notice concerns social media posts by Aaditya Thackeray and is being pursued separately from the criminal case, according to the report.

Salian has reportedly sought Rs 500 crore in damages from Thackeray and former Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh over their remarks concerning his pursuit of a fresh investigation into his daughter’s death.

The notice seeks both compensation and an apology.

Disha Salian, a former manager of late actor Sushant Singh Rajput, died on June 8, 2020, after falling from a high-rise residential building in Mumbai’s Malad area. The police had treated the incident as an accidental death and registered an Accidental Death Report (ADR). Six days later, Sushant Singh Rajput also died.