Mumbai, Oct 8: Ruling and opposition party leaders on Thursday expressed grief over the demise of veteran actor Nana Patekar, saying his passing was a major loss of a titan of acting and also of Maharashtra’s pride.

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said, “Frankness and fearlessness – these traits defined his personality. But ever since I became Chief Minister, I’ve always seen the tender human within him. When we took up the Jalyukt Shivar Abhiyan, Nana himself stepped forward to support it. Along with Makarand Anaspure, he joined hands to establish the Naam Foundation and personally went into the villages to work. Whether it was aiding farmers or extending a helping hand during times of drought, Nana always led from the front. Even this year, as we face the drought, Nana would never have lagged behind – but he left us so suddenly. I offer my heartfelt tribute to him. We share in the sorrow of his family and fans.”

He further stated, “Nana was as grand on screen as he was in spirit. He gifted an entire era to Marathi and Hindi cinema. From that, it was primarily his image as a patriot that resonated deeply with audiences. From ‘Krantiveer’ to ‘Natsamrat’, the powerful and masterful tapestry of acting he wove in his journey has no equal. Thus, his departure as an actor is a profound loss.”

Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde said Maharashtra and the nation have lost a sensitive, powerful actor and, in the truest sense, a ‘Nat Samrat’. Maharashtra’s pride and the Marathi man’s honour have been lost today. “Maharashtra’s bold, arrow-sharp voice has fallen silent. I have lost a true, big-hearted friend. This loss can never be compensated. An actor like him is born only once in a century. His final dream was to start a school for children in Kashmir, and I consider it my duty to provide all possible help to fulfil that. That alone will be the true tribute to Nana Patekar,” he added.

He noted, “Without any godfather, solely on the strength of his talent, he carved out a distinct brand for himself in the Hindi film industry. Bollywood bowed to his name, and in that stature, he proudly upheld the pride and spirit of the Marathi man. Nana was not just a great artist; he was Maharashtra’s pride. His work through the ‘Naam Foundation’ to wipe away the tears of drought-stricken farmers is worthy of being inscribed in letters of gold.”

Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar, in her message, said, “Nana, a beautiful confluence of authentic expression in acting and sensitive social awareness, immortalised countless characters through his powerful performances, from the stage to the silver screen. Through masterpieces like ‘Natsamrat’, ‘Krantiveer’, and ‘Parinda’, he left an indelible mark with his acting. Nana Patekar shared an extremely intimate and affectionate bond with Ajit Dada. Thus, the void left by his passing is especially heartbreaking for me and our family as well. Alongside his art, the work he did for society’s underprivileged sections and farmer brethren, while upholding social responsibility, will forever remain inspiring.”

She said the acting world has lost a sensitive soul, a powerful voice, and an authentic artist.

The NCP(SP) chief, Sharad Pawar, said that with the passing of Nana Patekar, an extraordinary, sensitive, and impactful era in Indian cinema has come to an end today. Through his powerful acting, unique dialogue delivery, and remarkable natural ease in every role, he left an indelible mark, forever, on the hearts of audiences.

“While successful as an artist, his deep commitment to social issues and his active social service through the Naam Foundation was an equally inspiring aspect of his personality. With his demise, the Indian artistic world has lost a sensitive and talented artist, while society has lost a dynamic personality who upheld social responsibility. The indelible imprint of his acting, his thoughts, and his social work will forever remain in memory,” he added.

The Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee chief Harshwardhan Sapkal said, “The news of the demise of veteran actor Nana Patekar is extremely heartbreaking. As a sensitive personality marked by outstanding acting, social awareness, and a touch of humanity, Nana Patekar will forever remain in our memories. His passing has caused a great loss to the fields of art and society.”

Shiv Sena(UBT) leader Ambadas Danve said, “Losing Nana, who is at times outspoken, loving, stern, and big-hearted, is undoubtedly a loss for his film fans; but it is also a great blow to the countless people like me who adore his simplicity. Today, as Marathwada and Maharashtra languish under the shadow of drought, the absence of a sensitive soul like Nana will forever be felt. This untimely exit is utterly heartbreaking!”

Maharashtra Minister of Cultural Affairs Ashish Shelar noted that with Nana Patekar’s demise, the Indian cinema has lost a sensitive, resolute, talented, and authentic artist. “He was the recipient of numerous awards in the film industry, including the Late Raj Kapoor Special Contribution Award 2013, presented by the Government of Maharashtra. Emerging from a middle-class working Marathi family, Nana Patekar left an indelible mark on acting through immense hard work and his distinctive style. Today, we have lost a genuine, spirited, festival-loving Maharashtrian man from our mill town,” he said.

He announced that while considering the unparalleled contribution of actor Nana Patekar to Marathi plays as well as Marathi and Hindi cinema, the state government has decided to conduct his last rites “with full state honours”.

Mumbai, Oct 7: Drawing a direct parallel between the violent mass protests crippling France and the underlying socio-economic unrest across India, Shiv Sena Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray on Wednesday issued a sharp critique of the ruling administration.

The Thackeray camp in the party’s mouthpiece, ‘Samaana’, warned that while public anger in France has exploded onto the streets, India is witnessing a subterranean simmer that could erupt into a major crisis if public grievances remain unaddressed.

Highlighting the unrest across France, the editorial noted that over 5,00,000 citizens, including students, teachers, healthcare workers, and firefighters, have taken to the streets in more than 170 cities. The French Ministry of Interior has acknowledged that the situation has moved beyond control, with major disruptions to railways, supply chains, and public services.

The editorial attributed the turmoil in France to soaring diesel and energy prices, systemic corruption in education, severe public sector mismanagement, and proposed government budget cuts under the Sébastien Lecornu administration. With French public debt climbing to 119 per cent of GDP, planned measures — such as freezing public sector wages — have eroded purchasing power and triggered widespread outrage.

Drawing comparison to the Indian scenario, the editorial argued that the everyday struggles facing Indian citizens are equally, if not more, severe. While French protesters hit the streets over rising fuel and energy costs, families in India are grappling with inflation in essential commodities, including pulses, vegetables, and medicines.

The editorial detailed several key points of concern currently confronting the nation. Millions of workers face low wages, contractualisation without security, lack of Provident Fund benefits, and absent healthcare.

Highlighting recent labour agitations in industrial hubs like Noida, Greater Noida, and Manesar, the editorial pointed out that workers earning around Rs 10,000 to Rs 12,000 per month for 12-hour workdays have reached a breaking point.

The editorial criticised systemic corruption in public service examinations, pointing to paper leaks in tests like NEET and MPSC as drivers of widespread youth dissatisfaction.

Pointing to regional economic distress, the Thackeray camp highlighted Maharashtra’s severe drought conditions, forcing the state government to raise Rs 40,000 crore in loans. Meanwhile, citizens harbour growing fears over banking stability and middle-class savings amid broader economic stress.

Citing records compiled via opposition initiatives like the ‘Satyagraha’ portal, the editorial claimed over 31,434 protest sites are currently active across India, spanning farmers demanding MSP guarantees, students, and workers.

According to the editorial, the primary distinction between the two nations lies in the legal framework for public expression. “In France, trade unions operate within a recognised legal framework, allowing strikes to quickly become national policy discussions. In contrast, the Indian government systematically suppresses union action, invoking stringent laws like the Maharashtra Essential Services Maintenance Act (MESMA) and criminalising peaceful strikes,” claimed the editorial.

The Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena concluded with a stark warning to the Central government: while French citizens have expressed their anger through visible violent protests, Indian citizens have so far shown restraint. However, it cautioned that continued economic neglect, rising costs, and suppression of democratic rights could soon push public patience past its breaking point.

Mumbai, Oct 7: The Anti-Narcotics Cell (ANC), Worli Unit of the Mumbai Police, has seized Nitrazepam and Alprazolam tablets worth approximately Rs 2.53 crore in a case related to the illegal sale of narcotic and psychotropic substances.

According to a press note, the case has been registered by the Anti-Narcotics Cell, Worli Unit, under Section 22(C) of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. The offence took place between 10:40 p.m. on October 6 and 12:40 a.m. on October 7.

Acting on information received during an investigation into persons allegedly involved in the purchase, sale and supply of illegal drugs in Mumbai, the police learned that a person was selling tablets used for intoxication in the Dr Zakir Hussain Nagar area of Govandi.

Following verification of the information, a police team searched the residence of the accused and seized 4,500 Nitrazepam tablets of the NITCOR-10 brand. The tablets weighed approximately 2 kg and 475 grams and were valued at Rs 1.98 crore.

The police also recovered 5,300 Alprazolam tablets of the PROCALM-1 brand, weighing approximately 689 grams and valued at Rs 55.92 lakh.

In total, 9,800 Nitrazepam and Alprazolam tablets, collectively valued at approximately Rs 2.53 crore, were seized during the operation.

The operation was carried out under the guidance of Mumbai Police Commissioner Deven Bharti, Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime) Anil Kumbhare and Additional Commissioner of Police (Crime) Krishnakant Upadhyay, with the supervision of senior officers of the Anti-Narcotics Cell and Worli Unit.

Earlier, on October 2, the Anti-Narcotics Cell raided The Smoke Shop at Bhoomi Tower in Sector 4, following concerns raised by Kharghar residents over a shop operating barely 50 metres from ITM College. Police seized hookah flavours and related material worth around Rs 92,000.

The raid was conducted after the ANC received information regarding the sale of hookah and tobacco products near an educational institution. A team led by Senior Police Inspector Sandeep Nigade carried out the operation.

Earlier, on August 19, the Mumbai ANC had arrested a man from Bihar at Bandra Terminus for allegedly carrying 10.10 kg of charas, with a market value of Rs 10.01 crore.