Lucknow, Oct 8: In a significant political development in Uttar Pradesh, Samajwadi Party (SP) supremo Akhilesh Yadav is set to meet old warhorse Azam Khan on Wednesday, a meeting seen by many as an attempt to bring an end to ‘differences and distrust’ with the party stalwart.

The meeting between the duo will be closely watched, not just by SP workers but also by political analysts, as this is expected to have greater ramifications for the party in strengthening its Muslim votebank, as the latter is one of the biggest Muslim faces of the party and commands strong influence in Western Uttar Pradesh areas like Moradabad, Amroha, and other cities.

SP’s Bareilly president Shivcharan Kashyap said that Akhilesh Yadav will arrive in Bareilly from Amausi Airport and from there, he will travel to Rampur by road.

He informed that the two leaders will meet and discuss issues in private.

The proposed meeting between the two comes amidst rumours of Azam Khan, once one of the most powerful ministers in the SP government, contemplating a switch to BSP.

Azam Khan, one of the tallest SP leaders in Uttar Pradesh, was incarcerated in jail for about two years, and this left him ‘disillusioned and disenchanted’ with the SP leadership, as the latter failed to show solidarity with him during his difficult time.

After his release from Sitapur jail on September 23, Azam Khan also said that he will meet only Akhilesh Yadav and no one else.

“Akhilesh Yadav will meet me, and I will meet only him,” he said, while replying to reporters, when quizzed about meeting the SP supremo.

He also said sarcastically, “It’s his magnanimity that he’s coming to meet a goat thief and a buffalo thief.”

Rumours of Azam Khan joining the BSP have been circulating in political circles for quite some time. However, he rubbished all these speculations, calling himself a true soldier of the party.

Azam Khan was one of the founding members of the Samajwadi Party and one of the closest aides of late Mulayam Singh Yadav. The meeting with Akhilesh Yadav is not only an attempt to rekindle old relationships but also to convey a message of unity within the party.

Mumbai, October 7: Bollywood actor Akshay Kumar engaged in a candid conversation with Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday, applauding the state’s rapid infrastructure development. Sharing a personal experience, Akshay said with a laugh, “Four days ago, I travelled from Juhu to Colaba in just 35 minutes. Earlier, it used to take so long that I had to shave twice, once before leaving home and again after reaching the set,” he said jokingly, drawing smiles from the audience.

He went on to highlight how the city’s connectivity has transformed. “There was a time when we used to talk about South Bombay and North Bombay, but now, because of the infrastructure you’ve created, it feels like one Mumbai,” the actor remarked.

During the conversation, Akshay urged the Chief Minister to focus on improving Film City in Goregaon, which he described as the heart of India’s film industry.

Responding to Akshay’s appeal, CM Fadnavis acknowledged the issue and shared his long-standing vision for the project. “I’m glad you brought this up. During my tenure between 2014 and 2019, one regret I have is that I couldn’t execute the Film City redevelopment. We had planned and designed it to become a vibrant international ecosystem and had even spoken to the film fraternity,” he said.

The Chief Minister assured that under the current government, he intends to turn that vision into reality. “This time, I will ensure that Film City is developed into a world-class ecosystem—one that reflects Mumbai’s global creative strength,” he added.

The interview offered a blend of star power and state vision, underscoring how infrastructure and creativity together shape Mumbai’s identity as India’s commercial and cultural capital.

Navi Mumbai: A 19-year-old college student was allegedly molested at Vashi railway station on Saturday morning while she was talking on her phone. The shocking incident, which took place around 11:40 am, has once again raised concerns about women’s safety in public transport spaces.

According to the police, the young woman was standing on the platform waiting for her train when a man came and stood close to her. While she was still on the call, the accused reportedly touched her inappropriately. Shocked and disturbed, the girl immediately approached a woman Government Railway Police (GRP) personnel who was on duty at the station and informed her about what had happened.

Senior Inspector Kiran Undre of the Vashi GRP said, “The complainant was returning home from college at around 11.40 am when the accused came and stood next to her on the platform. As she was talking on call, the accused touched her inappropriately. The victim immediately informed an on-duty woman GRP personnel. In the meantime, the accused had escaped.

The GRP officers quickly reviewed CCTV footage from the station and managed to identify the accused. A manhunt was launched, and the suspect was arrested from his residence on Monday, just two days after the incident. Senior Inspector Undre confirmed, “The accused’s image was obtained from the CCTV and he was arrested from his residence on Monday.”

Police said the accused will face charges under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code related to molestation and outraging a woman’s modesty.

Earlier this year, Vashi GRP arrested a 21-year-old man for allegedly sexually harassing a 17-year-old girl in the Panvel-CSMT bound train on July 1 night. Kiran Undre, senior inspector of Vashi GRP, said that the arrested accused was identified as Indrajit Mukhiya, who works at a sweet confectionery in Kharghar. Acting on a complaint by the victim, the accused Mukhiya was booked under relevant sections of Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita and the Pocso Act.