Page 12 - Tmc

West Bengal: ED files charge sheet against suspended TMC's Shajahan Sheikh

The Enforcement Directorate on Thursday said it has filed its first charge sheet against suspended West Bengal TMC leader Shajahan Sheikh, his brother and two alleged accomplices as part of a money laundering case investigation. The others named in the prosecution complaint are Sk Alomgir (Shajahan's brother) apart from Shib Prasad Hazra and Didar Boksh Molla. The charge sheet has been filed before a special Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) court in Kolkata. The CBI too had filed its charge sheet against Sheikh and some others this week. Sheikh, the ED alleged in a statement, had "created a criminal empire revolving around land grabbing, illegal fish farming/trading, grabbing brick fields, cartelisation of contracts, collection of illegal taxes/levies, commission on land deals etc." The suspended TMC leader, his brother and his two alleged aides were arrested by the ED in this case and they are currently lodged in jail under judicial custody. The agency may file supplement

'TMC unlikely to attend INDIA bloc meet on June 1 due to phase 7 polling'

The Trinamool Congress (TMC) is unlikely to attend a meeting of the INDIA bloc on June 1, sources said, as it coincides with the last phase of voting in the ongoing Lok Sabha polls. According to sources, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge has convened a meeting of the INDIA bloc leaders on the afternoon of June 1, when the last phase of polling will be underway. Sources in the TMC said the voting will be done on nine seats, including two seats in Kolkata - Kolkata Dakshin, and Kolkata Uttar, in West Bengal on the day which are crucial for the party. Other constituencies that go to polls that day in the state include Jadavpur, Dum Dum, Barasat, Basirhat, Jayanagar, Mathurapur and Diamond Harbour. TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee, party national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee and other top leaders will be voting on the day and hence will be unable to attend the meeting, a source said, also pointing out that the party has so far attended all meetings of the opposition bloc. The sou

Battleground 2024: Stage set in Delhi as 58 seats go to polls in Phase VI

Anantnag, Puri, Sultanpur in focus; all 7 seats in Delhi, 10 in Haryana to vote

WB to move higher court to challenge HC order on OBC certificates: Mamata

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday announced that her government will approach a higher court, challenging the Calcutta High Court order that cancelled all OBC certificates issued in the state since 2010. Addressing an election rally in Sagar in South 24 Parganas district, she said the state government would appeal to the higher court against the order after summer vacation. We do not accept the order that scrapped OBC certificates. We will contest at a higher court after summer vacation," Banerjee said. The Calcutta High Court on Wednesday struck down as illegal the OBC status of several classes in West Bengal granted since 2010, sparking a political debate in the middle of the Lok Sabha elections. The court observed that the inclusion of 77 classes of Muslims in the list of backward categories was to treat them as a vote bank. Banerjee urged electors "not to cast a single vote to the BJP or any other party except the TMC so that the INDIA bloc can form a govern

LS polls: BJP gains ground as TMC struggles in Adhikari's backyard Kanthi

The future of the Kanthi Lok Sabha constituency in West Bengal appears to be volatile on account of the dual and opposing factors of the BJP sharply gaining political ground and the TMC desperate to retain its sway over voters. While the BJP looks emboldened by its recent rural poll successes and the Adhikari family's defection to the saffron camp, the TMC seems to be counting on its grassroots connections and the state's welfare schemes which the party believes have attained last-mile connectivity with the electorate. Located in Purba Medinipur district, the Kanthi seat exemplifies dynasty politics through the influence of the state's Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari, whose family members have held key political positions in the past and continue to wield substantial power in the region, poll watchers believe. The poll results would, hence, serve as a litmus test for the endurance of political dynasty and durability of the Adhikari family legacy, revealing whether their suppor

Tensions between states may be more dangerous than India's religious divide

India's southern states are also wary of an overbearing north. Regional parties lead opposition to the BJP in the south, as in eastern states such as West Bengal

BJP partially fractured in last five phases of LS polls: Abhishek Banerjee

Trinamool Congress leader Abhishek Banerjee on Tuesday claimed that in the last five phases of the ongoing Lok Sabha polls, the BJP has been "partially fractured" politically, which will be "complete" after the last round of polling on June 1. The TMC national general secretary also asserted that people of the country have already given their mandate against the saffron party and its "exit is definite" after the election results are out. Speaking in support of TMC candidate from Bankura Lok Sabha constituency Arup Chakraborty, Banerjee said, "The life of the present BJP government at the Centre is only 10 days". The TMC MP, also the nephew of party chief and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, said "people of the country have partially fractured the BJP politically in the last five phases. This process will be complete after the last and seventh phase of the Lok Sabha polls". "Subhas Sarkar of the BJP had won the seat last time in 2019. But, I want to ask everybody in the region if he

EC bans BJP candidate Abhijit Gangopadhyay from campaigning for 24 hours

Gangopadhyay's comment about Mamata Banerjee 'outrightly condemnable', says commission

Calcutta HC bans BJP's derogatory ads against TMC, slams ECI for inaction

Lok Sabha elections 2024: Calcutta High Court bars BJP from publishing slanderous ads against TMC citing Model Code of Conduct

Bengal could not be proactive to attract industry: FM Nirmala Sitharaman

Citing the example of the proposed semiconductor project in Assam, Sitharaman said that India's own big-ticket investment in chip manufacturing had gone to Assam, crossing Bengal

PM Modi's guarantees 'not delivered', 83% youths jobless, says TMC

Alleging that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's guarantees on various issues had not been delivered, senior Trinamool Congress leader Amit Mitra on Sunday claimed that 83 per cent of jobless people in the country are youths. Mitra reiterated his party's stand that the TMC is with the INDIA alliance, stating that Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge's rebuff to senior party leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury and his retort is their internal matter. "Around 83 per cent of the jobless people in the country are young men and women," Mitra, a former Finance minister of West Bengal in Mamata Banerjee's cabinet, claimed at a press conference here. "Two-thirds of the educated young men and women are unemployed," he said. Claiming that the Skill India programme of the NDA government for preparing skilled manpower has not borne the desired fruits, he alleged that only around 4 per cent of the country's youth are getting vocational training. Alleging that PM Modi's guarantees on various issues have

PM Modi slams Mamata for her remarks on RKM, Bharat Sevashram Sangha

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday condemned West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's remarks against Ramakrishna Mission and Bharat Sevashram Sangha and said threats are being issued against these socio-religious organisations to "appease" one's vote bank. Addressing a rally in Purulia, Modi said the TMC has crossed the limits of decency by stooping so low that it is "spreading canards against ISKCON, Ramakrishna Mission and Bharat Sevashram Sangha". The TMC has gone beyond its limits by spreading canards against ISKCON, Ramakrishna Mission and Bharat Sevashram Sangha. West Bengal Chief Minister (Mamata Banerjee) is threatening them. They are threatening them just to appease their vote bank, he said. Addressing an election rally in Goghat under the Arambagh Lok Sabha constituency, Banerjee had claimed, "Some monks of Ramakrishna Mission and Bharat Sevashram Sangha are working under the influence of BJP leaders in Delhi. Those who are looking after temples are doing great .

Industrialists afraid to come to WB under Mamata's rule: Union Min Sarkar

Maintaining that investors were afraid to come to West Bengal, Union minister Subhas Sarkar claimed that businesses will stay away from the state as long as the Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress government is in power. Sarkar said the TMC's land acquisition policy and allegations of across-the-board corruption were to blame for the poor job situation in Bengal. "Industrialists shy away from coming to West Bengal. There is a dire need to change this government to attract investment in the state," Sarkar, the Union Minister of State for Education, told PTI in an interview. The TMC had risen to power in 2011 over its anti-forcible land grab policy plank, and agitations over land acquisition by the erstwhile Left Front government in Nandigram and Singur. The Left has repeatedly claimed that the acquisitions were meant for the re-industrialisation of the state and creating job opportunities for the youth. Stating that problems of unemployment and migration of labour from Bengal to

Lok Sabha polls: TMC, BJP activists clash in West Bengal's Nadia, 2 injured

Two persons were injured in a clash between activists of TMC and BJP in West Bengal's Nadia district on Saturday, police said. The clash broke out in Gayeshpur when a procession in support of Union Minister and BJP's Bongaon Lok Sabha candidate Shantanu Thakur was passing by a locality where a TMC street-corner meeting was going on, a senior officer said. TMC Nadia South president Debasish Ganguly alleged, "BJP workers intentionally took the route where our street-corner meeting was taking place. Our activists urged those present in the BJP procession to turn off the microphone but they did not listen. They assaulted one of our women activists." Countering the allegation, a local BJP leader claimed that one of the saffron party workers was injured after being attacked by TMC activists and admitted to AIIMS Kalyani. Thakur said, "The incident shows how the Trinamool Congress has become jittery as they are losing ground. People will respond to such attacks." There was a report of tw

INDIA bloc to win LS polls, BJP will not even cross 200 seats: Mamata

West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee on Saturday claimed that the INDIA bloc will come to power in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections and BJP will "not cross the 200 mark" in the polls. She accused Congress, and CPI(M) of having entered into a nexus with BJP in the state to discredit the state government and asked the electorate not to vote for any non-TMC parties which will benefit the saffron camp. Addressing an election rally at Goghat under the Arambagh Lok Sabha constituency, Banerjee said "I had coined the name INDIA and at the national level we the coalition partners are all working together to resist the autocratic, demonic Narendra Modi government. TMC will play its role in installing the INDIA bloc to power." "See what Modi is telling now he is no more making tall '400 paar' seats by BJP. He can read the writing on the wall already. BJP will not cross even 200 tally. BJP will bite the dust," she said. Banerjee alleged that CPI(M), Congress

TMC leader Sanjay Das murder: Police makes arrest in case from Port Blair

A man was arrested from Port Blair in connection with the murder of a TMC leader in Baguiati on the northern fringes of Kolkata, police said on Saturday. Sanjeev Das, also known as Potla, was killed allegedly in a clash between two factions of the TMC on April 27, they said. A businessman, identified as Kapil Deb, was arrested from a lodge in Aberdeen Bazaar in Port Blair in a joint operation by the South Andaman Police and the Bidhannagar Police Commissionerate on May 16, they added. South Andaman's SP Niharika Bhatt told PTI, "The West Bengal Police shared information about the accused and we immediately began a search. Meanwhile, a team of officers from West Bengal also arrived here and in a joint operation we managed to arrest Kapil Deb from a hotel in Aberdeen Bazaar." "Investigations revealed that Kapil after committing the crime along with others fled to Port Blair on a plane. He was taken to West Bengal on a transit remand. He is the owner of hotels in New Town and its ...

Lok Sabha elections: In Singur, Lakshmir Bhandar in the spotlight

In a state where big-ticket investments have become rare, Mamata Banerjee's numerous welfare schemes are fulfilling needs in more ways than one

TMC files complaint with EC against Gangopadhyay for comments on Mamata

The Trinamool Congress (TMC) on Friday lodged a complaint with the Election Commission against BJP candidate for Tamluk Lok Sabha constituency Abhijit Gangopadhyay, alleging that he made "sexist" remarks against Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee at a public rally. TMC leader and West Bengal minister Shashi Panja said the party will also take legal action against Gangopadhyay, a former judge of Calcutta High Court. In a letter to the Chief Electoral Officer of West Bengal, TMC leader Derek O'Brien said, "In the said speech, Gangopadhyay has made certain highly offensive utterances, being: 'Mamata Banerjee, how much are you being sold for? Your rate is 10 lakhs, why? Because you're getting your make-up done by Keya Seth? Mamata Banerjee, is she even a woman? I keep wondering sometimes." "This clearly shows the misogynist conduct of the BJP candidate. It is unfortunate that having being held a prominent position in the judiciary, he has chosen to attack on the dignity of women, especially

Battleground 2024: INDIA bloc to disintegrate after June 4, says PM Modi

PM Modi said that Akhilesh Yadav should ask his "bua" why she calls people from UP and Bihar outsiders

LS polls: We are, will be part of INDIA at national level, says Mamata

A day after announcing that he would extend outside support to the opposition front INDIA after it comes to power, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday said she is very much part of the anti-BJP alliance at the national level and would form the next government with it. While addressing an election rally at Tamluk, Banerjee said that the TMC is not in alliance with the CPI(M) and the Congress in West Bengal. "At all India level, some people have misunderstood my statement yesterday. I am very much part of the INDIA alliance. The INDIA alliance was my brainchild. We are together at the national level and will continue to be together. INDIA bloc was brought together by me. We will form a government with that alliance and we are a part of it," she said. Banerjee alleged that the West Bengal units of both CPI(M) and Congress, who are part of the INDIA alliance, have joined hands and helped the BJP in the state. "Do not count on the CPI(M) and the Congress in Bengal. Th