Rajasthan Education Minister Madan Dilawar calls Akbar 'rapist, looter' in Assembly
Jaipur: Rajasthan Education Minister Madan Dilawar on Tuesday referred to Mughal emperor Akbar as a "rapist, invader, and looter" during a discussion on the demand for grants for the Education Department in the state Assembly.
Expressing dissatisfaction over the way historical figures are presented in school textbooks, Dilawar remarked, "It pains us to see how Maharana Pratap was belittled while Akbar was glorified. Calling him ‘great’ is an insult to the nation and its great men. This cannot be tolerated." He accused Akbar of setting up ‘meena bazaars’ and alleged that he exploited women.
His comments drew objections from some MLAs, to which he responded, “Akbar aapka kya lagta hai? (Who is Akbar to you?).” He also criticised Mughal ruler Aurangzeb, claiming that he persecuted Hindus, demolished temples, and imposed the jizya tax. Additionally, he questioned the portrayal of Taimur in textbooks, stating that describing him as "great" was inappropriate.
This is not the first time Dilawar has made such statements. In February last year, he had said, “To take Akbar’s name in India is a sin,” while making similar allegations.
Meanwhile, in a separate development, the Jaipur Literature Festival this year removed the ‘Mughal Tent,’ replacing it with a food court and introducing a new hall named ‘Surya Mahal.’
शिक्षा मंत्री @madandilawar जी ने कहाँ अकबर बलात्कारी, आक्रांता और लुटेरा था
— राजस्थानी काका 💪🙏 (@Rajsthanikaka) March 4, 2025
विधायक राजेंद्र पारीक जी ने टोका तो कहा- अकबर आपका क्या लगता है? 🙏 pic.twitter.com/szB9VRcw3Z
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NYC mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani rejoins Town Hall after ABC reinstates Jimmy Kimmel
New York: New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani said Monday evening that he is once again willing to participate in a local town hall hosted by ABC’s New York affiliate, after the network announced it would reinstate late-night host Jimmy Kimmel.
Earlier in the day, Mamdani, the Democratic nominee, had pulled out of the WABC-TV event to protest ABC’s suspension of Kimmel. “Last week, Disney/ABC caved to Trump administration pressure. Millions of Americans helped them find their backbone. Whether you watch Jimmy Kimmel or not, today’s decision is a victory for free speech,” Mamdani wrote on X.
ABC suspended Kimmel last week following backlash over his comments on the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. Nexstar and Sinclair stations had said they would refuse to air Jimmy Kimmel Live!, and FCC Chairman Brendan Carr threatened consequences if the network failed to act. Former President Donald Trump, who praised Kirk as a “great American hero,” applauded the suspension.
Kimmel’s remarks on his show had criticized those he said were seeking to “capitalize on the murder of Charlie Kirk.” The host has not issued a public statement since the controversy.
The suspension triggered an outcry over free speech, with more than 430 entertainment industry figures joining an ACLU-led letter denouncing the move as “a dark moment for freedom of speech in our nation.”
Mamdani, 33, had originally framed his withdrawal as a protest against corporate leadership, not local journalists, accusing Disney/ABC of “putting their bottom line ahead of their responsibility in upholding the freedom of the press.” After the reversal, he said his campaign was working with WABC to reschedule.
Mamdani will face former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, incumbent Mayor Eric Adams, and Republican Curtis Sliwa in the city’s November election.
