UP, PUNJAB SPAT OVER DON-NETA

The Uttar Pradesh Government on Wednesday sought immediate transfer of gangster-turned politician Mukhtar Ansari (57) from Rupnagar district jail in Punjab to the Banda district jail to face trial in several cases, accusing the Punjab Government of "shamelessly" protecting him. In its affidavit, the Punjab government has referred to the medical condition of Ansari and the advice of the doctors, because of which he "could not be handed over to the Uttar Pradesh Police." It is claimed he is undergoing treatment in the jail hospital as well as in other hospitals since Januar y 2019. Ansari runs his own regional party, Qaumi Ekta Dal. He has been elected to the UP Assembly from Mau for a record five times.