Union minister and BJP leader Shobha Karandlaje claimed a connection between gangster Atiq Ahmad, who was shot dead last week by three men while in police custody, and the Congress. Accusing the Congress of "supporting criminals and anti-nationals", she pointed to the alleged friendship between Atiq Ahmed, his brother Ashraf, and Congress leader Imran Pratapgarhi, who is among the party's star campaigners for next month's Karnataka polls.
