Page 23 - Mamata Banerjee

After Uddhav, West Bengal CM Mamata meets Sharad Pawar during Mumbai visit

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday met Nationalist Congress Party (SP) president Sharad Pawar during her first visit to Mumbai after the declaration of Lok Sabha poll results more than a month ago. Banerjee, who heads the Trinamool Congress, met Pawar at his residence 'Silver Oak' in south Mumbai. The Trinamool Congress leader, who is on a day-long visit to Mumbai, earlier met Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray at his residence "Matoshree" in Bandra. The Trinamool Congress, the NCP (SP) and the Shiv Sena (UBT) are constituents of the opposition INDIA bloc. This was Banerjee's first visit to Mumbai after the June 4 Lok Sabha results which saw the INDIA bloc putting up better-than-expected performance. In Maharashtra, the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) bagged 30 of the 48 Lok Sabha seats, stunning the ruling Mahayuti, which comprises the BJP, the Shiv Sena and the NCP. Constituents of the MVA, including the Congress, are members of the INDIA alliance at ..

TMC, BJP ready for bypoll battle in 4 Bengal assembly seats on July 10

Four assembly seats in West Bengal are going for bypolls on Wednesday with the BJP seeking to leverage its Lok Sabha election leads in three of these segments to boost morale and the TMC aiming to capitalise on its recent electoral success. Three of the four constituencies - Maniktala in Kolkata, Ranaghat Dakshin and Bagdah in North 24 Parganas - are in south Bengal. The BJP bagged Ranaghat Dakshin and Bagdah seats in the 2021 assembly polls. The fourth, Raiganj, is in north Bengal's Uttar Dinajpur district and was won by the saffron camp in the last assembly elections. The Maniktala seat was secured by the TMC in 2021 but it became vacant after former state minister Sadhan Pandey died in February 2022. Despite the BJP winning the other three seats in 2021, the MLAs later switched to the TMC. The Trinamool Congress nominated Supti Pandey, wife of the late party leader. Krishna Kalyani from Raiganj, Biswajit Das from Bagdah and Mukut Mani Adhikari from Ranaghat Dakshin resigned f

West Bengal flogging cases | What is a kangaroo court?

WB Governor had to cancel his trip to Chopra in West Bengal as the woman who was publicly flogged after a kangaroo court deemed her ‘guilty’ of an extramarital relationship, refused to meet him.

Hearing of defamation suit against Bengal CM adjourned till Thursday

The Calcutta High Court on Wednesday adjourned till Thursday hearing of a defamation suit by West Bengal Governor C V Ananda Bose against Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee over alleged comments made by her and some other TMC leaders. The matter will appear for hearing on Thursday after Bose's lawyer makes necessary changes in the application. Claiming that baseless allegations were being made against the governor, Bose's lawyer also prayed for an interim injunction on further statements by the defendants in the defamation suit. Justice Krishna Rao noted that publications referred to in the suit have not been made party in it. The lawyer for Bose sought time to file a fresh application, incorporating necessary changes. Granting permission, the high court said the matter will be taken up for hearing on Thursday. Bose had filed a defamation case against Banerjee on June 28, a day after she claimed women complained to her that they were afraid to visit the Raj Bhavan because of the ...

BJP seeks Mamata Banerjee's resignation over deterioration of law and order

The BJP called for Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's resignation on Monday over a "severe deterioration" in the state's law and order after a video of a man flogging a couple in public in West Bengal surfaced on social media. The man seen in the video beating up a couple with a bamboo stick was allegedly a local TMC leader from Chopra in Uttar Dinajpur district, where the incident occurred following a kangaroo court decision. The accused, Tajmul alias JCB, was arrested. BJP national spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia highlighted the flogging incident and questioned the chief minister's commitment to justice and governance. During a press conference, he condemned the act as a grave violation of dignity and fundamental rights and criticised Banerjee's silence. "It is a shame that she has not spoken a word on this. As a woman and a chief minister, she should be the first to come out and condemn this incident," Bhatia asserted. He also alleged that the perpetrator was a leader from Banerjee's

Nadda slams Mamata Banerjee-led govt, says West Bengal unsafe for women

BJP president JP Nadda slammed the Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee-led government in West Bengal on Monday over a "horrific" video of a man brutally assaulting a couple in public. He said in a post on X, "A horrific video has come to light from West Bengal, reminding of the brutalities that exist only in theocracies. To make matters worse, the TMC cadre and MLAs are justifying the act." Nadda added, "Be it Sandeshkhali, Uttar Dinajpur or many other places, Didi's West Bengal is UNSAFE for women." The West Bengal Police on Sunday registered a case over the incident. The man seen in the video beating up a couple with a bamboo stick was allegedly a local TMC leader of Chopra in Uttar Dinajpur district where the incident occurred following a kangaroo court decision. The accused, Tajmul alias JCB, was arrested.

Guv Bose asks TMC govt to issue white paper on WB's financial situation

Claiming that West Bengal was facing a financial breakdown, Governor CV Ananda Bose on Saturday called upon the Mamata Banerjee government to table a white paper on the state's financial situation. Bose's statement came on a day he met Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in New Delhi. "The fiscal situation of West Bengal is confronting multiple fiscal risks and public finance management issues exposing serious lapses on the part of the (state) government. It is very disturbing, shocking, and shattering to see that West Bengal is facing a financial breakdown. Its public finance is in the doldrums," he claimed in a statement issued by the Raj Bhavan. "Considering the grave nature of the economic scenario, the Governor calls upon the CM upon the authority vested in him under Article 167 of the Constitution read with Rule 30 of the Rules of Business for West Bengal framed under Article 166 of the Constitution, to place a comprehensive report on the state's financial situation befo

Judiciary must be absolutely pure, free of political bias, says CM Mamata

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday called for a judiciary free of any political bias, maintaining that it should be absolutely pure and honest. Banerjee also said the judiciary is the big pillar of India's foundation to save democracy, the Constitution and people's interests. "Please see to it that (there is) no political bias in the judiciary. The judiciary must be absolutely pure, honest and sacred. Let people worship it," the CM said at the inauguration of the East Zone II regional conference of the National Judicial Academy here. Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud and Chief Justice of Calcutta High Court T S Sivagnanam were among those present at the programme. The judiciary is an important temple for people and the supreme authority for delivering justice, Banerjee said. It is like a mandir, masjid, gurudwara and girja (church). The judiciary is of the people, by the people and for the people... and the last frontier for getting justice and upholding .

Class 10 West Bengal state board exams in 2025 to be held on Feb 10-22

The next year's class 10 state board examinations in West Bengal will begin on February 10, an official said. The tests conducted by the West Bengal Board of Secondary Education will continue till February 22. The exams will begin at 10.45 am, WBBSE president Ramanuj Ganguly said on Friday. Marks of 12,468 candidates, who appeared for the secondary exams in 2024, went up after reviewing the answer sheets. "This thing (awarding less marks initially) should not have taken place. But the fault lies with the respective examiner," he added.

Bengal Guv files defamation suit against CM Mamata for unsavoury remarks

West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose on Friday filed a defamation case against Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee at the Calcutta High Court, a day after she claimed that women complained to her saying that they were afraid to visit the Raj Bhavan because of the activities there, a source said. Bose earlier in the day criticised Banerjee for her remarks and stated it was expected of public representatives not to create "erroneous and slanderous impressions. The Bengal Governor also filed defamation against certain TMC leaders, he said.. During an administrative meeting in the state secretariat, Banerjee on Thursday claimed that "Women have informed her they are afraid to visit Raj Bhavan due to recent incidents reported there". "Governor CV Ananda Bose on Friday moved the Calcutta High Court and filed a defamation suit against Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and her party leaders for their comments," the source told PTI. On May 2, a contractual woman employee of Raj Bhavan had alleged .

What is the 1996 Ganga Water Treaty that has sparked Mamata-Centre row?

West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee has written to PM Modi, claiming that the Centre excluded the state govt from discussions with Bangladesh on Teesta water sharing and Farakka treaty

Why is Mamata Banerjee displeased with the government's water treaty talks with Bangladesh?

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has penned a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, expressing her discontent over water-sharing talks between the Centre and Bangladesh, since West Bengal

Centre refutes Mamata Banerjee's claim on Ganga Water Treaty review

West Bengal was consulted on the review of the Ganga Water Treaty with Bangladesh, sources at the Centre said here on Monday, dismissing Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's claim that the state was kept out of the process. The sources said the joint secretary (works) in the irrigation and waterways department of the West Bengal government conveyed in April the state's total demand for the next 30 years from the stretch downstream of the Farakka Barrage. India and Bangladesh signed the Ganga Water Treaty in 1996. The 30-year treaty is due to expire in 2026 but may be extended by mutual agreement. Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced on Saturday that India and Bangladesh will begin technical-level talks for the renewal of the 1996 treaty. In a letter to Modi, Banerjee had claimed that the decision to start talks for the renewal of the treaty was "unilateral" and urged the prime minister not to hold any such discussion with Bangladesh without involving the West Bengal government. The

Not happy with Centre for excluding Bengal from Teesta talks: Mamata to PM

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, expressing strong reservation over the Centre excluding the state government from discussions with Bangladesh regarding Teesta water sharing and the Farakka Treaty. Banerjee also urged the PM to not hold any such discussion with the neighbouring country without involving the West Bengal government. I am writing this letter in context of the recent visit of Prime Minister of Bangladesh. It seems that water sharing issues relating to the Ganges and Teesta rivers may have been discussed during the meeting. Such unilateral deliberations and discussions without consultation and the opinion of the state government is neither acceptable nor desirable, she said in a three-page letter to Modi. Bengal has a very close relationship with Bangladesh - geographically, culturally and economically, she noted. I love and respect people of Bangladesh and always wish for their well-being... I convey my strong

'Abolish NEET, restore state-led exams': Mamata Banerjee writes to PM Modi

In her letter, Mamata Banerjee noted that states were permitted to conduct their entrance examinations for medical courses before 2017, and this arrangement operated without issues

Defer rollout of three criminal laws: Mamata Banerjee to PM Modi

She stressed on having a fresh review of the laws by Parliament

Mamata Banerjee urges PM Modi to defer implementation of new criminal laws

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to defer the implementation of the three "hurriedly passed" criminal laws that are set to be rolled out on July 1, saying it would enable Parliament to review them afresh. In a letter to PM Modi, the Trinamool Congress chief expressed "grave concern" over the impending implementation of the three laws - The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNA) 2023, The Bharatiya Sakhsya Act (BSA) 2023, and The Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) 2023. She noted that the three bills were passed in Lok Sabha at a time when 146 MPs had been suspended. "The outgoing government of yours had passed these three critical bills unilaterally, and with absolutely no debate. That day, almost 100 members of the Lok Sabha had been suspended and a total 146 MPs of the both Houses were thrown out of Parliament," Banerjee said. "The Bills were passed in an authoritarian manner in that dark hour of democracy. Matter deserves review now

Kanchenjunga train mishap: Railways to hold inquiry in Bengal on June 19

A passenger who was present on the train when it met with an accident expressed concern and fear as she recalled the tragic incident

Kanchanjunga Express train accident in Bengal kills 9, some feared trapped

West Bengal train collision: The 13174 Kanchanjunga Express from Agartala collided with the goods train near Rangapani close to New Jalpaiguri station in West Bengal

Kanchanjunga Express train accident highlights: Restoration and rescue work underway, say officials

Kanchanjungha Express West Bengal train accident latest news: Five passengers were left dead after a freight train crashed into the Kanchanjunga Express from behind in West Bengal's New Jalpaiguri