Page 14 - Tmc

TMC's O'Brien urges Sitharaman to withdraw 18% GST on insurance premiums

TMC leader Derek O'Brien has urged Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to "urgently review" and withdraw the 18 per cent GST on health and life insurance premiums during the upcoming GST Council meeting. O'Brien, in a letter dated August 24, demanded that the GST on health and life insurance premiums be withdrawn at the 54th meeting of the GST Council. "The 18 per cent Goods and Services Tax (GST) on health and life insurance premiums is a burden on 45 crore Indians comprising the middle-class," said O'Brien, the Trinamool Congress' (TMC) leader in the Rajya Sabha. "These insurance schemes provide financial security during times of distress, may it be an illness, accident, or untimely death. It is our collective responsibility to ensure that all sections of society are able to afford this crucial social safety net," he said. O'Brien also expressed fear that levying a high GST rate on health and life insurance might lead to many citizens not opting for insurance schemes or even ...

Wake up India: Mamata's letter to Modi tries to highlight rapes elsewhere

'90 cases of rapes occur daily throughout the country', says the West Bengal Chief Minister to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in light of the Kolkata rape and murder at RG Kar Medical College

Laws needed to ensure rape convictions within 50 days: TMC's Abhishek

Pitching for laws that mandate convictions in sexual assault cases within 50 days, senior TMC leader Abhishek Banerjee on Thursday said that while protests were underway over the rape and murder of a medic at RG Kar hospital in Kolkata, 900 more such cases happened in the country. Banerjee urged the states to push the Centre for a comprehensive anti-rape law that ensures swift and strict justice. "Over the past 10 days, while the nation has been protesting against the #RGKarMedicalCollege incident and demanding justice, 900 rapes have occurred across different parts of India - during the very time when people were on the streets protesting against this horrible crime," he posted on x. "With 90 rapes reported daily, 4 every hour and 1 every 15 minutes - the urgency for a decisive action is clear. We need strong laws that mandate trials & convictions within 50 days, followed by the severest punishments, not just empty promises. State governments must act and urgently push the Union .

Ex-TMC MP Mimi Chakraborty gets rape threats for backing doctors' protest

Actor Mimi Chakraborty had participated in a protest against the rape and murder of the trainee doctor in Kolkata

TMC MP Sukhendu Sekhar Roy moves HC challenging notice by Kolkata Police

Trinamool Congress MP Sukhendu Sekhar Roy on Monday moved the Calcutta High Court, challenging a notice sent to him by the police in connection with a social media post he made over the alleged rape and murder of a doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. The Kolkata Police served the notice to the veteran politician on Sunday, asking him to appear before it. Justice Rajarshi Bharadwaj granted permission to Roy's lawyer to file his petition challenging the notice. The court said it will hear the petition on Tuesday. In his social media post, the veteran TMC MP demanded that the CBI undertake "custodial interrogation" of Kolkata Police commissioner and previous principal of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in connection with its probe into the alleged rape and murder of the postgraduate trainee doctor.

Kolkata rape-murder update: Mamata blames Oppn for unrest; protests today

Kolkata rape-murder: Major protests planned today by political parties TMC, BJP, and CPM, as well as the Indian Medical Association (IMA)

Money laundering charges framed against TMC MP Saket Gokhale, says ED

A special PMLA court in Ahmedabad has framed criminal charges, under the anti-money laundering law, against TMC's Rajya Sabha MP Saket Gokhale on Tuesday, the Enforcement Directorate said. "The Ld. Principal District and Sessions Judge, Ahmedabad (Rural) and designated Special Court PMLA, Ahmedabad today framed criminal charges against Saket Gokhale, MP Rajya Sabha and national spokesperson of All India Trinamool Congress under the provisions of Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002...," the central agency said in a statement. It said a charge sheet was filed against the 31-year-old MP under the anti-money laundering law last year. "Charges against him for the scheduled offence in the police case (Gujarat Police) had also been framed," it said. The special court had also rejected the application filed by Gokhale under Section 309 of the CrPC for keeping the proceedings under PMLA, 2002 in abeyance till the case of scheduled offence registered against him is decided by the court,

SC delays ruling on Abhishek Banerjee's plea over ED summons in job scam

TMC leader Abhishek Banerjee and his wife's plea challenged the ED summons in connection to a money laundering investigation related to an alleged school job recruitment scam in West Bengal

Hindenburg row: Oppn calls for JPC probe, suspension of Madhabi Puri Buch

Opposition parties claimed govt cut short Budget session to avoid questions on the issue

TMC demands immediate suspension of Sebi chair Buch after Hindenburg report

The TMC on Sunday demanded that SEBI chairperson Madhabi Puri Buch should immediately be suspended in the wake of US short-seller Hindenburg Research's allegation that she and her husband had stakes in obscure offshore funds linked to Adani group. Hindenburg accused Buch and her husband of having undisclosed investments in obscure offshore funds in Bermuda and Mauritius, the same entities allegedly used by Vinod Adani - the elder brother of group chairman Gautam Adani - to round-trip funds and inflate stock prices. Reacting to the development, senior TMC leader Sukhendu Sekhar Ray said, "SEBI chief should be suspended in no time, and lookout notices must be issued to all airports to prevent her and her husband from leaving the country." The head of the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) termed the allegation as "baseless" while Adani group said it never had any commercial relations with Buch. TMC MP Mahua Moitra said, "One simple point - Chairperson who has invested in

Oppn opposes Waqf Bill; calls it 'draconian, an attack on Constitution'

The opposition on Thursday protested against the introduction of the Waqf (Amendment) Bill in the Lok Sabha, with Congress MP KC Venugopal calling it "draconian" and an "attack on the Constitution". Soon after Union Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju sought leave to introduce the bill, Venugopal -- who had submitted notice to oppose its introduction -- accused the government of violating freedom of religion and attacking the federal system through it. "This is a draconian law and a fundamental attack on the Constitution," Venugopal said. He said people taught the BJP a lesson for its divisive politics but it was continuing with the same, keeping in mind the upcoming assembly elections in states such as Haryana and Maharashtra. Samajawadi Party MP Mohibullah Nadvi said the bill was against freedom of religion. He said appointing non-Muslims in the central Waqf council and other such bodies was violative of the rights of Muslims. Opposing its introduction, Trinamool Congress (T

BJP, affiliates talk about cows but can't protect them: TMC MP Ghosh

Trinamool Congress MP Saayoni Ghosh on Monday alleged that the BJP and its affiliates talk about cows, but they have been unable to provide them with enough fodder and or protect them from dying of the lumpy cow disease. Participating in a debate on the demands for grants for the Ministry of Fishing, Animal Husbandry and Dairy, the lawmaker also thanked people of her constituency for her victory and defeating the politics of "hatred and betrayal." "I thank people of Jadavpur who sent me here and proved that politics of hatred and betrayal will not work in West Bengal," Ghosh said. Referring to the allegation that West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's microphone was switched off during a meeting of the NITI Aayog, she said, "I hope you will let me finish my speech today, because at the recent NITI Aayog meeting our honourable chief minister who is the only woman chief minister in India at present, her mic was shut off." Ghosh said that stopping the CM from speaking was akin t

TMC leader Derek O'Brien urges govt to slash GST on health insurance

Senior TMC leader Derek O'Brien on Monday urged the government to reduce 18 per cent GST on health insurance policies, saying the high tax rate is burdening people, especially the middle class. Raising the issue during Zero Hour in Rajya Sabha, he also referred to a letter written to the finance minister by senior BJP leader and Union Minister Nitin Gadkari making similar demand. "The demand is straightforward. Reduce 18 per cent GST on medical and health insurance. We should reduce it because this is an issue which is burdening people, mainly the middle class. That's why it needs to be reduced," said Derek. The TMC leader pointed out that insurance penetration in India is low at 4 per cent compared to more than 7 per cent globally. Further, he said there is an imbalance in the insurance sector, where 75 per cent is life insurance policies, and 25 per cent medical insurance. Derek said the West Bengal chief minister has written to the finance minister in this regard and many ...

KC Venugopal likely to chair Public Accounts Committee: What is it?

Senior Congress leader KC Venugopal and Amar Singh are part of the committee, which was previously headed by Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury

BJP hits out at Mamata for walking out of NITI Aayog meet, calls it drama

The opposition BJP in West Bengal criticised Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for walking out of the NITI Aayog meeting in New Delhi on Saturday, claiming that it was a "drama" aimed at reaping political dividends. BJP's Rajya Sabha MP Samik Bhattacharya said it was a "weak script" prepared by Banerjee. "She was allowed due time at the NITI Aayog meeting. She did not go to the meeting for the economic benefit of the people of West Bengal but to reap political dividends and stage a drama by walking out," he claimed. "She portrayed herself as an opposition leader and not an administrator," he added. CPI(M) Rajya Sabha MP Bikash Ranjan Bhattacharya questioned why Banerjee attended the meeting in the first place when chief ministers of other INDIA bloc parties skipped it. "She was aware of the consequences. And her action again gives rise to the theory that she went to Delhi to have some understanding with Narendra Modi. People will realise the pretentiousness of the entire issue," he .

TMC leaders slam Budget as one for NDA, not India, says nothing for WB

Trinamool Congress (TMC) leaders on Tuesday said the budget presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in the Lok Sabha has nothing for West Bengal and called it a budget for the ruling NDA and not for India. "This is a 'kursi bachao budget' (budget to save the chair)," TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee said. "This budget is aimed at saving (Prime Minister) Narendra Modi's position. It is a budget for the NDA, not for India," he said. "Last time they gave so many projects to Odisha. Now they (BJP) have won (the Assembly polls in the state), so there is nothing for Odisha. There is also nothing for Bengal," Banerjee said. TMC's Rajya Sabha MP Saket Gokhale alleged that there is an "open and shameless" discrimination against West Bengal in the budget. "Open and shameless discrimination yet again in this Union Budget. Union Govt excludes only Bengal from flood relief and reconstruction funds," he said in a post on X. "Giving funds to other states while intentionally ignoring and singling

If Partha can be arrested in jobs scam, why not Pradhan: TMC's Abhishek

If former West Bengal education minister Partha Chatterjee can be arrested in the school recruitment scam, then why cannot the central agencies arrest Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan in the NEET irregularities, senior TMC leader Abhishek Banerjee asked on Sunday. Addressing the TMC's mega rally in Kolkata, Banerjee said the BJP performed poorly in the Lok Sabha elections in the state because it "relied on central agencies and money power" for victory. "A day after July 21, 2022, the Enforcement Directorate raided Partha Chatterjee's house and arrested him. We don't shield a person who has made mistakes. We don't tolerate injustice. But, if the central agencies can raid Partha Chatterjee's house and arrest him, why shouldn't Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan be arrested for the NEET scam?" he asked. "It is the biggest scam in India since Independence. Why this discrimination?" he added. Banerjee claimed the people of the state "taught the BJP a lesson" in the Lok Sabha .

SC to hear petitions seeking SIT probe in electoral bonds scheme on July 22

A top court bench led by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud on Friday took the note of the submissions made by senior lawyer Prashant Bhushan and listed the PILs for July 22

Trend across India against BJP: TMC chief Mamata on bypoll results

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday claimed that the "trend across India is against the BJP" as shown by the bypoll results. The INDIA bloc parties won 10 assembly seats, while the BJP clinched two and an Independent one, as the votes were counted on Saturday for the by-elections held earlier this week in 13 seats in seven states. Banerjee, the TMC supremo, claimed that the NDA received 46 per cent votes, while INDIA constituents got 51 per cent vote share in the bypolls held in the 13 seats, including four in West Bengal, three in Himachal Pradesh, two in Uttarakhand, and one each in Punjab, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar and Tamil Nadu. Expressing gratitude to people for the TMC's win in all the four seats in West Bengal, Banerjee said the BJP has not fared well in bypolls in other states also, except in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan. "The trend across India is against the BJP," she told reporters after arriving at the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport her

TMC steamrolls Oppn in Bengal Assembly bypolls, continues LS victory streak

The Trinamool Congress continued its winning streak from the recent Lok Sabha elections by sweeping the West Bengal assembly bypolls on Saturday, wresting Raiganj, Bagda, and Ranaghat Dakshin seats from the BJP and securing a record victory margin in Maniktala. Trinamool Congress (TMC) candidates Krishna Kalyani, Madhuparna Thakur and Mukut Mani Adhikari won the Raiganj, Bagda, and Ranaghat Dakshin seats respectively, while Supti Pandey won in the Maniktala segment in Kolkata. The bypolls in the four assembly seats were held on July 10. The BJP secured the second position in all four seats, while the Left-Congress alliance was a distant third and also lost deposits in two assembly segments. In Raiganj in Uttar Dinajpur district, Kalyani won by a margin of 50,077 votes over his nearest BJP rival Manas Kumar Ghosh. Kalyani got 86,479 votes, while Ghosh bagged 36,402. Madhuparna Thakur, daughter of TMC Rajya Sabha MP and Matua leader Mamatabala Thakur, won by a margin of 33,455 vote