India's Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology issued a notice to Apple, demanding evidence to support their assertion of a 'state-sponsored attack.' This move comes after opposition leaders, including prominent figures, received alerts from Apple about potential compromise attempts on their iPhones. The IT Ministry has sought clarification on how Apple determined the attack's nature and the risk of remote access and data leakage. Opposition members have raised cybersecurity concerns, prompting scrutiny. The issue has sparked political debates, with the government facing questions and demands for parliamentary committee investigations. [ Photo courtesy: screengrab from ANI/X ]

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has chosen not to appear for Enforcement Directorate (ED) questioning related to an alleged liquor policy scam. Kejriwal labeled the summons "illegal" and accused the BJP of orchestrating it for political motives, aiming to impede his activities and possibly arrest him. This move comes amid ongoing investigations into the Delhi government's excise policy, with Kejriwal's party alleging a BJP strategy to target INDIA alliance leaders before the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. Kejriwal's response heightens political tensions, reflecting the deepening rift between the parties.

As per reports by India Today, TMC MP Mahua Moitra's parliament account was accessed 47 times from Dubai. The revelation comes a day ahead of her Ethics Committee appearance over 'cash-for-query' allegations. Moitra admitted sharing credentials with friend Darshan Hiranandani but denied financial motive, affirming questions were her own. India Today sources allege Moitra undertook 14 unaccounted overseas trips as MP without informing Speaker's office, including to the UK, UAE, and US between 2019-2023. Allegations stem from a complaint she raised sponsored questions for monetary rewards from Hiranandani's Dubai-based family. Fresh scrutiny on unauthorized access and alleged unreported visits complicates Moitra's position as the ethics probe looms.

The Centre hit out at opposition MPs who shared Apple warnings of hacking attempts on their phones. IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw termed them "compulsive critics" of PM Modi trying to distract people from progress. He referred to Apple's statement that such notifications have been issued in 150 countries and can be false alarms. The minister said the government has ordered an investigation and asked those who received the messages, including Priyanka Chaturvedi and Mahua Moitra, to cooperate. He said this comes ahead of state polls and 2024 general elections. Earlier, Apple responded that it doesn't attribute such warnings to any specific attacker.

Apple issued a statement saying the hacking warnings sent to Indian opposition leaders could potentially be false alarms. The tech giant said it doesn't attribute such notifications to any specific attacker. This comes after at least 7 opposition leaders claimed receiving emails from Apple warning of "state-sponsored attackers" trying to compromise their iPhones. Apple said detecting sophisticated attacks relies on imperfect threat signals. MPs like Mahua Moitra, Priyanka Chaturvedi and Shashi Tharoor had shared screenshots of the warnings. This follows last year's inconclusive Pegasus spyware findings on analyzed phones by a Supreme Court panel.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi took center stage amidst the iPhone hacking controversy and dismissed the government by asserting the Opposition isn't scared and will keep fighting. In a jibe, he said the government can 'tap phones' as much as they want and he doesn't care, even offering his own phone. Gandhi accused the government of distraction politics. This follows several Opposition leaders claiming they got Apple alerts of state-sponsored attackers trying to remotely hack their iPhones. Shiv Sena's Priyanka Chaturvedi, TMC's Mahua Moitra, AAP's Raghav Chadha, Congress' Shashi Tharoor, and Pawan Khera posted such alert screenshots. Rahul Gandhi asserted the Opposition won't be intimidated by such alleged phone-tapping efforts and will continue challenging the government.

Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao reacted strongly after BRS leader and party candidate Kotha Prabhakar Reddy was stabbed while campaigning on Monday. Calling it an attack on himself, KCR said "the attack on the Dubbak candidate is an attack on KCR." Reddy, BRS MP from Medak Lok Sabha constituency, suffered stomach injuries after being stabbed allegedly by an unidentified man in Siddipet district. He has been hospitalized in stable condition. The assailant has been arrested. KCR condemned the attack and said "Everyone should unequivocally condemn this kind of action." Reddy was campaigning ahead of the November 30 assembly elections when the incident occurred. Police are investigating the motives behind the attack.

Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) MP Kotha Prabhakar Reddy was stabbed on Monday while campaigning in Siddipet, Telangana ahead of the November 30 state assembly polls. Reddy, who is BRS's candidate from Dubbak, was stabbed in the stomach by an alleged assailant while in Surampally village. The MP has been shifted to a hospital and is reported to be safe. The accused attacker is in custody and police are investigating. TV footage showed Reddy pressing his stab wound to stop bleeding while sitting in a vehicle. The man who stabbed the BRS MP was beaten up by some locals, reports said. Police commissioner confirmed the stabbing incident targeting the BRS MP.

Amid the cash-for-query controversy, TMC MP Mahua Moitra said she gave her Parliament login to friend Darshan Hiranandani's office to type in her questions, calling allegations of him logging in dubiously "ludicrous." Moitra said after typing her provided questions, Hiranandani's office would inform her to read and submit them. This counters Hiranandani's affidavit saying Moitra gave him her login to directly post questions. Moitra slammed BJP's Nishikant Dubey for claiming it endangered national security, arguing Parliament login rules don't restrict sharing. She rebuffed allegations that Indian passport holder Hiranandani logged in from Dubai, noting she has also logged in from abroad.

In an exclusive interview with India Today, TMC MP Mahua Moitra claimed that Gautam Adani approached her twice in the last 3 years via multiple Lok Sabha MPs to work out a 'deal' so that she didn't raise certain questions in the Parliament, which she refused. This is amid the ongoing cash-for-query row against her. Moitra said she never met Adani directly so doesn't know why he offered her the price. She alleged being told last week to stay quiet for 6 months till elections and even if attacking Adani, don't take the PM's name. Moitra claimed she was messaged to end this and that everything would be fine post-polls. Her remarks come as she denies allegations of taking money to ask pre-arranged questions in Parliament.