Satara, Sep 18: Visiting his native village Dare in Satara district for the Ganeshotsav festival, Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Friday reviewed Maharashtra’s rainfall situation and reassured farmers facing severe crop damage due to dry spells.

He said the government will not abandon the farming community and will provide full support in drought-like regions.

His response follows senior Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Sharad Pawar’s demand that the state government declare a drought and distribute immediate relief aid.

DCM Shinde acknowledged that dry spells have scorched standing crops in parts of Vidarbha and Marathwada. Crop loss assessments (panchnamas) are currently underway to distribute aid based on actual losses.

He held a video conference with Osmanabad (Dharashiv) Guardian Minister Pratap Sarnaik, MP Omraje Nimbalkar, and the District Collector to review the crisis. District guardian ministers are actively touring affected areas, and he confirmed he will personally inspect drought-hit zones shortly to engage directly with farmers.

Dismissing opposition criticism, DCM Shinde stated the Mahayuti government prefers letting its work speak rather than engaging in political verbal duels.

Marking World Bamboo Day at his farm in Dare, where he has successfully experimented with cultivating imported crops like blueberries, along with camphor and asafoetida (hing), Shinde highlighted bamboo’s versatile uses in producing ethanol, modern infrastructure, and everyday commercial goods.

He urged large-scale bamboo cultivation alongside environmental conservation efforts during the festive season.

DCM Shinde also took a sharp jab at his political rivals over their constant criticism of his visits to his hometown, Delhi, or London.

“Whenever I visit my home village, political rivals suffer from stomach aches. I will now have to look for a medicinal plant or prescribe Jamalgota (a traditional laxative) to cure their indigestion. I am a man of action and will answer criticism through my work, not words,” he quipped.

Earlier, NCP chief Sharad Pawar, in a detailed letter to Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, highlighted the state’s severe agrarian crisis due to erratic monsoon rains and demanded immediate intervention across nine key points. Pawar’s letter comes shortly after the Chief Minister expressed his resolve to make Marathwada drought-free on the occasion of Marathwada Liberation Day.

Pointing out the stark ground reality, Pawar, who uploaded the letter on Friday on X, emphasised that deficient rainfall has severely impacted crops across Marathwada and other parts of the state, leaving farmers in deep distress.

In his letter, Pawar raised urgent concerns regarding standing crops, drinking water shortages, and fodder scarcity for livestock.

“Due to the failure of rains across most parts of the state this year, the farming community is facing a massive crisis. Standing crops such as soybean, cotton, pearl millet (bajra), maize, pigeon pea (tur), green gram (moong), and black gram (udid) have withered, compounded by increased pest infestations. Consequently, the situation regarding agriculture, drinking water, and fodder supply is set to worsen,” Pawar noted.

Mumbai, Sept 18: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA Ram Kadam said on Friday that Shiv Sena-UBT leader Aaditya Thackeray waited six-and-a-half years to say that he has no connection to the Disha Salian case.

Speaking to media, Kadam reacted to Disha Salian’s father issuing a Rs 500 crore defamation notice to Shiv Sena-UBT leader Aaditya Thackeray.

The BJP MLA said, “It took Aaditya Thackeray six-and-a-half years to say that he has no connection with (Disha Salian case) it. Even if we assume he has no connection, what was there to fear? Why wasn’t a proper investigation conducted?”

“All these questions place them in the circle of suspicion. Even when Disha’s father repeatedly asked for the case to be handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), why wasn’t it handed over? What was the reason behind it? They cannot deny all these points…”

“Somewhere down the line, he (Aaditya Thackeray) put himself under speculation, because when in power, the police attempted to protect him, tampering with evidence… these aspects should be taken into consideration. Why did the previous Uddhav Thackeray government not give justice to Disha’s family? Who were they protecting?” he asked.

Speaking on Congress’ concerns with the OBC quota within the Maratha reservation, Kadam said: “It’s nothing like that. The Maratha community of Maharashtra knows that respected Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis ji was the one who gave the first reservation. Of the 13 demands, 12 demands were fulfilled. The 13th demand comes under the jurisdiction of the court. It won’t hold in the court of law. Thus, it is not important what others are saying. The crucial thing here is that the people of Maharashtra understand that the current government stands with them.”

Reacting to actor Swara Bhaskar’s texts to other actors after the Ram Janmbhoomi verdict, BJP MLA Ram Kadam said that there are individuals in the country who make absurd comments to stay in headlines, adding that such entities should not be entertained.

Mumbai, Sep 18: Union Electronics and Information Technology Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Friday said 68 Japanese companies participating in Semicon India 2026 are in the process of finalising their manufacturing, research and partnership plans in India.

Speaking to media during his visit to the Japanese pavilion at the event, Vaishnaw said more than 30 countries are participating in Semicon India 2026, reflecting growing international interest in India’s semiconductor ecosystem.

“Here at the Japanese pavilion, there are 68 Japanese companies. They are finalising their plans for manufacturing, research and partnerships in India,” the Minister said.

Vaishnaw also highlighted the enthusiasm among young people at the semiconductor event, saying India’s semiconductor push is creating opportunities for high-skilled employment and helping develop a talent pool for the sector.

The Minister also showcased a semiconductor chip developed by students of the National Institute of Technology (NIT) Rourkela in Odisha. He said the chip was developed under the talent development programme of India’s Semiconductor Mission and that the students had made a presentation on their work before Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The student-developed chip was displayed to the media during Vaishnaw’s interaction.

Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi had earlier expressed pride at seeing indigenous chip designs developed by NIT Rourkela being showcased alongside Made-in-India semiconductor chips at Semicon India.

Majhi said the achievement was a matter of pride for Odisha and demonstrated the talent, innovation and research capabilities of institutions in the state.

He also credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership and Vaishnaw’s efforts for India’s continued progress towards building a strong and self-reliant semiconductor ecosystem.

The Chief Minister congratulated the scientists, researchers and the entire NIT Rourkela team, noting that talent from Odisha is contributing to India’s semiconductor journey and its broader efforts towards technological self-reliance.