India Political highlights | Congress fields Raksha Ramaiah from Chikkballapur in Karnataka

Magisterial probe in Mukhtar Ansari's death, body to be handed over to son after post-mortem

File photo, gangster-turned-politician Mukhtar Ansari being produced at district court, in Prayagraj.

A 3-member team will conduct a magisterial investigation of the death of gangster-turned-politician Mukhtar Ansari. A panel of 2 doctors will do the post-mortem which will be videographed. The body will be later handed over to his son Umar Ansari after the post-mortem

In PM Modi's regime, scam doers will get arrest warrants: BJP's Agnimitra Paul

If one will do scams, how they can think that they will not get punished, or ED CBI will not arrest them... This is PM Modi's regime, if you will do scams then be prepared, you will soon receive the arrest warrant.

Mukhtar Ansari death: Son Umar Ansari alleges 'slow-poisoning'

Speaking to press on the death of his father, Umar Ansari alleged slow-poisoning. He also said that Mukhtar was sent back to jail straight after being in the ICU.

"You have heard people being shifted to the ward after ICU ut my father was sent back to jail and he told us from a long time that they (in jail) were slow-poisoning him", he said.

Mukhtar Ansari death: Security beefed up in UP

Security has been beefed up outside UP's Banda Medical Hospital where Ansari was declared dead.

Ghazipur SP Omveer Singh said, "Sufficient police force has been deployed in Mohammadabad area to maintain law and order. We are keeping a close watch on everything"

Custodial death, firing in jail becoming very common in UP, is this BJP's 'Ram Rajya', says Congress

On Mukhtar Ansari's death, Congress spokesperon Surendra Rajput said that high level investigation should be conducted in the matter and that custodial deaths and firing in jail is becoming very common in Uttar Pradesh.

"Munna Bajrangi was shot in jail. Murders are happening in court, and BJP says it’s ‘ram rajya’ (in UP) but is it?", he said.

BJP wants to access Kejriwal's phone to know about his election strategy, claims Atishi

Addressing a press conference, AAP leader Atishi claimed that ED is asking for the password of Arvind Kejriwal's current phone which includes all the details about the party's plans for the upcoming elections.

"It is not ED who wants to see his phone, it's the BJP and they want to see all his strategies and his discussions with the I.N.D.I.A. alliance", she said.

It is not ED who wants to see his phone, it's the BJP and they want to see all his strategies and his discussions with the I.N.D.I.A. alliance.

AAP leader Atishi

Daughter of Mandi has come to represent them: Kangana on visit to the constituency

After her nomination as a BJP candidate from Himachal Pradesh's Mandi, Kangana came to visit the constituency and said, "You all can see how excited people are. They know that Mandi’s daughter has come here to represent them in the elections. Development will be our main agenda."

Those who come to power in the name of their father behave like this: BJP leader C T Ravi on Yathindra Siddaramaiah's alleged statement against Amit Shah

On Yathindra Siddaramaiah's alleged statement against Union Home Minister Amit Shah, BJP leader C T Ravi said that Yathindra has come into politics on his 'father's name' and 'people who come to power in the name of their father, behave like this.'

"He came to politics in the name of his father. Amit Shah is not like that. He worked as booth president at the booth level and then reached the top. He didn't come to politics in the name of his father. Those who come to power in the name of their father behave like this...", he said.

The more people talk about BJP, the stronger it becomes: BJP MP S Muniswamy

On Yathindra Siddaramaiah's reported statement against Union Home Minister Amit Shah, BJP MP S Muniswamy said, "... Siddaramaiah promised a ticket to Yathindra from Mysore but didn't give it to him. He is frustrated and that is why saying all this. He is a small kid and has no experience in politics. The more these people talk against BJP and its leadership, the stronger BJP becomes..."

Sunita Kejriwal press briefing

In a press briefing, jailed Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal's wife, Sunita Kejriwal launched AAP's new campaign called 'Kejriwal Ko Ashirwad'. She urged people to send a WhatsApp message in Kejriwal's support to '8297324624'.

"People are praying for him, I will convey all your messages to him in jail. He will feel uplifted by your messages", she said.

Sunita Kejriwal.

I-T department targeting Congress, 'sleeping' when BJP names come up in violations: Ajay Maken

Following I-T department's notice, Congress spokesperson Ajay Maken held a press briefing and said that Congress is the only party that's being targeted.

"It's as if the department is sleeping when BJP names come in violations and only target us", he said.

He further said that BJP's violations are much bigger than that of Congress. "We have calculated BJP's violations same way I-T department calculated ours. It's amounting to Rs 4,600 crore, this money should be taken from BJP, they should be issued a notification as well", he said.

We have calculated BJP's violations same way I-T department calculated ours. It's amounting to Rs 4,600 crore. they should be issued a notification as well.

Congress spokesperson Ajay Maken

I-T notices will not crush our spirit: Congress

Speaking about the -I-T notice, Jairam Ramesh said that the party's spirit 'will not be crushed by such notices.'

He further said that the party is not scared of these attacks and will continue to fight for the truth.

"Hum darre hue nahi hain, darre hue woh hain jo darra rahe hain", he said.

Hum darre hue nahi hain, darre hue woh hain jo darra rahe hain.

Jairam Ramesh

Congress leader Jairam Ramesh.

We've been to SC thrice, our next hearing is on April 1: Ajay Maken

Congress spokesperson, Ajay Maken said that the party took this issue to the apex court thrice and the next hearing is listed for April 1.

"We hope that the Supreme Court gives us something on April 1", he said.

They want 20% of our money, where is the level playing field, asks Ajay Maken

Maken said that what they are asking for is 20% of the party money and asked 'where is the level playing field?'

"If the premier Opposition party has to give 20% of its money as a bribe to the BJP and then only it can fight, where is the level playing field?", he asked.

"If the premier Opposition party has to give 20% of its money as a bribe to the BJP and then only it can fight, where is the level playing field?

Congress spokesperson Ajay Maken

Congress collected Rs 25 crore in a month through crowd-funding

Responding to a question on crowd-funding, Ajay Maken said that the party collected Rs 25 crore in about a month through the process.

"We were getting Rs 50 lakh per day at one point but then we also asked the public to stop sending money because our accounts were frozen", he said.

Congress to file PIL demanding Rs 4,600 crore forI-T violations from BJP

Party leader Ajay Maken said that the party is thinking about filing a PIL demanding issue of notice to the BJP for Rs 4,600 crore that have been calculated as I-T violations.

BJP exercising 'tax terrorism' against Congress: Jairam Ramesh

Jairam Ramesh said that freezing of bank accounts, issuance of notice is 'tax terrorism' by BJP.

He also said that they (BJP) want 'One nation, no election.'

Kejriwal supported only by his wife, not the people of Delhi: BJP leader Manoj Tiwari

Reacting to Sunita Kejriwal's press briefing and the launch of 'Kejriwal Ko Ashirwad' WhatsApp campaign, BJP leader Manoj Tiwari said that the jailed 'Delhi CM is supported by his wife and not the people of Delhi'.

"The Honourable Justice of High Court said that they cannot stop his (Arvind Kejriwal's) arrest and that they are surprised why he hasn't been arrested yet (till then). Does holding press conference reduces the crime of a criminal? The question is why only his wife is coming out (in his support), and not the people of Delhi", he said.

Before 2014, there was an atmosphere of mutual distrust in India: Yogi Adiyanath

Addressing a public gathering in Uttar Pradesh's Amroha, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said that there was an atmosphere of "mutual distrust in the country before 2014".

"How your vote can change the face and fortune of the country is in front of you. Look at India before 2014 and that of after 2014 - in India before 2014, there was an atmosphere of mutual distrust in the country, anarchy, mismanagement, corruption and the country's borders were unsafe. In India after 2014, country's stature in the world has increased, borders are secure, terrorism and Naxalism have ended," he said.

No one can separate me from the Congress' flag: Pappu Yadav

Hours after Mahagadbandhan’ in Bihar announced the seat-sharing arrangement, Pappu Yadav said he welcomes the decision of Congress leadership to strengthen the Mahagathbandhan.

"No one can separate me from the Congress' flag. I welcome the decision of Congress leadership to strengthen the Mahagathbandhan in Bihar. I will go amidst the people with the resolve of establishing the flag of Congress in Purnea," he said.

The RJD, its largest constituent, will contest 26 out of the state’s 40 Lok Sabha seats. The Congress will contest nine seats, followed by CPI(ML) 3 and CPI and CPI(M) one each.

Congress wanted Purnia seat for Pappu but RJD was unwilling to give and it seems the latter had its way at the end.

Congress chief Kharge has his task cut out in Karnataka

Mallikarjun Kharge, President AICC speaks at press conference in Bengaluru

For Congress President M Mallikarjun Kharge, who calls himself "Bhoomi Putra" of Karnataka, the coming Lok Sabha elections in the state is another prestigious battle of sorts in less than a year.

With the Congress winning only one seat in the 2019 general elections in Karnataka, his task is now cut out.

A strong show by the Congress in his home state is bound to boost the veteran leader's stock not just in his party but in the opposition I.N.D.I.A bloc.

Read the full report here

BJP candidate from Amravati Navneet Rana meets Amit Shah

Union Home Minister Amit Shah with Navneet Rana along with her husband Ravi Rana

Navneet Rana, BJP candidate from the Amravati constituency in Maharashtra, on Friday met Union Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi.

"Amit Shah is our leader and he has shown trust in me by giving me (poll) ticket. I have been given a big responsibility of helping the 'lotus' (BJP's symbol) bloom in Amravati," she said after the meeting with Home Minister.

Earlier, local leaders in Amravati had opposed Navneet Rana's candidature from the Amravati constituency for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls. However, in spite of the rumblings from the party, she has been fielded from by the party.

Owaisi demands independent probe into Mukhtar Ansari's death

AIMIM chief AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi on Friday demanded an an independent investigation into the death of gangster-politician Mukhtar Ansari.

“I would say that an independent investigation is required and what his family is saying should be taken seriously. It’s the second such incident that a convicted prisoner has died in judicial custody,” Owaisi told PTI.

On Friday, a chief judicial magistrate's court in Uttar Pradesh's Banda ordered a judicial inquiry into the death of gangster-politician Mukhtar Ansari.

The 63-year-old Ansari was brought to the Rani Durgavati Medical College in Banda from the district jail in "an unconscious state" on Thursday evening and died at the hospital following a cardiac arrest.

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Watch | Body of Mukhtar Ansari being taken to Ghazipur

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Watch | TDP workers in Ananthapuram vandalise party office over ticket denial to TDP leader JC Prabhakar Reddy

In Andhra Pradesh, TDP workers vandalise Ananthapuram Party office over ticket denial to TDP leader JC Prabhakar Reddy, for the upcoming elections.

The TDP on Friday announced its final list of candidates for the forthcoming Lok Sabha polls in Andhra Pradesh, which included a YSR Congress MP, who joined the party recently.

Congress to stage a nationwide protest over fresh I-T notice to party

Congress leaders exodus in MP continues as another MLA joins BJP

Kamlesh Shah, Congress MLA from Amarwara in Madhya Pradesh's Chhindwara district, joined the ruling-BJP on Friday.

In Kerala, BJP’s Christian outreach suffers setback as bishops flay CAA, attack on community

In a setback to BJP's efforts to make inroads into the Christian vote banks of Kerala, prominent Christian bishops have openly expressed concerns over CAA as well as attacks on Christians in various parts of the country.

The remarks made by the bishops in connection with the Good Friday have put the BJP state leadership on the defensive

Read the full report by DH's Arjun Raghunath here

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Rahul, Kharge, Pawar, Akhilesh among I.N.D.I.A. bloc leaders to join AAP rally at Ramleela ground

Rameshwaram Cafe blast: NIA announces Rs 10 lakh reward for info on key accused

Mukhtar Ansari's body leaves for Ghazipur amidst heavy security

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Congress releases another list of candidates for the Lok Sabha polls

Congress on Friday releases another list of candidates for the Lok Sabha elections, fielding CP Joshi from Rajasthan's Bhilwara and Damodar Gurjar from Rajasthan's Rajsamand.