Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray on Thursday criticized the Maharashtra government for summoning comedian Kunal Kamra over alleged insults toward a "traitor" while taking no action against actor Rahul Solapurkar for remarks about Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. Speaking to reporters after the conclusion of the Budget session, Thackeray also took aim at the BJP’s 'Saugat-e-Modi' outreach program for Muslim families.

"You summon Kunal Kamra twice for insulting a traitor but don’t summon Rahul Solapurkar even once," Thackeray remarked. Kamra was called in by Mumbai Police after his parody song targeting Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde led to an attack on a studio by Shinde’s supporters. The Shiv Sena (UBT) frequently refers to Shinde as a "traitor" for leading a rebellion in 2022 that split the party.

Solapurkar recently sparked controversy after stating in a podcast that Shivaji Maharaj escaped from Agra Fort by bribing Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb’s officials, rather than hiding in a basket of sweets as traditionally believed. Some right-wing groups objected to the use of the word "bribe." Regarding the 'Saugat-e-Modi' initiative, Thackeray pointed out the BJP’s shifting stance, saying, "When Shiv Sena gained strong Muslim support, they accused me of abandoning Hindutva and even coined terms like 'Satta-Jihad.' Now, those same people have changed their position."

Disclaimer: This image is taken from PTI

Chandigarh, Punjab, India – March 26: Ahead of the presentation of Punjab's Budget for 2025-26, Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema met Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann at his residence on Wednesday. Prior to the meeting, Cheema signed the Budget documents. This marks the fourth budget of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government since coming to power in 2022. The budget is expected to focus on developmental initiatives, with key priorities including education, healthcare, and combating drug addiction. Reports suggest that AAP will take a firm stance against drug abuse, and for the first time, a Drug Census may be included, as hinted by AAP Convenor Arvind Kejriwal during a recent rally.

To curb drug trafficking, the government may deploy Home Guards to secure border regions and introduce a separate allocation for drug prevention efforts. Additionally, the budget could see an increase in Emergency Response Vehicles and enhancements to the state’s emergency helpline, 112. Commenting on the upcoming budget, Congress MLA from Abohar, Sandeep Jakhar, expressed cautious optimism, stating, "We should remain hopeful. Many development projects in Abohar and Balluana remain pending, and we expect necessary allocations in this budget." Meanwhile, the Punjab government has shifted its anti-drug strategy from general enforcement to targeted actions against major traffickers. Under Chief Minister Mann and Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav’s leadership, the ‘Yudh Nashian Virudh’ campaign was launched on March 1, 2025.

An official statement revealed that since the campaign's inception, 3,957 drug smugglers have been arrested, and 2,248 FIRs have been registered. Law enforcement has seized large quantities of contraband, including 137.7 kg of heroin. In a decisive move, CM Mann and DGP Yadav have instructed all Police Commissioners (CPs) and Senior Superintendents of Police (SSPs) to compile a detailed list of key drug suppliers in their districts within a week. The directive, issued through a strongly worded letter, underscores the government’s commitment to systematically dismantling drug supply networks in the state.

Disclaimer: This image is taken from ANI.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis stated that the BJP and the then-undivided Shiv Sena first parted ways in 2014 due to a disagreement over seat-sharing in the assembly elections. According to Fadnavis, the Shiv Sena was firm on contesting 151 seats, while the BJP was willing to offer them 147, planning to contest 127 seats itself in the 288-member assembly.

Speaking at an event honoring Sikkim Governor Om Prakash Mathur, who was BJP’s Maharashtra in-charge in 2014, Fadnavis recalled that the BJP had anticipated winning over 200 seats. Under the proposed arrangement, the Shiv Sena would have held the chief minister's post, with the BJP securing the deputy CM position. However, he claimed that the Shiv Sena refused to back down from its demand for 151 seats, citing a decision by its leadership.

Fadnavis suggested that fate ultimately led him to become the chief minister. He also shared details of discussions with senior BJP leader Amit Shah, who consulted Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the matter. Along with Shah and Mathur, Fadnavis said they were confident about BJP’s prospects in the 2014 elections.

Reacting to Fadnavis’ remarks, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut acknowledged that negotiations had gone on for 72 hours and that Mathur played a key role. Raut claimed Fadnavis personally wanted to maintain the alliance but alleged that senior BJP leaders had already decided to break ties with Shiv Sena.

Despite contesting the 2014 elections separately, the Shiv Sena later joined the BJP-led government under Fadnavis. The two parties split again in 2019 over the chief ministerial post, and in 2022, the Shiv Sena fractured further when a faction led by Eknath Shinde rebelled against Uddhav Thackeray's leadership.

Disclaimer: This image is taken from ANI.

The Congress on Monday accused the BJP of fabricating a "completely fake" issue to force the adjournment of Parliament and prevent discussions on the serious matter concerning Delhi High Court Justice Yashwant Varma's conduct. BJP members in the Lok Sabha have been raising concerns over reservations for Muslims in Karnataka’s government contracts, alleging that Deputy Chief Minister D. K. Shivakumar suggested amending the Constitution to accommodate a four percent quota for Muslims. However, Shivakumar has denied making any statement about changing the Constitution to enable religion-based reservations.

On Monday, Rajya Sabha proceedings were adjourned during the pre-lunch session as ruling and opposition members clashed over the Karnataka Muslim reservation issue, leading to a deadlock with no business being transacted. Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh claimed that the BJP deliberately engineered the controversy to derail parliamentary proceedings and avoid discussing the allegations against Justice Varma.

"They have clearly decided they don’t want the House to function. Every day, they come up with some excuse to disrupt proceedings," Priyanka Gandhi told reporters after the Lok Sabha was adjourned for the second time that day. In an unprecedented move, the Supreme Court late Saturday night published on its website an in-house inquiry report, including photos and videos, related to the alleged discovery of large amounts of cash at Justice Varma’s residence. Based on the 25-page report's recommendations, Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna set up an in-house committee to investigate the matter and directed Delhi High Court Chief Justice D. K. Upadhyaya to bar Justice Varma from handling any judicial work.

Disclaimer: This image is taken from Sansad TV.

As Donald Trump and his key aides scramble to address the Signal leak controversy, Jonathan Freedland and Susan Glasser of the New Yorker examine the consequences of the security breach and explore why the U.S. president is focusing his attacks on the media rather than those responsible for allowing a journalist access to potentially classified information.
Disclaimer:This podcast is taken from The Guardian.

Pippa Crerar and Kiran Stacey analyze whether the strong opposition to the government's proposed benefit cuts could force a policy reversal. They also explore which other government departments might experience severe budget reductions.

Disclaimer:This Podcast is taken from The Guardian.