Mumbai, July 18: The Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) on Saturday came down heavily on the central government for allegedly ignoring and defaming climate activist Sonam Wangchuk.

In an editorial published in the party mouthpiece Saamana, it said Wangchuk, along with a student named Neha, has been on a hunger strike at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar for the past 21 days, demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the widespread NEET-UG question paper leak scandal.

The editorial strongly defended Wangchuk, saying he had travelled from Ladakh to New Delhi to “save the nation”. It also lashed out at alleged corporate land grabbing in Ladakh, claiming the region’s fragile tribal ecosystem was being destroyed.

“When Wangchuk raised his voice against this institutional looting, he became undesirable to PM Modi. Fighting for one’s rights has effectively become a crime in independent India,” the editorial remarked, adding that Wangchuk’s fight belongs to every citizen.

The Thackeray camp also sharply criticised BJP leaders for allegedly trying to malign Ramon Magsaysay and Padma awardee Sonam Wangchuk. It specifically targeted BJP MP Manoj Tiwari for describing Wangchuk as a member of the “Aam Aadmi gang” and calling him an “obstacle” to India’s growth.

Retorting to Tiwari’s remarks, the editorial criticised his background in Bhojpuri cinema and accused the ruling party of harbouring individuals who justify theft, even drawing parallels to corruption surrounding the Ram Temple funds. It further noted that the BJP had no qualms about aligning with the Aam Aadmi Party during Anna Hazare’s historic anti-corruption movement at Ramlila Maidan in New Delhi years ago.

Highlighting the gravity of the NEET paper leak, the editorial pointed out that the scam has driven millions of students into deep depression, resulting in 20 to 25 student suicides.

“In this regime, human life has lost its value. Let students die, let farmers die, let soldiers perish in Pulwama, or tourists in Kashmir—this government remains completely unfazed,” said the editorial.

It added that doctors have expressed extreme concern for the life of Neha, the student fasting alongside Wangchuk, yet the government has shown zero empathy.

The Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena drew a sharp contrast between PM Modi’s international public relations and his domestic apathy. It mocked the Prime Minister for travelling abroad to meet Italian PM Giorgia Meloni with “Melody chocolates” while refusing to walk just a few furlongs from his residence to offer a glass of water to a dying activist.

The Thackeray camp hailed Wangchuk’s invaluable contributions to national security —specifically his invention of solar-powered insulated tents that keep Indian soldiers warm at +15°C even when outside temperatures plummet to -14°C in high-altitude border zones.

Concluding with a stern warning, the editorial stated that the “arrogance and cruelty” currently displayed by the BJP echoes the hubris of historical tyrants like Ravana, Duryodhana, Hitler, Idi Amin, and Aurangzeb.

“History shows that such arrogance eventually turns to dust. The bubbling ego of the BJP over Wangchuk’s hunger strike will meet the same fate,” the editorial commented.

Mumbai, July 17: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has imposed monetary penalties on Muthoot Finance Limited as well as Muthoot Vehicle and Asset Finance Limited for non-compliance with the central bank’s Know Your Customer (KYC) directions.

The RBI has imposed a penalty of Rs 5.80 lakh on Muthoot Finance Limited and Rs 2.70 lakh on Muthoot Vehicle and Asset Finance Limited for the breach of its regulations, according to a statement issued on Friday.

The RBI said that it carried out statutory inspection of Muthoot Finance Limited with reference to its financial position as on March 31, 2025.

Based on the supervisory findings of noncompliance with RBI directions and related correspondence in that regard, a notice was issued to the company advising it to show cause as to why penalty should not be imposed on it for failure to comply with the said directions.

After considering the company’s reply to the notice and oral submissions made during the personal hearing, RBI concluded that the company failed to put in place a system of periodic review of risk categorisation of accounts; and it also failed to put in place a robust software for effective identification and reporting of suspicious transactions.

In the case of Muthoot Vehicle and Asset Finance Limited also, the RBI conducted a statutory inspection of the company.

Based on the supervisory findings of non-compliance with RBI directions and related correspondence in that regard, a notice was issued to the company advising it to show cause as to why penalty should not be imposed on it for failure to comply with the said directions.

After considering the company’s reply to the notice and oral submissions made during the personal hearing, RBI found, inter alia, that the company failed to put in place a system of periodic review of risk categorisation of accounts, with such periodicity being at least once in six months.

According to the RBI, the action in both cases is based on deficiencies in regulatory compliance and is not intended to pronounce upon the validity of any transaction or agreement entered into by the companies with their customers.

The imposition of this monetary penalty is without prejudice to any other action that may be initiated by RBI against the companies, the RBI said.

Mumbai, July 17: Shiv Sena MP Milind Deora on Friday endorsed the Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) intensified enforcement campaign against food safety and public health violations, while calling for greater transparency through a public digital dashboard to track hygiene and compliance standards.

Citing World Health Organisation (WHO) data, Deora noted that foodborne diseases and public health failures lead to 866 million illnesses and 1.5 million deaths globally every year, besides causing an annual economic loss of around $310 billion due to reduced productivity.

Welcoming the FDA’s recent crackdown, which has included surprise inspections, suspension of licences for serious hygiene violations, mandatory allergen and calorie disclosures, and action against non-compliant blood banks, Deora said the government’s message was clear that public health cannot be compromised.

However, he argued that enforcement alone should not be the end goal and urged the state to build a transparent and technology-driven regulatory framework. According to Deora, Maharashtra has an opportunity to emerge as a national model by modernising the way food safety and compliance data is monitored and shared with the public.

He proposed that compliance records and inspection data be made publicly accessible online and advocated the creation of a centralised, state-wide digital dashboard displaying real-time safety ratings of establishments. Such a platform, he said, would empower consumers while encouraging businesses to maintain higher standards of hygiene and safety.

Deora also called for a clearly defined, time-bound mechanism for corrective action, coupled with swift re-inspections. Once deficiencies are addressed and independently verified, licences should be restored promptly to avoid unnecessary disruption to legitimate businesses, he said.

“The objective is not to shut businesses but to ensure they operate safely, transparently and responsibly,” Deora said, adding that an effective regulatory system must strike a balance between public safety and economic sustainability.

Deora’s statement comes at a time when the state’s food safety body has made headlines for closing prominent establishments over non-compliance, sparking a wider conversation on institutional accountability in India’s hospitality and healthcare sectors.

Since taking charge as the Commissioner of the Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in late May 2026, IAS officer Tukaram Mundhe has initiated a massive, high-intensity enforcement drive across the state. Mundhe has rapidly put food safety and public health at the forefront of the state’s administrative agenda.

In less than two months of assuming office, the FDA has conducted massive raids targeting manufacturers, wholesalers, eateries, and retailers across major divisions including Mumbai, Pune, Nashik, Nagpur, and Konkan under the banner of “Safe Food, Safe Medicines, Safe Maharashtra.”

According to department data, the aggressive enforcement drive has resulted in the registration of over 235 FIRs against violators, more than 350 arrests made in connection with food safety crimes and smuggling, 274 establishments sealed for failing basic hygiene checks or operating without a valid license, and seizures worth crores of rupees involving adulterated dairy, prohibited tobacco products, and misbranded medicines.