Page 3 - Bengal

Tea Board officials inspect several gardens in Bengal to check quality

A special team of Tea Board officials inspected several gardens in North Bengal to determine the quality of leaves manufactured in these estates. An official of the Tea Board told PTI that several samples have been collected from these estates and their quality will be determined. "The operation was conducted at various tea gardens in North Bengal over the last several days on a large scale. Tea Board has collected samples from these estates and future course of action will be determined as per provisions of the Tea Marketing Control Order (TMCO)," the official said. President of the Confederation of Indian Small Tea Growers Association (CISTA) Bijoy Gopal Chakraborty said "We welcome the action taken by Tea Board in inspecting several gardens of North Bengal. We demand that exemplary action be taken against these entities so that it becomes a deterrent in future". Chakraborty said CISTA had come to learn that some tea gardens are procuring tea waste from Assam and mixing it with .

Sandeshkhali post-poll violence: Bengal Guv asks Mamata to intervene

West Bengal Governor C V Ananda Bose on Sunday said he was worried after getting reports about post-poll violence in Sandeshkhali, and asked Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to intervene immediately and restore peace there. Speaking to PTI, Bose said that he has written to Banerjee asking her to inform him about the action taken against those involved in the incidents of violence in Sandeshkhali in North 24 Parganas district. "I am a bit worried about the situation in Sandeshkhali. From the inputs I have received, I have come to know about incidents of attacks on the women of Sandeshkhali within hours after the polling was over yesterday. I have written to the Chief Minister about the steps taken in this regard," Bose said. "If such attacks continue and the inhabitants are tortured, I will open the doors of the Raj Bhavan for them to come and stay here. They will be provided safe shelter here," he added. In less than 24 hours after the election was over, trouble-torn Sandehkhali on .

Southern Bengal, parts of northern districts sizzle as heatwave continues

Heatwave prevailed in south Bengal and many parts of the northern districts of West Bengal on Sunday as the Met department forecast it will continue, particularly in southern districts, till May 2. The day's maximum temperature was recorded at 44.3 degrees Celsius, 7.5 deg C above normal, at Kalaikunda in Paschim Medinipur district, the department said in a bulletin. At Panagarh in Paschim Bardhaman district, the temperature was 44.2 deg C, followed by Bankura 43.5 deg C. In Kolkata, the maximum temperature was 41.3 deg C, which was 5.7 deg C above normal. In the relatively cooler northern parts of the state, Balurghat and Malda recorded maximum temperatures of 41 deg C each. In Darjeeling and Kalimpong, the mercury, however, read 22.4 deg C and 25.2 deg C, respectively, the MeT office said. "Mainly dry westerly to northwesterly winds at lower levels continue to prevail over the region. Due to strong solar insolation, the heatwave condition is very likely to prevail over the dist

Odisha declares summer vacation for schools as heatwave grips states

IMD predicts heatwave conditions in Odisha, Bengal, and Jharkhand, Bihar, and Uttar Pradesh until April 26; possibility of light rainfall in eastern states

Bengal PDS scam: ED attaches assets linked to Jyoti Priya Mallick, 2 others

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Friday said it has attached assets worth more than Rs 150 crore linked to former West Bengal food minister Jyoti Priya Mallick and two others in a PDS ration "scam"-related money laundering case. The other two accused are Mallick's alleged aide Bakibur Rahaman and TMC leader Shankar Adhya. All three have been arrested by the federal agency in the case. The attached assets include 48 immovable properties of different persons and entities including Mallick's house in Salt Lake, Bolpur, several other "benami properties" held in the name of his close associates, two hotels of Rahaman in Kolkata and Bengaluru each, bank balance in various accounts and fixed deposits, the ED said in a statement. It is also found that Mallick allegedly "received" some of these immovable properties worth more than crores of rupees as "gifts" in the name of his family members or close associates. Adhya is a TMC leader from Bongaon under North 24 Parganas district of West

Lok Sabha polls: PM Modi to address rally in Bengal's Cooch Behar today

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address a rally at Cooch Behar district in West Bengal on Thursday, his first public meeting in the eastern state since the announcement of the Lok Sabha elections. Modi is scheduled to address the rally at Rash Mela grounds around 3.30 pm. I look forward to being among the people of Cooch Behar to address a @BJP4Bengal rally later today at around 3:30 PM. The people there have been greatly supportive of our development agenda and I am confident they will again place their faith in the BJP, the PM said in a post on X. The Cooch Behar constituency is gearing up for a fiery Lok Sabha campaign on Thursday, with back-to-back rallies by Modi and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. Banerjee is scheduled to speak at a rally in Cooch Behar around noon. The venues of Banerjee's public meeting and the PM's rally are about 30 km apart. The West Bengal Police have placed a multi-tier security cover at the venue and its surroundings ahead of two mega rallies in th

BJP spreading canards about Sandeshkhali, Bengal safest for women: Mamata

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday accused the BJP of spreading canards about Sandeshkhali, where women have accused TMC leaders of sexually abusing them, and asserted that the state is the safest place in the country for women. In an apparent reference to former Calcutta High Court judge Abhijit Gangopadhyay, who joined the BJP during the day, she said, "We will ensure your defeat no matter from where you contest in the Lok Sabha polls." Addressing people after leading a rally in Kolkata for women's rights, she said, "Some people are spreading fake information about Sandeshkhali. BJP leaders are spreading canards about the safety of women in West Bengal but they maintain a stoic silence when women are tortured in BJP-ruled states." "West Bengal is the safest state in the country for women," she said. Hitting out at Gangopadhyay for "taking away jobs of thousands of youths" across the state through his judgments, Banerjee said, "The youths will not forgive you.

Sandeshkhali case: Eye on 2024 Lok Sabha elections, BJP sees an opening

TMC firefights the allegations of land grab, forced conversion of land, and sexual exploitation with the arrest of Sheikh Shahjahan

Raj Bhavan will provide shelter to tortured women from Sandeshkhali: WB Guv

West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose on Saturday said the doors of Raj Bhavan are open for the women of trouble-torn Sandeshkhali who feel unsafe in their homes. Speaking to PTI, Bose, who considers himself the Rakhi brother of the women in Sandeshkhali, vowed to do everything in his power to protect them. He assured that the "tortured" women from Sandeshkhali in North 24 Parganas district could seek refuge in Raj Bhavan, where they would be provided with shelter, food, and security. Bose emphasised, "Doors of Raj Bhavan are open for victimised women who can come and stay here. We will provide them shelter, food, and security," he told PTI. The governor said women feeling threatened could contact the 'Peace Room' at Raj Bhavan by dialing 033-22001641 to lodge complaints. He assured that prompt action would be taken, asserting, "Our Peace Room is always open, and any victim from Sandeshkhali can call to lodge any complaint." Notably, Raj Bhavan had previously provided shelter to ..

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Police cordoned off my lodge, stopped me from visiting Sandeshkhali: BJP

West Bengal BJP president Sukanta Majumdar on Thursday alleged that the state police have cordoned off the lodge where he has put up in Taki area to prevent him from heading towards unrest-hit Sandeshkhali in North 24 Parganas district. Majumdar said he was scheduled to visit Sandeshkhali this afternoon to meet the agitators. "After yesterday's protests, I decided to stay at a lodge in Taki so that I could easily visit Sandeshkhali from here. But since this morning, police have blocked the entrance of the lodge and are not allowing me to move out," he told PTI. Majumdar claimed he has been put under "house arrest", a claim denied by the police. A huge police contingent, equipped with riot gear, was seen deployed outside the lodge. Sandeshkhali is around 35 km from Taki. Reacting to the development, TMC spokesperson Kunal Ghosh accused the BJP of trying to "vitiate the atmosphere". "The allegations are baseless. The BJP is trying to vitiate the atmosphere of the area. They want t

Nabard projects 16% jump in priority sector lending potential in Bengal

The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (Nabard) on Saturday projected a robust double-digit growth in priority sector lending potential of Rs 3.15 lakh crore in West Bengal for 2024-25. Nabard's Chief General Manager Usha Ramesh unveiled the West Bengal state focus paper on Saturday alongside bankers, State Chief Secretary B P Gopalika, and other officials. The paper projects a priority sector lending potential of Rs 3.15 lakh crore in Bengal in 2024-25, marking a 16 per cent increase from the previous fiscal year's figure of Rs 2.70 lakh crore. In the first quarter of the current fiscal year, priority sector lending in the state amounted to Rs 86,531 crore, officials said. The optimistic outlook is fuelled by strong performance of the MSME sector in the state, it said. "We are taking several interventions and projects. But the projections made for 2024-25 can only be achieved through the coordinated approach of all stakeholders," Ramesh said. She expressed confi

CM Mamata announces payment to 2.1 mn MGNREGA workers in Bengal by Feb 21

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday announced that her government would transfer funds by February 21 to the bank accounts of 21 lakh MGNREGA workers in the state. The Trinamool Congress supremo, who on Friday started a 48-hour-dharna in front of the BR Ambedkar statue in the city demanding release of "unpaid dues" from the Centre for various social welfare schemes, also said that she would soon come out with another announcement regarding the unreleased funds for the Awas Yojana. "We do not want to beg from the BJP nor do we want their alms. By February 21, we will transfer money to the bank accounts of 21 lakh workers who did not get the money from the central government even after working for the 100-day work scheme (MGNREGA) in the last three years. This is my first step", Banerjee announced at the dharna site. "The central government is thinking that they will starve Bengal to death. We will not allow them to succeed in that... Have faith in me... I will try

TMC eyes pivotal role in 2024, BJP hopes to make comeback after dismal 2023

Despite losing national party status, the Trinamool Congress remains a dominant political force in West Bengal, buoyed by a triumphant victory in the violence-marred rural polls and aiming to play a pivotal role in the national opposition alliance INDIA ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. Conversely, the BJP faced an exodus and electoral setbacks in 2023. The state leadership grappled with maintaining internal cohesion while attempting to capitalise on allegations, including graft charges against the Mamata Banerjee government. The TMC aspires to uphold its political dominance in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, actively contributing to forging a formidable opposition in the run up to the parliamentary elections. Simultaneously, the BJP, known for its strict control over dissidents, is placing its hopes on rural areas to stage a turnaround and mobilise its cadre base to maintain unity. The erstwhile mighty CPI(M)-led Left Front, having lost its main opposition status to the saffron camp

Jadavpur University convocation illegal, seeking legal opinion: Bengal guv

West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose on Tuesday termed the Jadavpur University convocation as illegal and said he was currently seeking legal advice to ensure that students do not face any issues regarding the validity of their degrees. Stating that Sunday's convocation was unlawful and unauthorised, Bose expressed concern over apprehensions of students and their parents regarding the validity of the degrees issued by JU because they contained the signature of officiating vice-chancellor Buddadeb Sau who was removed by him before the event. Bose, who is also the chancellor of state-run universities, said he was trying to find a legally acceptable solution protecting the interests of students. "In the JU case, my first priority is the future of students. Because of uncalled actions from certain sections, the students should not suffer. There are serious charges and apprehensions raised by the students and their parents that the degrees issued will be invalid. I am getting legal ...

Centre issues Rs 5,488 cr additional instalment of tax devolution to Bengal

West Bengal has received Rs 5,488.88 crore as additional instalment of tax devolution by the Centre. On Friday, the Centre had disbursed Rs 72,961.21 crore to all states as tax devolution for funding various social welfare measures and infrastructure development schemes. This comes in addition to the tax devolution instalment due to states on January 10, 2024, the government said. The Centre disburses tax devolution funds in 14 yearly instalments. In the latest allocation, Uttar Pradesh received the largest share at Rs 13,088.51 crore. This was followed by Bihar (Rs 7,338 crore), Madhya Pradesh (Rs 5,727.44 crore), West Bengal (Rs 5,488.88 crore), Maharashtra (Rs 4,608.96 crore), Rajasthan (Rs 4,396.64 crore) and Odisha ( Rs 3,303.69 crore).

FCI sells 429,000 MT wheat, 14,760 MT rice in West Bengal via e-auction

The Food Corporation India (FCI) has sold 4.29 lakh metric tonnes of wheat and 14,760 metric tonnes of non-fortified rice through 25 open market e-auctions in West Bengal from June to December this year, an official of the agency said on Saturday. FCI Deputy General Manager (West Bengal region) Pradeep Singh said the Open Market Sales Scheme (domestic) had been done through the e-auction portal of M-junction. "In a bid to stabilise the prices of the cereals and also to increase affordability for the general public, the FCI has sold 4.29 lakh metric tonnes of wheat and 14,760 metric tonnes of non-fortified rice in West Bengal through 25 open-market e-auctions from June to December this year," Singh said. The FCI will also continue to supply the staples through the public distribution system (PDS) free of cost, he said. While the reserve price of wheat for e-auction sales is Rs 2,150 per quintal, it is Rs 2,900 per quintal for non-fortified rice. Singh said fortified rice is supplie

Parl security breach: Police questions friend of key accused in Bengal

Police have questioned a friend of Lalit Mohan Jha, a key accused in the Parliament security breach incident, for hours in West Bengal's North 24 Parganas district, an officer said. A team from Barrackpore Police Commissionerate visited Nilakahya Aich's Halisahar residence on Thursday and asked him about his acquaintance with Jha during the days when the accused was working for an NGO, he said. "We talked with the person for hours to know about his friendship with Jha. We got information about him from Delhi Police," the officer told PTI. Aich, who is an undergraduate student at a college in West Bengal, has received a video of the security breach at Parliament from Jha soon after the incident, police said. "We have checked Aich's mobile phone and noted down certain information, which may be vital in our investigation," the police officer said. Jha, the key accused in the Parliament security breach incident, was arrested on Thursday evening, Delhi Police sources said. Jha, accomp

Income Tax officers raid residences of ex-TMC MLA, others in Bengal

Income Tax officers on Wednesday morning raided the residences of several businessmen including a former MLA of the ruling Trinamool Congress at various places in West Bengal, an officer said. The raids were conducted in Asansol, Durgapur and Raniganj areas, as the businessmen did not pay taxes for several years, the officer alleged. "Our officers had reached Durgapur yesterday and started searching the residences of these businessmen from early Wednesday morning. They are looking for various documents including bank statements and other property details," he told PTI over the phone. I-T department officers are also holding talks with former TMC MLA Sohrab Ali and the other businessmen whose houses are being raided, the officer said. A large number of central force personnel are on guard outside the premises where the search was on.

Bengal not adhering to MoU signed on NHM implementation: Health ministry

Move comes after Mamata writes to PM for release of funds