Highlights: Congress releases 7th list of five candidates for LS polls

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9:26 PM

Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk ends 21-day-long hunger strike in Ladakh

Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk on Tuesday evening ended his 21-day-long hunger strike in support of the demand for statehood for Ladakh and its inclusion in the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution. Earlier in the day, he made a fresh appeal to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to fulfil the promises made to the people of the Union Territory and also called upon people to use their franchise in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections very carefully in the interest of the nation. "The first phase of the hunger strike is ending today but this is not the end of the agitation, Wangchuk said after taking a glass of juice from a minor girl here amid a massive turnout of people at the protest venue.

8:06 PM

LS polls: JD(S) leader Kumaraswamy to contest from Karnataka's Mandya as NDA candidate

Janata Dal (Secular) leader and former Chief Minister of Karnataka, HD Kumaraswamy, confirmed on Tuesday that he will contest the Lok Sabha elections as BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) candidate from Mandya Lok Sabha constituency. "Today, my decision is to contest from Mandya for the upcoming elections. BJP leaders advised me to contest from Mandya. Most of the party workers from Mandya also insisted. I will file a nomination and then campaign in the state," Kumaraswamy said while addressing a press conference in Bengaluru on Tuesday.

7:38 PM

Atal Pension Yojana poorly designed, says Congress; Sitharaman hits back accusing it of 'hoodwinking' people

Hours after the Congress dubbed the Centre's Atal Pension Yojana as a "poorly-designed scheme" that "hoodwinks and coerces" people into participating in it, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Tuesday hit back at the grand old party accusing it of "hoodwinking" people in the name of vote bank politics. Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said the Atal pension scheme is a "fitting representation of the Modi Government's policy making: headline management, with few benefits actually reaching the people". His attack came after a media report claimed that nearly one of three subscribers who dropped out of the Centre's pension scheme for unorganised sector, did so because their accounts were opened without their "explicit" permission. The report cited a recent sample study by the Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR).

6:17 PM

No place for such language, Shrinate has clarified: Congress on row over remarks on Kangana

Amid the row over controversial remarks on Kangana Ranaut posted on party leader Supriya Shrinate's social media handle, the Congress on Tuesday said it has always believed there is no place for such language in public discourse and the matter should end with Shrinate clearing the air. Shrinate has already clarified that someone who has access to her account made the post, Congress leader Sandeep Dikshit said at a press conference. "She has said she will find out who has done it," Dikshit said.

5:31 PM

Only regional leaders like KCR, Mamata, Kejriwal can stop BJP, not Cong: BRS leader KT Rama Rao

BRS Working President KT Rama Rao on Tuesday said it is only strong regional leaders such as Chief Ministers of Delhi and West Bengal Arvind Kejriwal and Mamata Banerjee respectively and former Telangana CM K Chandrasekhar Rao who are capable of stopping BJP, not the Congress. Addressing a party meeting here, Rama Rao alleged that the Congress party lost its strength and energy to counter the BJP. "If one has to stop BJP, it is only the regional leaders such as KCR, Mamata Banerjee and Arvind Kejriwal who can do it. Congress is not powerful enough to stop BJP. Today, if you see all over the country it is only regional leaders who are able to stop the BJP," Rama Rao said.

5:02 PM

PM Modi speaks to BJP's Basirhat candidate Rekha Patra, who raised Sandeshkhali issue

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday enquired about Basirhat candidate Rekha Patra's campaign. Earlier, Patra had highlighted the ordeal of Sandeshkhali women.

 

4:59 PM

ED attaches assets worth Rs 1.26 crore of Dehradun firm

Probe agency Enforcement Directorate (ED) has attached assets valued at approximately Rs 1.26 crore linked to Uttarakhand's Dehradun-based A to Z Solutions accused of duping foreign customers by providing fake online support services.

4:56 PM

BJP releases second list of 9 candidates for Assembly polls in Sikkim

The saffron party has announced the names of nine candidates who will contest the forthcoming  polls in Sikkim. Till now, BJP has now nominated a total of 23 candidates in the state.

4:21 PM

General Elections news updates: What TMC's Kirti Azad said on BJP's Dilip Ghosh's statement

"Such mentality of BJP leaders humiliates nari shakti. He earlier made derogatory remarks against Maa Durga. He should be arrested under the POCSO act for what he said about Mamata Banerjee," Trinamool Congress leader Kirti Azad said on BJP MP Dilip Ghosh's statement.

4:17 PM

Five Chinese nationals, 1 Pakistani killed in suicide bomb attack Pak's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: Report

Pakistani newspaper DAWN reported today that five Chinese nationals and one Pakistani were killed  in an attack on their convoy in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. A suicide bomber crashed an explosive-laden vehicle into a convoy that was carrying Chinese engineers and was on its way from Islamabad to their camp in Dasu, a police official reportedly said.

 

3:07 PM

India supports Philippines in upholding its national sovereignty: External affairs minister Jaishankar

India supports the Philippines in upholding its national sovereignty, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar stated today, amid the Southeast Asian nation's maritime dispute with China in the South China Sea.

"I take this opportunity to firmly reiterate India's support to the Philippines for upholding its national sovereignty," S Jaishankar said. He added that as the world changes, it is essential that India and the Philippines cooperate more closely to shape the emerging model.

2:55 PM

General Elections news update: 'The very idea of India is in danger', says Congress leader AK Antony

"The upcoming elections are very crucial for the nation. The very idea of India is in danger. Constitutional values are in danger. Congress will go all out to ensure that there is no other choice but to throw away this government. We want a change of government. That is why Congress is making all sorts of compromises all over the country," senior Congress leader AK Antony said today. 

2:17 PM

BJP releases list of candidates for forthcoming by-polls in Gujarat, HP, Karnataka, and West Bengal

2:13 PM

'Varun Gandhi welcome to join us': Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury invites Varun Gandhi to join Congress

Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said today that Varun Gandhi is welcome to join the party. His remarks came after the BJP dropped Varun Gandhi from Pilibhit in its Lok Sabha list.

2:08 PM

Lok Sabha polls update: Balasaheb Thorat reaches Silver Oak residence of NCP-SCP chief Sharad Pawar

Senior Congress leader Balasaheb Thorat reached the Silver Oak residence of NCP-SCP chief Sharad Pawar, to hold discussions over seat-sharing ahead of Lok Sabha polls.

2:04 PM

General Elections news update: Union minister Sarbananda Sonowal files nomination

Union minister Sarbananda Sonowal, representing the BJP, will take on Assam Jatiya Parishad (AJP) President Lurinjyoti Gogoi for the Dibrugarh Lok Sabha seat.

1:07 PM

News update: K Kavitha sent to judicial custody till April 9 in liquor policy case

A Delhi court has fixed April 1 as the date for hearing on interim bail petition moved by K Kavitha.

1:01 PM

News update: Kiren Rijiju files nomination from Arunachal Pradesh

On 20th March, Union minister Kiren Rijiju was  given additional charge of Ministry of Food and Processing Industries following the resignation of Pashupati Kumar Paras from the Union Council of ministers. 

12:21 PM

Delhi liquor policy case: 'Not a money laundering case, it is a political laundering case,' says K Kavitha

12:03 PM

News update: ED seeks 14-day custody for BRS leader Kavitha in liquor policy case

11:56 AM

Delhi liquor policy case: BRS leader K Kavitha brought to Rouse Avenue Court by ED officials

11:46 AM

Baloch militants attack Pak naval base in Balochistan, 6 killed by security forces

Armed Baloch militants tried to infiltrate PNS Siddique Naval Air Base, one of the main naval air bases in Pakistan's Balochistan province, but security personnel  foiled the attack and killed at least six of them. The attack on Monday night took place in Turbat district.

11:31 AM

Will move Supreme Court for flood relief from Centre: Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin

Chief Minister MK Stalin said the state government is planning to move the Supreme Court to ensure the state gets the relief fund from the central government, adding that Prime Minister Narendra Modi did not even console the flood-affected people of the state during his poll campaign in Tamil Nadu. “Voting for the BJP is voting against the development of Tamil Nadu,” he said, while taking part in the public meeting organised in Nanguneri.

10:56 AM

News update: BJP to go solo in Lok Sabha elections in Punjab

BJP Punjab state chief Sunil Jakhar today stated the party would contest the Lok Sabha polls alone in the state and would not form an alliance with the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD). "This decision was taken based on the opinion of the people and party workers in the state. The decision was taken keeping in mind the welfare of farmers and businessmen," Jakhar said in a post on social media platform X.

10:33 AM

Congress chief Kharge condemns China's remark on Arunachal Pradesh

10:30 AM

Gangster-turned-politician Mukhtar Ansari admitted to hospital

After he complained of abdominal pain, gangster-turned-politician Mukhtar Ansari lodged in Banda jail was admitted to the Rani Durgawati Medical College, Banda this morning.

10:26 AM

Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal issues 2nd order from jail, this time on health department

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on March 26 issued the second order from jail, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) said. Arvind Kejriwal, who is in the custody of Enforcement Directorate (ED), issued an order for the health department, a party spokespersons said. 

10:22 AM

Congress asks for withdrawal of Abhijit Gangopadhyay's candidature after his Godse remark

The Congress has asked for the withdrawal of BJP candidate Abhijit Gangopadhyay's Lok Sabha candidature over his remark of being unable to choose between Gandhi and Godse.

9:54 AM

News update: Probe agency summons Dinesh Bobhate in an alleged money laundering case

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) summoned Dinesh Bobhate, a close aide of Uddhav faction leader Anil Desai, in an alleged money laundering case. Bhobate has been instructed to remain present before the ED this week, reported ANI.

9:50 AM

Delhi weather update: Light rain likely in national capital, minimum temperature of 17.7 degrees Celsius

Delhi registered a minimum temperature of 17.7 degrees Celsius on Tuesday morning, with the weather office predicting light rain. The humidity recorded at 8:30 am was 70 per cent. The maximum temperature is likely to settle around 34 degrees Celsius.