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Spreads hate yet no action taken against him: Oppn leaders slam Nitesh Rane’s ‘Kerala mini-Pak’ quip

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Mumbai, Dec 30: Maharashtra’s newly-appointed BJP minister, Nitesh Rane, has landed in hot water following his “mini-Pakistan” remarks on Kerala.

Speaking at a programme in Pune, Rane referred to Kerala as a “mini-Pakistan” and alleged that “only extremists in Kerala” vote for members of the Gandhi family, including Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi.

Rane’s statement has triggered a political storm, drawing severe criticism from Opposition parties, who accused him of “spreading hatred” and demanded immediate action against him.

Speaking to media, Samajwadi Party MP Abu Azmi slammed Rane, saying, “He is such a small person. A cabinet of hatred should be formed for him as he always talks about hatred. Such baseless statements are made without any consequences. Even the Supreme Court has said that people who spread hatred should be punished, yet no action is taken against him.”

Azmi also defended Kerala, stating, “Calling a state ‘mini-Pakistan’ is completely wrong. Kerala is a state that does not align with hatred. That’s what troubles him. Rahul Gandhi has been winning elections before as well. His father and grandmother sacrificed their lives for the nation, and his mother continues to struggle for the country.”

“People like Rane aim only to spread hatred towards Muslims, degrade them, and appease the majority to gain power. This must be why he was allotted his portfolio. Such statements expose their true intentions,” he said.

Shiv Sena (UBT) spokesperson Anand Dubey accused the BJP of benefiting politically from such divisive remarks.

“Since the Prime Minister won from Banaras with just around one lakh votes, the BJP has been restless. The real blow came when Priyanka Gandhi won from Wayanad by lakhs of votes. Now they resort to defaming Kerala by calling it ‘mini-Pakistan’ and alleging terrorists live there,” he told media.

“These statements are made to spread poison and reap political benefits. Leaders like Rane are rewarded with ministerial posts, similar to Giriraj Singh and Himanta Biswa Sarma,” he said.

Former TMC MP Majeed Memon also lambasted Rane, stressing the constitutional responsibilities of a minister.

“Kerala has the highest literacy rate. Calling it ‘mini-Pakistan’ and associating it with extremism is shameful. The Home Ministry, agencies, and the Centre must intervene, and serious action should be taken,” he said.

Speaking to media, Memon urged Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to act, stating, “If someone who has sworn to uphold the Constitution can claim that a part of the nation is part of Pakistan, how can they respect their oath? Such individuals should not remain in ministerial posts even for a minute. However, the Chief Minister will not take action as Rane is one of his favourites.”

Senior Congress leader Pawan Khera joined the criticism, questioning BJP’s stance on Kerala elections.

“Are they claiming Kerala is outside the Indian borders? Such unconstitutional statements reveal their desperation. They were unable to create history, so now they want to change geography,” Khera told media.

As Opposition leaders demand accountability, the controversy surrounding Rane’s remarks has highlighted concerns over political discourse and the responsibilities of public officials in maintaining national unity.

Entertainment

Satish Shah, who tickled everyone with his comic timing, is no more; he died of kidney failure

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New Delhi, Oct 25: Actor Satish Shah, known for his roles in comedy films, has passed away. The news of his death has sent shockwaves among fans. Indian producer Ashoke Pandit confirmed the actor’s death. He shared an emotional post on social media informing about the actor’s demise.

Indian producer Ashoke Pandit posted a photo of Satish Ravilal Shah on Instagram and wrote, “It is with great sadness and shock that we inform you that our dear friend and a wonderful actor, Satish Shah, passed away a few hours ago due to kidney failure. He was taken to Hinduja Hospital, where he breathed his last. This is a huge loss for our industry.” Ashoke Pandit also shared the actor’s home address on social media.

Satish Shah was born into a Gujarati family. He was a face of television and cinema that brought laughter and laughter. He distinguished himself with his unparalleled acting. Whether it was a small role on TV or a major role on screen, he played them with full dedication.

Shah began his career in 1970 with the film “Bhagwan Parshuram,” but the film failed to bring him recognition. He then appeared in Arvind Desai’s 1978 film “Ajeeb Dastaan.” His role in this film was small, followed by the 1983 film “Jaane Bhi Do Yaaron,” which proved to be a milestone in his career.

Satish Shah was last seen in the film “Humshakals,” which was released in 2014. The film starred Saif Ali Khan, Riteish Deshmukh, and Ram Kapoor in lead roles. The actor played a small supporting role in the film. The film was directed by Sajid Khan and didn’t perform well on screen.

In his personal life, Satish Shah was a very simple person. He didn’t like attending parties and preferred home-cooked food. In an interview, the actor revealed, “I am one of the few people who loves home-cooked food, and the food at my home is as good as any party food.”

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Crime

Rave party serving liquor in dry-state Gujarat raided; 15 detained

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Ahmedabad, Oct 25: Police raided a rave party in Gujarat’s Ahmedabad, leading to the detention of 15 people who were consuming alcohol in the dry state.

The Bopal Police acted after receiving a tip-off about the party at Zephyr Farmhouse near Shilaj, where both liquor and drugs were reportedly being used.

Upon reaching the venue, police found 15 individuals, including 13 foreign nationals from Nigeria, Mozambique, Kenya, and other African countries, alongside two Indians, intoxicated.

Investigations revealed that the organisers had printed special passes for the party, advertising “unlimited alcohol”, showing the scale and planning behind the event.

All 15 attendees have been detained, a case has been registered, and further inquiries are underway to identify the main organisers, the farmhouse owner, and the source of the liquor in a state where alcohol is banned.

Gujarat has maintained a strict prohibition on alcohol since 1960 under the Gujarat Prohibition Act, 1949, which bans the sale, consumption, and manufacture of liquor across the state.

The law applies to all forms of alcoholic beverages, including Indian-made foreign liquor (IMFL), country-made liquor, and spirits. Exceptions exist only for medicinal, industrial, and export purposes, subject to government permission. Violations of the Act carry severe penalties, including imprisonment, fines, and seizure of property involved in the illegal trade.

Despite Gujarat’s strict prohibition laws, the illegal liquor trade remains a significant issue.

In 2024, authorities seized approximately 82 lakh bottles of liquor valued at Rs 144 crore across the state. Ahmedabad alone accounted for over 4.38 lakh bottles, with 2,139 cases involving IMFL and 7,796 cases related to country-made liquor. Notably, the State Monitoring Cell (SMC) registered 455 cases, confiscating liquor worth Rs 22.5 crore and total items valued at nearly Rs 52 crore.

In a significant operation, the SMC seized over 8,500 bottles of foreign-made liquor worth Rs 1.19 crore in Chotila taluka, Surendranagar.

Additionally, in a mid-sea raid off Una, Rajkot, authorities intercepted a boat carrying liquor worth Rs 25 lakh.

These seizures reflect ongoing efforts to combat the illegal liquor trade, which often involves smuggling from neighbouring states like Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh.

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Crime

Police arrest accused Prashant Bankar in Maharashtra doctor’s suicide case

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New Delhi, Oct 25: Police in Maharashtra’s Satara district arrested one accused on Saturday in connection with the death of a female doctor who allegedly committed suicide after being repeatedly raped by a police officer and being pressurised by an MP to falsify medical reports of accused in cases.

According to officials, the arrested person has been identified as Prashant Bankar, the son of the doctor’s landlord whose name was mentioned in her four-page suicide note.

The deceased doctor, a native of Beed district, was posted as a medical officer at a government hospital in Phaltan, Satara. On Thursday night, she was found hanging in a hotel room under mysterious circumstances. Shockingly, she had written a suicide note on her palm, naming Sub-Inspector Gopal Badane and Prashant Bankar, accusing the police officer of rape and Prashant of mental harassment.

After Prashant’s arrest, police said he will be produced before the court and his custody will be sought for further investigation. Meanwhile, Sub-Inspector Badane has been suspended, and a detailed enquiry is underway. Both accused have been booked at the Phaltan Police Station. Satara SP Tushar Doshi confirmed that the rape allegations and Prashant’s role are being thoroughly investigated.

The female doctor who allegedly committed suicide left behind a detailed four-page suicide note apart from the inked note on the palm of her hand, stating that a police officer raped her four times and exerted pressure on her to issue fake fitness certificates for accused persons in police cases. It has now emerged in her note that she was allegedly under pressure not only from police officials but also from a Member of Parliament (MP) and his personal assistants.

The woman doctor, who worked as a medical officer at the Phaltan sub-district hospital, wrote on her palm that she had been raped four times by Sub-Inspector Gopal Badane and subjected to mental and physical abuse for over five months.

Originally from Beed district, the doctor had been working at the hospital for 23 months.

Gopal Badane is a police officer, while Prashant Bankar is the son of the landlord in the house where the doctor lived.

She had complained 21 times to various authorities, but no action was taken against her tormentors.

Recounting a particular instance in her note, the doctor said she had refused to issue a certificate and two personal assistants of an MP had come to the hospital and made her speak to him over the phone. She stated in her note that during that conversation, the MP had threatened her indirectly.

Her cousin also made similar allegations about the doctor being made to falsify medical certificates.

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