‘Ahom general’ Lachit Borphukan known for his leadership in the 1671 ‘Battle of Saraighat’ that thwarted a drawn-out attempt by the mighty Mughal forces, led by Raja Ramsingh-I, to take back Assam.
Telugu Desam Party (TDP) president N Chandrababu Naidu and Jana Sena Party (JSP) chief Pawan Kalyan held discussions with Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi, amid buzz of a strategic alliance between the three parties in the upcoming Lok Sabha and Assembly elections in Andhra Pradesh.
The TDP, once an integral part of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) until 2018, is now exploring the prospect of rekindling the alliance. The talks, held in New Delhi, focused on resolving key issues surrounding seat distribution, with both parties expressing a willingness to collaborate, pending an official announcement expected in the next day or two.
According to sources, the primary discussion revolved around seat-sharing arrangements. A potential alliance could see the BJP contesting six Lok Sabha seats, with the JSP led by Pawan Kalyan contesting two and the TDP holding the remaining 17 Lok Sabha seats. Out of the 175 Assembly seats in Andhra Pradesh, the BJP and the JSP have reportedly agreed to contest 30 parliamentary constituencies, but the former is asking for more. The TDP meanwhile has made it clear that it will contest alone on 145 seats.
The BJP’s keen interest in securing key constituencies, including Vizag, Vijayawada, Araku, Rajampet, Rajahmundry, Tirupati, and an additional location, remains a sticking point in the negotiations.
The BJP’s ambitious goal of winning 370 seats in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls has spurred efforts to expand the NDA, considering alliances with regional parties crucial for achieving success. Apart from Andhra Pradesh, the BJP is also mulling a poll pact with the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) led by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik in Odisha.
A film producer has been arrested for allegedly smuggling drugs worth over Rs 2,000 crore out of the country. Jaffer Sadiq, a former DMK functionary who has worked in South’s film industry, was arrested following a four-month manhunt, said the Narcotics Control Bureau on Saturday.
The NCB has named Sadiq the “kingpin” of the India-Australia-New Zealand drugs trafficking network. He has smuggled Rs 2,000-crore drugs to Australia and New Zealand, it said.
“He sent 3,500 kg pseudoephedrine abroad over 45 times,” said a top official.
Sadiq has made four films so far with his last one expected to release this month.
His arrest came a week after officers seized methamphetamine worth Rs 180 crore from two rail passengers in Madurai and a dump yard in Chennai. The drugs were meant for smuggling to Sri Lanka.
A total of 36 kg was seized from the passenger couple and another 6 kg from Kodungaiyur dump yard in Chennai on February 29, officials said. The couple was detained after the seizure.
Methamphetamine, also known as “ice” or “crystal meth”, is a highly addictive psychostimulant drug that exhibits powerful euphoric effects similar to those of cocaine and has life-threatening consequences, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence had said.
Following the drug bust, BJP state chief K Annamalai had lashed out at the ruling DMK and said Tamil Nadu has become the drug capital of India.
“International druglord and a DMK functionary Jaffar Sadiq is on the run. The NCB is raiding DMK functionaries’ establishments. Rs 1,200 crore worth en route to Tamil Nadu caught off the coast of Gujarat, and today 30 kgs of methamphetamine were caught in transit in Madurai by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence,” he had said in an online post.
Three others associated with this international drug syndicate were recently arrested by the NCB from Delhi. The US’s Federal Bureau of Investigation is also cooperating with the Indian agency in the drugs probe.