Maharashtra’s Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde said on Saturday that the government is committed to fulfilling every promise made in its election manifesto, a day after a controversial remark by his cabinet colleague, Ajit Pawar, who suggested that farmers should not expect a waiver on crop loans and should instead pay their dues on time due to the state’s financial limitations.

Shinde emphasized the importance of maintaining a balanced state budget, asserting that there should be sufficient funding for welfare programs, development projects, and employee salaries.

He announced plans to increase the monthly aid for women under the Ladki Bahin Yojana from ₹1,500 to ₹2,100, contingent on the improvement of the state’s financial situation.

His statements came shortly after Deputy Chief Minister and Finance Minister Ajit Pawar had remarked on the necessity for farmers to manage their finances effectively rather than wait for potential relief from loan waivers.

“We will honor every commitment stated in our manifesto. No promise will be ignored, and we will never consider it a mistake in printing,” Shinde, who is also the leader of Shiv Sena, told reporters when responding to inquiries about Pawar’s comments.

While visiting the samadhi of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj in Vadhu, Pune district, on the anniversary of his death, Shinde reiterated the government’s ongoing support for agriculture over the last two and a half years.

He noted that the government had provided ₹16,000 crore in relief for farmers suffering from crop damage due to unseasonal rains.

He also pointed out the allocation of ₹45,000 crore for related agricultural initiatives and mentioned current programs like the Shetkari Samman Yojana and Crop Insurance Scheme, underscoring the government’s dedication to the agricultural sector.

In response to questions about the planned increase in aid under the Ladki Bahin Yojana, Shinde assured that “as soon as the state’s economic conditions improve, our sisters will receive ₹2,100. We will keep our promises.”

Moreover, he emphasized the need for funding across all areas, including welfare initiatives, development, and personnel wages. He expressed confidence that enhanced investments would strengthen the state’s financial position.

Defending the Saugat-e-Modi scheme against opposition criticisms, Shinde highlighted that programs initiated by the Prime Minister have successfully lifted 35 crore individuals out of poverty and provided free rations to 80 crore people across various communities.

On Saturday, J.P. Nadda, president of the BJP and Union Health Minister, emphasized the role of the Nitish Kumar-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government in Bihar, along with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Central government, in guiding the state out of what he termed the “darkness” of the “jungle raj” associated with former Chief Minister Lalu Prasad.

Speaking at a Bihar Divas event organized by the Delhi BJP’s Purvanchal Morcha, Nadda praised Bihar for its unique “aura and dynamism,” noting that the state has historically contributed to democracy and produced esteemed educational institutions like Nalanda and Vikramshila.

He highlighted the continued academic achievements of Bihar’s students and professors at institutions such as Delhi University, reinforcing the state’s legacy of educational excellence.

Reflecting on Bihar’s past, Nadda pointed out that during the 1970s, the state was on an upward trajectory but experienced decline during Lalu Prasad’s governance in the 1990s, which he referred to as “doobta Bihara.”

He expressed that safety in Patna had significantly deteriorated, mentioning incidents of forced vehicle removals from dealerships for weddings and the exodus of healthcare professionals from the state. He also took a jab at RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav, who claimed the absence of “jungle raj,” arguing that such opinions lacked historical context from those who weren’t alive during that period.

Nadda commended the efforts of the Delhi BJP and the Purvanchal Morcha in securing a recent assembly election victory and urged them to extend their campaigning efforts to Bihar ahead of the upcoming state elections.

Celebrating the progress achieved under the NDA and Modi government, Nadda shared that Bihar’s rural road network has expanded from just 384 kilometers in 2005 to over 112,000 kilometers today.

He also mentioned the establishment of prestigious institutions in Bihar, including the Indian Institute of Technology and the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, announcing that Patna Medical College is set to become the largest hospital in Asia.

India is dispatching an 80-member National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) team to assist in relief operations following a powerful earthquake that struck Myanmar and Thailand on Friday. The disaster has claimed over 1,000 lives in Myanmar, with rescue workers struggling to reach survivors trapped under collapsed buildings.

Under Operation Brahma, the NDRF contingent is being airlifted from Hindon Airbase in Ghaziabad aboard two Indian Air Force (IAF) aircraft. The team, led by Commandant P.K. Tiwary of the 8th NDRF Battalion, includes specialized urban search and rescue (USAR) personnel equipped with concrete cutters, drilling machines, and seismic listening devices.

“Rescue dogs trained in detecting survivors under debris are also part of the mission,” an official said, adding that operations will follow protocols of the International Search and Rescue Advisory Group (INSARAG).

In addition to manpower, India has airlifted 15 tonnes of emergency relief supplies to Yangon aboard an IAF C-130J transport aircraft. Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed solidarity with Myanmar, stating, “India stands ready to provide all possible assistance to our neighboring nation in this hour of crisis.”

In Mandalay, Myanmar’s cultural capital, devastation is widespread. A 7.7-magnitude quake—shallow and destructive—flattened buildings, including the 12-story Sky Villa Condominium, now halved in height with nearly 100 residents feared trapped.

Exhausted local rescuers scrambled through rubble, with time running out. At one site, a monastery’s collapsed clock tower bore silent witness, its hands frozen at 12:55 PM—minutes after the quake struck.

This marks India’s third major overseas NDRF deployment, following the 2015 Nepal earthquake and 2023 Türkiye-Syria quake. 

China is set to offer Myanmar aid valued at 100 million yuan (approximately $13.77 million) following a devastating earthquake that claimed over 1,000 lives, as announced by its embassy on Saturday, March 29.

This assistance will consist of tents, blankets, emergency medical kits, food, water, and other vital supplies, with the initial shipment scheduled to arrive on March 31, according to a post on the Chinese embassy’s Facebook page.