Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Wednesday, 14 October launched a sharp attack on the Opposition INDIA Bloc, alleging that marching toward the Supreme Court to pressure the judiciary amounts to a direct insult to constitutional institutions. Shinde made the remarks while addressing the media in Mumbai following a weekly Cabinet meeting.

Attack on the Opposition

“Holding the Constitution in one hand while pressuring constitutional bodies with the other is a clear attempt to create anarchy in the country, which will strictly not be tolerated,” Shinde said. He emphasised that organising protests to pressure an apex body like the Supreme Court is a serious matter, adding that the Constitution grants independent status to institutions such as the Supreme Court and the Election Commission of India (ECI) — and any attempt to undermine them amounts to disrespecting the constitutional framework itself.

Shinde went further, alleging that “the possibility of foreign powers conspiring behind these demonstrations cannot be ruled out,” and warned citizens to remain vigilant against forces attempting to foment instability. He argued that building false narratives by eroding trust in constitutional bodies is detrimental to national interest.

Cabinet Honours PM Modi's 25-Year Leadership Milestone

Shinde also informed that the Maharashtra Cabinet passed a congratulatory resolution honouring Prime Minister Narendra Modi on completing 25 years in public leadership — spanning his tenures as Chief Minister and Prime Minister — and that the resolution will be formally conveyed to him. He noted that under Modi's leadership, India has received the highest civilian honours from 36 nations, and the country has moved from being counted among the 'Fragile Five' economies before 2014 to ranking among the world's top five economies today. He cited the Viksit Bharat 2047 vision, under which over 25 crore people have reportedly emerged from multidimensional poverty and nearly 80 crore citizens receive food grain support.

Taking a swipe at the Congress, Shinde alleged that demands for the abrogation of Article 370 and the construction of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya — causes championed by the late Balasaheb Thackeray — remained unfulfilled during Congress rule but were delivered under Modi. He further alleged that terror attacks during the Congress era were met with “mere diplomatic letters,” while the response to the Pahalgam attack under Modi's watch led to the “destruction of terror launchpads inside Pakistan.”

Drought Relief for Maharashtra Farmers

On the agricultural front, Shinde said the state government has expanded its list of declared drought-hit talukas from 265 to 305 in response to a severe drought. The government is providing 12 major relief concessions, including loan recovery stays, debt restructuring, student fee waivers, and fodder and water supply assistance. He announced that ₹5,000 in direct financial aid will be deposited into the accounts of drought-affected farmers ahead of Diwali.

“The primary right over the state treasury belongs to the farmers and we will not leave them in the lurch,” Shinde assured. He added that a central team has already conducted inspections across affected districts, and that Prime Minister Modi held a 30-minute discussion with Shinde, assuring full central support alongside Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

Sharp Words for the Opposition's Priorities

Rounding off his address, Shinde questioned the Opposition's priorities: “In times of drought, what is more important — the farmers or protests against the Supreme Court?” He concluded with a pointed remark: “Modi doesn’t care about detractors; he keeps working. A lion is not frightened by the noise of jackals,” reiterating that the government remains focused on development, national security, and farmer welfare.