New Delhi, March 23: As AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi declared that his party will contest the upcoming Assembly elections in West Bengal in alliance with former Trinamool Congress leader Humayun Kabir’s newly-formed Aam Janata Unnayan Party (AJUP), the Congress on Monday launched a sharp attack and said that “thank you, Asaduddin Owaisi. You have removed your mask — the mask of secularism — and shown the world your true communal face”. It called the AIMIM leader the “true companion” of the BJP.

The party further alleged that Owaisi has exposed himself as the “B-team” of the BJP but has also proven to be its “true companion.”

Speaking to media, Congress spokesperson Surendra Rajput criticised the AIMIM-AJUP alliance, reiterating, “Thank you, Asaduddin Owaisi. You have removed your mask — the mask of secularism — and shown the world your true communal face.”

“You have not only shown that you are the B-team of the BJP, but also that you are a true companion of the BJP. People are accusing Humayun Kabir of taking money to form a party. So, are you getting funds from Delhi? The people are very clear that they will show your position in West Bengal as well as in Hyderabad elections,” he told media.

Congress MP Sukhdeo Bhagat also weighed in on the development, stating, “Where there is a division of secular votes, it invariably benefits the Bharatiya Janata Party. Owaisi is known for this, and allegations are often made against him. He certainly employs such tactics to ensure votes are divided. That is why we say he works as the B-team of the BJP.”

JMM spokesperson Manoj Pandey echoed similar sentiments and said, “I feel that now Owaisi has achieved some success in one or two states. He has strengthened the BJP and worked to weaken secular parties and forces, which has boosted their morale. However, I believe he will not fit in anywhere in the context of Bengal’s political situation.”

JD(U) National Spokesperson, Rajeev Ranjan, also took a dig at the political developments, saying, “Whether it’s Humayun Kabir or Owaisi, the truth is that the poison sown by Mamata Banerjee in West Bengal’s politics has created many such characters who emerge to cultivate that poison. But when there is a natural alternative, such elements will have no significance, and their existence will not matter in these elections.”

Meanwhile, Bihar Minister Ram Kripal Yadav offered a more neutral perspective, saying, “It is Owaisi’s party, and if he is preparing to contest elections, the decision is independent. The party aims to expand its organisation and has a presence in many places. Owaisi has decided to contest, and as it is a democratic party, its leaders carry out their work accordingly.”

Polling for the 294-member West Bengal Assembly will be held in two phases — the first on April 23 and the second on April 29. The counting of votes is scheduled for May 4.

The alliance between AIMIM and AJUP is expected to influence the vote share in Muslim-dominated seats in the forthcoming elections, which are widely seen as a primarily two-sided contest between the ruling Trinamool Congress and the Opposition BJP.

Srinagar, March 23: Teams of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) carried out searches at multiple locations in Jammu and Kashmir on Monday in connection with the investigation into the 2025 Red Fort explosion case.

Officials said NIA teams this morning raided the residence of a businessman in the Guloora area of Handwara in connection with the blast case. The NIA teams, assisted by J&K Police and the CRPF, searched the premises and checked documents and devices.

A statement from the agency said that searches are being conducted in nine places in various locations of the union territory.

An official added that the “NIA conducted raids at multiple locations across Kashmir as part of its ongoing investigation into the November 10 car blast near Delhi’s Red Fort”.

The raids were carried out at six locations across Srinagar, Baramulla, Kupwara and Kulgam districts on premises linked to individuals arrested in connection with the “terror module” behind the blast, which killed 11 people and wounded 32 others.

Sources said the NIA conducted a search at the residence of Dr Bilal Naseer Malla, a resident of Rafiabad in Baramulla district, who was arrested in connection with the case.

Another search was carried out in the Langate area of Kupwara district. The NIA has apprehended 11 people, including several doctors, so far during the investigation into the bomb blast case.

The prime accused, Dr Umer Un Nabi, was also killed in the deadly explosion.

Officials said teams of NIA, assisted by police and the CRPF, searched the premises and checked documents and devices.

It must be mentioned that on November 10, 2025, a Vehicle-Borne Improvised Explosive Device (VBIED) detonated at the Red Fort in Delhi.

The attack was orchestrated by a “white-collar” cell of professionals, including doctors from Al-Falah University, linked to transnational groups such as Jaish-e-Mohammad and Ansar Ghazwat-ul Hind.

This event signalled a potential operational shift from border-centric militancy to urban-embedded operations, where actors exploit metropolitan anonymity and logistical networks within the country’s interior.

Mumbai: Consulate General of Iran, Saeid Reza Mosayeb Motlagh, on Friday said that Tehran is deeply concerned about India’s LPG crisis. Calling India a “friend and partner,” he added that despite risks in a conflict-like situation, Tehran ensured safe passage for gas carriers to India.

While speaking to media, he said, “The Islamic Republic of Iran has, from the very beginning, shown that it is a friend and partner of India. Personally, as the Consul General of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Mumbai, when I saw people facing a shortage of gas, I felt deeply concerned.”

“As you know, the situation is effectively a war zone, and gas carriers face their own risks; even the smallest impact can lead to serious consequences. However, by the grace of God, Iran was able to provide a safe passage so that these vessels could cross securely. This demonstrates our friendship with India,” he added as quoted by media.

Meanwhile, the Indian-flagged crude oil tanker, Jag Laadki, carrying approximately 80,886 metric tonnes (MT) of crude oil, arrived in Gujarat. Before that, LPG tanker Shivalik, which crossed the war-hit Strait of Hormuz, arrived at Gujarat’s Mundra Port. It roughly carried 40,000 metric tonnes of cooking gas from Qatar. These critical deliveries come at a time when the West Asia conflict caused LPG shortages across India.

India, the world’s third-largest crude importer, sources 88 per cent of its oil needs from abroad. It consumes 5.8 million barrels per day, of which 2.5-2.7 million barrels come from West Asian countries like Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and the UAE via the Strait of Hormuz. The choke point also carries 55 per cent of India’s cooking gas (LPG) and 30 per cent of liquefied natural gas (LNG), used for power, fertilisers, CNG, and household cooking.