Shiv Sena Criticizes BJP Over Drug Trade in Maharashtra
Mumbai, September 3: The Shiv Sena faction led by Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray has launched a scathing attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) following the Maharashtra government’s pledge to make the state drug-free by 2029. In an editorial published in the party’s mouthpiece, ‘Saamana’, Thackeray’s camp labeled this ambitious initiative as “hypocritical” and a “spectacle based on events,” questioning why the ruling administration has failed to curb the flourishing drug trade despite being in power for over a decade.
The Thackeray faction pointed out that Prime Minister Modi’s government has been in power at the center since 2014, while Devendra Fadnavis has played a significant role in Maharashtra during the same period. The party urged citizens to mark the 2029 deadline on their calendars and hold the current political leadership accountable once the deadline passes.
The editorial made serious allegations against the state administration, claiming that the networks involved in illegal drug trade, alcohol production, and smuggling operate under clear political protection. Citing past busts of illegal manufacturing units in Nashik, Pune, and Satara, Shiv Sena (UBT) accused the state home department, led by Chief Minister Fadnavis, of suppressing crucial investigations related to land allocations and chemical factories.
The deteriorating law-and-order situation was highlighted in the editorial, warning that regions like Nashik and Pune are transforming the state into “Udta Maharashtra.” BJP leaders were also condemned for allegedly mocking local citizens who took to the streets to protest against rising substance abuse.
The editorial stated that the BJP is a highly hypocritical and publicity-hungry party. Currently, all drug traffickers, alcohol producers, cigar and cigarette vendors, and those selling cannabis are under the BJP’s protection. The wheel of BJP politics revolves around this drug trade, yet these same individuals claim to be committed to making Maharashtra “drug-free.”
Several sugar mill owners involved in alcohol production have sought refuge within the BJP. The editorial raised the question of whether Chief Minister Fadnavis would have the courage to issue stern warnings to these “liquor traders” or attempt to redefine the classification of alcohol to avoid undermining electoral objectives.
Furthermore, ‘Saamana’ emphasized that substance abuse in the state is not limited to illegal drugs like hashish, marijuana, and brown sugar. Addiction and intoxication also stem from corruption and wealth, and Maharashtra must be liberated from these forms of intoxication as well.
