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Defame, abuse Muslims: Abu Azmi slams Nitesh Rane’s remarks on madrasas

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Mumbai, Feb 13: Maharashtra Samajwadi Party (SP) MLA, Abu Azmi on Thursday launched a sharp attack on Minister Nitesh Rane over his demand for an investigation into madrasas across the state, accusing him of consistently trying to “defame Muslims.”

Rane had raised concerns about an illegal madrasa in Nandurbar’s Akkalkuwa taluka, where a Yemeni national was allegedly planning terror activities.

He urged the Maharashtra government to probe all madrasas in the state to ensure they were not promoting terrorism, specifically warning against links to extremist groups like the Taliban.

Reacting to Rane’s statements, Azmi told media, “I think Nitesh Rane should be given a position where his job is to shock and trouble Muslims, defame them, and abuse them. Every morning, he wakes up thinking of new ways to stay in the news.”

“I don’t think we need to respond to every statement made by Nitesh Rane. But I want to tell people that madrasas teach good values — they teach brotherhood, they teach love for the country. An individual can be wrong, but a madrasa cannot be wrong,” he said.

Azmi argued that the presence of illegal immigrants in a madrasa should not justify filing cases against all madrasas.

“For example, many Indians live illegally in America, the UK, or Saudi Arabia after their visas expire. They work for others, but cases are not filed against those who employ them. This is just his cheap politics,” he remarked.

Dismissing Rane’s allegations, Azmi suggested installing CCTV cameras in madrasas to prove that they focus on education rather than illegal activities. “People will then see that madrasas teach good things,” he added.

Earlier, Rane had told media, “I have written to our Chief Minister, requesting a thorough investigation into all madrasas in Maharashtra to determine whether they are genuinely focussed on education or involved in terrorist activities. There are concerns that they may be promoting groups like the Taliban. Are they trying to make students or trying to make (Osama) Bin Laden?”

“If such anti-national activities continue in Maharashtra’s madrasas, then all of them should be shut down,” he had asserted.

He also highlighted recent action taken by the Maharashtra government in Akkalkuwa taluka, where an illegal madrasa was being run.

“A Yemeni citizen was involved in planning terrorist activities there. The investigation is being conducted by our Maharashtra police,” he had stated.

Rane had previously courted controversy in January when he called for a ban on burqas during Board examinations, citing concerns about potential malpractices.

In a letter to School Education Minister Dada Bhuse, Rane argued that allowing girl students to wear burqas inside examination halls could facilitate cheating and pose security risks.

Crime

MMRDA declares airport-adjacent structure illegal; Kirit Somaiya demands immediate demolition

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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.

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Crime

Priyanka Gandhi office warns against her deepfake videos asking people to invest money

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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.

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National News

Jammu Municipal Corporation demolishes 20 shops in Satwati area

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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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