Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday was unable to get instant relief from the Delhi high court against his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) last week, prolonging the legal battle over his alleged involvement in the Capital’s controversial 2021-22 excise policy that is playing out just weeks ahead of the general elections. HT brings you a round-up of the most important and interesting stories, so you don’t miss your daily dose of news. |
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THE BIG STORY No relief for Kejriwal, HC to hear ED reply in 6 days Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday was unable to get instant relief from the Delhi high court against his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) last week, prolonging the legal battle over his alleged involvement in the Capital’s controversial 2021-22 excise policy that is playing out just weeks ahead of the general elections. Undermining his hopes of getting a reprieve before he is produced before a special court on Thursday after his six-day ED custody is up, the high court posted his petition for a hearing on April 3, emphasising the need for a response from the federal agency to address the legal and validity issues raised in the CM’s petition. Read more. |
THE BIG QUESTION Tension engulfs MVA after Uddhav poll list: Is the alliance doomed? The Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) declared the first list of candidates for 17 Lok Sabha seats on Wednesday, sparking unease in the Opposition’s Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) with ally Congress publicly urging its ally to reconsider candidates for three seats over which it said talks were still on. Sena (UBT) renominated all five MPs who stood by Thackeray when the party suffered a vertical split in 2022 and fielded eight fresh faces. Besides that four former MPs will also fight for the party. Senior leader Sanjay Raut said the party will contest 22 of the state’s 48 Lok Sabha seats. “The remaining names will be announced in a couple of days,” he said. Read more. |
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 NASA, ESA and Google Earth are collaborating on a real-time map, monitoring the habitat of one animal. It stretches across 10 countries and will boost conservation for not just the animal but the jungles it roams. Purr or roar out the answer. |
FROM THE EDIT PAGE Old Punjab allies take new paths Punjab is set for a four-cornered election with the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and the BJP failing to reach an understanding on seats. They join the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the Congress, the top two parties in the state, in the battle for 13 Lok Sabha seats. This is the first time since 1996 that the BJP will be fighting on its own in Punjab: In 2019, the SAD and BJP won two seats each. The BJP’s decision to go solo will surely be tested in a state where the party does not have a significant presence. But it does have a plan to expand its base in Punjab, one that has been in play since 2022. That year, it won over former chief minister Amarinder Singh and senior Congress leader Sunil Jakhar first. Since then, it has gradually inducted more leaders from Punjab. The process has accelerated in recent days. In mid-March, it inducted suspended Congress MP Preneet Kaur. On Tuesday, it was the turn of another sitting Congress MP, Ravneet Bittu, and on Wednesday, the AAP’s Jalandhar MP, Sushil Kumar Rinku, joined the BJP. Read more. |
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Photo of the Day Into a rafoogar’s heart |
HT This Day:March 28, 1971 Pak planes bomb Bangladesh  (Click to expand) The men of the Punjab Regiment of the Pakistan Army today started surrendering to the liberation forces of Bangla Desh, according to the Free Bangla Radio, even as Pakistan Air Force jets roared into action in support of the hard-pressed ground troops. Read more. |
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