Shah Rukh Khan and Mustafizur Rahman (Agency Image)

A political controversy has erupted around Kolkata Knight Riders’ decision to rope in Bangladeshi fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman for the 2026 Indian Premier League season, with strong objections being raised by sections of the Bharatiya Janata Party and several religious groups. The backlash is rooted in the current strain in India–Bangladesh relations and growing concerns over reports of violence in the neighbouring country. The flashpoint came after KKR secured Mustafizur for Rs 9.20 crore at the IPL auction held in December. While the signing was seen by the franchise as a purely cricketing move, it quickly spilled into the political arena, particularly because Kolkata is set to host multiple IPL matches next season.

BJP leader Kaustav Bagchi publicly warned against allowing Bangladeshi players to feature in matches held in the city. Issuing a strongly worded statement, Bagchi said, “If any Bangladeshi cricketer is included in the IPL team and wants to play a match in Kolkata, we won’t let it do it. We won’t even let Shah Rukh Khan enter Kolkata.” He went further, linking the issue to broader geopolitical and social concerns. “Bangladeshi cricketers like Mustafizur Rahman will earn crores of money and other Bangladeshi will supply firearms and our Hindu brothers will be killed with these weapons. It cannot be run simultaneously,” Bagchi added. The remarks have intensified debate around the presence of overseas players from Bangladesh in the IPL, particularly in light of reports highlighting attacks on Hindu minorities across the border. Religious groups have echoed similar concerns, arguing that sporting engagement should not be detached from the prevailing political and humanitarian situation.

Mumbai: A wanted accused who was on the run for over three decades was arrested recently by the Oshiwara police from Uttar Pradesh. Police said the accused, H Yadav, had been booked in a case of attempted murder in Oshiwara in 1994. The accused left the city and went into hiding after the crime. The court had issued a non-bailable arrest warrant against him.Senior officials said that with the municipal corporation elections around the corner, their teams rechecked old cases and started to look for wanted accused persons. During the probe, they got hold of Yadav’s phone number and tracked down his location to UP.On New Year’s Eve, the Oshiwara police team landed in UP and arrested Yadav, after which the accused was brought to Mumbai and produced before a court here.

NEW DELHI: BJP working president Nitin Nabin is likely to be formally elected the party’s president before the budget session, which usually starts in Jan last week, setting off an organisational overhaul.Sources said the election process for national president is expected to begin after January 14, which marks the start of an auspicious period from Makar Sankranti. Nadda was elected on January 20, 2020, in place of Amit Shah after seven months as working president.With”generational change” being the catchphrase within BJP after the elevation of Nabin (45), there is a strong view that the new team of office-bearers, appointed after the election of the party president, will carry forward the imprint.

PUNE: Nationalist Congress Party leader and former corporator Amol Balwadkar contesting from ward no 9 (Sus-Baner-Pashan) on Friday cautioned political opponents against making derogatory or misleading remarks about senior NCP leader and Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar. Speaking at an event in the city, Balwadkar said that leaders who, in his view, are associated with controversial elements should refrain from attempting to lecture Ajit Pawar on political conduct.

He also made an indirect reference to certain elected representatives from Pune, stating that MPs who secured victory largely on the appeal of Prime Minister Narendra Modi should first introspect before commenting on Ajit Pawar’s political leadership. Balwadkar added that the role played by the Nationalist Congress Party in their electoral success should not be ignored.Balwadkar warned that any future statements made in a disrespectful tone or aimed at misleading the public about Ajit Pawar would be responded to appropriately. He said differences of opinion were part of democratic politics, but personal remarks and unfounded allegations would not be acceptable.Referring to past issues, Balwadkar also recalled the Jain Boarding financial irregularities case in Pune, suggesting that public memory of such matters remains relevant in political discussions. He concluded by saying that his remarks were intended to underline the need for restraint and responsibility in political discourse.

Mumbai: A day after a masked man barged into the Andheri (E) home of a college-going girl, assaulted and robbed her at knifepoint, MIDC police tracked down and nabbed the accused on Friday. It turned out that the accused, Anil Yadav, used to work as a security guard in the same building where the 22-year-old victim lived.The victim was alone at home. The accused arrived at her house posing as a delivery boy. When the victim opened the door, he barged in and threatened her at knifepoint. He then forced her to give up whatever money she had. The girl had a sum of Rs 2,000 which she handed over to him. The accused gagged her and tried to strangle her. He beat her up before fleeing from the house. The girl was rushed to a hospital where she is recuperating. Under the supervision of DCP Datta Nalawade and senior inspector Ravindra Wani, four police teams were formed. One of the CCTV cameras had captured a masked man enter the society in an autorickshaw. The police teams then obtained the phone number of the accused.

NEW DELHI: Blowing the bugle for restoration of job guarantee scheme with a 45-day ‘MGNREGA bachao sangram’ from January 8, Congress on Saturday said it will also legally challenge VB-GRAMG in court because it violates a key provision of the Constitution.As it released a three-level agitation plan which will see outreach at panchayat level and end with four national rallies, Congress’ K C Venguopal and Jairam Ramesh said the nationwide struggle with maximum mobilisation will force Modi govt to restore the job guarantee scheme just like it had to roll back the three ‘black farm laws’.

VB-G RAM G Replaces MGNREGA: What changes?

AICC clarified the 45-day programme is the first-phase of the ‘sangram’ which will be extended beyond Feb 25. Party president Mallikarjun Kharge said, “We will resist, peacefully and firmly, from every panchayat to Parliament.” “Centre has put 40% financial burden of the job scheme under the new law on the states. No state is in a position to provide these funds. So, the idea is to end the scheme,” Venugopal and Ramesh said.Ramesh argued MGNREGA was the responsibility of Centre but VB-G RAM G mentions upfront that the funding will be shared 60:40 between Centre and states. He said Article 258 talks about putting the funding burden on states “as may be agreed upon”, but no discussion was held with states. “The law is a violation of Article 258 and we will challenge it in court,” he said. Venugopal said the new law will deprive panchayats of funds and right to plan the work.

Mumbai: The Vatican, through the archdiocese of Bombay, has appointed Msgr Stephen Fernandes as its new auxiliary bishop. The ordination took place at Our Lady of Salvation Church in Dadar on Saturday. At the time of his announcement, Bishop Fernandes served at the apostolic nunciature in New Delhi, and resided at the CBCI Centre. He is the theological counsellor to the Catholic Medical Guild of St Luke, Mumbai.Bp Fernandes was born Sept 21, 1961. He took degrees in Commerce followed by B.Ed. from the University of Mumbai. He completed his priestly formation at St Pius Seminary in Goregaon and was ordained a priest on March 31, 1990. The ceremony was presided over by Archbishop Leopoldo Girelli, apostolic nuncio to India, apart from archbishop of Bombay John Rodrigues, representatives of the Vatican and 30 senior bishops and archbishops.

Mumbai: A Central Railway ticket checker was assaulted by two commuters at Sewri station following a dispute over tickets on the first day of the new year. Wadala Govt Railway Police has registered an FIR against two individuals, one of whom remains unidentified.On Jan 1, the complainant, Dhananjay Yadav, and his colleague, Sudhir Manjhi, were checking tickets of passengers at Sewri station. Around 4.30 pm, when a CSMT local arrived, the two ticket checkers started asking passengers in the first class coach to produce their tickets. Manjhi came across a passenger carrying a second-class ticket and asked him to pay a fine. The passenger started to argue with him. At this, Yadav intervened and asked the passenger to remain seated if he did not wish to pay a fine and that he would be taken to the Railway Protection Force (RPF) chowky at CSMT and subsequently to court. The passenger allegedly verbally abused Yadav and assaulted him on face and hands. Co-passengers stepped in to Yadav’s rescue. An unknown commuter allegedly issued threats stating that he had already spent a year in prison and dared the ticket checkers to approach the cops.When the train reached CSMT, co-passengers helped the ticket checkers take the two errant passengers to the Govt Railway Police (GRP). They were sent for a medical examination to St George’s Hospital when one of them escaped. The other commuter was identified as Shabbir Shaikh, 23, a dance tutor from Govandi. Yadav was also taken to the hospital and administered treatment. Wadala GRP registered an FIR against Shaikh and the other unidentified commuter who fled.

Kalyan: A 35-year-old woman was allegedly murdered over a dispute related to gratuity fund money by her mother-in-law with the help of the latter’s friend in Kalyan. Both accused have been arrested. The incident, which appeared to be an accidental death, was later confirmed as a case of premeditated murder. The deceased has been identified as Rupali Gangurde (35), an employee of Indian Railways. Gangurde was found lying under the bridge in a pool of blood. Gangurde’s husband, Vilas Gangurde, who worked with the Indian Railways, had died in Sept. After his death, the widow received approximately Rs 9-10 lakh as gratuity and other financial benefits. Police said that Latabai wanted a share of the gratuity money.