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Congress not even in race in UP: MoS Baghel

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The Congress is not even in race in Uttar Pradesh assembly polls and if they are projecting Priyanka Gandhi Vadra as a chief ministerial candidate, it can be just too bad for her political career, Union Minister of State of Law, S.P. Singh Baghel said on Thursday.

“Earlier, I used to fear, if Rahul Gandhi or Priyanka Gandhi, who visit only Amethi or Rai Bareli, ventured out across Uttar Pradesh, there could have been a wave of support. People may remember Youth Congress days, they equate Priyanka as looking like Indira Gandhi. But it has not worked at all. And if Priyanka is being projected as a Chief Ministerial candidate, this can be just too bad for her,” Baghel told IANS after casting vote in Agra (South) constituency for the phase I of the seven phase assembly polls to the UP assembly.

Baghel was replying to a question about Congress’ attack on Prime Minister giving a longish television interview hours before the phase I polls. “The road to Delhi goes from Uttar Pradesh. The Congress is not seen anywhere. If at all, only those who are not originally from Congress, will win; those leaders with ground support who did not get tickets from their parties SP, BJP or BSP. Those originally from Congress are not going to win; they are all in a pathetic situation.”

Asked if the BJP will garner full support or go in for a coalition in view of the rural distress, Baghel – who is fighting from the Karhal seat against Akhilesh Yadav – said, “When he came there for filing nomination, he had declared karyakartas will fight the election, I will come straight on March 10 (day of the result) when we will win by a margin of 1.5 lakh. I challenged him that he will be forced to come here again. And he did come on February 6. (SP family members) Ram Gopal ji is camping in the area, Dharmendra, Dimple, Akshay are all out there asking for votes. This is an indication of their response.”

He also tried to downplay allegations that he is going against Mulayam Singh Yadav, saying, “I quit police service 29 years ago, why are they (SP) still talking about my past connection with Mulayam as his security officer? I am in active politics in Agra for the last 25 years, have won three elections, been in Rajya Sabha, was a minister in Yogi government and had I not resigned and contested Agra Lok Sabha seat, you would have been interviewing me as a UP Cabinet Minister.”

To a question if West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s campaigning in Uttar Pradesh will damage BJP’s prospects, Baghel said, “Mamata Di neither has any admirer nor any voter in the entire Uttar Pradesh. Had she not resorted to fascist tactics, had she not captured booths, had she not repressed BJP workers, not gotten them killed, she would have lost Bengal too. The BJP got 70 seats is an indication that we have reached the semi-finals. Long time ago, Chanakya had said, if the king is very popular, then enemy of the enemy will find an opportunity as a friend. Same is being done by Akhilesh and Mamata Di.”

Baghel sounded confident that BJP will win over 300 seats with ease. “The 2014 Parliament election ended the SP-BSP alternate game that Uttar Pradesh had witnessed since 1989 and now it is the Modi-Yogi story.

National News

Congress MP Imran Masood calls for banning liquor during Navratri

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Saharanpur, March 29: Congress lawmaker Imran Masood said on Saturday that not just meat shops, liquor establishments should be shut during the nine-day festival of Navratri and called for embracing and promoting the spirit of brotherhood and communal harmony.

“Everybody is demanding a ban on meat shops during Navratri. Why is no one asking for a ban on liquor shops? Why is there no outpouring on the free flow of liquor during Navratri? Will this not spoil the purity and sanctity of the festival?” Saharanpur MP said in a special interaction with media.

The Congress Parliamentarian said that peaceful celebration supersedes everything, and it is incumbent upon all communities to maintain decorum during festivities and also make certain sacrifices, be it Eid or Navratri.

Notably, Eid-ul-Fitr and Navratri are coinciding on the same day this year. Both festivals are set to fall on Monday, with little possibility of change in the Eid schedule on account of moon sighting.

Days ago, the Congress MP also extended support to the demands of a meat ban during Navratri celebrations. In an apparent message to the Muslim community, he said that nothing would change if one did not eat meat for ten days.

“What matters above everything is the peaceful co-existence of communities. At no point in time, the differences over food preferences lead to communal strife,” Masood told newspersons.

Congress MP, when asked questions on the party’s strategy for the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, said that the Opposition is fully prepared to take on the Centre on “partisan legislation”.

“We opposed the amendments in the JPC meeting, tooth and nail. We will strongly voice our dissent in Parliament too,” he said.

Notably, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said on Friday that the Waqf Bill will not be delayed any further and will be reintroduced in the ongoing session of Parliament.

Only four working days of the Budget Session are left, as it concludes on April 4.

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National News

‘PM Narendra Modi Relies On Crutches Of Nitish Kumar And Chandrababu Naidu To Pass Waqf Bill”: AIMIM Chief Asaduddin Owaisi

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Hyderabad: All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi spoke on the Waqf Amendment Bill 2024 and said that the BJP does not have a majority in the Lok Sabha, and if Chandrababu Naidu and Nitish Kumar oppose it, it won’t be passed.

While speaking to media, Asaduddin Owaisi said that PM Narendra Modi is relying on the crutches of Chandrababu Naidu and Nitish Kumar. He stated that Union Home Minister Amit Shah is spreading lies in the country regarding the Waqf Bill.

“Amit Shah is the Home Minister of the Government of India and his statement is proof of the fact that you trying to make an unconstitutional law which can be challenged in the court. This is a violation of the articles of the Constitution and the Waqf of the entire country will suffer because of it. You are removing the section of the Waqf property, who will benefit from it. You are omitting the revenue of lakhs of rupees. Amit Shah is lying to the country that you can challenge the Waqf Tribunal in the court. Prime Minister Narendra Modi relies on the crutches of Nitish Kumar and Chandrababu Naidu and if they do not support this unconstitutional bill, then this law will not be made”, Asaduddin Owaisi said.

Earlier on Friday, Owaisi supported the ‘black band’ protest against the Waqf (Amendment) Bill. Owaisi, who is also part of the JPC on the Waqf bill, joined in the symbolic protest on Friday by wearing a black armband as he offered prayers.

Meanwhile, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said on Friday that Waqf Amendment Bill, on which JPC has given its report, will be tabled in the Budget session of Parliament. The Budget session is slated to conclude on April 4.

“Nobody needs to get afraid of the Waqf Bill. In 2013, the Congress-led government passed the Waqf Bill and made several provisions that are not aligned with our Constitution. We are now trying to align the bill with constitutional principles,” he said.

Asked about Asaduddin Owaisi’s black arm band protest, Amit Shah said people have a right to do so. “Some do it through their clothes, some through their words. In Parliament, one opposes through logic,” he said.

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Crime

Accused in Saif Ali Khan stabbing case files bail plea, claims innocence

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Mumbai, March 29: Mohammad Shariful Islam Shahzad, the accused in the stabbing of Bollywood superstar Saif Ali Khan, has filed a bail petition in the Mumbai Sessions Court, asserting that he is innocent and the case against him is fabricated.

The attack took place in the early hours of January 16 when the accused allegedly entered Saif’s Bandra residence through his youngest son Jeh’s room.

The actor, who was reportedly trying to fend off the assailant, suffered multiple stab wounds. Despite his injuries, Saif managed to go to the hospital on his own, accompanied by his son Taimur.

Shariful Islam Shahzad’s petition, filed through his lawyer, claims that the FIR was wrongly registered and that he has fully cooperated with the police investigation.

His legal team argues that since all evidence is already in police custody, there is no risk of tampering, and therefore, he should be granted bail.

Currently, the case is being handled by the Bandra Magistrate Court, but it falls under the jurisdiction of the Mumbai Sessions Court. Once the police file a charge sheet, the case will be transferred to the Sessions Court. However, the charge sheet is yet to be filed.

According to media reports, doctors removed a 2.5-inch knife from Saif’s wound. The actor sustained six stab injuries, two of which were serious as they were near his spine.

The incident reportedly occurred around 2:15 am on January 16 when the accused broke into the house, attacked the house help, and then stabbed Saif when he intervened.

Saif was alerted by noises from Jeh’s room, where he found the accused in an altercation with the house help. Attempting to protect the staff, Saif fought off the intruder with his bare hands before being stabbed multiple times.

Investigations have revealed that the accused, a Bangladeshi national, intended to rob a wealthy individual to finance his mother’s medical treatment in his home country. He has a history of petty theft and was previously dismissed from restaurants in Worli and Thane for stealing.

It is also reported that the attacker was unaware of Saif Ali Khan’s celebrity status and targeted the residence purely because it was located in an upscale apartment complex.

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