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Thu, 28 March 2024
Gangster-turned-politician Mukhtar Ansari dead
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23:20 NEET aspirant hangs self in Kota, 7th suicide since Jan
A 19-year-old NEET aspirant allegedly hanged herself at her PG room in Kota, the seventh suicide by a coaching student in the city since the beginning of this year, police said on Thursday.
Somya Kurmi committed suicide by hanging from the ceiling fan late Wednesday night, DSP Rajesh Tailor told PTI.
A day earlier, another NEET aspirant Mohammad Urooj (20) was found dead at his PG accommodation in Vigyan Nagar.
According to police, when Kurmi did not open her room, her friends broke open the door and found her hanging.
A native of Amethi town in Uttar Pradesh's Lucknow, Kurmi had been preparing for the competitive NEET exam from a coaching institute in Kota for over a year, DSP Tailor said, adding that she had recently shifted to this PG in Mahavir Nagar about a month ago.
A note has been recovered from the student's room but the police were yet to verify its relevance with the suicide, the DSP said.
During investigation, police found that earlier this week, the woman had some health complications and was admitted to MBS Hospital. She was discharged after a day of treatment.
After conducting a post-mortem, the body was handed over to the parents after they reached Kota on Thursday noon, Jawahar Nagar SHO Kamlesh Kumar Sharma said.
A case has been registered on the basis of the parents' complaint and further probe is underway, the SHO said while denying that any suicide note was recovered from her room.
This is the seventh case of suicide by a coaching student in Kota since January.
In 2023, there were 26 suspected suicide cases of coaching students in Kota. -- PTI
23:01 Gangster-turned-politician Mukhtar Ansari dead
Jailed gangster-turned-politician Mukhtar Ansari died at the Banda Medical College in Uttar Pradesh on Thursday following a cardiac arrest, its principal said.
Earlier in the day, Ansari was taken to the hospital after his health deteriorated, his lawyer said.
Banda Medical College principal Suneel Kaushal confirmed to PTI that Ansari died of a cardiac arrest at the facility.
He was hospitalised for around 14 hours on Tuesday after he complained of abdominal pain.
Mukhtar Ansari, 60, is a five-time former MLA from Mau Sadar seat and has been behind bars in UP and Punjab since 2005.
He has over 60 criminal cases pending against him.
He was sentenced in eight cases since September 2022 by different courts of UP and was lodged in the Banda jail.
His name was on the list of 66 gangsters issued by Uttar Pradesh Police last year.
Earlier, his brother and Ghazipur MP Afzal Ansari, who reached the hospital, alleged that he was given poison in jail. -- PTI
22:45 Shajahan Sheikh sent to judicial remand till April 9
A court in West Bengal's North 24 Parganas district on Thursday remanded suspended Trinamool Congress leader Shajahan Sheikh in connection with a case on the mob attack on Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials at Sandeshkhali in January.
Sheikh has been in Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) custody since March 6.
The Calcutta high court transferred the investigation to the central agency from the state police.
When the CBI produced him before the court of the First Additional Judicial Magistrate in Basirhat, the judge remanded Sheikh and two others to judicial custody till April 9.
ED officials were attacked by a mob when they went to search the premises of Sheikh at Sandeshkhali on January 5 in connection with the agency's investigation into an alleged ration distribution scam case, in which a former minister of the state has been arrested.
Sheikh, a key accused also in sexual assault and land grab in Sandeshkhali, was arrested by the state police on February 29 after being on the run for 55 days. -- PTI
IMAGE: CBI officials take suspended Trinamool Congress (TMC) strongman and Sandeshkhali incident accused Shahjahan Sheikh to Basirhat Court, in Kolkata on Thursday. Photograph: ANI Photo
21:59 3 killed as Chennai pub's ceiling collapses
At least three persons, including two from Manipur, were killed when the ceiling of a pub collapsed in Chennai, a senior police official said.
The incident took place at the popular bar Sekhmet on Chamiers Road in the upmarket locality of Alwarpet in the city.
The victims were employees of the pub, the official said.
The cause of the incident is not immediately known. Further probe is on, he added.
Representational image. Pic: Reuters
21:53 Power breakdown in parts of South Mumbai
Pockets in south Mumbai plunged into darkness on Thursday night due to a power failure.
Localities such as Mahapalika Marg, Marine Lines and Crawford Market experienced the electricity outage due to a power tripping from about 8.35 pm, officials said, adding that efforts to restore supply are on.
The financial capital has an islanding system which generally ensures continuity in power supply.
21:23 Mahakal fire caused by 'gulal' falling on aarti: Ujjain collector
The fire in Ujjain's Mahakal Temple on March 25 that left 14 priests and 'sevaks' injured was caused by 'gulal' falling on the 'kapoor' (camphor) aarti, a senior official said on Thursday quoting from a preliminary report.
The blaze took place during 'bhasma aarti' at 5.50 pm in the 'garbha griha' of the renowned temple on Holi.
"The probe committee has submitted its preliminary report. It has been found that gulal, which was not provided by the temple management, fell on 'kapoor' (camphor) aarti and caused the blaze. It was extinguished in four to five seconds but the intensity was such that several persons sustained 25-30 percent burns," Ujjain Collector Neeraj Kumar Singh told PTI.
"The probe committee also found violations related to number of people inside the temple as well the quantity and kind of gulal. Security personnel were not in their assigned duty areas and some of the places were locked, which resulted in delay as time was spent unlocking them," the collector added.
Negligence was found on part of the temple committee employees and appropriate action will be taken against them, he said.
"At present, four to five persons have been held primarily responsible for the incident. However, this number may increase once statements of all persons concerned are recorded. The final report will be submitted soon," Singh informed.
Following the incident, the collector had ordered a probe under Zilla Panchayat CEO Mrinal Meena and Additional Collector Anukool Jain. -- PTI
Rajnath Singh
21:02 Open to changes in Agniveer scheme if needed: Rajnath
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday defended the Agnipath scheme underlining that the future of youths joining as Agniveers would not be impacted, even as he said the government was "open" to bring any change in it "if required".
During a fireside chat on the concluding day of the Times Now Summit, Singh, while responding to a question on the criticism of the scheme, said such questions have "no standing" and underlined that everyone will accept that the armed forces should have a young profile.
He said recruiting youths would result in an increased risk-taking spirit and more tech-savvy jawans in the armed forces.
"Today is the age of technology and the Indian youth should also be tech-savvy. Such youths are being recruited under this scheme as Agniveers," Singh said.
The future of these youths will not be impacted by the scheme, there is a "guarantee" for that, he said.
During the interaction, the defence minister also asserted that India and its borders are "totally secure" and the people of the country should have full faith in the armed forces.
On the Agnipath scheme, the defence minister said, "Whatever changes may be brought in the system, and further looking into their future, the provision of reservation in services, all these have been ensured."
"And, if we see any drawbacks in it, then we are also ready to rectify them," he added.
The minister said that the government will be "open to changes, if required".
Earlier in his interaction, he also said, "Everyone will accept the fact that there should be youthfulness in the armed forces."
"Normally, 30-50 years has been the age range of our jawans. But when jawans aged 18-20 will join as Agniveers, then the risk-taking spirit will be a bit higher," he said, adding, senior jawans are discharging their responsibilities well, there is no two ways about it.
20:23 Rupee falls 6 paise to settle at 83.39 against US dollar
The rupee depreciated 6 paise to settle at 83.39 (provisional) against the United States dollar on Thursday due to a strengthening greenback against major rivals overseas and rising crude oil prices in the international markets.
However, a firm trend in domestic equity markets and recent foreign fund inflows supported the domestic currency, forex traders said.
At the interbank foreign exchange market, the local unit opened at 83.32 and oscillated between the intra-day peak of 83.30 and the lowest level of 83.40 against the greenback.
The local unit finally settled at 83.39 (provisional), registering a loss of 6 paise from its previous close.
On Wednesday, the rupee declined 4 paise to close at 83.33 against the US dollar. -- PTI
20:20 No Change of Guard ceremony on March 30
JUST IN: The Change of Guard Ceremony will not take place this Saturday (March 30, 2024) at Rashtrapati Bhavan due to Bharat Ratna presentation ceremony.
20:06 Key conspirator in Bengaluru blast case arrested
In a major breakthrough, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has arrested a key conspirator in Bengaluru's Rameshwaram Cafe blast case, according to an official statement issued on Thursday.
Muzammil Shareef was picked up on Wednesday and placed in custody as a co-conspirator after NIA teams cracked down at 18 locations, including 12 in Karnataka, five in Tamil Nadu and one in Uttar Pradesh, it said.
The NIA, which took over the case on March 3, had earlier identified the main accused, Mussavir Shazeeb Hussain, who had carried out the blast.
It had also identified another conspirator, Abdul Matheen Taha, who is also wanted by the agency in other cases, the statement said.
"Both the men are on the run," it added.
NIA investigations have revealed that Muzammil Shareef had extended logistic support to the other two identified accused in the case, involving an IED explosion at the cafe located at ITPL Road, Brookefield, Bengaluru, on March 1.
Several customers and hotel staff members were injured, some of them grievously, in the blast, which caused extensive damage to the property.
"Raids were conducted today at the houses of all these three accused as well as the residential premises and shops of other suspects," the statement said.
Various digital devices were seized during the searches, along with cash, it added.
Efforts are on to nab the absconding accused and unearth the larger conspiracy behind the blast, the NIA said.
19:24 SRK and I are last generation of stars, says Kangana
Describing herself as among the "last generation of stars" along with Shah Rukh Khan, Kangana Ranaut says her decision to enter politics is not driven by the underwhelming performance of her recent films.
The Queen star, often in the news for her controversial comments, is making her political debut as a BJP candidate from the Mandi Lok Sabha seat in Himachal Pradesh.
"No actor has only had hits in their career. Shah Rukh Khan's films didn't work for 10 years and then Pathaan became a hit. My films didn't work for seven-eight years, but then Queen worked. Then, some more good films came, then after three-four years, Manikarnika worked," Ranaut said on Wednesday night at the Times Now Summit 2024 - India Unstoppable event.
"Now, Emergency is coming. Maybe it will become a hit. We are the last generation of stars... OTT doesn't make stars. We are known faces. By the grace of God, we are very much in demand," she added.
19:15 Ex-IPS officer Sanjiv Bhatt gets 20 yrs in jail
A sessions court in Palanpur in Gujarat's Banaskantha district on Thursday sentenced former IPS officer Sanjiv Bhatt to 20 years in jail in a 1996 case involving planting of drugs to frame a lawyer.
Bhatt, who is already behind bars in a custodial death case, was held guilty of falsely implicating a Rajasthan-based lawyer by claiming, in 1996, that police had seized drugs from a hotel room in Palanpur where the lawyer was staying.
Bhatt, who was sacked from the force in 2015, was serving as the superintendent of police of Banaskantha district at the time.
Additional District and Sessions Judge J N Thakkar convicted Bhatt on Wednesday under relevant sections of Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act and Indian Penal Code.
The quantum of punishment was announced on Thursday. -- PTI
18:49 Nakul Nath declares assets worth Rs 700 crore
Nakul Nath, the lone Congress MP from Madhya Pradesh who has been renominated from Chhindwara by his party, has declared assets worth nearly Rs 700 crore, according to his election affidavit.
Nath is among the 113 candidates who have filed their nomination papers for the first phase of Lok Sabha polls in the central state on April 19.
The filing of nomination papers for this phase drew to a close on Wednesday.
As per his affidavit, Nakul Nath's wealth has gone up by Rs 40 crore in the past five years.
In his latest submission to the Election Commission, Nakul Nath has declared movable property, including cash, shares and bonds, worth Rs 649.51 crore and Rs 48.07 crore of immovable property.
The sitting Chhindwara MP, son of former chief minister and influential Congress leader Kamal Nath, had topped the list of 475 Lok Sabha crorepati members in 2019, according to the non-profit Association of Democratic Reforms (ADR).
According to ADR, the entrepreneur politician had declared assets worth Rs 660 crore in 2019 when he contested from Chhindwara, the pocket borough of his father, and emerged as the only Congress winner in the state.
That year, the Bharatiya Janata Party had won 28 of the 29 seats in Madhya Pradesh.
Kamal Nath, who successfully contested from Chhindwara, had declared assets worth Rs 134 crore in his poll affidavit ahead of last year's assembly elections, according to ADR.
Notably, Nakul Nath frequently uses an aircraft but does not have a car, according to his affidavit.
To breach the citadel of the Naths, the BJP is raking up Kamal Nath's flying machines to script a narrative of wealthy-versus-commoner after pitting its candidate Vivek Sahu against Nakul Nath.
The Congress has been on a winning streak from the Chhindwara Lok Sabha seat since 1952, it has lost just once to the BJP. Kamal Nath had won this seat for a record nine times.
"A big Congress leader. A very big leader... keeps two, not one, helicopters at his house. When he returns, he lands the chopper right inside his home. He had been an MP chief minister," Chief Minister Mohan Yadav had said at an election rally in Sidhi recently.
Yadav said his government had decided that there would be a helicopter but the poor will have access to it.
"To rush poor people to hospitals for urgent treatment," Yadav had said, seeking to shed light on the state's recently launched air ambulance service for citizens during medical emergencies.
BJP candidate Sahu has also attacked the former CM over his helicopter use during public outreaches.
According to locals, Nath has two helipads at his residence in the Shikrapur area of Chhindwara. -- PTI
Nath is among the 113 candidates who have filed their nomination papers for the first phase of Lok Sabha polls in the central state on April 19.
The filing of nomination papers for this phase drew to a close on Wednesday.
As per his affidavit, Nakul Nath's wealth has gone up by Rs 40 crore in the past five years.
In his latest submission to the Election Commission, Nakul Nath has declared movable property, including cash, shares and bonds, worth Rs 649.51 crore and Rs 48.07 crore of immovable property.
The sitting Chhindwara MP, son of former chief minister and influential Congress leader Kamal Nath, had topped the list of 475 Lok Sabha crorepati members in 2019, according to the non-profit Association of Democratic Reforms (ADR).
According to ADR, the entrepreneur politician had declared assets worth Rs 660 crore in 2019 when he contested from Chhindwara, the pocket borough of his father, and emerged as the only Congress winner in the state.
That year, the Bharatiya Janata Party had won 28 of the 29 seats in Madhya Pradesh.
Kamal Nath, who successfully contested from Chhindwara, had declared assets worth Rs 134 crore in his poll affidavit ahead of last year's assembly elections, according to ADR.
Notably, Nakul Nath frequently uses an aircraft but does not have a car, according to his affidavit.
To breach the citadel of the Naths, the BJP is raking up Kamal Nath's flying machines to script a narrative of wealthy-versus-commoner after pitting its candidate Vivek Sahu against Nakul Nath.
The Congress has been on a winning streak from the Chhindwara Lok Sabha seat since 1952, it has lost just once to the BJP. Kamal Nath had won this seat for a record nine times.
"A big Congress leader. A very big leader... keeps two, not one, helicopters at his house. When he returns, he lands the chopper right inside his home. He had been an MP chief minister," Chief Minister Mohan Yadav had said at an election rally in Sidhi recently.
Yadav said his government had decided that there would be a helicopter but the poor will have access to it.
"To rush poor people to hospitals for urgent treatment," Yadav had said, seeking to shed light on the state's recently launched air ambulance service for citizens during medical emergencies.
BJP candidate Sahu has also attacked the former CM over his helicopter use during public outreaches.
According to locals, Nath has two helipads at his residence in the Shikrapur area of Chhindwara. -- PTI
18:40 Embassy in close touch with Indians onboard ship in US: MEA
There are 20 Indians onboard the cargo ship which hit a bridge in Baltimore in the United States a few days ago and the Indian Embassy is in close touch with them and the local authorities, the Ministry of External Affairs said on Thursday.
The 2.6-km-long, four-lane Francis Scott Key Bridge over the Patapsco River in Baltimore, came crashing down after the 984-foot ship 'Dali' collided against it in the early hours of Tuesday.
"Our information is that there are 21 crew members, of which 20 are Indians. All of them are in good shape, good health. One of them got injured slightly, needed to have some stitches, and stitches have been given. And, he has gone back to the ship," MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said in response to a query during his weekly media briefing in New Delhi.
He also said the Indian Embassy in the US is in 'close touch with the Indians onboard the ship and also local authorities'. -- PTI
17:59 Shrinate's post on Kangana: LG orders police probe
Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena has sought a detailed probe report from Delhi Police commissioner Sanjay Arora in connection with an allegedly derogatory social media post made by Congress leader Supriya Shrinate against actor-turned-politician Kangana Ranaut, Raj Niwas officials said on Thursday.
A controversial comment was posted on social media platforms from Shrinate's accounts against Ranaut, the Bollywood actor who has been fielded by the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) as its candidate from Mandi in Himachal Pradesh in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls.
Following a row, Shrinate removed the controversial remarks from all her social accounts, claiming that those were not posted by her but by someone else who had access to her accounts.
BJP leader Bansuri Swaraj had given a complaint to the LG demanding an investigation and the registration of an FIR against Shrinate for 'outraging the modesty of a woman', the officials said.
Saxena has forwarded the complaint to the police commissioner, directing a 'scientific' investigation in the matter and initiation of legal action, if necessary, they added.
Police will also probe who was behind the said social media post and whose mobile phone was used for the purpose, the sources said. -- PTI
Pic: Aditi Rao Hydari/Instagram
17:32 Aditi Rao Hydari-Siddharth announce engagement
It's official. Aditi Rao Hydari and Siddharth are engaged.
The Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar actor shared the news with her fans on Instagram.
For the past few days, reports of the duo getting married were doing the rounds on social media, but there was no confirmation from either of the actors or their representatives.
On Thursday, Aditi confirmed the news and shared a cute selfie with her beau.
Sharing the picture, she wrote, "He said yes! E. N. G. A. G. E. D." In the picture, Aditi and Siddharth flaunted their engagement rings.
Aditi and Siddharth have remained tight-lipped about their relationship. If reports are to be believed, the two fell in love with each other on the sets of their film Maha Samundram in 2021.
Aditi was previously married to actor Satyadeep Mishra, who recently tied the knot with fashion designer Masaba.
KBK Infographics
17:22 Markets end FY24 on buoyant note
Benchmark equity indices Sensex and Nifty ended the last day of trade of the 2023-24 fiscal on a bullish note on Thursday, driven by heavy buying in power, auto and banking stocks amid a positive trend in global markets. Extending its previous day's rally, the 30-share index jumped 655.04 points or 0.90 per cent to settle at 73,651.35.
During the day, it zoomed 1,194 points or 1.63 per cent to 74,190.31. The NSE Nifty climbed 203.25 points or 0.92 per cent to end at 22,326.90. In the 2023-24 financial year, the BSE benchmark jumped 14,659.83 points or 24.85 per cent, and the Nifty soared 4,967.15 points or 28.61 per cent.
17:12 Govinda joins Shiv Sena in Eknath Shinde's presence
Actor Govinda joins Shiv Sena in presence of Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde in Mumbai.
Govinda is likely to contest from the North-West Mumbai Lok Sabha seat, say reports. Earlier this month, Govinda held a meeting with Maharashtra Chief Minister Shinde. The timing of this meeting, which took place last week, has further fueled the rumors of his return to politics.
Govinda is no stranger to the political arena. In 2004, he successfully contested the Mumbai North Lok Sabha seat on a Congress ticket, defeating veteran BJP leader Ram Naik. However, he later resigned from the Congress party.
Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami
16:57 Villagers demanding road for 40 years to boycott elections
The villagers of Dumak in Uttarakhand's Chamoli district have decided to boycott the upcoming Lok Sabha polls over the non-construction of a vital road linking the village with the district headquarters for which they have been agitating for four decades.
Whenever elections are round the corner, the villagers renew their poll boycott call in the hope of getting their long-standing demand fulfilled. Construction agencies rush equipment to the village raising their hopes, but those are withdrawn as soon as the elections are over.
Dumak hosts one of the remotest polling stations in Chamoli district.
The residents of several villages of the area have formed a joint struggle committee for the construction of the road from Syund to Dumak and Kalgot.
The convenor of the committee and former head of Dumak village, Prem Singh Sanwal, said the people of Dasholi and Pankhanda areas have boycotted elections twice since the 1990s to demand the construction of the road. The residents of Dumak had even decided to boycott the 2019 Lok Sabha election, he said, adding that on the district administration's initiative, the road construction department sent machines to the village about a week before the polling day, which led to the withdrawal of the poll boycott call. However, as soon as the polling process was over, the department took back the machines.
It has been five years since but the fate of the road is still uncertain, Sanwal said. The angry villagers had launched a long protest in January.
Arvind Kejriwal at the Rouse House court today
16:29 Kejriwal unwell, being harassed: Wife
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's wife Sunita Kejriwal on Thursday claimed he is not keeping well and is being "harassed a lot". Kejriwal has been arrested by the Enforcement Directorate in a money laundering case linked to the now-scrapped Delhi excise policy.
Earlier on Thursday, a court here extended the chief minister's ED custody till April 1.
Sunita Kejriwal, who had come for her husband's court hearing, told reporters, "He has not been keeping well. His sugar levels are fluctuating. He is being harassed a lot. This tyranny won't last and people will give a reply." -- PTI
15:55 ED gets Kejriwal's custody till April 1
Delhi's Rouse Avenue Court extends ED remand of Arvind Kejriwal till April 1.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday himself made submissions in a court in New Delhi during the hearing in the excise policy case and said a smokescreen of the Aam Aadmi Party being corrupt has been created before the nation.
He made the submissions as the Enforcement Directorate (ED) produced him in the court of Special Judge Kaveri Baweja and sought seven-day further custody, arguing he needs to be confronted with some people linked with the case.
The ED said Kejriwal was giving evasive replies and not disclosing passwords of his digital devices.
15:45 VK Singh sabotaged revocation of AFSPA: Omar
National Conference (NC) vice president Omar Abdullah Thursday accused BJP leader Gen (retd) V K Singh of sabotaging the revocation of AFSPA during the UPA-2 government when he was the Army chief.
"The home minister remembers AFSPA now. I fought for it (revocation of AFSPA) since 2011 when I was the chief minister. Where from did its opposition come from? It was Gen V K Singh, who was his ministerial colleague, and who was the chief of armed staff when I was the chief minister.
"Shah sahab, ask him (Singh) why did he stop the process to revoke AFSPA. Why did he sabotage it then? Why did he say that the Army will not accept it? Today, you are befooling the people that you will revoke AFSPA," Abdullah said, addressing the party workers here in north Kashmir's Baramulla district.
The NC leader said the Union home minister should first ease the public movement on Srinagar-Jammu national highway.
"We will see about the AFSPA later, but at least ease the movement of people on highway and we will be grateful to you for that. As for now, stop the armymen from stopping our vehicles, harassing us on the highway when convoys passes through. Then we will accept that you can revoke AFSPA," he added.
The former chief minister also said the Union home minister should start by releasing prisoners from J-K who are languishing in different jails across the country.
"Many of our youth are in jails outside the state. Release them first. They have started a new process now of forcing the children and grandchildren of separatists to publish advertisements in newspapers. You are repeating the era of which we have faced the brunt when our and Congress workers were forced to quit politics by announcing in newspapers," he said.
Abdullah was referring to the public notices published in the newspapers recently in which Ruwa Shah, granddaughter of Syed Ali Shah Geelani, and Sama Shabir, the elder daughter of Shabir Shah, owed an allegiance to the sovereignty of the country. -- PTI
Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Vadra in Kashmir during the BJY
15:34 'Only Cong and specially Rahul knows J-K's pain'
Only the Congress, and in particular Rahul Gandhi, can understand the pain and dilemma that Jammu and Kashmir has been plunged into, PDP president Mehbooba Mufti says in a new book, adding that she has never before seen such "despair and despondency" in the erstwhile state.
In "Bharat Jodo Yatra: Reclaiming India's Soul", a collection of essays releasing on Friday, Mufti argues that the path to save the "very idea of India" leads through Jammu and Kashmir, a "mini India" in itself -- the one where different religions have peacefully co-existed for centuries. The book gives readers different accounts of the Rahul Gandhi-led Bharat Jodo Yatra, the 4,000-kilometre nationwide march from September 2022 to January 2023.
Mufti, former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister, was all praise for Rahul Gandhi in her essay, "Bharat Jodo: Restoring Kashmiriyat, Jamhooriyat", co-written with her daughter Ilitija Mufti.
"Today throughout the length and breadth of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir, the people feel short changed. If one turns the pages of history, it's perhaps only the Congress, especially RG (Rahul Gandhi), who can understand the pain and dilemma that Jammu and Kashmir has been plunged into.
"I hope that if the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) does indeed win 2024, it makes efforts to heal the gaping wounds of my people," she writes.
The People's Democratic Party (PDP) is part of the opposition INDIA bloc along with the Congress. There is no decision yet on seat sharing arrangements between the alliance partners in the union territory.
15:08 People will reply: Kejriwal
A day after Delhi Lt Governor said the city government will not be run from jail, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday called it a political conspiracy and said people will give a reply".
Minutes before being produced in a city court on Thursday, Kejriwal was asked about Saxena's statement.
In his response, the chief minister said, "This is a political conspiracy. The people will give a reply." Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convener Kejriwal was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate on March 21 in the Delhi excise policy-linked money laundering case and subsequently remanded in the agency's custody till March 28 by a court in Delhi.
AAP leaders on several occasions ruled out Kejriwal's resignation, insisting that he will run his government from inside the jail. LG Saxena on Wednesday said, "I can assure the people of Delhi that the government will not be run from jail." -- PTI
14:48 Ready to face ED probe: Kejriwal tells court
Update: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday himself made submissions in a court in Delhi during the hearing in the excise policy case and said a smokescreen of the AAP being corrupt has been created before the nation.
He made the submissions as the Enforcement Directorate (ED) produced him in the court of Special Judge Kaveri Baweja and sought seven-day further custody, arguing he needs to be confronted with some people linked with the case.
The ED said Kejriwal was giving evasive replies and not disclosing passwords of his digital devices. In his submissions, Kejriwal said, "I am named by four witnesses in the excise policy case. Are 4 statements enough to arrest a sitting CM?" A smokescreen of the Aam Aadmi Party being corrupt has been created in front of the nation, he said and added that he is ready to face ED probe.
The AAP national convener was arrested by the ED in the case on March 21 and subsequently he was sent to remand till March 28 by the court. PTI
14:29 Kejriwal in court: 4 statements enough for arrest?
Delhi excise policy case: Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal produced before court of Special Judge Kaveri Baweja. ED in court seeks 7-day further custody of CM Kejriwal, says he needs to be confronted with some people linked with the excise policy case.
ED tells the court that CM Kejriwal is giving evasive replies and not disclosing passwords of his digital devices.
Arvind Kejriwal himself makes submissions in court during excise policy case hearing. The Delhi CM n his statement before the Rouse Avenue court claims that he gave some documents to Manish Sisodia. He added that several bureaucrats and MLAs regularly visited his residence. "Are the four statements made by different people sufficient to arrest a sitting Chief Minister?" asks Kejriwal. "I am named by 4 witnesses in excise policy case, are 4 statements enough to arrest a sitting CM?"
Sunita Kejriwal at a digital briefing yesterday
14:10 Wife, AAP ministers in court for Kejriwal's hearing
Update: "This is a "political conspiracy", Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said as he arrived at the Rouse Avenue Court here for a hearing in the excise policy-linked money laundering case.
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convener was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in the case on March 21 and subsequently he was sent to remand till March 28 by the court. "This is a political conspiracy. The people will give an answer," Kejriwal told reporters as he entered the courtroom.
He is being produced before Special Judge Kaveri Baweja. AAP ministers Atishi, Gopal Rai and Saurabh Bharadwaj along with the chief minister's wife Sunita Kejriwal were inside the court.
Court sources said the ED is likely to seek an extension of the chief minister's custodial remand. PTI
13:57 Kejriwal brought to court as ED custody ends
Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal reaches Rouse Avenue Court. "It is a political conspiracy and the people will give an answer to it," says the Delhi CM as he is brought to the courtroom in Rouse Avenue court at the end of his ED custody in the liquor policy case.
Earlier on Wednesday, Sunita Kejriwal, the wife of the jailed CM, said that her husband, who is in the custody of the Enforcement Directorate in connection with the alleged excise scam, will reveal the truth regarding the case in court on March 28.
"In the so-called liquor scam, ED has conducted more than 250 raids. They are searching for the money of this so-called scam. They have found nothing yet. Arvind Kejriwal has said that he will reveal everything in court on March 28. He will reveal where the money of the liquor scam is. He will also provide proof..." she had said.
The probe agency had arrested Kejriwal on March 21 in connection with an alleged excise policy-linked money laundering case.
13:40 HC dismisses PIL seeking removal of Kejriwal as CM
The Delhi High Court on Thursday dismissed a PIL seeking the removal of AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal from the post of chief minister following his arrest in the excise policy-linked money laundering case.
A bench headed by Acting Chief Justice Manmohan refused to comment on the merits of the issue, saying the same fell outside the scope of judicial interference.
"It is for the other wings of the government to examine in accordance with the law," the bench, also comprising Justice Manmeet PS Arora, said. During the hearing, the court asked petitioner Surjit Singh Yadav's counsel to show the legal bar on the continuation of Kejriwal as the chief minister.
"There may be practical difficulties but that is something else. Where is the legal bar?" the court asked.
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convener, who was arrested on March 21 and subsequently remanded to the Enforcement Directorate's (ED) custody till March 28 by a Delhi court, faces allegations of direct involvement in a conspiracy related to the formulation of the excise policy favouring specific individuals. PTI
13:18 Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann, wife blessed with girl
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and his wife Gurpreet Kaur were blessed with a daughter.
Mann shared the news on his official X handle and informed that both the mother and the baby are healthy.
He also shared a picture of the baby.
"God has given the gift of a daughter..Both the mother and the child are healthyBlessed with baby Girl," Mann posted on X.
Mann had married Dr Gurpreet Kaur on July 6, 2022, in Chandigarh, four months after taking oath as the chief minister of Punjab on March 16, 2022.
This is Mann's third child as he has a son and a daughter from his previous marriage to Inderpreet Kaur.
He divorced Inderpreet in 2015 and she along with the children, Seerat, 23, and Dilshan, 19, are based in the US.
12:55 'Operation Lotus' underway in Punjab: AAP
'Operation Lotus' has started in Punjab, senior AAP leader Saurabh Bharadwaj alleged on Thursday, a day after the party's lone Lok Sabha MP Sushil Kumar Rinku joined the BJP.
'Operation Lotus' is the term used by opposition parties to describe what they call "poaching" of MLAs by the BJP to topple governments. Addressing a press conference in New Delhi, Bharadwaj said AAP MLAs in Punjab had said on Wednesday that the majority of them were getting calls and being offered money, Y category security and tickets for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls to join the BJP.
"The BJP is conducting 'Operation Lotus'," he said. Bharadwaj also questioned Rinku's decision to join the BJP. "The BJP stood fourth in (the 2022) Punjab (assembly elections) after AAP, Shriomani Akali Dal and Congress. The question is why did Rinku join the BJP. His tenure as Lok Sabha MP has also ended. The BJP will also come fourth in the Jalandhar Lok Sabha polls," he said.
Rinku, who had been named as the AAP's candidate from Jalandhar Lok Sabha seat, joined the BJP on Wednesday along with the party's Jalandhar West MLA Sheetal Angural. Rinku quit the Congress to join the AAP last year to contest the bypoll to the Jalandhar Lok Sabha seat.
He was a vocal critic of the BJP in the Lok Sabha and was even suspended from the House for his unruly protests. The BJP is likely to field him in the Lok Sabha polls as it inducts a number of influential leaders from different political parties in Punjab to emerge as a strong force in the state that has 13 parliamentary constituencies.
On banned outfit Sikhs For Justice's chief Gurpatwant Singh Pannun purported claims that Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal met the group's representatives in New York in 2014, Bharadwaj said it's shameful that the BJP and its trolls are taking a terrorist's allegations as "gospel truth".
"This shows the BJP is anti-national," the AAP leader said. He also said the Centre is rattled by the governments of the US and Germany expressing concern over democracy in India and calling for a fair trial for Kejriwal.
The Centre recently summoned US and German diplomats following their government's remarks on Kejriwal's arrest. According to reports, a US State Department official had said that Washington "encouraged a fair, transparent and timely legal process for Chief Minister Kejriwal".
Kejriwal was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate last week in connection with the money laundering case linked to the now-scrapped Delhi excise policy. He is in ED custody till March 28. -- PTI
12:27 Denied ticket from Pilibhit Varun Gandhi says...
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Varun Gandhi penned a heartfelt letter to the people of his constituency, saying that his relationship with Uttar Pradesh's Pilibhit will not end till his last breath.
"Even though my tenure as an MP is coming to an end, my relationship with Pilibhit will continue till my last breath. If not as an MP, then as a son, I am committed to serving you throughout my life, and my doors will always remain open for you as before," Gandhi's letter read.
"I came into politics to raise the voice of the common man and today I seek your blessings to always continue doing this work, no matter what the cost," he continued.The letter comes as the first reaction from Varun Gandhi after the party denied him a ticket from Pilbhit and has been posted on Gandhi's 'X' handle at a time when his term as Lok Sabha MP from the Pilbhit constituency is nearing completion ahead of the elections.
Gandhi has not been fielded by his party so far and the BJP has chosen Congress turncoat Jitin Prasada as its candidate from Pilbhit.
Sharing a moment when he came to Pilbhit with his mother, Maneka Gandhi in 1983, he said that he had no idea that the constituency would end up being his workplace and he would form deep bonds with its people.
"I remember that 3-year-old little boy who came to Pilibhit for the first time in 1983 holding his mother's finger, how did he know that one day this land would become his workplace and the people here would become his family," he said.
Maneka Gandhi who is an MP from Sultanpur, has been fielded by the BJP from the same constituency. -- ANI
Naveen Jindal has got a ticket from Kurukshetra
12:17 Ex-Haryana minister Savitri Jindal quits Cong
Former Haryana minister Savitri Jindal has quit the Congress, days after her son and industrialist Naveen Jindal left the party to join the BJP. The 84-year-old Savitri announced her decision to quit the Congress on a social media post late Wednesday night.
"I represented the people of Hisar for 10 years as an MLA and have served Haryana state selflessly as a minister. The people of Hisar are my family and on the advice of my family, I am resigning from the primary membership of the Congress today," she posted in Hindi.
A few days ago, her son Naveen Jindal, a former MP, also quit the Congress and joined the BJP. Naveen, son of noted industrialist and former Haryana minister O P Jindal, has been made as BJP candidate from Kurukshetra. PTI
12:13 Dera chief of Uttarakhand's Nanakmatta Sahib Gurdwara shot dead
The dera chief of the Nanakmatta Sahib Gurdwara in Uttarakhand was shot dead within the premises of the shrine by two bike-borne assailants early Thursday, police said. Baba Tarsem Singh was rushed to a hospital in Khatima where he died during treatment, Udham Singh Nagar SSP Manju Nath told reporters. The Nanakmatta Sahib Gurdwara is a revered Sikh shrine located on the Rudrapur-Tanakpur route in Udham Singh Nagar district of the state. -- PTI
11:58 FIR against BJP leader for 'father' remarks on WB CM
An FIR has been lodged against senior BJP leader Dilip Ghosh at Durgapur Police Station for his remarks on West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, an official said on Thursday.
Ghosh has been booked under IPC sections 504 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of peace) and 509 (word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman), he said.
The FIR was lodged based on complaints lodged by an advocate at Durgapur court and another person, the official said. Ghosh, the former state BJP president, had apologised on Wednesday for his comments on Banerjee, which had triggered a political storm.
The Election Commission has also issued a show-cause notice to Ghosh, prompted by a complaint by the ruling Trinamool Congress in West Bengal, asking him to respond by March 29.
According to the English translation of Ghosh's remarks, as provided by the EC in its notice, he had said: "When Didi goes to Goa, she becomes Goa's daughter, in Tripura, she says I am Tripura's daughter; decide who is your father, this is not right".
The poll panel deemed the comments offensive, insulting, and prima facie a violation of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC). Denouncing the remarks, the BJP in a communication to Ghosh, who has been fielded from the Bardhaman-Durgapur Lok Sabha seat, said the comments were "unparliamentary" and against the culture of the party.
He expressed regret for his remarks on Wednesday, acknowledging that both his party and the general public had reservations about his choice of words. "If it is so, I am sorry for that," Ghosh, known for making controversial remarks, said. PTI
11:42 Eminent lawyers write to CJI on political pressure
A group of lawyers, including senior advocate Harish Salve and Bar Council of India chairperson Manan Kumar Mishra, have written to the Chief Justice of India, alleging that a "vested interest group" is trying to pressure the judiciary and defame courts "on the basis of frivolous logic and stale political agendas".
"Their pressure tactics are most obvious in political cases, particularly those involving political figures accused of corruption. These tactics are damaging to our courts and threaten our democratic fabric," their letter, dated March 26, addressed to CJI D Y Chandrachud said.
The letter, shared by official sources, targeted a section of lawyers without naming them and alleged that they defend politicians by the day and then try to influence judges through the media at night. This interest group creates false narratives of a supposed better past and golden period of courts, contrasting it with the happenings in the present, the letter said, claiming that their comments are aimed at influencing courts and embarrassing them for political gains.
The group of lawyers, who are behind the letter titled "Judiciary Under Threat-Safeguarding Judiciary from Political and Professional Pressure", number around 600 and also include Adish Aggarwala, Chetan Mittal, Pinky Anand, Hitesh Jain, Ujjwala Pawar, Uday Holla and Swarupama Chaturvedi, the official sources said.
Though the lawyers behind the letter have mentioned no specific cases, the development comes at a time when courts are dealing with several high-profile criminal cases of corruption involving opposition leaders.
Opposition parties have accused the central government of targeting their leaders as part of its political vendetta, a charge refuted by the ruling BJP. These parties, whose ranks include some noted lawyers, have joined hands against the recent arrest of Delhi Chief Minister and AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal in the Delhi excise policy-linked money laundering case. Targeting critics, these lawyers have accused them of suggesting that courts in the past were easier to influence. This shakes the public's trust in courts, they said.
"Their antics are vitiating the atmosphere of trust and harmony, which characterises the functioning of the judiciary," they said in their letter to CJI Chandrachud.
They have also concocted an entire theory of "bench fixing" which is not just disrespectful and contemptuous but an attack on the honour and dignity of courts, the letter said.
"They have also stooped to the level of comparing our courts to those countries where there is no rule of law and accusing our judicial institutions with unfair practices," it said. These critics have adopted the "my way or the highway" approach at work as they hail the decisions they agree with, but any decision they disagree with, is trashed, smeared and disregarded, they said.
"This two-faced behaviour is harmful to the respect a common man should have for our legal system," the letter said and claimed that this cherry picking has been visible in very recent judgments too. "Some elements are trying to influence who the judges are in their cases and spread lies on social media to put pressure on them to decide in a particular way," they alleged in the letter. Questioning the timing, the lawyers said it is all happening when the country is headed for the elections. "
We are reminded of similar antics in 2018-2019 when they took to their 'hit and run' activities, including fabricating wrong narratives. These efforts to belittle and manipulate the courts for personal and political reasons cannot be allowed under any circumstances," they said.
They urged the Supreme Court to stand strong and take steps to protect courts from these alleged attacks. "Staying silent or doing nothing could accidentally give more power to those who mean to do harm. This is not the time to maintain dignified silence as such efforts are happening since few years and too frequently," they said, adding that the CJI's leadership is crucial in these "tough times". PTI
11:21 BJP offered MLAs tickets to contest LS polls: AAP
Delhi Minister and AAP leader Saurabh Bharadwaj holds a press conference ahead of Arvind Kejriwal's court appearance on the situation in Punjab.
"If the BJP is in such bad condition in Punjab, why did it poach our MP (Sushil Kumar Rinku) and MLA (Sheetal Angural) yesterday? Our MLAs from Punjab told us yesterday that several MLAs in the state were offered money to switch and join BJP, that they were offered Y+ security and positions. They were also given the offer to contest Lok Sabha elections...
"Sushil Kumar Rinku's MP tenure has concluded, MCC is in place... He can do only one thing now -- contest elections. You can ask anyone for an assessment, BJP will come fourth in Jalandhar, Punjab. They can do whatever they want, but they will be fourth. Question is, why would an MP join the BJP to come fourth?"
10:52 Mahua Moitra to campaign in WB, skips ED summons
TMC leader Mahua Moitra has said she will campaign in her Krishnanagar constituency on Thursday, giving a miss to the Enforcement Directorate summons that asked her to appear for questioning at the ED office in New Delhi.
"I will be out for campaigning in the Krishnangar constituency in the afternoon," she told reporters.
The Enforcement Directorate had issued fresh summons to Moitra and Dubai-based businessman Darshan Hiranandani for questioning in a Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) contravention case.
The 49-year-old Trinamool Congress leader was called for questioning twice earlier by the central agency, but she did not depose citing official work and sought deferment of the notice.
Moitra, who was expelled from the Lok Sabha in December for "unethical conduct", has been renominated by her party from West Bengal's Krishnanagar seat in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls.
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had raided her premises in connection with the cash-for-query case on Saturday, days after anti-corruption ombudsman Lokpal directed the federal agency to investigate the allegations levelled against her by BJP MP Nishikant Dubey. Moitra has denied any wrongdoing. PTI
10:34 Important day for Kejriwal's family
The father of Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal, Gobind Ram Kejriwal, outside his residence in Delhi. Kejriwal's ED custody in the excise policy case ends today.
10:28 A coal block, unlocked for mining after industry lobbying, awarded to Adani Group
Coal ministry over-rode environment ministry and its mining experts to do away with ban on mining the block nestled in the densest forests of Madhya Pradesh. Read the report here.
Kejriwal's wife said the CM will reveal where the money is today
09:54 Kejriwal's big reveal on liquor 'scam' today
Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) convenor, Arvind Kejriwal, will be produced before the Rouse Avenue Court on the conclusion of his Enforcement Directorate custodial remand on Thursday.
The Delhi Chief Minister will be produced before the court later today. Additionally, the Delhi High Court will hear a public interest litigation (PIL) praying for the removal of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal from holding the post of chief minister of the government of NCT of Delhi on Thursday.
The bench of Justice Manmohan and Justice Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora is scheduled to hear the matter on Thursday. Earlier on Wednesday, the wife of jailed Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Sunita said that her husband, who is in the custody of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with the alleged excise scam, will reveal the truth regarding the case in court on March 28.
"In the so-called liquor scam, ED has conducted more than 250 raids. They are searching for the money of this so-called scam. They have found nothing yet. Arvind Kejriwal has said that he will reveal everything in court on March 28. He will reveal where the money of the liquor scam is. He will also provide proof..." she had said.
The probe agency had arrested Kejriwal on March 21 in connection with an alleged excise policy-linked money laundering case.
Himachal CM Sukhu
09:47 Himachal Speaker issues show cause notice to 3 Independent MLAs
The three Independent legislators who had resigned from the assembly last week were on Wednesday issued a show cause notice by the Vidhan Sabha by the Speaker, officials said.
Their replies have to be submitted by April 10, they said. Confirming that the notice has been issued to Independent MLAs, Vidhan Sabha Secretary Yashpal Sharma told PTI that Congress legislative party has submitted that the three MLAs "resigned under duress", not voluntarily". "We have sought explanation from them in this regard," he said.
The three independent MLAs -- Ashish Sharma from Hamirpur, Hoshiyar Singh from Dehra and K L Thakur from Nalagarh had submitted their resignation on March 22, a day before they joined the BJP along with six disqualified Congress MLAs. All nine legislators had voted in favour of the BJP in the recently held Rajya Sabha elections.
Speaker Kuldeep Singh Pathania had maintained that the Independent MLAs have submitted their resignation but they have not cited their reasons. It will recorded and necessary procedure would be followed, he said.
09:39 What US said on Kejriwal arrest, Cong a/c freeze
After India summoned a senior US diplomat to lodge a protest over remarks on the arrest of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Washington on Wednesday stressed that it encourages fair, transparent, timely legal processes and we don't think anyone should object to that".
"We continue to follow these actions closely, including the arrest of Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal," US State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller said. Miller was responding to a question during the State Department briefing over India summoning Acting Deputy Chief of Mission Gloria Berbena in New Delhi earlier in the day as well as on freezing of Congress party's bank accounts. "We are also aware of the Congress party's allegations that tax authorities have frozen some of their bank accounts in a manner that will make it challenging to effectively campaign in the upcoming elections. And we encourage fair, transparent and timely legal processes for each of these issues. With respect to your first question, I'm not going to talk about any private diplomatic conversations, but of course, what we have said publicly is what I just said from here, that we encourage fair, transparent, timely legal processes. We don't think anyone should object to that. We'll make the same thing clear privately," Miller said.
Ministry of External Affairs officials summoned the Acting Deputy Chief of Mission Gloria Berbena at its office in South Block in Delhi and lodged a strong protest against a US State Department official's remarks on Kejriwal's arrest. -- PTI
09:15 India, China discuss 'complete disengagement' at LAC
The 29th meeting of the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on India-China Border Affairs has been held and the two sides had an in-depth exchange of views on how to achieve "complete disengagement" and resolve the remaining issues along the LAC, the MEA said on Thursday.
The key meeting was held in Beijing on March 27, it said in a statement.
"The two sides had an in-depth exchange of views on how to achieve complete disengagement and resolve the remaining issues along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the Western Sector of India-China border areas," the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said.
Joint Secretary (East Asia) from the MEA led the Indian delegation. The Chinese delegation was led by Director General of the Boundary and Oceanic Department of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the statement said.
"In the interim, both sides agreed to maintain regular contact through diplomatic and military channels and on the need to uphold peace and tranquility on the ground in the border areas in accordance with existing bilateral agreements and protocols," it said.
The 28th meeting of the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on India-China Border Affairs was held on November 30 last year. -- PTI
08:38 Amravati MP Navneet Rana joins BJP
Navneet Rana, an incumbent MP from Amravati, joined the Bharatiya Janata Party in Nagpur late on Wednesday night in the presence of the party's state unit chief Chandrashekhar Bawankule.
She joined the BJP at the Bawankule's residence in Nagpur along with her supporters and in the presence of senior party leaders from Amravati, Nagpur, Wardha and other places. Her husband Ravi Rana, an MLA, was also present when she joined the BJP.
The BJP's Central Election Committee on Wednesday announced her name as the party's candidate for the Amravati seat. Bawankule said she would file her election nomination on April 4.
Addressing a press conference around midnight at Bawankule's residence, Navneet Rana said that she followed the development path of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah for the last five years as a supporter of the NDA.
Rana expressed happiness over joining the BJP and said that she would ensure that the Amravati parliamentary constituency would be among the 400 seats that the party would win in the general elections.
Bawankule said that Navneet Rana joined the BJP to support the Viksit Bharat vision of PM Modi.
He also slammed Shiv Sena UBT chief Uddhav Thackeray for sending Navneet Rana to jail during his tenure as chief minister of Maharashtra over the issue of chanting Hanuman Chalisa.
Rana first contested from Amravati on an NCP ticket in 2014 and was defeated by Shiv Sena's Anandrao Adsul. In 2019, she contested the seat as an Independent supported by NCP and defeated Adsul.
However, after 2019, Rana started supporting the BJP.
Last month, the Supreme Court reserved its verdict on Navneet Rana's plea challenging the Bombay high court verdict cancelling her caste certificate.
On June 8, 2021, the high court said the 'Mochi' caste certificate was obtained fraudulently using fabricated documents. It had also imposed a fine of Rs 2 lakh on the Amravati MP. -- PTI
01:41 Ukrainian foreign minister to visit India today
Ukraine's Minister of Foreign Affairs Dmytro Kuleba will arrive in New Delhi on Thursday on his maiden visit to India amid efforts to seek a peaceful resolution to the over two-year-old Russia-Ukraine conflict.
His visit comes at the invitation of External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in a statement on Wednesday. During his visit, Kuleba will have 'a number of engagements, including official meetings with External Affairs Minister and Deputy NSA to discuss matters pertaining to the bilateral partnership and cooperation on regional and global issues of mutual interest', it said.
He is also expected to interact with the business community.
On March 25, the Ukrainian foreign minister had posted a video on X and said that he would pay his first ever visit to India.
The video, posted on a day India celebrated Holi, showed him standing in front of a statue of Mahatma Gandhi in Kyiv, and also had visuals of celebrations of Holi, along with archival footage of Gandhi.
'Today, India celebrates Holi, the most beautiful and colorful spring holiday. I wish everyone a happy Holi! Standing here in Kyiv, in front of Mahatma Gandhi's monument, I am also pleased to announce that this week I will pay my first ever visit to India,' Kuleba posted on X.
In the video, he also said, 'My visit will further strengthen our relations.'
Terming Ukraine and India as two 'big democracies', Kuleba had said he was 'ceratin that we are set to be good partners and friends'.
In his short video, he invoked Gandhi and emphasised on the idea of 'freedom and independence'.
He also mentioned about the recent telephone call between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Prime Minister Modi on March 20 had held separate conversations with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Zelenskyy and asserted that dialogue and diplomacy were the way forward for the resolution of the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
Modi had spoken to Putin over telephone to congratulate him for winning a fifth term in office in the recent elections, and followed it up with a phone call to Zelenskyy to convey India's 'consistent support' for all efforts for peace and bringing an early end to the ongoing conflict.
During the telephone conversation, the Ukrainian President had thanked India for its support for his country's sovereignty and said that it would be important for Kyiv to see New Delhi attend the inaugural Peace Summit in Switzerland.
Zelenskyy had hailed India's continued humanitarian assistance for the people of Ukraine as the two leaders had discussed ways to further strengthen their bilateral partnership in various spheres. -- PTI
IMAGE: Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba. Photograph:
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