‘Won’t allow any Khan to become Mumbai Mayor’: BJP leader Ameet Satam sparks row after Mamdani’s NYC
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Mumbai: A political controversy has erupted in Mumbai after city BJP chief and Andheri West MLA Ameet Satam declared that his party “will not allow any Khan to become mayor,” drawing parallels between New York City’s recent mayoral election and the upcoming Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) polls.
Satam made the remarks on social media following the victory of Zohran Mamdani, the 34-year-old Indian-origin socialist who became New York City’s first South Asian and Muslim mayor.
Calling the trend “vote jihad,” Satam alleged that attempts were being made to bring to Mumbai “the same kind of politics” witnessed in New York. When asked to clarify, he said, “Some people are adopting the path of appeasement to maintain political power. It is necessary to protect Mumbai from such forces that have previously tried to divide society.”
The BJP leader added that while he supports religious harmony, his party would “oppose anyone who tries to divide society by adopting an anti-national stance.”
Satam’s remarks have come just months before the BMC election, where control over India’s richest civic body has long been shaped by local-versus-outsider narratives, a theme historically championed by the Shiv Sena and the MNS.
Political observers say Satam’s comments indicate the BJP may adopt a similar strategy this time. “We will always stand for the development and unity of Mumbai,” he said, adding that “Vande Mataram programmes are being organised across the city, and every citizen has the right to say this with pride. Any attempt to change the social and cultural identity of the city will not be acceptable.”
Zohran Mamdani, the son of Indian filmmaker Mira Nair and scholar Mahmood Mamdani, defeated former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, who ran as an independent, and Republican nominee Curtis Sliwa. His victory is being hailed as a return to progressive politics focused on working-class issues such as free childcare, rent freeze, and public transport reforms, but has also sparked backlash among right-wing groups globally, including in India.
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Woman duped of Rs 25 lakh in fake Canada visa scam; 1 held
Shimla (PTI): A woman has been arrested from Punjab for allegedly duping another woman of Rs 25 lakhs by promising her to arrange a visa for Canada, police said on Monday.
The accused has been identified as Manju Kumari, a resident of Punjab.
Senior Superintendent of Police SSP Shimla Gaurav Singh said that Manju had contacted the woman several months ago and had promised her to arrange a visa for Canada.
"After this, she asked for money for the same from the victim, which she transferred to her on multiple occasions. However, as time went by, Manju started to make various excuses and ignored her calls," the SSP said.
Upon suspecting being defrauded, the victim's brother registered a complaint, and a case was registered under sections 318 (4) (cheating), 61(2) (criminal conspiracy) and 352 (2) (intentional insults designed to provoke a breach of peace) of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), the SSP said.
"Police teams were sent to Haryana and Punjab, but she kept evading arrest as she kept changing her locations as well as her mobile numbers. However, the police teams successfully arrested her on Sunday from a flat located in Kharar in Punjab," he said.
Further investigation into the matter is underway, and the defrauded money is also being recovered, he added.
