Page 13 - Tmc

West Bengal: TMC, BJP set for bypolls on six seats amid RG Kar probe

The by-elections to six assembly constituencies in West Bengal on Wednesday are shaping up to be a test for the ruling TMC, amid a wave of widespread protests across the state surrounding the alleged rape and murder of a doctor at the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. The incident has sparked a months-long agitation by junior doctors demanding justice for their deceased colleague and systemic reforms, significantly impacting the political environment just days before the polls. Both the ruling TMC and the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have fielded candidates for all six seats: Naihati, Haroa, Medinipur, Taldangra, Sitai (SC), and Madarihat (ST). Notably, five of these constituencies are in the TMC strongholds of south Bengal, while Madarihat remains a BJP bastion in the northern part of the state. Adding another layer of competition, the CPI (M)-led Left Front and the Congress are contesting separately for the first time since 2021, following a recent change in the Ben

TMC complains to EC, claims poll code violation by BJP's Suvendu Adhikari

The Trinamool Congress on Monday complained to the Election Commission of India alleging that BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari breached the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) by making communal remarks during a campaign rally for the byelection to Taldangra assembly constituency. In West Bengal, bypolls will be held in six assembly constituencies on November 13, necessitated due to resignations of sitting MLAs of the six segments following their victory in this year's Lok Sabha elections. The TMC, in a complaint letter to the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), West Bengal, alleged that the Leader of Opposition in the state Assembly, Suvendu Adhikari, "made inflammatory and communal remarks" violating the MCC. The TMC sought immediate intervention of the Election Commission of India in enforcing "appropriate penal action including strict censorship of Suvendu Adhikari and BJP as a stakeholder political party for palpable violation of Model Code of Conduct. A 3-member TMC delegation, comprising lead

TMC creates atmosphere of fear before elections, says BJP's Dilip Ghosh

The BJP leader further claimed that TMC have begun vandalising BJP offices. They try to intimidate opposition voices and influence the election results

'What is the source of your funds?' TMC min asks agitating junior doctors

Upping the ante against junior doctors who have been protesting the rape and murder of their colleague at the RG Kar hospital, West Bengal's Agriculture Minister Sovandeb Chattopadhyay sought to know the source of their funds that helped continue the agitation for over two months. Chattopadhyay was speaking at a post-Durga Puja get-together organised by the TMC at his constituency Khardaha in North 24 Parganas district on Wednesday. A video of his address went viral on Thursday, triggering a fresh war of words with the junior doctors. PTI did not independently verify the authenticity of the video. "May I ask them, why are you agitating? For what reason are you agitating? Why is all the anger directed at the government?" he said. "What is the source of your funds? From where are you getting so much money?" he added. Reacting strongly, senior doctor Subarna Goswami said the "outburst" showed the discomfiture of the establishment as issues concerning the healthcare system are being .

TMC blames inaction of BJP-led Centre, Haryana govt for Delhi pollution

The BJP-led Union and Haryana governments are responsible for pollution in the national capital but blaming the AAP dispensation in Delhi, TMC leader Sagarika Ghose said on Monday, asking why the Centre was not working on a national plan to combat it. "It is the same story every year, pollution in Delhi increases in October, and the Union government blames it on the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Delhi. Why is the union government not working on a national plan after consulting all states so that pollution can be controlled? Where is this national plan on pollution?" Ghose told PTI. She said the BJP-led government is focused on fighting elections and targeting states ruled by non-NDA parties. The Trinamool Congress (TMC) Rajya Sabha member accused the BJP dispensation in Haryana of not cooperating with the Delhi government. She held the Union and Haryana governments responsible for the increased level of air and water pollution in the national capital. "Why is the Haryana ...

RG Kar case: TMC wants doctors' protest to be halted, says BJP leader

Bhattacharya said, TMC is under pressure, they realised that they are losing their chair

Arrogance towards regional parties is a recipe for disaster: TMC MP

In an apparent jibe at the Congress after its poll rout, Trinamool Congress MP Saket Gokhale on Wednesday said the attitude of not accommodating regional parties in places where they felt they were winning is leading to its electoral losses. In a post on X, Gohakle, without naming any party, said arrogance, entitlement and looking down on regional parties is a recipe for disaster. "This attitude leads to electoral losses- if we feel we're winning, we will not accommodate any regional party... But in states where we're down, regional parties must accommodate us," the TMC MP said. "Arrogance, entitlement, and looking down on regional parties is a recipe for disaster," he said. The remarks came a day after the BJP clinched a stunning hat-trick win in Haryana overcoming anti-incumbency and dashing Congress' hopes of a comeback. Former Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal had also questioned the Congress poll strategy. The chairperson of the Aam Admi Party (AAP), which was keen on hav

Kolkata doctor case: Junior doctors resume strike; know why

After junior doctors had resumed partial duties on September 21, they have once again announced to go back to complete stoppage of work.

RG Kar case: CBI questioning of TMC MLA Nirmal Ghosh, doctor underway

Questioning of Trinamool Congress MLA Nirmal Ghosh is underway by CBI on Monday in connection with the central agency's investigation into the alleged rape and murder of a medic at RG Kar hospital here last month, officials said. The hospital's forensic department doctor-professor Apurba Biswas is also being grilled by the CBI officers in connection with the same case, they said. The postgraduate trainee was allegedly raped and murdered inside the state-run RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata on August 9. Ghosh, TMC's Panihati MLA, reached the CBI's CGO Complex office in Salt Lake around 10.30 am. "We had summoned him for questioning on the RG Kar hospital incident. He was seen at the hospital and also at various other places including the crematorium (on that day)," a CBI officer said. Ghosh is suspected to have played "an important role in arranging the hasty final rites of the deceased doctor", he said. "We have got the call details and found that there were talks .

RG Kar case: ED summons TMC MLA Sudipta Roy for questioning, says official

The Enforcement Directorate has summoned TMC MLA Sudipta Roy for questioning in a money laundering case linked to alleged financial irregularities in the Kolkata-based R G Kar Hospital and Medical College, official sources said Thursday. Roy is the president of the West Bengal Medical Council and also holds charge of the R G Kar Patient's Welfare Committee. He has been questioned by the CBI in this case as it is also probing the alleged irregularities. The premises of the MLA from Serampore apart from that of some others, was searched hy the ED on Tuesday. Roy has been asked to appear at the ED office in Kolkata on Thursday for questioning in the case, the sources said. The CBI has arrested former principal of the hospital Dr Sandip Ghosh and three of his alleged associates in this case. The ED case filed under various sections of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) stems from the CBI FIR. These irregularities surfaced after the alleged rape and murder of a 31-year-old w

EY employee death: TMC MP to raise 'toxic work culture' issue in Parliament

Highlighting the condition of employees in private firms across India, TMC MP Saket Gokhale has called for an urgent investigation into the working conditions at EY

Why petrol prices stay high despite global oil price drop: Derek O'Brien

Trinamool Congress leader Derek O'Brien on Monday questioned why petrol prices in India are not decreasing despite a decline in global crude oil prices. In a post on X, the Rajya Sabha MP said the crude oil prices have come down by around 24 per cent in last ten years, but petrol price in India has gone up by 30 per cent. In August 2014, crude oil was priced USD 102 per barrel and petrol price was Rs 73, while in August 2024, crude oil is at USD 78 per barrel, and yet petrol price is Rs 95, he said. "Why are petrol prices in India not decreasing despite a decline in global crude oil prices?" wrote O'Brien, TMC's parliamentary party leader in the Rajya Sabha. "In the last 10 years, crude oil price down by nearly 24 percent, but petrol price in India increased by 30 percent," he said. "Windfall profits of oil companies are not being passed on to consumers," the TMC leader added. Petrol, diesel prices in India were last revised ahead of the general election in March when it was redu

Bengal's healthcare crisis reveals deeper issues in the political system

It reveals more than dysfunction; it unveils a clash of ideologies

Clapping to music won't lead to success: TMC MLA on doctors' stir

A ruling Trinamool Congress MLA on Sunday courted controversy by lashing out at the movement of doctors and people on the RG Kar issue, saying that "mere clapping and dancing to slogans accompanied by music beat will not lead to success". Agitating doctors strongly opposed the remarks, saying it was a people's movement and should not be trivialised. Rajarhat-New Town MLA Tapas Chatterjee, during a meeting in his locality, was heard saying in a purported video, "Clapping and dancing to disco beats will not make any movement successful. A true movement is marked by more serious activities." PTI could not independently verify the authenticity of the video. The ongoing protests demanding justice for a woman medic who was allegedly raped and murdered at state-run RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in north Kolkata, are marked by sloganeering, street plays and collective singing of songs. Doctors have been staging a sit-in outside Swasthya Bhawan, the headquarters of the state health .

TMC MP Mahua Moitra files complaint against Sebi chief Buch with Lokpal

Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra on Friday said she has filed a complaint against SEBI Chairperson Madhabi Puri Buch with the Lokpal and added the ombudsman should forward it to the ED or CBI for preliminary probe followed by a "full FIR enquiry". Moitra shared a screenshot of submission of both the online complaint and the physical copy. "My Lokpal complaint against Ms. Puri-Buch been filed electronically and in physical form. Lokpal must within 30 days refer it to CBI/ED for a preliminary investigation and then a full FIR enquiry," Moitra said. "Every single entity involved needs to be summoned and every link investigated," she added. The Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP also tagged Congress leaders Jairam Ramesh and Pawan Khera in the post. Hindenburg Research, a US-based short-shelling firm, had first levelled the allegation of conflict of interest against Buch. She had categorically denied the allegation. The Congress has also made a series of allegations of irregularities agai

SC upholds ED's summons against TMC leader Abhishek, wife in coal case

In a setback to TMC leader Abhishek Banerjee and his wife Rujira Banerjee, the Supreme Court on Monday dismissed their pleas challenging the summons and proceedings initiated against them by the Enforcement Directorate in a money laundering case related to alleged illegal excavation and theft of coal in areas of Eastern Coalfields Limited (ECL). A bench of Justices Bela M Trivedi and Satish Chandra Sharma upheld the validity of the summons issued by the ED dated September 10, 2021, to the couple under Section 50 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) asking them to appear in New Delhi office in connection with the case. "In that view of the matter, we do not find any substance in the challenge made by the appellants to the summons issued to the appellants under Section 50 of the PMLA," the bench ordered. It said that as contemplated in the sub-section (3) of Section 50, all the persons summoned are bound to attend in person or through authorised agents as the officer may .

Kolkata doctor rape-murder case: Protests intensify, TMC MP resigns

Protestors in West Bengal took to the streets with the "reclaim the night" demonstration on September 8. Meanwhile, all is not well within the TMC Party

TMC MP Jawhar Sircar quits, calls Mamata's handling of RG Kar stir 'faulty'

Jawhar Sircar attributed the ongoing public anger in West Bengal to the unchecked power of certain individuals in the Trinamool Congress party

'Have suffered patiently': TMC MP resigns over rape-murder, corruption

TMC MP Jawhar Sircar on Sunday wrote to West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee, the chief of his party, and said he has decided to quit Rajya Sabha and leave politics altogether, describing the steps taken by the state government in handling the rape and murder of the doctor at RG Kar hospital "too little and quite late". In the letter, Sircar said he became increasingly "disillusioned" with the state government as it seemed "quite unconcerned" about corruption and "strong-arm tactics" of a section of leaders. Terming the protests over the doctor's death spontaneous, the retired IAS officer said he had not seen "such angst and total no-confidence" against a government, even when it was saying things that were correct or factual. "The primary purpose of joining as an MP, without any direct involvement in party politics, was that it offered an excellent forum to carry on the struggle against the autocratic and communal politics of the BJP and its Prime Minister. To that extent, I have some ..

West Bengal anti-rape bill: What are its key provision; know here

The West Bengal government has passed a historic anti-rape bill. This comes in the wake of the tragic rape and murder of the Kolkata doctor. What are they key provisions of the bill? Watch the video