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		<img align="" alt="CWC meeting, congress commttiee, Rahul Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge," class="imgCont" height="464" src="https://bsmedia.business-standard.com/_media/bs/img/article/2024-03/19/full/1710827683-3426.jpg" style="border: 1px solid #DDD; margin-right: 10px; padding: 1px; float: left; z-index: 0;" title="CWC meeting, congress commttiee, Rahul Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge," width="620">
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		File Photo | Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge with party leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi during the ‘Congress Working Committee (CWC) Meeting’ , in New Delhi (Photo: PTI)</div></div>

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CWC meeting, congress commttiee, Rahul Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge,

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					The Congress on Tuesday released its seventh list of five candidates for the Lok Sabha elections, fielding R Sudha from Tamil Nadu&#39;s Mayiladuthurai constituency. The Mayiladuthurai constituency was with its ally DMK in the last elections. Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar had been an MP from this constituency thrice earlier.The Congress announced candidates for four seats in Chhattisgarh and one in Tamil Nadu.In Chhattisgarh, the party fielded Shashi Singh from Sarguja (ST), Menka Devi Singh from Raigarh, Devender Singh Yadav from Bilaspur and Biresh Thakur from Kanker (ST).</p>
				India&#39;s current account balance recorded a deficit of USD 10.5 bn (1.2 pc of GDP) in Oct-Dec, down from USD 11.4 bn in Jul-Sept: RBI<br />
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				Amid the Philippines&#39; maritime dispute with China in the South China Sea, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Tuesday that India firmly supports the Southeast Asian nation&#39;s in upholding its national sovereignty.</div>
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			The Rose Avenue court in Delhi has sent Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) leader K Kavitha to judicial custody till April 9.<br />
			&nbsp;K Kavitha was arrested on March 15 by Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with the alleged liquor policy scam. A week after her arrest, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal was also taken into custody by the probe agency. The ED was seeking a 14-day custody for BRS leader K Kavitha to&nbsp;interrogate her about the alleged irregularities related to Delhi liquor policy. The probe agency has claimed that K Kavitha, the daughter of former Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao, was a key member of the &#39;South Group&#39; that has been accused of paying the AAP bribes worth Rs 100 crore in return for a large share of liquor licences in Delhi.</div>
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		The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will contest Lok Sabha elections alone in Punjab, the chief of the state unit said today, ruling out an alliance with Akali Dal.<br />
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		A second directive was issued by Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal from jail premises on Tuesday morning. The directive was related to the health department and it was conveyed by the Chief Minister through a memorandum to Delhi health minister Saurabh Bharadwaj.</div>
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	After the Aam Aadmi Party&nbsp; (AAP) called for a &quot;gherao&quot; to protest against the arrest of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday, the Delhi Police has strengthened security at Prime Minister Narendra Modi&#39;s residence. A Police officer told PTI that movement is likely to be affected in parts of New Delhi and Central Delhi because of the protest. &quot;Robust security arrangements have been made. We have installed layers of security to maintain law and order in the area,&quot; the Delhi Police officer said. &quot;Section 144 (of the CrPC) is already imposed around the prime minister&#39;s residence and no one will be allowed to protest,&quot; he added. The chief minister was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with a money-laundering case linked to the now-scrapped excise policy on March 21. He is in the agency&#39;s custody till Thursday.<br />
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			A derogatory remark purportedly made by senior Congress leader Supriya Shrinate about actor Kangana Ranaut lead to a political&nbsp; slugfest on Monday, with the ruling party attacking the Congress and demanding that she be sacked as the party&rsquo;s social and digital media head. The comment, featuring a photograph of Ranaut, was posted from Shrinate&rsquo;s Instagram account. Shrinate claimed it was posted by somebody who had access to her accounts.&nbsp;</div>
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	The United Nations Security Council on Monday demanded an immediate ceasefire between Israel and Palestinian militants Hamas and the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages. The United States abstained from the vote. The remaining 14 council members voted for in favour of the resolution, which was put forward by the 10 elected members of the body.</div>

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

Business Standard

Highlights: Congress releases 7th list of five candidates for LS polls | India News - Business Standard

News update: Three killed, two injured as jeep crashes into tree in MP's Damoh district

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	Police said today that three persons were killed and two injured after a jeep crashed into a tree in Madhya Pradesh&#39;s Damoh district. The incident took place near village Devdogara under Patera police station area on Monday evening, an official said.</div>

Israel-Palestine war news updates: UN Security Council demands immediate ceasefire in Gaza, US abstains

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	The United Nations Security Council on Monday demanded an immediate ceasefire between Israel and Palestinian militants Hamas and the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages after the United States abstained from the vote.</div>
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	The remaining 14 council members voted for the resolution, which was proposed by the 10 elected members of the body.</div>

News update: Isro's PSLV accomplishes zero orbital debris mission

Indian space agency Isro on Monday stated its Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) has accomplished zero orbital debris mission, and described it &quot;another milestone&quot;.

Delhi Police strengthens security amid AAP call to 'gherao' PM residence against Kejriwal's arrest

The Delhi Police has augmented security at Prime Minister Narendra Modi&#39;s residence after the AAP called for a &quot;gherao&quot; protest against the arrest of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, an officer said on Tuesday. &quot;Robust security arrangements have been made. We have installed layers of security to maintain law and order in the area,&quot; the Delhi Police officer said.

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

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	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. &quot;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.</p>

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

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	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. &quot;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,&quot; Kumaraswamy said while addressing a press conference in Bengaluru on Tuesday.</p>

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

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	Hours after the Congress dubbed the Centre&#39;s Atal Pension Yojana as a &quot;poorly-designed scheme&quot; that &quot;hoodwinks and coerces&quot; people into participating in it, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Tuesday hit back at the grand old party accusing it of &quot;hoodwinking&quot; people in the name of vote bank politics. Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said the Atal pension scheme is a &quot;fitting representation of the Modi Government&#39;s policy making: headline management, with few benefits actually reaching the people&quot;. His attack came after a media report claimed that nearly one of three subscribers who dropped out of the Centre&#39;s pension scheme for unorganised sector, did so because their accounts were opened without their &quot;explicit&quot; permission. The report cited a recent sample study by the Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR).</p>

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

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	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. &quot;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,&quot; Rama Rao said.</p>

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

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	Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday enquired about Basirhat candidate Rekha Patra&#39;s campaign. Earlier, Patra had highlighted the ordeal of Sandeshkhali women.</div>
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ED attaches assets worth Rs 1.26 crore  of Dehradun firm

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	Probe agency Enforcement Directorate (ED) has attached assets valued at approximately Rs 1.26 crore linked to Uttarakhand&#39;s Dehradun-based A to Z Solutions accused of duping foreign customers by providing fake online support services.</div>

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

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	The saffron party has announced the names of nine candidates who will contest the forthcoming&nbsp; polls in Sikkim. Till now, BJP has now nominated a total of 23 candidates in the state.</div>

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

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	&quot;Such mentality of BJP leaders humiliates <em>nari shakti</em>. He earlier made derogatory remarks against <em>Maa Durga</em>. He should be arrested under the POCSO act for what he said about Mamata Banerjee,&quot; Trinamool Congress leader Kirti Azad said on BJP MP Dilip Ghosh&#39;s statement.</div>

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

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	Pakistani newspaper DAWN reported today that five Chinese nationals and one Pakistani were killed&nbsp; in an attack on their convoy in Pakistan&#39;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.</div>
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India supports Philippines in upholding its national sovereignty: External affairs minister Jaishankar

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		India supports the Philippines in upholding its national sovereignty, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar stated today, amid the Southeast Asian nation&#39;s maritime dispute with China in the South China Sea.</div>
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	&quot;I take this opportunity to firmly reiterate India&#39;s support to the Philippines for upholding its national sovereignty,&quot; 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.</div>
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General Elections news update: 'The very idea of India is in danger', says Congress leader AK Antony

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	&quot;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,&quot; senior Congress leader AK Antony said today.&nbsp;</div>

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

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		BJP releases a list of candidates for upcoming by-elections in Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka and West Bengal <a href="https://t.co/xiZsleW91d">pic.twitter.com/xiZsleW91d</a></p>
	&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1772523703466705087?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 26, 2024</a></blockquote>
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'Varun Gandhi welcome to join us': Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury invites Varun Gandhi to join Congress

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	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.</div>

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

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	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.</div>

General Elections news update: Union minister Sarbananda Sonowal files nomination

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

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.

News update: Kiren Rijiju files nomination from Arunachal Pradesh

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

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

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		VIDEO | Delhi excise policy case: &quot;This is not a money laundering case, it is a political laundering case,&quot; says BRS leader K Kavitha (<a href="https://twitter.com/RaoKavitha?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RaoKavitha</a>).<br />
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		(Full video available on PTI Videos - <a href="https://t.co/n147TvqRQz">https://t.co/n147TvqRQz</a>) <a href="https://t.co/69wr2nSuV7">pic.twitter.com/69wr2nSuV7</a></p>
	&mdash; Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) <a href="https://twitter.com/PTI_News/status/1772509081682473018?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 26, 2024</a></blockquote>
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News update: ED seeks 14-day custody for BRS leader Kavitha in liquor policy case

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

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		VIDEO | Delhi excise policy case: BRS leader K Kavitha brought to Rouse Avenue Court in Delhi.<br />
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		(Full video available on PTI Videos - <a href="https://t.co/n147TvqRQz">https://t.co/n147TvqRQz</a>) <a href="https://t.co/OtMGlPgb9M">pic.twitter.com/OtMGlPgb9M</a></p>
	&mdash; Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) <a href="https://twitter.com/PTI_News/status/1772508174743990490?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 26, 2024</a></blockquote>
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Baloch militants attack Pak naval base in Balochistan, 6 killed by security forces

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	Armed Baloch militants tried to infiltrate PNS Siddique Naval Air Base, one of the main naval air bases in Pakistan&#39;s Balochistan province, but security personnel&nbsp; foiled the attack and killed at least six of them. The attack on Monday night took place in Turbat district.</div>

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

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	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. &ldquo;Voting for the BJP is voting against the development of Tamil Nadu,&rdquo; he said, while taking part in the public meeting organised in Nanguneri.</div>

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

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	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). &quot;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,&quot; Jakhar said in a post on social media platform X.</div>

Congress chief Kharge condemns China's remark on Arunachal Pradesh

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		Arunachal Pradesh is an inalienable, indistinguishable and inseparable part of India.<br />
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		The Indian National Congress strongly condemns and opposes any idea of an iota of Chinese claims on Arunachal Pradesh.<br />
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		This is the 4th time in a month, that the Chinese, from its highest&hellip; <a href="https://t.co/UXVgr0kDRh">pic.twitter.com/UXVgr0kDRh</a></p>
	&mdash; Mallikarjun Kharge (@kharge) <a href="https://twitter.com/kharge/status/1772476081435476136?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 26, 2024</a></blockquote>
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Gangster-turned-politician Mukhtar Ansari admitted to hospital

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	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.</div>

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.&nbsp;

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

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	The Congress has asked for the withdrawal of BJP candidate Abhijit Gangopadhyay&#39;s Lok Sabha candidature over his remark of being unable to choose between Gandhi and Godse.</div>

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.

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

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	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.</div>