Page 93 - West Bengal

Civil defence teams deployed at Bakkhali beach ahead of cyclone 'Mocha'

Civil defence teams have been deployed at Bakkhali Sea Beach in South 24 Parganas of West Bengal as Cyclone 'Mocha' intensifies into an extremely severe cyclonic storm, officials said on Saturday

No democracy left in West Bengal, need to bring a change: BJP chief Nadda

Targeting TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee for banning the "The Kerala Story", BJP national president J P Nadda on Friday said there is no democracy in West Bengal due to her style of functioning. Addressing an event after unveiling a book "Democracy in Coma", he also slammed Banerjee for banning "The Kerala Story" in the state and said the film has nothing to do with any religion or state. "But Banerjee, one of the champions of democracy, has banned it in West Bengal. There is nothing left in the name of democracy in West Bengal. It is indeed a democracy in coma in the state," the BJP chief said. Directed by Sudipto Sen, "The Kerala Story" shows how some women from Kerala were forced to convert to Islam and recruited by the terror group Islamic State (IS). The film was released on May 5. The film has kicked up a political storm with opposition parties accusing the makers of spewing hate. The book unveiled by Nadda talks about post assembly poll violence in West Bengal. Talking about

Bengal police asked to complete recruitment process within 3 months

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee asked officials to complete the recruitment process for thousands of vacant posts in the state police force within three months. She said the shortlisted candidates can be provided an initial training of seven days and inducted into the force. There are thousands of vacant posts in the police force. I suggest there should be an initial training of seven days, and the rest of the training can be conducted on field. All the vacant posts should be filled up within three months, she said at a review meeting of 'Utkarsh Bangla' held at the state secretariat here on Thursday. The priority is to ensure that there is enough manpower to handle the law and order situation in the state, the chief minister said.

Mamata proposes 'diploma doctors' for primary healthcare amid shortfall

She asked the health secretary to form a committee to decide on the legal aspects of such diploma courses to train more doctors for primary healthcare units

Bengal ban on 'The Kerala Story': SC agrees to hear plea on May 12

The Supreme Court on Wednesday agreed to hear on May 12 a plea by the producers of controversial multilingual film 'The Kerala Story' against the ban on screening of the film by the West Bengal government. Senior advocate Harish Salve mentioned the matter for urgent listing before a bench comprising Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud and Justice P S Narasimha. Salve said the petition challenges the ban by the West Bengal government and the "de-facto" ban in Tamil Nadu. The bench said it had on Tuesday posted for May 15 a separate plea against the Kerala High Court order refusing to stay the release of the movie and the fresh plea would also be heard on that day. However, the bench agreed to list the plea for hearing on May 12 after Salve said, "We are losing money everyday." 'The Kerala Story' starring Adah Sharma was released in cinemas on May 5.

Vivek Agnihotri sends notice to Mamata over her 'Kashmir Files' comments

The announcement of the ban has attracted scathing criticism from the opposition BJP, which is even planning to challenge it in the court

The Kerala Story: All you need to know about the raging controversy

The Kerala Story box office collection: Since its release, the movie has collected Rs 37.03 crore in India

Precautionary measures taken for Cyclone Mocha, says CM Mamata Banerjee

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday assured people that necessary precautionary measures have been taken and there was no need to panic as Cyclone Mocha might not make landfall in the eastern state. "There is no reason to panic about Cyclone Mocha... it may not make a landfall in West Bengal. But the coastal areas of the state have been asked to remain cautious. Alerts have been issued in Sunderbans and Digha on May 10 and 11 as a precautionary measure," she said. The Alipore Meteorological Department has said that the depression that has formed over the Bay of Bengal will not have much impact on the state. "On May 11, Cyclone Mocha will move towards the Bangladesh-Myanmar coast. However, keeping in mind the safety of the people of the state, we have set up control rooms at the secretariat as well as in several districts," she said. Banerjee said a meeting was also held to hold a discussion on the preparations for the cyclone. Fishermen have also been asked not to

Bengal bans 'The Kerala Story'; filmmakers say will take legal action

"The Kerala Story" producer Vipul Shah on Monday said they will take legal action against the ban imposed by the West Bengal government on the screening of the film in the state. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee ordered an immediate ban on the screening of the controversial movie to avoid "any incident of hatred and violence". "If that's what she has done, then we will again take legal action. Whatever is possible under the provisions of the law, we will fight that," Shah said at a press conference when asked about the ban in West Bengal. The Kerala High Court had refused to stay the release and said the trailer does not contain anything offensive to any particular community as a whole. It noted that the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) has examined the movie and found it suitable for public exhibition. "The Kerala Story", which depicts the plight of a group of women in Kerala who are forced to convert and join the ISIS, has kicked up a political storm. While many BJP lead

Bengal likely to get rain on Monday; no imminent threat of cyclone Mocha

The met office on Sunday forecast light to moderate rainfall in several districts across West Bengal due to a rise in humidity level and heat on May 8. There is no immediate threat from Cyclone Mocha, the route of which will be clearer in the next two days, the weatherman said. With the maximum temperature in Kolkata slated to rise to 38.4 degrees Celsius along with an 85 per cent humidity level on Monday, there is a possibility of light to moderate rainfall accompanied by lightning in the city, North and South 24 Parganas, Hooghly, Bankura, Birbhum, Purba Medinipur, Howrah, Purba and Paschim Bardhaman, a met office spokesperson said. "However there is very little possibility of rains caused by the cyclone in the next two days and the picture will be clearer by Tuesday," he said. Light rains are also forecast in the northern part of the state - in the districts of Darjeeling, Jalpaiguri, Kalimpong, Alipurduar, Coochbehar, Uttar Dinajpur, Dakshin Dinajpur and Malda in the next 24 ..

7% Bengali films are hits post-covid, success rate satisfactory: Official

With the improvement in covid situation, 100 Bengali films were released in theatres since January 2022 and seven of them were hits, showing a satisfactory success rate, an industry official said. Besides these seven, four-five others did decent business, said an official of the Eastern India Motion Picture Association (EIMPA), an association of various stakeholders of the Bengali film industry. "The success rate of six-seven per cent for a cinema hall release is satisfactory considering the limited market for Bengali films. We have to compete mainly with Hindi films and that has a bigger distribution chain," the EIMPA official told PTI. Five films with varied contents became hits Aparajito' (Undefeated), Karnasubarner Guptodhan' (Treasure of Karnasubarna), Ballabhpurer Roopkotha' (Fairytale of Ballabhpur), Kishmish' (Raisin) and Dostojee' (Two friends) in 2022. Two others - Projapati' (Search for a Friend) and The Eken Ruddhaswas Rajasthan (The Eken Suspense in Rajasthan) were .

Re-examine rape complaint against Vijayvargiya, others: SC tells court

The Supreme Court directed a judicial magistrate to re-examine a rape complaint filed by a woman against senior BJP leaders Kailash Vijayvargiya, Pradeep Joshi, and Jishnu Basu, in West Bengal in 2018

Bengal CM Mamata likely to address TMC mass outreach programme tomorrow

West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee is likely to join party leader Abhishek Banerjee at the TMC's ongoing mass outreach programme in Malda district on Thursday, a senior leader said. Banerjee may leave for Malda later on Wednesday. "The chief minister is likely to join the party's general secretary Abhishek Banerjee at the Trinamool-ey Nabajowar (new wave in Trinamool) programme at Malda's Englishbazar tomorrow. She may also address party leaders there," the leader told PTI. Abhishek Banerjee on April 25 commenced the party's two-month-long outreach programme ahead of the panchayat polls.

Mamata asks ministers to sit-in outside Sen's house over eviction notice

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has asked state ministers to begin a sit-in outside Nobel laureate Amartya Sen's residence in Santiniketan in Birbhum district to protest against the Visva-Bharati's eviction notice, an official said. During a cabinet meeting on Tuesday, Banerjee asked MSME Minister Chandranath Sinha, the local MLA, to lead the protest, which will be joined by Education Minister Bratya Basu and Urban Development Minister Firhad Hakim. She asked them not to move from the spot even if the central university authorities send bulldozers to take possession of the land. Bauls and other folk artistes from the district must be involved in the demonstration, and various cultural programmes should be organised there, she told the ministers, according to the official. Singer Kabir Suman and painter Subhaprasanna will also join the programme on May 6 and 7, the official said, quoting her. "The CM advised them not to move an inch even if Visva-Bharati sends bulldozers

BJP questions use of public funds to deploy forces at TMC outreach campaign

The BJP on Monday questioned whether the Trinamool Congress had deposited the requisite amount of money in the state coffers to avail police forces deployed at its ongoing mass outreach campaign. The saffron camp also accused the state's ruling party of misusing state apparatus for its political programme. The allegation drew sharp reactions from the TMC, which dubbed it baseless and wondered who bears the cost of the service of central forces availed by the BJP leaders in the state. The TMC last week started its much-touted mass outreach campaign 'Trinamool ey Nabajowar' (new wave in Trinamool) from Cooch Behar district ahead of the panchayat polls in the state, with party national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee leading it from the front. Banerjee had said he will be travelling more than 3500 km across the state from the Cooch Behar district in the northern part of the state to Kakdwip in the south. BJP state president Sukanta Majumdar said the police personnel are being ...

PM conducting 'Mann ki Baat', while Centre deprives WB of funds: TMC leader

Senior TMC leader Abhishek Banerjee on Monday took a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his 'Mann ki Baat' radio broadcast and said while its 100th episode was heralded with great fanfare, the poor masses of Bengal were deprived of Central funds under the 100-day MGNREGA scheme. In the 100th episode of 'Mann ki Baat', Modi on Sunday said the broadcast filled the "emptiness" he felt after coming to Delhi in 2014 and described it as an expression of the feelings of crores of Indians which has ensured he is never cut-off from people. "On the one hand, the prime minister is busy conducting the 100th episode of the Mann ki Baat programme, and the Centre, out of vendetta, has stopped the funds due to Bengal. "They are depriving the poor people of West Bengal by denying MGNREGA funds to Bengal. It (BJP) is trying to punish the state's people for their defeat in the last assembly poll in 2021. It is yet to accept the defeat," he said while addressing a rally in Uttar Dinajpur ...

Noted historian Ranajit Guha dies at 100 due to old age-related ailments

Noted historian Ranajit Guha has died due to old age-related ailments, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said on Saturday. Guha, who was 100 years old, died at his residence in Austria on Friday. He left behind his wife Mechthild. Condoling his demise, Banerjee said Guha was instrumental in motivating young historians in pursuing studies on the subaltern society. The CM said Guha had taught in many places across the world and has many disciples and admirers. She offered her deepest condolences to his near and dear ones. Born on May 23, 1923 at Barisal in present-day Bangladesh, Guha's family later shifted to Kolkata. He had studied in a school in the city and completed his post-graduation in History from Calcutta University. Guha retired from the Australian National University in 1988 after being previously associated with other renowned institutions. One of his well-known books is 'Elementary Aspects of Peasant Insurgency in Colonial India'. "The world of knowledge su

Bengal govt to conduct audit to identify irregularities in PMAY scheme

The official added the audit will give a strong point of argument for the state government for asking the Union government to release the central funds due under this scheme

No official communication to colleges yet regarding 4-year hons in UG level

The West Bengal higher secondary examination results are due after about a month but the colleges are yet to get any official communication on the possible introduction of four year under graduate honours course from the next academic year. The higher education department is yet to come up with any official communique about the issue. Colleges and universities need to ready the infrastructure for any new arrangement, the president of West Bengal Council of Higher Education Chiranjib Bhattacharya has said. Education minister Bratya Basu had in recent occasions said that there was wide consensus among experts for implementation of some key features of National Education Policy, 2020, like four-year honours course in UG courses in place of the existing three years and one year post graduate course instead of two years, or 4+1 format in place of the erstwhile 3+2 format. "We have sent our recommendations to the higher education department after weighng the pros and cons of the erstwh

Income tax collection in West Bengal rises 2.4% at Rs 56,422 cr in FY23

Income tax collection in West Bengal increased 2.4 per cent at Rs 56,422 crore during financial year 2022-23 over previous fiscal, an official of the department said on Thursday. The target collection for the current fiscal 2023-24 stands at Rs 64,700 crore, principal chief commissioner of Income Tax for West Bengal and Sikkim, Smita Srivastava said. She said that tax collection from West Bengal has increased as overall industrial scenario has improved in the state. Residents of Sikkim are exempted from paying income tax, but not for those who have gone there from other places. Srivastava said that steel and cement sectors have not fared well. According to her, compliance has improved while TDS collection during the last fiscal has improved. The other aspect which contributed to the rise in collection is formalisation of the large informal sector. Srivastava launched a book 'Income Tax Pleading and Practice' written jointly by Narayan Jain and Dilip Loyalka.