Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray were seen travelling on the same commercial flight from Mumbai to Nagpur, triggering fresh political discussions in the state.

The two leaders, who have remained political rivals in recent years, reportedly exchanged greetings and briefly interacted during the journey. Reacting to the unexpected encounter, Fadnavis remarked that the meeting of the leaders had become the “biggest news of the day”.

Thackeray was accompanied by his son and MLA Aaditya Thackeray, Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut and other senior leaders of the Shiv Sena (UBT). The flight came at a time when Maharashtra politics has witnessed significant developments, including recent defections from the Thackeray-led party.

The shared journey quickly sparked speculation in political circles. However, leaders from the ruling alliance played down the development, describing it as a routine interaction between political opponents rather than an indication of any new political understanding.

While the brief interaction generated considerable attention, no political discussions or meetings beyond customary greetings were officially reported.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday said the Centre is preparing amendments to the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act to close loopholes allegedly exploited by drug trafficking networks and strengthen India’s anti-narcotics framework.

Addressing the 10th apex-level meeting of the Narco-Coordination Centre (NCORD) in New Delhi, Shah said the government is re-examining the existing law and invited states to submit suggestions for the proposed changes. The amendments are being worked on by the Ministry of Finance to make the legislation more effective in tackling organised drug syndicates.

Centre seeks stronger legal framework against narcotics

Shah stressed the need for a tougher approach towards drug traffickers and peddlers, while advocating a compassionate stance towards victims of addiction. He outlined a three-pronged strategy against drug trafficking — “detect, disrupt and destroy” — and urged all stakeholders to intensify efforts against the narcotics menace.

The Home Minister also asked state governments to share suggestions on strengthening the NDPS Act. Directors General of Police have been asked to forward recommendations to the Ministry of Home Affairs, while Chief Secretaries can submit their inputs to the Department of Revenue under the Ministry of Finance.

Seizures of synthetic drugs rise over past decade

Highlighting the government’s anti-drug campaign, Shah said that between 2004 and 2014, around 26 lakh kilograms of synthetic drugs were seized across the country. In comparison, agencies confiscated approximately 1.18 crore kilograms of synthetic drugs between 2014 and 2026.

He further said the estimated value of drugs seized during 2014-2026 stood at around Rs 1.84 lakh crore, significantly higher than the nearly Rs 40,000 crore worth of narcotics seized during the previous decade. According to Shah, these figures reflect the expanded scale and effectiveness of anti-drug enforcement efforts.

The minister also called for real-time information sharing among states through digital platforms developed by the Narcotics Control Bureau and urged authorities to ensure NCORD meetings deliver measurable outcomes. He unveiled the “Vision Document on Drug Control (2026-2029)”, which aims to provide a roadmap for reducing drug demand, curbing supply and minimising harm caused by substance abuse.

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on Friday questioned the existing legal framework governing proof of Indian citizenship, asking what document citizens should rely on if a passport itself is not considered conclusive evidence of citizenship.

The remarks came a day after the Centre clarified that an Indian passport is primarily a travel document and has never been treated as definitive proof of citizenship under existing laws. The government maintained that this position is not new and has remained unchanged for years.

Reacting to the clarification, Tharoor described the situation as an “absurd legal paradox” and argued that ordinary citizens have long regarded passports as the highest form of official identity because they are issued only after extensive verification procedures. He said it is difficult for people to understand how a document obtained after rigorous scrutiny does not conclusively establish citizenship.

In a detailed statement, the Thiruvananthapuram MP urged the government to undertake what he termed a “common-sense legislative overhaul” to end the controversy. He proposed amending the legal framework so that both passports and Aadhaar cards are recognised as valid and conclusive proof of Indian citizenship unless specifically cancelled or withdrawn by the government.

Tharoor, however, acknowledged a key challenge with Aadhaar. Since Aadhaar is currently issued on the basis of residence and is available to both citizens and certain non-citizen residents, he suggested that the Unique Identification Authority of India issue a visually distinct Aadhaar card for non-citizens. According to him, such a distinction would allow the government to designate standard Aadhaar cards and valid Indian passports as sufficient proof of citizenship.

The debate intensified after the Ministry of External Affairs stated during a recent briefing that an Indian passport should not be treated as conclusive proof of citizenship. The Centre subsequently reiterated that the Passports Act, 1967 permits passports to be issued to non-citizens in certain circumstances in the public interest, and therefore possession of a passport alone cannot legally establish citizenship.