Mumbai, Sep 3: Shiv Sena Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray launched a scathing attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Thursday after the Maharashtra government’s pledge to make the state drug-free by 2029.

Terming the ambitious initiative a “hypocritical” and “event-driven spectacle”, the Thackeray camp, in an editorial in the party’s mouthpiece ‘Saamana’, questioned why the ruling administration failed to curb the flourishing narcotics trade despite holding power for over a decade. ​

The Thackeray faction pointed out that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government has been at the helm in New Delhi since 2014, while Devendra Fadnavis has wielded significant authority in Maharashtra for roughly the same period. The party urged citizens to mark the 2029 deadline in their calendars and hold the current political leadership accountable when the timeline expires. ​

The editorial levelled grave allegations against the state administration, claiming that illicit drug trade networks, liquor manufacturers, and contraband suppliers operate under explicit political patronage.

Referring to past busts of illicit manufacturing units in Nashik, Pune, and Satara, the Shiv Sena(UBT) accused the state Home Department — headed by CM Fadnavis — of suppressing critical investigations into land allocations and chemical pill factories. ​

Describing the worsening law-and-order situation, the editorial warned that regions like Nashik and Pune are turning the state into an “Udta Maharashtra”. The editorial further condemned BJP leaders for allegedly mocking local citizens who took to the streets to protest against growing substance abuse.

​”The BJP is a hypocritical and publicity-obsessed party of the highest order,” the editorial stated. “Currently, all drug traffickers, alcohol manufacturers, cigar and cigarette vendors, and bhang-ganja sellers in Maharashtra are under the patronage of the BJP. The wheels of BJP’s politics run on this drug trade, yet these very people have set out to make Maharashtra ‘drug-free’,” it remarked.

Raising questions about the official definition of “intoxication”, the editorial highlighted that numerous sugar factory owners who produce alcohol “have taken refuge within the BJP’s ranks”. It questioned whether CM Fadnavis would dare to issue stern warnings to these “liquor barons” or attempt to reframe the classification of alcohol to dilute the campaign’s mandate. ​

The attack also extended beyond state borders, citing massive drug seizures at a Gujarat port originating from neighbouring countries like Afghanistan and Pakistan. The editorial alleged that despite claims of high-level security, narcotics continue to flow unhindered into Maharashtra through these trade corridors. ​

Concluding its broadside, the Thackeray camp asserted that addiction in the state is not limited to illegal substances such as charas, ganja, and brown sugar. “Intoxication and drunkenness stem not just from substances, but also from corruption and money — and Maharashtra will have to be freed from that intoxication as well,” the editorial declared.

Thane, Sep 3: Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) Working President and MP Supriya Sule on Wednesday launched a scathing attack on the Maharashtra state government and the ruling NCP faction, raising sharp questions over the lack of progress and non-registration of an FIR in the fatal plane crash of her brother and former Deputy Chief Minister, late Ajit Pawar.

Addressing a press conference at the party office in Thane, Sule drew a stark contrast between the swift police action against Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) leader Amit Thackeray and the perceived official apathy surrounding Ajit Pawar’s tragic death.

Reacting to the case registered against MNS leader Amit Thackeray for removing a photograph of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Sule questioned the government’s priorities. “When a photograph of Prime Minister Narendra Modi is removed, a case is registered against Amit Thackeray within two hours. On the other hand, no FIR has been lodged yet in the death case of my brother Ajit Pawar,” she remarked.

She further expressed deep distress over the complete lack of transparency in the investigation. “My brother met with such a major aviation accident. He was the sitting Deputy Chief Minister of the state, yet the government has not filed a single case. We have no idea where the probe stands or what its status is,” she stated.

Targeting the ruling NCP MLAs and ministers who were close associates of the late leader, Sule slammed them for enjoying political power while remaining silent on the investigation.

“The Ajit Pawar faction is part of the ruling government. Yet, not a single one of their 40 MLAs or 9 ministers has uttered a single word demanding an FIR or a probe into my brother’s death. My brother is gone, but these people continue to enjoy the fruits of power without seeking justice for him,” she alleged.

Expanding her criticism beyond political issues, Sule touched upon key public grievances across Maharashtra. She ridiculed the state of roads across Maharashtra, stating that commuters can no longer tell whether roads have potholes or potholes have roads.

She highlighted opposition from Kolhapur farmers against the Shaktipeeth Highway project, accusing the government of forcefully imposing costly projects on citizens.

Opposing the proposed Thane Ring Metro, Sule demanded that the government focus on improving basic bus services instead. “Why execute a project worth Rs 1,00,000 when work can be done efficiently for Rs 500? The government only favours expensive mega-projects, leaving no funds for essential, low-cost public needs,” she charged.

Commenting on the rising cost of living, Sule noted that milk prices have crossed Rs 100 per litre. She questioned how common taxpayers are expected to survive when the government offers no relief despite collecting heavy taxes.

Sule revealed that her party is closely reviewing voter lists daily to track names that have been arbitrarily deleted or modified.

Speaking on ongoing legal battles regarding party legitimacy, she lamented the continuous deferrals in court, asking, “When will this cycle of ‘tareekh pe tareekh’ (endless dates) finally end in our lives?”

Mumbai, Sep 3: In a major move to provide financial stability to cooperative sugar factories and ensure timely payments to sugarcane farmers, the Maharashtra government is set to introduce a ‘Soft Loan Scheme’ modelled on the Central government’s policy framework. Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar has directed officials to immediately present a formal proposal before the State Cabinet for approval.

Under the proposed scheme, eligible cooperative sugar mills will have access to a low-interest soft loan corpus of approximately Rs 2,000 crore. The loans will carry a 7-year repayment window, with the state government bearing the annual interest burden of roughly Rs 100 crore. The funding will be funnelled through District Central Cooperative Banks (DCCBs) and the Maharashtra State Cooperative Bank (MSCB) after reviewing each factory’s crushing capacity and financial health.

The decision comes at a critical time when state sugar mills are facing severe financial distress, owing around Rs 200 crore in Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP) dues to farmers from the previous crushing season. The liquidity infusion aims to enable mills to clear pending arrears and prepare seamlessly for the upcoming crushing season.

To reduce the industry’s reliance on raw sugar production and improve overall financial viability, the Deputy Chief Minister also directed the formulation of a standalone, comprehensive policy dedicated to sugar by-products. This roadmap aims to accelerate manufacturing and processing capabilities across alternative revenue streams, including solar power, co-generation electricity, 1G and 2G Ethanol, Compressed Bio-Gas (CBG), Green Hydrogen and Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF).

Speaking at a high-level review meeting held on Tuesday, Deputy CM Pawar stated that diversification into value-added by-products will build long-term economic resilience, create new revenue channels, and protect sugarcane farmers from seasonal price volatility.

Sources at the cooperative sugar factories hailed the government’s move saying that the factories face rigid payment timelines under the Fair and Remunerative Price (FRP) framework set by the central government, which requires paying farmers within 14 days of cane delivery. Mismatches between domestic sugar sales realizations and FRP obligations routinely cause working capital shortages and farmer arrears.

Sugarcane occupies roughly 4 per cent of Maharashtra’s cultivated land but consumes over 60-70 per cent of the state’s irrigation water, leading to regional debates over crop diversification and drip irrigation mandates. Overproduction in bumper years depresses domestic prices, requiring state and central intervention (such as export quotas and soft loans) to prevent default on farmer payments.

Sources said that to reduce exposure to volatile sugar prices, mills are shifting towards integrated biorefineries. Converting B-heavy molasses and direct sugarcane juice to ethanol under India’s Ethanol Blending Program (EBP) provides faster liquidity than white sugar sales. Burning bagasse (cane fiber leftover) to generate renewable power for internal use and grid supply.

Moreover, expansion into Compressed Bio-Gas (CBG), Green Hydrogen, and Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) aligns with state plans to modernise factory revenue models beyond raw sugar production.