New Delhi, Oct 11: Rahul Gandhi, Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the Lok Sabha, on Saturday backed Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra’s criticism of the Centre over the Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi’s press conference in Delhi, where women journalists were not permitted to participate.

Muttaqi, a senior leader in the Taliban government, is known for overseeing policies that severely restrict women’s rights in Afghanistan, including bans on employment and education.

India has maintained a cautious stance towards engaging with the Taliban due to its human rights record and concerns about Afghanistan becoming a haven for terror groups.

Reposting Priyanka Gandhi’s X post, Rahul Gandhi said, “Mr Modi, when you allow the exclusion of women journalists from a public forum, you are telling every woman in India that you are too weak to stand up for them.”

He said that in India, women have the right to equality in every sector and slammed the Centre’s silence over the press conference issue.

“In our country, women have the right to equal participation in every space. Your silence in the face of such discrimination exposes the emptiness of your slogans on Nari Shakti,” LoP Gandhi added.

Earlier in the day, Congress MP Priyanka questioned how the Central government is committed to women’s empowerment if such insults towards female journalists are allowed in India.

In a post on X, Priyanka Gandhi said, “Prime Minister Narendra Modi, please clarify your position on the removal of female journalists from the press conference of the representative of the Taliban on his visit to India.”

“If your recognition of women’s rights isn’t just convenient posturing from one election to the other, then how has this insult to some of India’s most competent women been allowed in our country, a country whose women are its backbone and its pride,” she said.

The Centre, however, denied any role in the “ban” on women journalists in Muttaqi’s press conference.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) clarified that invitations to the press event were sent by Afghanistan’s Consul General in Mumbai to selected journalists based in Delhi for the Afghan minister’s visit. The Afghan Embassy’s premises are outside Indian government jurisdiction, NDTV reported, quoting the ministry.

Mahanagar Gas Limited (MGL) conducted a comprehensive mock drill at its City Gate Station (CGS) in Taloja CNG Refueling Outlet (RO) recently to reaffirm the preparedness and responsiveness of its team in managing crisis situations and to comply with regulatory requirements.

“The exercise simulated a critical gas leakage leading to a fire outbreak in a CNG Transport Vehicle (CTV) during refueling at the CNG RO, including an emergency scenario involving the associated piping system. The drill tested the response time and appropriateness of actions taken by the on-ground team” said an official.

According to an official, mock drill was carried out in collaboration with multiple agencies including the Taloja Fire Brigade, local Police authorities, Traffic Police, Mutual Aid Response Group (MARG), District Disaster Management Cell (Raigad), Taloja Manufacturer’s Association, Directorate of Industrial Safety and Health (DISH), and GAIL authorities. Each agency played a vital role in executing coordinated efforts to handle the simulated emergency.

Following the drill, representatives from the Fire Brigade, Police, and MARG provided valuable feedback and suggestions to improve future response strategies. A senior official from the District Disaster Management Cell was also present at the site to observe the proceedings.

“This drill reinforces MGL’s continuous efforts to ensure safety and swift response in emergency situations, safeguarding personnel, infrastructure, and the community” official further added.

Mumbai: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) seized Rs 42 lakh in cash, three luxury cars, property papers, and several digital devices during a search operation on Wednesday targeting a drug trafficking and money laundering network. The agency also froze multiple bank accounts and a locker linked to alleged drug trafficker Faisal Javed Shaikh and his wife, Alfiya Faisal Shaikh.

Officials said the searches were conducted at nine locations across Mumbai under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002. The operation aimed to trace the drug sale proceeds generated by a well-established narcotics network allegedly operated by the couple.

The ED initiated its money laundering probe based on a case registered by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), Mumbai Zonal Unit, against multiple accused, including Faisal Shaikh, Alfiya Shaikh, and several others, including Ashik Varis Ali, Nasir Khan, Irfan Yusuf Faruqi, Azim Abu Salim Khan alias Azim Bhau, Faizan Mohd. Shafi Shaikh, and Mohd. Shahid Faridudin Chaudhary alias Baboos.

Investigators said Faisal Shaikh was procuring MD (Mephedrone) drugs from Salim Dola, a notorious drug kingpin who has been wanted by law enforcement agencies for his alleged role in large-scale narcotics trafficking. The NCB has announced a reward for information leading to Dola’s arrest.

After securing bail in the NCB case, Shaikh, described by officials as a habitual offender, was placed under preventive detention under the PIT-NDPS Act.

The ED’s probe revealed that Faisal and Alfiya Shaikh allegedly ran a structured network for the sale of MD drugs sourced from Dola. During Wednesday’s searches, the agency also covered premises connected to several individuals associated with shell companies with paper transactions exceeding Rs 100 crore, as well as firms involved in foreign outward remittances and financial dealings with the accused. Officials said these entities are being examined for their possible role in layering drug proceeds and routing the funds abroad through channels such as hawala, shell companies, and trade-based mis-invoicing.

Officials said the ED searches were critical to tracing both the “forward linkage” (movement of drug sale proceeds) and “backward linkage” (sources, beneficiaries, and conduits of funds), including whether the proceeds were channelled abroad via hawala, shell companies, or trade mis-invoicing. The seized and frozen assets including cash, bank accounts, lockers, vehicles, property documents, and digital devices are being examined under the lens of money laundering.