New Delhi: After Samajwadi Party, Congress has become a target for their leaders having alleged relationships with late gangsters Atiq Ahmed and his brother Ashraf. BJP MP Shobha Karandlaje took a jibe at Congress Imran Pratapgarhi for being friends with Atiq and Ashraf. Talking to the media, Karandlaje alleged that Imran used to call them brothers.
MP Shobha Karandlaje said that Congress has kept Imran Pratapgarhi on the list of star campaigners for Karnataka polls and added that this shows Congress is in support of criminals and anti-nationals.
#WATCH | Gangster Atiq Ahmed & Ashraf were his (Imran Pratapgarhi) friends. Imran used to call them brothers… Congress has kept him on the list of star campaigners for Karnataka polls, which shows Congress is in support of criminals and anti-nationals: BJP MP Shobha Karandlaje pic.twitter.com/O3vpXNWSTB
— ANI (@ANI) April 20, 2023
Meanwhile, a Facebook post from April 2015 by Imran surfaced on the internet, in which he can be seen posing with Atiq and Ashraf as the gangsters arrived at his residence for a feast. In the post, he referred to Atiq Ahmed as ‘brother’.
Earlier, Congress leader Rajkumar Raju put the national flag at Atiq Ahmed’s grave and also went on to demand Bharat Ratna for him. In a video, he can be seen putting the tri-colour on gangster turned politician’s grave and demanding a resignation by Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath. After a backlash, Congress expelled Rajkumar Raju from the party.
Imran Pratapgarhi will be a young star campaigner for Congress among party chief Mallikarjun Kharge, Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, KC Venugopal, Jairam Ramesh and others. Karnataka State Assembly Elections are to be held on May 10 and the results will be declared on May 13.
Atiq Ahmed and Ashraf, who were accused in the Umesh Pal kidnapping and murder case, were shot dead on their way for medical examination. Shooters Arun Maurya, Sunny Singh and Lovekesh Tiwari shot them in the presence of police. The last rites of Atiq and Ashraf took place on April 16 in Prayagraj.
