‘City Is Collapsing’: Amit Thackeray Makes Strong Remarks on Crime and Governance During Pune Visit

Pune, 17th April 2026: Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) leader Amit Thackeray on Thursday made strong remarks over recent cases of alleged religious conversion and crimes against women in the state, stating that strict action was necessary to deter such incidents.

Speaking to reporters during his three-day visit to Pune, Thackeray referred to recent incidents, including a case reported from Nashik involving an IT company (TCS) and other instances of crimes against women in the state. He said his response was not just as a party leader but as an individual concerned about the situation.

“The city we are living in is collapsing before our eyes. If it were up to me, I would have given the death penalty. An example must be set. If strict action is not taken, such incidents will continue, and the accused will find ways to escape,” he said.

Thackeray also called for granting complete operational freedom to the police. “My only demand is to give the police a free hand. Do they really have that freedom today? Only one person can ensure this, and that is Raj Thackeray. If he becomes Chief Minister, Maharashtra will witness a different kind of transformation,” he added.

During the press conference, Thackeray said he would be holding meetings with party workers over the next three days as part of his Pune tour. He added that the party has appointed contact presidents across regions and plans to interact with members individually to understand organisational gaps. A detailed report will be prepared and submitted to the party leadership, following which a tour of rural areas will be undertaken.

Responding to a question on a recent incident in Goregaon and the broader issue of drug circulation, Thackeray termed the situation “unfortunate” and raised concerns over the increasing availability of narcotics in cities.

“From where are drugs entering the state? They are being sold openly, even near schools. Does the government not have the capacity to stop this? Strict action must be taken, and the harshest punishment should be given. The administration must take this issue seriously and act decisively,” he said.

He further questioned the government on the scale of drug inflow, asking authorities to identify the source and take necessary measures to curb the problem.

Thackeray’s remarks come amid growing concerns over law and order, crimes against women and the spread of narcotics in urban areas across Maharashtra.