The Vasai Court has granted Sheezan Khan bail in the Tunisha Sharma death case. He was arrested on suspicion of facilitating the suicide of Tunisha, his co-star and girlfriend, who died on the set of Ali Baba: Dastaan-e-Kabul on December 24 last year. After being detained for more than two months, Sheezan’s request for bail was approved by the court.
According to the reports, Additional Sessions Judge R D Deshpande ordered him to provide a surety bond in the amount of Rs. 1 lakh and his passport.
Mumbai | Television actor Sheezan Khan accused and arrested in television actress Tunisha Sharma’s suicide case granted bail on Rs 1 lakh surety bond by Vasai court, asks Khan to submit his passport.
After Tunisha passed away, her mother Vanita Sharma reported the incident to the police, accusing Sheezan of encouraging Tunisha to commit suicide. She alleged that Tunisha committed suicide because she was depressed following her separation from Sheezan. Vanita also made claims against Sheezan’s family, saying they were attempting to keep Tunisha apart from him.
Sheezan was arrested and sent to Thane Central prison. Sheezan’s character in Ali Baba: Dastaan-e-Kabul has also been replaced by another actor. Sheezan Khan and Tunisha Sharma apparently fell in love while filming Ali Baba: Dastaan-e-Kabul in August. Days before to Tunisha’s suicide on the Vasai set in one of the makeup rooms, they experienced a hard stretch in their relationship. Tunisha’s mother charged Sheezan with having an extramarital affair with her daughter after Tunisha passed away.
The Vasai court granted bail but also ordered the actor to turn up his passport and to refrain from leaving the country without first getting permission from the judge.
Sheezan’s attorney, Sharad Rai, said that bail should be granted because the investigation was completed and a chargesheet had been submitted. The claim that he wasn’t in the room when the incident happened was refuted by Special Public Prosecutor Sanjay More.
On Saturday, March 4, reports emerged that the Colombia government is planning to fly as many as 60 of its ‘cocaine hippos’ to India and 10 others to Mexico in a bid to control their booming population in the South American nation. Several media reports have quoted the local governor as confirming the proposal. These hippos are the descendants of the hippos kept at the private zoo of drug lord Pablo Escobar.
Colombia is considering relocating these gigantic animals as they feel it poses a threat to the region’s biodiversity as their numbers are increasing and the faeces of these animals change the composition of the rivers and could impact the habitat of manatees and capybaras. They have no natural predators, making it difficult to control their growing population. Moreover, experts have also cautioned the country about the chances of deadly animal-human encounters.
In an interview with Colombian media house Blu Radio, Antioquia province’s governor Aníbal Gaviria said that they are considering to translocate the hippopotamuses to India and Mexico because these two countries have the capacity to receive them, manage them properly and control their reproduction. He said that sending the hippos back to their native place Africa is not possible because “it is not allowed”.
According to CNN, authorities have used castration and shots of contraceptive darts to try and manage the population. The efforts, however, have not been especially fruitful.
According to Lina Marcela de los Ríos Morales, director of animal protection and welfare at Antioquia’s environment ministry, the proposal to transport them to India and Mexico has been in the pipeline for more than a year.
The idea is to lure the hippos into custom-made containers using food and transfer them by trucks to the city of Rionegro, from where they will then be transported by air to Mexico and India. If the plan materialises, 60 of the “cocaine hippos” will be flown to India and housed at Gujarat’s Greens Zoological Rescue & Rehabilitation Kingdom. The rest will be sent to Ostok Sanctuary in Mexico.
Ernesto Zazueta, president of the Ostok Sanctuary, is also acting as a liaison between Colombia and India. He said that they will charter cargo planes, capable of carrying 20 to 30 hippos, from Belarusian company Rada Airlines. A trip to Mexico will cost $400,000, while the cost of a trip to India will be $900,000. He added that resources for this translocation will go from India and Mexico. The entire process will be documented by an Argentine documentary producer.
He clarified that they are doing this for the well-being of the animals, not because of their historical association with Pablo Escobar.
Lina de los Ríos Morales, director of animal protection and welfare in a regional branch of Colombia’s Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development, confirmed that they are working with Ernesto Zazueta for the project. Lina de los Ríos Morales added that the plan is in the works for more than a year, but the process of obtaining necessary permits is pending.
According to the governor’s office, Antioquia, Ecuador, the Philippines, and Botswana have also expressed willingness to bring home the Colombian cocaine hippos.
What are ‘cocaine hippos’
Notably, the ‘cocaine hippos’ are descendants of four hippos, one male and three females, that deceased Colombian drug lord Pablo Escobar kept at the private zoo on his estate in Hacienda Nápoles. He had smuggled these four hippos from Africa or the United States, illegally in the 1980s, to go with his collection of other exotic animals in his private zoo.
The private zoo in the Hacienda Nápoles had various animals like giraffes, elephants, antelope, exotic birds etc, apart from the hippos. The estate of the drug lord also had a private airport, a brother, a formula-1 racing track, and a large collection of cars.
The government had taken control of the property after he was shot and killed by police in 1993. After that, most of the animals living in Escobar’s ranch were relocated by authorities. However, the hippos were permitted to roam freely on the drug lord’s estate because it was too difficult to transport them as each weigh up to three tonnes (3000 kg). The hippos started living in the Magdalena River and some small lakes in the area.
The hippos thrived at the abandoned estate, where they managed to survive due to favourable climatic conditions and the absence of natural predators. Soon they started multiplying. From the initial four hippos, their population started growing steadily and spread way beyond the Hacienda Napoles ranch. At present, there are 130-140 hippos in the region, and without population control measures, their numbers could go up to 400 in the coming years. In the next 16 years, the numbers could swell to 1500, if not controlled.
Image source: Twitter user @foreignobjecter
Last year, Colombia’s government declared them a toxic invasive species.
At present, the Colombian authorities plan to shift the hippos living in the rivers and lakes outside the ranch, not the ones inside the Hacienda Napoles ranch, because they are in a controlled environment and don’t threaten the local ecosystem.
It is being said that translocating the hippos is a more humane approach then castrating or killing them. During the 2000s, the government had allowed hunting of the animals. But when photos of a hippo shot dead by soldiers appeared on media, it created a massive outrage, and the govt stopped the move.
Namibia Cheetahs to be brought to India from South Africa
India recently received cheetahs from Namibia, as part of a reintroduction project. Cheetahs were declared extinct in India in 1952. On 16th February 2023, Bhupender Yadav, Union Minister of Environment, Forests, and Climate Change announced the relocation of twelve Cheetahs from South Africa to India. The cheetahs were brought to Madhya Pradesh’s Kuno National Park on February 18, 2023. This was the second batch of cheetahs brought to India, after 8 cheetahs brought from Namibia by India’s Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, in a historic first wild-to-wild intercontinental relocation, were released in Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh on 17 September 2022.
On Saturday, March 4, Union Jal Shakti Minister and senior Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) leader Gajendra Singh Shekhawat moved to Rouse Avenue Court to file a defamation suit against Rajasthan CM and Congress leader Ashok Gehlot.
According to the Shekhawat, the Rajasthan chief minister levelled false accusations against him over the alleged complicity in the Sanjivani Credit Cooperative Society scam.
Shekhawat has urged that Gehlot be charged with criminal defamation in accordance with IPC provisions. The Union minister has also asked for appropriate monetary compensation for the harm caused to his reputation.
In his criminal defamation complaint submitted before the Rouse Avenue Court in New Delhi, Shekhawat claimed that “their reputation has suffered irreparable damage.”
During a media interaction, Shekhawat said CM Gehlot has been defaming him for the last three years and is deliberately attempting to affect his political career by maligning his image.
“CM Ashok Gehlot has been making defamatory remarks, trying to tarnish my image and affect my political career. For the last three years, he has been in defaming me in media, Rajya Sabha & even in public rallies,” Shekhawat said.
“The CM has accused me, he is not worried about the transactions & investments of the credit cooperative society. Even after repeated FIRs, he did not stop. I have filed a defamation suit against the CM,” Shekhawat added.
The CM has accused me, he is not worried about the transactions & investments of the credit cooperative society. Even after repeated FIRs, he didn’t stop. I have filed a defamation suit against the CM: Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat pic.twitter.com/bPlLxpTRE3
Shekhawat claimed that for over three years, CM Gehlot has defamed him by linking his name to a cooperative society of which neither he nor anyone from his family is a primary member or depositor. “They have accused me in this case in Jodhpur,” Shekhawat told the media.
“In addition to attempting to ruin my reputation, they also accused my deceased mother. I have thus filed a defamation lawsuit under Section 500 of IPC against Ashok Gehlot,” Shekhawat went on to say.
उन्होंने न सिर्फ मेरा चरित्र हनन करने की कोशिश की बल्कि मेरी दिवंगत मां को भी अभियुक्त करार दिया। जिसके चलते मैंने धारा 500 के तहत मानहानि का मुकदमा दायर किया है: केंद्रीय मंत्री गजेंद्र सिंह शेखावत, दिल्ली pic.twitter.com/uoVv66RTsU
Reacting to the lawsuit initiated by the BJP leader, CM Gehlot said that he welcomes the move by Shekhawat as it would bring the alleged Sanjivani cooperative society scam into the national focus.
“I will welcome the defamation case. When asked about Shekhawat’s plan to bring the defamation action against him in Delhi, the chief minister told reporters that it will expedite the case and assist the victims who have lost money to the scam. “This man (Shekhawat) should be ashamed of himself. Being a Union Minister he should have called the victims and assisted them in obtaining justice,” he claimed.
Gehlot stated that the Rajasthan government is prepared to assist in the case’s investigation. He advised the Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Prime Minister Narendra Modi to take note of the alleged scam.
“The scam pertains to multi-state cooperative societies. Had it pertained to our state, we would have dealt. Now, this is the Centre’s job. We had written to Enforcement Directorate for action. But nothing happened,” Gehlot added.
This comes after Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot on February 22 accused Gajendra Singh Shekhawat of being involved in the alleged Sanjivani Credit Cooperative Society scam, saying police investigation has proven his involvement.
Gehlot said that Shekhawat is trying to mislead the public in the case even though the Special Operations Group (SOG) has shown his involvement in the matter, just like other arrested accused. CM Gehlot also alleged that not only Shekhawat but his family including his father, mother, wife, and brother-in-law are involved in the alleged scam.
Shekhawat hits back
Right after Gehlot’s remarks, Shekhwat attacked CM Gehlot, claiming that the senior Congress leader is falsely implicating him in the Sanjeevani Credit Cooperative Society scam out of frustration over the fact that he had defeated Gehlot’s son Vaibhav Gehlot from the Jodhpur constituency in the last Lok Sabha election.
Sanjivani Credit Society scam
Over 211 of the Sanjivani Credit Cooperative Society’s branches were opened in Rajasthan, and 26 in Gujarat. After that, the society defrauded nearly 2 lakh investors for a total of Rs 953 crore. As of now, the case has resulted in the arrests of Naresh Soni, Executive Officer Kishan Singh Choli, former President Devi Singh, and the main accused Vikram Singh Indra.
On Thursday (March 2) evening, two men breached the security at the Holkar stadium in the Indore city of Madhya Pradesh and entered the Indian dressing room during Day 2 of the 3rd Test match against Australia.
As per a report by Dainik Bhaskar, the accused were identified as one Javed and Qayyum. They are said to be the residents of Mewati mohalla of Indore.
The duo managed to dodge the security personnel and sneak into the men’s dressing room through the kitchen. Javed and Qayyum, who identified as cricket fans, took selfies with ace Indian cricketer Cheteshwar Pujara.
On realising the breach of security, the stadium officials called in the police. The duo was arrested and taken away by the police. A bomb disposal squad was also called in and the premises were searched thoroughly for any suspicious items.
Tukoganj Town Inspector (TI) Kanlesh Sharma confirmed the development but claimed that only one of the two men entered the dressing room. Javed is said to run a stall in Indore.
India loses 3rd Test to Australia
It must be mentioned that Australia managed to clinch the 3rd Test comfortably with 9 wickets to spare. The visitors wrapped up the Indian first innings at 109 and then went on to put up 197 on the scoreboard.
India failed to make a comeback in the 2nd innings and was able to put a lead of 77 runs. Australia was able to chase the score easily in just 18.5 over with the loss of just 1 wicket. Nonetheless, the Indian team is leading the ‘Border-Gavaskar Trophy’ series by 2-1, with one match to spare.
The Supreme Court Advocates-on-Record Association (SCAORA) has said that it is shocked to find that the Supreme Court is implementing a new e-filling software without any consultation with the association. The association learned about the development only after receiving a letter from the registry of the Supreme Court announcing a training program for the new software.
Expressing dissatisfaction over the matter, the SCAORA wrote a letter to the registry, seeking a meeting with the organisation. The association wrote in the letter, “We are shocked to receive the letter under response that the registry of the Supreme Court of India is proposing to bring in a new e-filing software. It is shocking because at no point in time SCAORA or its members have been consulted prior to launch of the proposed new e-filing software. It is expected from the Registry to have a detailed consultation and discussion with the members of SCAORA prior to any changes being considered to be made in the e-filing process.”
In the letter, the association also suggested that the training on the new software should be given to chamber staff and junior colleagues also, not just to Advocates on Record of the Supreme Court. They said that this is needed because most e-fillings are done by junior lawyers and staff, not AORs who are senior lawyers.
“AoRs are senior and seasoned practitioners who contribute more on the drafting and settling of the pleadings, rather than merely e-filing the same,” the letter by SCAORA said.
SCAORA secretary advocate-on-Record Devvrat told LiveLaw, “The registry has sent us a letter announcing a training and awareness programme for the new module designed for e-filing. Our objection is that a module has been designed without taking into consultation SCOARA or any Advocate-on-Record, who are primarily responsible for filing the matters. We’re now being called for a training programme when we ought to have been consulted before designing this module itself.”
He said that designing a new module without consulting the people who will be using them can leave issues in the system, and such incidents have happened in the past. He added, “The registrars who design the module usually leave with the change in the chief justice and we will be left with these modules that are designed without consulting the actual end users who are Advocates-on-Record. It has happened in the past, and we are afraid it will happen again. The registry should have informed us and taken our feedback in the designing process, instead of just calling us for a training and awareness session on a pre-designed module.”
It is notable an advocate-on-record is an advocate who can appear before the Supreme Court. As per Chapter IV of the Supreme Court Rules, 2013, only an Advocate on Record (AOR) can appear, plead and address the Court in a matter on behalf of a client. An advocate needs to clear an exam conducted by the Supreme Court to become an AOR. AORs are difference from Senior Lawyers designated by the Supreme Court, and a Senior Lawyer must be accompanied by an AOR to appear in a case.
The United Arab Emirates government has decided not to renew the visas to Pakistanis parents who deprive their children of the right to education, Geo News reported.
While talking in a television interview, UAE Consul General in Karachi Bakheet Ateeq Al-Remeithi asserted the importance of education for children. “The UAE government has decided to take action against parents who violate laws protecting children,” he added. The Emirati envoy also said, “Wadeema law is for Pakistanis who possess a work or residence visa.”
He also stated that those who violate the law can be deported from the UAE.”In the future, visas will be granted to Pakistanis who will assure full implementation of Wadeema law,” he added.
During the interview, Bakheet Ateeq Al-Remeithi said that the country has decided to place stringent measures in order to make people follow Wadeema law, according to Geo News.
“Under the Wadeema law, a large number of Pakistanis who possess work visas in the UAE are violating laws regarding children’s rights,” he said.
He further stated that the Wadeema law defines the children’s right to education and a huge number of Pakistanis are depriving their children of the right by making their children sit at home.
“The government has made tough decisions in this regard at an important meeting in the past,” he said, adding that the rules regarding the rights of children with families living in the UAE must be strictly enforced.
He urged expatriate Pakistani parents in the UAE to ensure their children’s education and protect their rights including those related to health and freedoms.
The consul general also told Geo News that the UAE houses a population of 16 to 17 million Pakistanis.
Commenting on whether the law applies to other Pakistanis, Al-Remeithi said that there is no such restriction on Pakistani nationals applying for a visit visa, reported Geo News.
“The UAE government will welcome Pakistan coming to the UAE on a tourist visa and there is no restriction on them from visiting the country,” the envoy clarified.
(This news report is published from a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has not been written or edited by OpIndia staff)
After drawing fierce criticism from students and on social media for banning Holi celebrations on campus, the Banaras Hindu University has revoked the order. On Saturday, March 4, the Banaras Hindu University at Varanasi issued an order stating that in view of the response received on social media and other media platforms, the University has withdrawn its previous order banning the celebration of the Hindu festival on campus.
The order issued by the university’s chief proctor Professor Abhimanyu Singh urged students to celebrate the festival of colours with due dignity in a cordial atmosphere.
The order issued by BHU taking back the order banning the Holi celebration
Not just the BHU administration revoked the ban on the Holi celebration, but they also proudly shared images of the festival celebrated on campus. The official Twitter handle of the Banaras Hindu University shared a compilation of photographs from the university campus showing students celebrating the festival of colour.
Banaras Hindu University prohibited students from celebrating Holi inside the campus
On 28th February 2023, the Banaras Hindu University at Varanasi issued an order prohibiting students from celebrating Holi inside the campus. The university administration said that action will be taken against those who defy this order.
In a circular issued on 28th February 2023, the university’s chief proctor Professor Abhimanyu Singh said, “All the teachers, staff and students of Kashi Hindu University campus are informed that playing Holi, making noise, playing music in public places on the campus is completely prohibited. In this regard, all directors, faculty heads, and administrative patrons are requested to take administrative action against those who do so. Make the students aware of this fact and ensure necessary action in such a situation.”
The festival of colours is a major Hindu festival and the decision by the university administration triggered massive outrage among the students and on social media. People also pointed out that the same Banaras Hindu University had organised an Iftat party year.
On Thursday, 3rd March 2023, students, however, defied the ban and celebrated Holi on campus and in individual hostels. According to reports, the students celebrated the festival by playing music on DJ systems, throwing colours, tearing clothes, and pushing each other in water and mud. Film songs, folk songs and Bhojpuri songs were played at high volume. Students of the Faculty of Visual Arts celebrated Holi in a pool filled with water, while at Madhuban, male students tore shirts and kurtas of each other. Amid the fun, they also protested against the admin, and the celebrations were more intense due to the ban order.
BHU organised Iftar party, students had alleged that it was an attempt at Islamisation of the University
It is notable that on 26th April 2022, BHU Vice-Chancellor Professor Sudhir Jain organized an Iftar party on the campus, triggering protests from students. In the Muslim month of Ramzan, an Iftar party was organized on the campus of Women’s College, where the Vice-Chancellor and several professors had participated, and fasting professors joined the students to open their fast.
Following the party, the students of the Banaras Hindu University held protests outside the residence of Vice-Chancellor Professor Sudhir Jain. Alleging that it was an attempt at Islamisation of the University, they demanded an apology from the VC as they held banners and raised slogans in protest.
However, the university defended the decision, saying that this happens every year.
The Rouse Avenue Court on Saturday extended the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) remand of former Delhi Minister Manish Sisodia in a case pertaining to alleged irregularities in the framing and implementation of the excise policy of GNCTD.
The Special Judge MK Nagpal on Saturday granted two more days of remand of Manish Sisodia to CBI. Meanwhile, the Court also issued notice to CBI on bail moved by Manish Sisodia and listed the matter for March 10, 2023.
While seeking further remand of Manish Sisodia, CBI counsel stated, “He’s still non-cooperative and we need his further custody to confront him with two persons.”
“A lot of time went in his medicals. One whole day went in the petition he filed in the Supreme Court which was dismissed,” CBI told the Court.
Senior Advocate Dayan Krishan appears for Manish Sisodia opposed the CBI application seeking an extension of remand and submits that “What is the difference between what was on day 1 and today? Raids were conducted at my house, and at my office too… keeping me in CBI custody would produce a document, is this logical???”
Senior Advocate Mohit Mathur also appeared for Sisodia and submitted that while considering all of this my wife’s medical condition is being kept aside. “The man who is not going to run away has to be seen that way too,” he said.
During the hearing, Manish Sisodia himself submitted in the court that CBI officials are taking care of me, treating me respectfully and giving all things and not using any third degree. “But they are making me sit so long 9-10 hours daily and asking the same questions again and again… it is not less not mental harassment,” he said. On that, Court directed CBI not to ask repetitive questions.
Former Delhi Minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Manish Sisodia in his bail petition in a trial court stated that no fruitful purpose would be served keeping him in custody as all the recoveries have already been made.
Sisodia also stated that he has joined the investigation as and when called for by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The other accused persons arrested in this case have already been granted bail. Sisodia further stated that he holds the important constitutional post of Deputy CM of Delhi and has deep roots in the society.
Sisodia was recently arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for alleged irregularities in the framing and implementation of the excise policy of GNCTD.
Rouse Avenue Court earlier while sending Sisodia to CBI remand directed that the interrogation of the accused during the remand period shall be conducted at some place having CCTV coverage in accordance with guidelines laid down by the Supreme Court and the said footage shall be preserved by the CBI.
Sisodia was arrested last Sunday in an ongoing investigation of a case related to alleged irregularities in the framing and implementation of the excise policy of GNCTD.
While sending Sisodia to CBI remand, the trial court observed that the accused had joined the investigation of this case on two earlier occasions, but it has also been observed that he has failed to provide satisfactory answers to most of the questions put to him during his examination and interrogation conducted and has thus, failed to legitimately explain the incriminating evidence which has allegedly surfaced against him in the investigation conducted so far.
It is true that he cannot be expected to make self-incriminating statements, but the interests of justice and of a fair investigation require that he should come up with some legitimate answers to the questions which are being put to him by the Investigation officer, said the court.
(This news report is published from a syndicated feed. Except for the headline, the content has not been written or edited by OpIndia staff)
Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) scientists who are observing and examining ailments caused by respiratory viruses through the Virus Research and Diagnostic Laboratories network, revealed on Friday that influenza is behind several cases of cough, cold and fever in India.
“A persistent cough, sometimes accompanied by fever, running through India for the past two-three months is due to Influenza A subtype H3N2. The H3N2, which has been in wide circulation for the past two-three months, causes more hospitalisations than other subtypes,” ICMR experts said.
They have also issued a list of dos and don’ts that individuals should abide by in order to avoid catching the virus. Meanwhile, the Indian Medical Association (IMA) has cautioned against the inappropriate use of antibiotics in light of the country’s growing rates of cough, cold, and nausea.
It stated that seasonal fever would last from five to seven days. According to the IMA’s Standing Committee for Anti-Microbial Resistance, the cough might last up to three weeks while the fever would disappear after three days.
According to the study, viral incidences have increased as a result of air pollution. It also stated that the majority of cases affect those over 50 and under 15 and that upper respiratory infections and fever are common symptoms. Further, the group advised doctors to solely recommend symptomatic care rather than antibiotics.
“Right now, people start taking antibiotics like Azithromycin and Amoxiclav etc, that too without caring for dose and frequency and stop once they start feeling better. This needs to be stopped as it leads to antibiotic resistance. Whenever there will be a real need of antibiotics, they will not work due to the resistance,” the IMA said in a statement.
Amoxicillin, Norfloxacin, Oprofloxacin, Ofloxacin, and Levofloxacin are the antibiotics that are most frequently misused. It stated that they are used to treat UTIs and diarrhea.
“We have already seen widespread use of Azithromycin and Ivermectin during Covid and this too has led to resistance. It is necessary to diagnose whether the infection is bacterial or not before prescribing antibiotics,” it said.
In the most recent episode of Lallantop’s political programme Netanagri, India Today anchor Rajdeep Sardesai disclosed that Arvind Kejriwal, the pioneer of the Aam Aadmi Party and chief minister of Delhi, had expressed interest in forming an alliance with the Congress prior to the Gujarat assembly elections last year.
He was one of the guests on the show. While talking to the host Saurabh Trivedi, he revealed, that AAP wanted to reach a seat-sharing agreement with Congress, to stop the ruling Bharitya Janta Party from forming government in the state.
Big : “Arvind Kejriwal called Sonia Gandhi before the Gujarat elections and wanted a coalition to defeat BJP”
Remember Kejriwal was telling Gujaratis that Congress & BJP are one. How this man fools common citizens while playing his games pic.twitter.com/vsUGJHiZ5R
“For many months leading up to the election, Arvind Kejriwal sought a meeting with Congress. Before the elections, he reportedly spoke over the phone with Sonia Gandhi, and asked her to contest the polls together,” Rajdeep claimed.
“Kejriwal urged her, that we can devise a formula to fight the election jointly. He told her that we could defeat the BJP by winning most seats in at least 70 constituencies if we worked together,” he continued.
According to Rajdeep Sardesai, Sonia Gandhi assured the CM that she will listen to his proposal and “get back to him,” but she never did. “Arvind Kejriwal even tried to contact Rahul Gandhi,” he added.
Kejriwal had drawn similarities between BJP and Congress even as he made overtures to Sonia Gandhi
During Gujarat elections, Kejriwal frequently remarked, that “BJP and the Congress are two sides of the same coin.”
Bharatiya Janata Party, won a majority of 156 seats, the most ever won by any party in Gujarat’s history, continuing its reign since 1998. The Indian National Congress won 17 seats, and fell to its lowest count in the state for 3 decades.
Aam Aadmi Party which declared, that the party will form the next government in the state could manage to clinch only 5 assembly seats.
