New Delhi/Bengaluru : Karnataka Chief Minister, D.K. Shivakumar, and Karnataka Congress President and MLC, B.K. Hariprasad, on Saturday said he attended a Diwali Milan gathering organised at the residence of Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, in New Delhi.

Both leaders shared photographs with Rahul Gandhi and national leaders at the the Diwali Milan.

Hariprasad said he extended special Diwali greetings to Rahul Gandhi and AICC General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi during the gathering.

The Karnataka Congress chief said the event was attended by senior Congress leaders, Members of Parliament and other prominent leaders from different states across the country.

He said he held cordial discussions with several party leaders present at the gathering and exchanged views on the prevailing political developments in the country.

The Diwali Milan provided an opportunity for Congress leaders from different states to interact and discuss the current political situation, Hariprasad said in his statement.

Rahul Gandhi, who is the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, and Priyanka Gandhi were among the prominent leaders present at the special gathering, where Congress leaders exchanged festive greetings and held informal discussions on political developments.

Responding to questions from the media in New Delhi on Friday late night in Delhi, Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar said, “Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi has conveyed Diwali greetings to party leaders and workers, spreading a message of unity, peace and love.”

Responding to questions about his discussions with Rahul Gandhi and the current political developments, Shivakumar said Rahul Gandhi’s political campaign was not merely a personal campaign.

Asked about Rahul Gandhi’s political campaign, Shivakumar said, “This is not Rahul Gandhi’s personal campaign. It is the campaign of the country and the voice of the people.”

“The Congress party gave the country freedom, democracy and the Constitution. As the Leader of the Opposition, Rahul Gandhi is protecting the Constitution, democracy and the rights of the people,” he said.

“The history of the Congress is the history of the country, and the strength of the Congress is the strength of the country. Whenever the Congress party has been in power, it has ensured that everything is shared equally among every section of society. Continuing this tradition is our greatest strength,” Shivakumar said.

Responding to a question about linking voter IDs with beneficiary schemes, the Chief Minister said, “We have many issues to discuss. I am also part of the government, and there are several aspects that need to be discussed on this matter. I will speak about it after the discussions.”

Kolkata : Late-night clashes, allegedly between supporters of the BJP and Mamata All India Trinamool Congress (MAITC), broke out in phases on the intervening night of Friday and Saturday in front of the residence of the Trinamool Congress Lok Sabha member from Diamond Harbour Constituency.

According to the latest information available, the clashes broke out in phases between 2.30 a.m. and 3.30 a.m., when the Diamond Harbour MP was celebrating his 39th birthday at midnight.

What started with an altercation finally turned into scuffles and stone pelting. Abhishek alleged that there was an attempt on his life and accused the BJP supporters of ransacking a nearby party office of his party.

According to police sources, several people from both sides were injured in the incident. Upon learning of the clashes, a large police contingent reached the spot, and they had to resort to baton charges to disperse the members of the two clashing rival groups.

Later, Abhishek started a sit-in protest in front of his house on Friday night over the incident. As the on-duty police officers asked them to move away from that place, since it might result in further escalation of tension, the Diamond Harbour MP also entered into an argument with the on-duty cops.

Finally on Saturday morning, at around 6:30 a.m, he entered his house after the police intervened.

Saturday is Abhishek’s 39th birthday. On that occasion, MAITC workers and supporters gathered in front of the Kalighat residence of the Diamond Harbour MP after midnight on Friday.

Allegedly, the BJP workers suddenly appeared there at around 2.30 a.m. and started shouting slogans of “thief, thief”.

Trinamool supporters alleged that Abhishek’s picture, cutouts, and banners hung with birthday wishes were torn by the BJP workers.

When Trinamool supporters tried to stop this, an argument started between the two groups. After this, clashes broke out. At that point in time, Abhishek came out of the house and met the injured followers. “There is a plot to attack and kill me,” he said.

Later he also issued a social media statement, where he launched a scathing attack against the BJP and the police.

“After two days of continuous recce, this is how BJP hooligans attacked my house at 2 a.m. today. Watch the footage and see for yourself. If this is what can happen to an elected Member of Parliament, imagine the plight of the common man in West Bengal.

“This is the seventh attempt on my life in the last six months. Yet, there has been no police action and no judicial intervention. Hooligans are running riot across the state because the judiciary continues to turn a blind eye. Thank you, Milords, for remaining mute spectators,” Abhishek claimed in his social media statement.

He also attached a picture and a video of the clashes to his post.

New Delhi : A massive fire broke out at a car showroom in the Saidulajab area of south Delhi’s Saket on Friday, officials said.

According to officials, several vehicles worth crores of rupees were gutted in the fire.

Multiple teams of Delhi Police and the Fire Department are present at the spot.

Cooling operation is currently underway and more details are awaited.

Earlier on Friday, a massive fire broke out at a mobile accessories shop in Delhi’s Gaffar Market, spreading to all floors of a four-storey commercial building.

BJP MP Praveen Khandelwal, who visited the spot, said the blaze may have affected around 20-25 shops.

No casualties or injuries have been reported so far, while property damage has been reported.

In another statement, BJP MP Khandelwal said the fire reportedly broke out around midnight in one of the shops and spread rapidly to other parts of the complex.

“…A fire broke out in one of the shops here, and that fire spread rapidly. There have been no casualties. There hasn’t been any such damage. Some of the traders have even managed to retrieve their goods,” Khandelwal said.

BJP MP Yogendra Chandolia also described the incident as extremely unfortunate and expressed relief that no lives were lost.

According to the Delhi Police, a PCR call regarding a fire in a building in Chain Wali Gali was received at 1.28 a.m. at the Karol Bagh Police Station.

The night staff of the police station, along with the Station House Officer (SHO), immediately reached the spot and found a fire at Shop No. 13/21, Puri Plaza, Gaffar Market.

The building is a four-storey commercial establishment dealing in mobile accessories.

As per the preliminary information, the fire originated in a ground-floor shop where mobile batteries were stored and subsequently spread to all floors of the building.

Around 20-25 fire tenders, three CAT ambulances and two PCR vehicles were deployed at the spot as emergency teams launched firefighting and relief operations.

Police said that no loss of life or injuries had been reported so far, and the damage was limited to property.

Prima facie, overheating or overcharging of batteries appears to be a possible cause of the fire, though the exact reason is yet to be established.