Page 54 - West Bengal

Bharat Sevashram Sangha monk sends defamation notice to Mamata Banerjee

Hindu religious and spiritual organisation Bharat Sevashram Sangha has distanced itself from the remarks made by monk Swami Pradiptananda against West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee

Violence mars fifth phase of polls in Bengal, 73% voter turnout till 5 pm

Scattered incidents of violence marred the fifth phase of Lok Sabha polls to seven parliamentary constituencies in West Bengal, with 73 per cent of the 1.25 crore voters exercising their franchise till 5 pm on Monday, officials said. Voter turnout was lesser than the previous four phases, and also in comparison to the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. The final voter turnout for this election, however, will be released later. "Polling was more or less peaceful, barring a few scattered incidents of violence in some constituencies. But we took immediate steps to address those," state Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Ariz Aftab told PTI. Although no major incident was reported, scattered disturbances could not be averted despite the poll body deploying over 60,000 personnel of central forces, in addition to around 30,000 policemen, the highest number of security forces deployed in any of the phases so far in the state, the official said, adding a total of 1,992 complaints were received. Arambagh Lok

Cong issues warning to leaders after Kharge's poster defaced in Bengal

The Congress issued a stern warning on Monday to those indulging in anti-party activities in West Bengal and asked its state unit to submit a report on acts of vandalising hoardings outside the party office in Kolkata. A day after he snubbed West Bengal Congress chief Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury for questioning TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee's loyalty to the INDIA bloc, several posters and hoardings of Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge were defaced with ink in front of the party's state headquarters in Kolkata on Sunday. Taking serious note of such acts, AICC general secretary, organisation, K C Venugopal said the party would not tolerate such "gross indiscipline". "We are taking very serious note of such grave anti-party activities. The Indian National Congress shall not tolerate such public display of defiance and indiscipline. The general secretary in-charge of West Bengal is directed to immediately submit a factual report on these acts of gross indiscipline," Venugopal said in a ...

LS polls: Over 48% voter turnout in 7 Bengal constituencies till 1 pm

Polling for the fifth phase of Lok Sabha polls commenced across seven parliamentary constituencies of West Bengal amid tight security on Monday, an official said. Voting commenced in Bangaon (SC), Barrackpore, Howrah, Uluberia, Sreerampur, Hooghly, and Arambag (SC) Lok Sabha constituencies at 7 am and will continue till 6 pm. A total of 1,25,23,702 voters, comprising 63,51,320 men, 61,72,034 women, and 348 belonging to the third gender, are eligible to exercise their franchise across 13,481 polling stations. The Election Commission has designated over 57 per cent of the polling stations as sensitive and deployed over 60,000 personnel of central forces, in addition to around 30,000 policemen. The number of security forces deployed for this phase surpasses that of any of the four earlier phases in the state. A total of 88 candidates are contesting in the fifth phase, with the highest number of 15 candidates in Bongaon, where Union Minister Shantanu Thakur is contesting against TMC's

LS polls phase 5: Scattered incidents of violence reported in West Bengal

Scattered incidents of violence marred the fifth phase of Lok Sabha polls in seven parliamentary constituencies in West Bengal on Monday, as TMC and BJP workers clashed in various parts of Barrackpore, Bongaon, and Arambagh seats. Although the poll panel has claimed that the polling has been peaceful so far, it said it has received 1,036 complaints until 11 am from different political parties alleging EVM malfunctioning and agents being stopped from entering booths. Clashes broke out between supporters of TMC and BJP in Khanakul area of Arambagh constituency as both parties clashed over stopping polling agents from entering the booths. Two live crude bombs were also recovered from the area by security personnel. "BJP goons have unleashed a reign of terror in the area and are intimidating voters," TMC candidate Mitali Bag said. BJP candidate Arup Kanti Digar rubbished the allegations and blamed the TMC for letting loose violence on the day of the polls. In neighbouring Hooghly ...

Phase 5 of Lok Sabha elections 2024: What was the voter turnout at 11 am?

In the fifth phase of the Lok Sabha elections 2024, 49 out of 543 constituencies went to polls in six states and two Union Territories. Votes will be counted on June 4

TMC insulting Hindu faith, infiltrators changing WB demography: PM

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday accused the TMC of insulting the faith of Hindus to appease its vote bank and asserted that infiltrators are "perilous" to West Bengal since they are "disturbing" the demography of the state. Addressing his third election rally in West Bengal during the day, the Prime Minister said, "Infiltrators, who are the vote bank of the TMC, is a threat to the state as in many areas, Hindus have become fewer in number." "In Bengal, TMC is synonymous with terrorism, corruption, appeasement and nepotism. To appease its vote bank, the TMC is insulting the Hindu society and its faith. The entire country is angry due to the recent derogatory statement made by West Bengal CM," he said at the Medinipur rally. Modi was referring to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's recent remarks against Ramakrishna Mission and Bharat Sevashram Sangha. The PM said that ongoing infiltration in West Bengal is "fast changing the demography" of the state. "TMC's appeasement has ...

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

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

Hours after Kharge's snub, Adhir Ranjan sticks to his anti-Mamata stance

In a veiled reference to West Bengal Chief Minister and TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee, state Congress president Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said he cannot speak in favour of someone who wants to finish him politically and his party in the state. His comment comes hours after Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge asserted that Chowdhury is no one to take a decision on whether Banerjee would be part of the INDIA bloc in the event of the anti-BJP alliance coming to power after the Lok Sabha polls. Asked about Kharge's statement, Chowdhury, who is seeking re-election from Baharampur on a Congress ticket, said, I cannot speak in favour of someone who wants to finish me politically and our party in Bengal. This is a battle for every Congress worker. I have spoken on their behalf. Stating that his opposition to Banerjee stemmed from his principled stance, not from his interest, Chowdhury said There is no personal grudge but I question her political ethics." Asked about Mamata Banerjee's comment

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

People of Bengal will avenge injustices done by BJP, says Mamata Banerjee

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday said that the state will avenge the "injustice" of the BJP and the "anti-Bengalis will be washed away for sure." Banerjee in a post on her X handle said, "It is a sin to block the funds earmarked for development of the poor but continue splurging money on spreading propaganda". The TMC supremo had been vocal about alleged non-payment of Central dues to the state under various schemes like MNREGA (100 days work) and PM Awas Yojana (housing) for the last three years totalling more than Rs 1.65 lakh crore. "Bengal will avenge this injustice by the BJP", she said, adding "The people of Jhargram, Ghatal and Medinipur have given a clear message --the Bishorjon of Bangla-Birodhis is certain!".

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

CBI raids residence of 2 TMC leaders in connection with 2021 violence case

The CBI on Friday conducted raids at the residences of two Trinamool Congress leaders at Kathi in Purba Medinipur district of West Bengal in connection with its ongoing investigation into the killing of a BJP worker in post-poll violence in 2021, an officer said. A team of CBI officers raided the houses of Kathi Block no 3 TMC leader Debabrata Panda and another block president Nandadulal Maiti in the early hours of Friday in connection with its ongoing investigation, he said. "Panda, Nandadulal's son and 52 others have been named in the FIR lodged in connection with the murder of Janmejay Dolui," the CBI officer told PTI. Dolui, a BJP worker, was killed in post-poll violence following the 2021 assembly election. The CBI officer said that 30 people were summoned for questioning in connection with the matter but none turned up. "We are conducting raids at places associated with these people. We need to question them," he said.

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

Mamata's Nandigram defeat echoes in Tamluk as TMC, BJP prepare for showdown

As the electoral battle intensifies in West Bengal's Tamluk constituency, a fierce confrontation between the TMC and the BJP looms large with the state's ruling party seeking retribution for Mamata Banerjee's loss in Nandigram and the saffron party striving to fortify its stronghold. Former Calcutta High Court judge Abhijit Gangopadhyay, who joined the BJP immediately after resigning from his post on March 5 and was fielded by the party from the crucial seat, and the selection of young Turks Debangshu Bhattacharya and Sayan Banerjee by the TMC and CPI(M) respectively have intensified the political rivalry in the seat. Nandigram, where the anti-land acquisition movement in 2007 against the then Left Front government was instrumental in the Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress' rise to power in 2011 in Bengal, is in Tamluk Lok Sabha constituency. The enmity between Mamata Banerjee and BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari, epitomised by the latter's victory in Nandigram in the 2021 assembly .

NCBC recommends raising reservation quota for OBCs in Bengal, Punjab

The National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC) has recommended an increase in the reservation quota for Other Backward Classes (OBCs) in public employment in Punjab and West Bengal. The Commission's decision comes after a review of the current reservation policies, oral statements, and documentary evidence, aiming to align with the directives laid out by the Supreme Court in the Indra Sawhney case, according to an advisory. Currently, Punjab allocates 25 per cent of public employment positions to Scheduled Castes and 12 per cent to OBCs, totalling 37 per cent reservation. The NCBC has proposed enhancing the OBC quota by an additional 13 per cent, bringing the total OBC reservation in public employment to 25 per cent. This adjustment will adhere to the Supreme Court's ceiling of up to 50 per cent reservation for socially and educationally backward classes. D K Tiwari, Additional Chief Secretary of the Punjab Government, appeared before the NCBC on February 22, expressing the .

Will lend support to 'INDIA' from outside to form govt at Centre: Mamata

West Bengal Chief Minister and TMC chief Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday said her party will extend support to the opposition INDIA bloc from outside to form the government at the Centre and vowed to repeal the CAA, NRC and UCC once the BJP government is voted out of power. Expressing skepticism about the BJP's ambitious target of achieving 400 seats in the Lok Sabha elections, she said people will reject them totally. "BJP is claiming that it will win 400 seats, but people are saying it will not happen. The entire country has understood that the BJP is a party full of thieves. We (TMC) will support the INDIA bloc from outside to form a government at the Centre. We will extend our support so that in (West) Bengal, our mothers and sisters never face a problem... and those who work in the 100 days' job scheme, also do not face problems," Banerjee said. The TMC supremo, who was addressing an election rally at Chinsurah, Hooghly district, however, clarified that in West Bengal, her party .