Mumbai, July 3: The Shiv Sena Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray (UBT) has launched a fierce attack on the current ruling dispensations at the Centre and in Maharashtra, saying that the peaceful and content nature of the state’s political culture has been completely eradicated, replaced by an “insatiable, ravenous greed for power”.

The Thackeray camp, in an editorial in the party’s mouthpiece, ‘Saamana’, sharply criticised legislators who are allegedly “selling themselves for Rs 50 crore” or defecting out of a lust for positions like the Deputy Chairperson’s post or Union Cabinet berths. “Breaking or buying such helpless and mentally weak individuals requires no bravery,” the editorial said.

It further stated, “The grotesque, victorious laughter of these leaders resembles that of Duryodhana. Just as Duryodhana and his gang laughed during the disrobing of Draupadi in the royal court, these leaders celebrate today. However, Lord Krishna appeared to protect Draupadi’s honour, and the subsequent Mahabharata wiped out the mocking laughter of Duryodhana’s clan. The current political mockery should be a matter of deep introspection for everyone.”

The editorial highlighted a distressing environment where genuine political workers, who enter public life to fight for the people’s causes, are being driven to despair. It claimed that under the current “Modi-style” governance, a narrative has been forced that social and development work can only happen under the shadow of the ruling party.

The Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena argued that if such a political atmosphere had existed 50 years ago, legendary social reformers and clean politicians would have been suffocated. “Great social workers like Baba Amte, Shivajirao Patwardhan, Dr Abhay Bang, Popatrao Pawar, and Dr Prakash Amte would have had their work halted unless they bowed to the BJP to get government funds. Highly principled legislators of the past — such as Madhu Dandavate, Barrister Nath Pai, Madhu Limaye, Pilu Modi, George Fernandes, Comrade Hiren Mukherjee, Ganpatrao Deshmukh, and Prof N.D. Patil — would have been coerced into joining the BJP’s fold,” it remarked.

According to the media, the current wave of engineered defections by the BJP and its “baseless” allies is distorted and disgusting, noting that even long-serving opposition leaders who were once content in their roles are being targeted.

The Thackeray camp targeted Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, stating that both remain deeply unsatisfied — one anxious to protect his post and the other to please Delhi’s “Maharashtra-haters” by breaking opposition parties, respectively.

Addressing the recent defection of six Shiv Sena MPs and a Member of the Legislative Council (MLC) to the Shinde faction, the Thackeray camp dismissed their justifications of “political compulsion”. It has accused them of sheer selfishness and betraying their parent party (“betraying the mother”) after enjoying all positions of power. It questioned what dignity these defectors hope to achieve, claiming they will ultimately live as mere “domestic helps” or “servants” to the rulers in Delhi.

The editorial concluded with a grim reminder that politics in Maharashtra has descended into absolute opportunism, where national ideology and regional pride have been bartered away for personal gain, leaving the state’s traditional peace and political morality completely shattered.

Mumbai, July 2: In a milestone move for India’s agricultural landscape, the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly on Thursday witnessed the discussion on the landmark ‘Maharashtra Women Farmers Empowerment Bill-2026’. Welcoming and supporting the Bill, Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Ajit Pawar hailed it as a historic step towards providing justice, identity and rights to women farmers who form the backbone of the state’s agrarian economy.

Speaking during the Assembly debate, Deputy CM Sunetra Pawar emphasised that Maharashtra has become the first state in India to introduce such legislation.

“This Bill is not just a piece of law; it is historic justice for the hard work, dignity and rights of every woman farmer who breathes life into our soil and firmly supports Maharashtra’s economy. It is set to transform the lives of millions of women across the state,” she stated.

Drawing from her personal background as a daughter of a farming family, the Deputy Chief Minister shared her close experience of the hardships of farming, the unpredictability of nature and rural life.

She pointed out that despite working shoulder-to-shoulder with men in tasks ranging from sowing, animal husbandry, dairy, poultry and fisheries to post-harvest processing, women have historically never been recognised as official ‘farmers’. Due to the lack of land ownership, women have long been excluded from various government benefits.

Addressing this gap, the Deputy CM explained a key feature of the new law. She said the ‘Maharashtra Women Farmers Empowerment Bill-2026’ establishes a woman’s actual participation in farming, rather than land ownership, as the primary criterion for granting her an official ‘Woman Farmer Certificate’.

The Deputy Chief Minister clarified that this certificate will finally grant millions of women an official identity, paving the way for easier access to government agricultural schemes and training, crop insurance, institutional credit, market access, skill development and entrepreneurship opportunities.

To ensure that the Bill does not remain a mere declaration but translates into meaningful action, a robust institutional framework will be established. This includes a dedicated Women Farmers Database, a Women Farmers Empowerment Cell, specialised assistance officers, a state-level monitoring committee and a dedicated Women Farmers Fund.

Addressing potential concerns, DCM Sunetra Pawar categorically reassured the House that the Bill does not alter, amend or interfere with any existing land ownership, inheritance or succession laws. Its sole purpose is to provide legal and institutional recognition to women’s immense contribution to agriculture.

Highlighting the Mahayuti government’s commitment to women’s welfare, the Deputy CM listed ongoing initiatives such as the Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana, Lek Ladki Yojana, Pink Rickshaw Scheme and the Nav Tejaswini Rural Women’s Enterprise Development Scheme, alongside safety nets such as One Stop Centres and the Manodhairya Yojana.

“Maharashtra has historically led India in women’s education, cooperatives, political reservation and self-help groups. By legally recognising women farmers, Maharashtra is once again setting a pioneering example for the entire country,” she concluded, congratulating the Chief Minister, Agriculture Minister and the Agriculture Department for crafting this historic legislation.

Mumbai: After the administration removed the scrap, soap and oil factories illegally issued on government land in Mankhurd-Shivaji Nagar assembly constituency, the demand for public use of this vacant land has intensified. Local MLA Abu Asim Azmi strongly raised the issue in a high-level meeting chaired by Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule.

In the meeting, MLA Azmi strongly demanded that instead of the government’s proposal to set up a jail or a film industry on this vacant land, a degree college, a technical college and a sports complex be built for the development of the citizens of Mankhurd-Shivaji Nagar and Govindi.

Special emphasis on girls’ education and Urdu Ghar
Shedding light on the social situation of the area, the MLA said that our area has a large minority population, many girls are unable to go to distant areas for higher education due to wearing burqa, so a special women’s college and a modern library for children should be built on this vacant land.” He also demanded the construction of the long-pending ‘Urdu Ghar’ for the promotion of Urdu language and literature.

Advocate for permanent office for Maharashtra State Haj Committee
Raising another important issue during the meeting, he said that the Maharashtra State Haj Committee currently does not have a permanent office and is working from various temporary locations. Since Haj pilgrims come to Mumbai from all over Maharashtra and the Mankhurdshivaji Nagar area is well connected by rail, road, Eastern Freeway and highways, the central office of the Maharashtra State Haj Committee should be built on this vacant land.

Azmi clarified that prioritizing education and sports facilities will benefit the youth of the region and It is very important for the empowerment of minorities. The Revenue Minister listened to these demands seriously and assured positive action.