Rashmika Mandanna praises Atal Setu, lauds Modi in an ANI interview
Actress Rashmika Mandanna praised Atal Setu, the longest sea bridge in India which was inaugurated by the PM in January, as ‘unbelievable’ for the way it has drastically cut down the travelling time between Navi Mumbai and Mumbai. She also lauded Modi in her on the road interview to ANI along the Mumbai bridge on Tuesday.
Calling Atal Setu a game changer for transportation network of the second largest megacity in India, Mandanna stated that “The journey of two hours can be done in 20 minutes… You wouldn't even believe it! Who would have thought that something like this would have been possible. From Navi Mumbai to Mumbai, Goa to Mumbai and Bangalore to Mumbai, when all the journeys [are] made so easily and with such amazing infrastructure… It makes me proud!"
Commenting on how infrastructure developments only seen in western countries were now made possible in India, Rashmika Mandanna said, “Indians are not willing to hear ‘No’ anymore. Now at least India is not stopping anywhere. Nobody is saying that it’s not possible in India [anymore]… Look at our country grow… I think now it’s the ‘Haan’ (yes) time”.
Expressing amazement at how India had turned ‘unstoppable’ in the last 10 years, an indirect praise directed at PM Modi’s rule in India, Mandanna called the growth ‘freaking brilliant’. Lauding the infrastructure development being done in the country, Mandanna agreed with the ANI correspondent when he said that projects like Atal Setu took ‘decades to complete earlier and this was done in just 7 years’. “Everything, it is just brilliant - I think now it's our time!... it's all done in seven years and it's 20 km. It's amazing! Look at it. I am speechless honestly... India is the smartest country, I would like to say!" she added.
Speaking about the future prospects of the country, the actress stated that young India was growing at ‘such fast speed’ and the youth were being ‘very responsible’ and were not easily influenced by ‘whatever you say’. Declaring that the country was heading in ‘the right way’, Mandanna said, “As a young Indian, to all of you from this majestic architecture-the majestic infrastructure Atal Setu, Vikas aur development rukna nahi chahiye, vikas aur development keliye vote kariye. (Progress and development must not stop, please vote for progress and development)”.
However the actress’ comments have received mixed responses in social media. While some where happy with her good words about the developments in the country, many others wondered if she would follow the path of Bollywood actress Kangana Ranaut to politics or whether she was afraid of an IT raid due to her increasing income. Rashmika Mandanna, seen last with Ranbir Kapoor in ‘Animal’, is waiting for the release of her next film ‘Pushpa 2: The Rule’. She is also starring against Salman Khan in the A R Murugadoss’ movie ‘Sikander’, produced by Sajid Nadiadwala, set to release in 2025.
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Here's how netizens, media outlets projected Ashwini Kumar's bomb threat as 'Lashkar-e-Jihadi'
Mumbai: Mumbai was thrown into panic late on Thursday night when police received a WhatsApp message warning of a large-scale terror attack during the Ganesh festival. The message, written in the name of a jihadi group called “Lashkar-e-Jihadi,” claimed that 14 Pakistani terrorists had entered Mumbai with 400 kilograms of RDX loaded in 34 vehicles.
It warned of blasts that could kill as many as one crore people. Authorities immediately declared a high alert, and the case was handed over to the Crime Branch while the Anti-Terrorism Squad and other security agencies were put on standby.
Within hours, the threat made national headlines. Television channels and online portals reported the possibility of a terror strike, repeatedly linking the message to Pakistan-based groups.
The incident was projected as yet another attempt to destabilize Mumbai, and the supposed involvement of a jihadi outfit quickly gained traction across the media. However, a swift investigation by Mumbai Police traced the origin of the message to a very different source.
By Saturday, police had tracked down and arrested Ashwin Kumar Supra, a 50-year-old astrologer and Vastu consultant living in Sector 79 of Noida. Originally from Patna, Kumar admitted during interrogation that he had sent the message using the name of his former friend Firoz. In 2023, Firoz had lodged a fraud case against him at Phulwari Sharif police station in Patna, leading to Kumar’s three-month imprisonment. Seeking revenge, Kumar attempted to frame Firoz by posing as a jihadi terrorist. Police recovered his mobile phone, SIM cards, and other digital devices used in the hoax.
When the threat first came to light, social media was flooded with heated reactions. Journalist @Manju_IBNews wrote, “Another election around the corner!” while user @kv_mcu posted an aggressive comment demanding to “ban Islam and burn the Quran,” calling for mass deportations and tying the incident to culture and religion. In response, @RIMMS51979 countered sharply, saying, “Caller Name is Ashvini kumar what will you burn now.” Another user, @Valkyrie00777, questioned the credibility of the threat, pointing to contradictions in the claim that 14 terrorists had entered India with 34 bombs and 400 kilograms of RDX. Meanwhile, @Liberal51601607 remarked, “Terrorists have no religion.. Anyone..?”
Fact-checkers also weighed in. @zoo_bear (Mohammed Zubair) accused NDTV of omitting crucial context, posting: “Adani's TV hasn't mentioned that the accused Ashwini Kumar sent the bomb threat message to Mumbai police in the name of his friend Firoz to frame him.” The fact-check website Aazad Fact Check (@AazadFactCheck) published a detailed rebuttal, saying the story had quickly evolved into a propaganda tool. It noted that the supposed intelligence about “human bombs in vehicles” was technically flawed and described the entire sequence as “a pure example of Indian narrative building before a false flag operation.”
Adani's TV hasn't mentioned that the accused Ashwini Kumar sent the bomb threat message to Mumbai police in the name of his friend Firoz to frame him. https://t.co/17nZxYOrql
— Mohammed Zubair (@zoo_bear) September 6, 2025
After Ashwini Kumar’s arrest, the tone of the online conversation shifted sharply. Activist @ShabnamHashmi posted, “Ashwini Kumar 50 Year Old Astrologer from Noida has been arrested for sending these threats in the name of a Muslim. This is how Sangh sleeper cells are spreading hatred. Stop the Hate factory! Vote Out the Vote Chori Gang.” Journalist @indscribe (Shams Ur Rehman Alavi) observed that newspapers splashed the initial threat on front pages but buried the arrest details inside. “When the guy gets caught, the same newspapers don't publish his photo, relegate it to page 14 or reduce it to a single column… Interest gone after ‘name’ found,” he wrote.
Ashwini Kumar 50 Year Old Astrologer from Noida has been arrested for sending these threats in the name of a Muslim. This is how Sangh sleeper cells are spreading hatred
— Shabnam Hashmi (@ShabnamHashmi) September 6, 2025
Stop the Hate factory !
Vote Out the Vote Chori Gang pic.twitter.com/IzpLjWVJgu
Other users highlighted systemic and political angles. @shfique13 argued that there are now “two laws” in the country—one protecting those aligned with the government and another used to suppress truth-tellers. @SoodRajive claimed the episode was staged, alleging Kumar had been paid to frame a minority and calling it “a staged toolkit drama.” User @hussain2577 wrote sarcastically, “Such an innocent n bright person. Plzz grant him bail, Garland him, Give him BJP membership form.” Another account, @Sangliyana, remarked, “Risking his life just to frame a Muslim boy. This is what 11 years corrupting mind.” Finally, @rsbisht__ argued that Kumar’s only aim was to trap Firoz, linking it to what he described as rising hatred against Muslims in Uttar Pradesh under the Modi and Yogi administrations.
