National News
BJP, Shiv Sena (UBT), RJD welcome India’s decision to bring back diplomats’ families from Bangladesh
New Delhi, Jan 21: As India decided to withdraw the families and dependents of Indian officials posted in Bangladesh amid rising security concerns following increased activities of extremist elements, leaders from the BJP, Shiv Sena (UBT), and the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) on Wednesday welcomed the move.
The decision comes just weeks ahead of the parliamentary elections in Bangladesh, scheduled amid heightened political tension and reports of violence targeting minorities.
Speaking to media, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi said the decision was necessary given the deteriorating law and order situation in Bangladesh.
“Considering the way targeted killings and mob lynchings are continuously taking place, and the kind of threat looming over the Hindu minority, it was essential to prioritise the safety of Indian diplomats and their families,” she said.
Chaturvedi also pointed to rising anti-India sentiments in Bangladesh.
“At the same time, anti-India hatred is increasing. I firmly believe that this dirty narrative has been deliberately started and appears to be influenced by Pakistan ahead of the Bangladesh elections. As elections are being held in the country, it is important to protect our diplomats. We all want free and fair elections to take place in Bangladesh and for democracy to return. India and Bangladesh share historic relations, and those ties should not deteriorate. However, the situation is clearly not right, which is why the families have been called back,” she added.
Uttar Pradesh Minister Sanjay Nishad also backed the government’s decision, stressing that India would act with caution and responsibility.
“India and Bangladesh have traditionally shared good relations, but when a bad ruler comes to power, even friendly nations start being viewed as adversaries. India played a key role in the creation of Bangladesh, yet today hostility is being displayed towards us. The rise of extremist and anti-Hindu ideology is unacceptable. India will take any decision on this issue after careful consideration,” Nishad said.
RJD MP Manoj Kumar Jha said the developments in Bangladesh should have been anticipated earlier. “I think India missed reading the developments in Bangladesh, whether during Sheikh Hasina’s time or after her ouster. We should not ignore the fact that such things were happening in our neighbouring country. I have said this many times—South Asia’s geography and politics are very different and require continuous dialogue,” he said.
Referring to recent visuals emerging from Bangladesh, Jha added, “The images coming out of the country are undoubtedly concerning and dangerous. In that context, withdrawing the families for security and safety reasons appears to be the correct decision.”
BJP spokesperson Pratul Shah Deo expressed concern over the violence unfolding ahead of Bangladesh’s general elections.
“The incidents taking place in Bangladesh show a disturbing pattern. Sanatanis and Hindus are being repeatedly targeted by jihadi elements. This charged atmosphere seems to be deliberately created to polarise voters and possibly delay elections. The Bangladesh government must take the situation seriously and act responsibly,” he said.
However, the Congress raised questions over the effectiveness of the move. Congress media in-charge Rakesh Sinha asked whether calling back diplomats’ families alone was enough.
“Is calling them back really a solution to the problem? Hindus are being killed in Bangladesh, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi keeps talking about infiltrators. What concrete action has been taken? The Prime Minister needs to address this issue seriously,” Sinha said.
He further alleged that the government was distracted by domestic electoral politics.
“The country’s Prime Minister is currently in election mode. Hindus are being killed, Shankaracharya’s disciples are being beaten, and the world is watching what India is doing in response,” he added.
According to sources, there is currently no clarity on when the families of Indian officials will be withdrawn or whether they will return to India temporarily or permanently, depending on the evolving security situation.
Apart from the Indian High Commission in Dhaka, India also maintains diplomatic posts in Chattogram, Khulna, Rajshahi, and Sylhet. Security at these missions has been tightened in recent weeks.
India-Bangladesh relations have remained strained since the interim government headed by Muhammad Yunus came to power in 2024 following the collapse of the Sheikh Hasina regime. Both countries have stepped up security at their diplomatic missions amid ongoing protests and political instability.
Violence against Hindus and other minorities in Bangladesh has reportedly increased since the death of student leader Sharif Osman Hadi on December 12, further raising concerns about the safety of minorities and foreign diplomatic personnel in the country.
Crime
MMRDA declares airport-adjacent structure illegal; Kirit Somaiya demands immediate demolition

Mumbai, Sep 10: Tensions have escalated near Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (Terminal 2) after the Maharashtra Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) confirmed that a religious structure operating near the high-security zone lacks statutory planning permissions and is unauthorised.
Former Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Kirit Somaiya has alleged a deliberate attempt at unauthorised land occupation — characterising the structure as “Land Jihad” — and has pressed state authorities and site operators to initiate criminal action against the trustees and individuals responsible.
Following complaints regarding unauthorised construction near sensitive airport land, MMRDA verified that no official approvals, building sanctions, or permissions were ever granted for the religious structure.
MMRDA has issued formal notices to Mumbai International Airport Limited (MIAL) directing the immediate removal and demolition of the unauthorised structure to ensure the perimeter remains clear.
Somaiya has formally requested both MMRDA and MIAL to go beyond physical clearance by registering a First Information Report (FIR) against the managing trustees and individuals associated with the illegal construction.
The controversy highlights ongoing scrutiny surrounding unauthorised encroachments adjacent to critical national infrastructure. Officials note that unregulated structures near VIP corridors, taxi parking lanes, and terminal facilities pose significant security hazards.
The matter aligns with previous judicial observations where courts have emphasised that public safety and secure zones near international hubs supersede unauthorised religious claims or structures erected without explicit administrative approvals.
Authorities from MIAL and local police departments are currently reviewing directives provided by MMRDA regarding execution steps and necessary security arrangements during the scheduled clearance drive.
Crime
Priyanka Gandhi office warns against her deepfake videos asking people to invest money

New Delhi, Sep 10: Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi on Thursday urged people to stay cautious of misleading and fabricated videos allegedly featuring her and asked them not to fall prey to fraudulent and deceitful calls for investment in real estate projects or any other futuristic ventures.
Priyanka Gandhi’s office flagged the issue after her deepfake videos surfaced and were seen in circulation on multiple social media platforms.
It has urged the Congress leader’s followers and others to neither click on those posts nor give consent to any requests made in the AI-generated video.
Issuing a formal scam alert on Instagram, Priyanka Gandhi’s office warned the public against fake, AI-generated videos that have apparently used her face and voice to cheat the people and hoodwink them into fraudulent investments.
“Fake videos using AI-generated images and voice of Smt Priyanka Gandhi Vadra ji is circulating on WhatsApp, Instagram and other social media platforms asking people to invest money,” Cong MP’s office informed on its Insta handle.
“These are scams. Please do not click or invest,” it further said.
The Congress MP also asked the people to block such posts at the first instance and also report them to the relevant authorities for suitable action.
Such scams using deepfake and AI-generated videos of famous personalities have mushroomed in the past few years, making many gullible investors prone to huge financial losses.
A deepfake video is made by using AI to simulate a person’s face and voice, making it a facsimile copy of the target.
The scammers distort and misuse the cutting-edge technology to generate misleading videos, featuring unauthorised images of prominent figures and then try to rob people of their money.
In the recent past, deepfake videos of industrialists like Infosys founder Narayana Murthy and Reliance’s Mukesh Ambani also surfaced, where the online scammers and fraudsters used AI-doctored videos to lure citizens into fraudulent investment traps, leading to huge losses to investors.
National News
Jammu Municipal Corporation demolishes 20 shops in Satwati area

Jammu, Sep 10: Jammu Municipal Corporation officials on Thursday demolished 20 shops in Satwati area of the city even as the shopkeepers alleged that no prior notice was served to them.
Reports said the Jammu Municipal Corporation today demolished around 20 shops at Satwari Chowk, triggering anger among shopkeepers who alleged that the decades old commercial establishments were demolished without any prior information or notification.
The shops, according to the affected shopkeepers, had been operating at the location for around 50 years, with the occupants claiming that they had been regularly paying monthly rent to the municipal authorities.
Angry shopkeepers alleged that the demolition was carried out without giving them adequate notice or information, leaving them with little opportunity to remove their belongings or make alternative arrangements. The action comes against the backdrop of the long-pending issue of rehabilitation of shopkeepers affected by development works in the Satwari area.
The UT Cabinet had earlier approved a rehabilitation and resettlement scheme for shopkeepers and open-space kiosks affected by road widening at Nai Basti, Satwari Chowk.
A Jammu Municipal Corporation official, however, said that the affected shopkeepers would be relocated to another site within six months.
The assurance has failed to convince the affected traders, who said they had heard assurances of rehabilitation earlier as well, but continued to face uncertainty over their livelihood. The issue of rehabilitation of Satwari shopkeepers has been raised repeatedly by traders’ bodies.
The Chamber of Commerce and Industry has previously stated that affected shopkeepers had been paying rent to the municipal authorities and had sought alternate sites and rehabilitation.
Shopkeepers affected by the Jammu Municipal Corporation actions argue that relocation promises are uncertain and have demanded immediate financial compensation.
In June 2026, Jammu Development Authority (JDA) cleared over 30 illegal structures near the Jammu railway station, reclaiming state land valued at Rs 10 crore.
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