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Why Only Hindus? The Pain No One Talks About — From Bengal to Pahalgam | TDG Explainer

April 23, 2025, 2:59 am

In recent times, several incidents across India have sparked a crucial question: Why are Hindus being targeted repeatedly — in riots, in terror attacks, and in symbolic violence? From Pahalgam to Bengal, and from social media trolling to physical attacks, many people are wondering what is behind this disturbing trend.

This article takes a deeper look into the possible reasons, reactions from experts, and what needs to change.

Recurring Attacks: What’s Happening?

Incidents like the terror attack in Pahalgam, where Hindu pilgrims were targeted, and riots in West Bengal reportedly linked to land disputes under the Waqf Act, have one thing in common — Hindus are often the victims.

In Kashmir, terrorists have often targeted Hindu civilians and pilgrims.
In West Bengal, political and religious tensions have seen Hindu homes and temples attacked.
In many cities, we’ve seen violence simply because someone displayed a Hindu deity on their car or shop.

These are not isolated incidents. The pattern suggests that there is something more dangerous and deep-rooted at play.

Why Are Hindus Being Targeted?

1. Ideological Hatred by Radical Groups

Some radical terrorist groups see Hindus — and their symbols — as enemies. Attacks during religious festivals, pilgrimages, or at temples are meant to:

Spread fear among Hindus.
Hurt India’s internal peace.
Show dominance over a religious community.

2. Symbolic Attacks to Cause Fear

A Ganesh idol on a car, saffron flags, or even a simple “Jai Shri Ram” chant has become enough to trigger violence in some areas. These symbols are seen as expressions of faith, but radicals treat them as threats.

3. Political and Vote-Bank Factors

In many states, politics around minority appeasement have led to selective outrage. Hindu victims of violence often receive less media or political attention. Some say this is done to protect vote banks, especially in states with large minority populations.

Here’s a separate column section you can add to your explainer. It’s written in a clear, simple format that introduces the data visuals and explains their significance:

Data & Analysis: Is Hindu Life at Risk?

To understand the increasing threat faced by Hindus in India and beyond, here are some fact-based insights supported by recent incidents and data:

1. Year-Wise Rise in Communal Riots

The number of communal riots in India saw a sharp rise in 2024 — a staggering 84% increase compared to the previous year. States like Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal reported the most cases.

See Graph 1: Year-wise Communal Riots in India (2020–2024) See Graph 2: Distribution of Communal Riots by State in 2024

2. Hindu Fatalities in Major Incidents

From temple desecration to targeted killings during protests and terror attacks, Hindu lives have been repeatedly endangered. Recent major events include:

Murshidabad (2025) – Violence during Waqf Act protest.
Pahalgam (2025) – A terror attack targeting Hindu pilgrims.
Delhi & Bengal Riots (2020–2024) – High Hindu casualties recorded.

See Graph 3: Hindu Fatalities in Major Incidents (2020–2025)

3. Threats Abroad

Outside India, Hindus have also faced persecution in countries like Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Afghanistan — with incidents involving mob attacks, forced conversions, and temple demolitions.

While exact numbers are hard to gather from conflict zones, international human rights reports confirm a growing concern for Hindu safety worldwide.

Experts Speak: What Do Security and Social Analysts Say?

Security Experts

They say the lack of strong law enforcement in communally sensitive areas allows mobs to act freely.
There is little deterrence — attackers don’t fear punishment.

Sociologists

Hindus are often seen as the “majority” and therefore not given the same “minority protection” that others get.
But in many places, like Kashmir or certain districts in Bengal, Hindus are actually minorities.

Political Commentators

Some believe that the silence around Hindu suffering is due to a deep-rooted political fear — raising voice for Hindus is wrongly seen as “communal”.

Why This Is Dangerous for India

It sends a wrong message that Hindu lives matter less.
It breaks the idea of equal citizenship in a secular country.
It can fuel radicalisation on both sides — peace-loving citizens may lose trust in the system.

What Can Be Done?

1. Equal Justice for All

No matter the religion, every victim deserves justice. Governments must act equally, whether the victim is Hindu, Muslim, Christian, or of any faith.

2. Stronger Action Against Radicalism

Security agencies should take proactive action against hate speech, terror plans, and illegal gatherings — across communities.

3. Social Harmony Initiatives

Religious leaders, influencers, and educators must promote respect for all beliefs and call out violence — no matter who does it.

Conclusion

As a country, India has always celebrated diversity. But when one community is repeatedly attacked, silenced, or ignored — it weakens the very idea of unity.

Asking for justice for Hindu victims is not communalism — it’s humanity. It’s time for the nation to see through political games, demand equal protection for all, and ensure that no Indian is ever targeted because of their faith.

Maha Kumbh tragedy triggers political blame-game in Bengal

January 29, 2025, 8:50 pm

The deaths of pilgrims at the stampede at Prayagraj’s Maha Kumbh triggered a political blamegame in West Bengal with the Trinamool Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party taking pot-shots at each other. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee was first off with a post on social media site X which said: “I am deeply saddened to learn of the tragic stampede at the Maha Kumbh, which has claimed at least 15 innocent lives. My thoughts and prayers are with the bereaved pilgrim families.”

She also took a swipe at the Yogi Adityanath Government, without taking its name, writing: “My learning from our Gangasagar Mela is that planning and care must be maximal in matters relating to pilgrims’ lives in vast assemblies of people.” The post triggered a fierce response from Bharatiya Janata Party’s Leader of the Opposition, Suvendu Adhikari, who also posted on X: “Firstly, my thoughts and prayers are with the victims who lost their lives and those who got injured.”

He also hit back at Mamata Banerjee, posting: “Even though your expression of sadness towards the victims of the tragic stampede at the Maha Kumbh felt genuine at the beginning, but the subtle dig regarding the comparison with the arrangement of Gangasagar Mela exposed your hypocritical attitude. “It seems you were waiting for the opportunity to feign sorrow. “For your kind information, you don’t have and never will have the opportunity in your lifetime to plan and make arrangements for the assembly of more than 5 crore people in a single place on a single day, like the ‘Amrit Snan’ or the holy dip on Mauni Amavasya; a ritual bath considered one of the holiest events in the Maha Kumbh Mela. This year, the ritual holds additional significance due to the rare ‘Triveni Yog’ celestial alignment, which occurs once every 144 years.

“The UP Govt have done their best to contain the situation. This is not a time to show one-upmanship.” In a move to defend its party’s Government in Uttar Pradesh, the West Bengal unit of the BJP also organised a press conference at its party headquarters in Salt Lake. BJP’s chief spokesperson and Rajya Sabha MP Samik Bhattacharya took a swipe at Mamata Banerjee. He said: “Mamata Banerjee is pointing fingers at Yogi Adityanath’s Government. This is the world’s largest congregation of humanity. The BJP Government had been planning for it for more than one year how to manage the huge number of people who have come from each and every part of India. We would like to remind the people that even in a small gathering in Panihati for Doi Chire utsav, due to the mismanagement by the Mamata Banerjee Government, three pilgrims had died and more than 100 injured. Mamata Banerjee is the last person who can point fingers at Yogi ji’s Government.”

Guillain-Barré Syndrome claims lives in Bengal

January 29, 2025, 8:42 pm

After the outbreak of Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS), a post infectious neurological disease which has already affected more than 100 people in Pune in Maharashtra, the West Bengal Health Department sources on Wednesday confirmed that two youths — a 10-year-old and the other a 17-year-old — have died of Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) in the State so far. Meanwhile, the West Bengal Health and Family Welfare Department has said that the cases have not increased since the end of December 2024.

Health Department sources said that a 10-year-old boy was admitted to a Kolkata hospital last week. He had died while undergoing treatment on Sunday. Hailing from Jagatdal of North 24 Parganas district, he was undergoing treatment at the BC Roy Hospital for a week before he died. Meanwhile, Aritra Mondal, a 17-year-old youth from the North 24 Parganas district, who showed symptoms of the syndrome, died at the NRS Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata on Monday morning.

According to hospital sources, the teenager died of septic shock and myocarditis, with doctors suspecting that GBS may have been the underlying condition. Investigations are ongoing to confirm the exact cause of death in this case. Mandal was a resident of Amdanga in North 24 Parganas district. The death certificate mentions Guillain Barré Syndrome as the suspected cause of death. On Wednesday, a 48-year-old man from Dhaniakhali, Hooghly was suspected to have also died of the Guillain-Barré Syndrome. He had visited his local doctor in Dhaniakhali, and upon describing his symptoms, was immediately asked to be brought to Kolkata Medical College.

He had been suffering from diarrhoea for the past four days and the lower portion of his body was paralysed. The patient was administered oxygen while on the way to the hospital due to respiratory issues, medical college sources said. However, he was declared dead on arrival. This came amid the State Health Department’s claim that there was no rise in the cases of GBS from the end of December till January 28. The West Bengal Health and Family Welfare Department issued an official statement which reads: “Guillain-Barré Syndrome is not a new or rare kind of disease. Sporadic cases continue to occur in our country and state. It is one of the diseases causing Acute Flaccid Paralysis (AFP) which is monitored in children below the age of 15 years as a part of Polio Surveillance. Got the information from NPSP (WHO) that there has been no increase of AFP or GB Syndrome in West Bengal since the end of December till date.”

Fatal Blast In Bengal: 3 Dead, Bomb-Making Gone Wrong, 5 Suspected | WATCH

December 9, 2024, 10:41 am

A powerful explosion in the Khayartala area of West Bengal’s Murshidabad district has left three people dead and many more injured. The incident was reported late last night when country made bombs exploded in a house owned by Mamun Mollah, it is alleged. Mamun Mollah, Sakirul Sarkar, and Mustaqin Sheikh are the three people killed. Neighbours, who heard the huge blast, reported the blast but were not aware of its cause until later.

WATCH THE VIRAL VIDEO:

Murshidabad # Three killed in a blast at Sagarpara .Blast took place inside a house last night .
Investigation underway . pic.twitter.com/8XMBAB8C0C

— Syeda Shabana (@JournoShabana) December 9, 2024

The blast force had caved the house roof in, which means the explosion was very severe. Law enforcement authorities have suspected that bombs were under preparation at the place. Police have cordoned off the area, and the investigation is going on to find out the exact circumstances leading to the tragic incident. The authorities have increased security in the area so that public safety is not disturbed as the probe progresses.

Mamata blames Centre for ‘man-made flood’ in Bengal

September 19, 2024, 3:18 am

Several areas in south Bengal face a massive flood risk as the Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC) released 3 lakh cusecs of water from its Panchet and Maithon dams within seven hours on the night of September 16 amid incessant low-pressure rains.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee visited Pursurah in Hooghly district to take stock of the situation and said it is a “man-made” flood, caused by the Centre as DVC had never released so much water earlier.

“This is a man-made flood. They planned to drown Bengal. I personally spoke to the DVC authorities. I spoke to Hemant Soren, Chief Minister of Jharkhand at least thrice. The last time DVC released so much water was in 2009,” Banerjee told reporters.
“It was done to drown West Bengal. The Centre doesn’t undertake dredging. If dredging is done DVC can hold more water. Why do they not release water gradually when the dam is 70% – 80% full? In a bid to save Jharkhand, they release the water to Bengal. How much deprivation we shall take?” Banerjee complained.

“Even the water level in the Adi Ganga has shot up. I have never seen so much water in Adi Ganga. DVC released a huge amount of water. People have been requested to move to flood shelters. A few people got trapped at Khanakul in Hooghly district,” she told reporters earlier.

The Chief Minister’s residence at Kalighat in south Kolkata is located on the banks of the Adi Ganga, the original channel of River Ganga passing through Kolkata.
According to data shared by DVC, around 2.5 lakh cusec water was released for around six hours on Tuesday. The last time such a huge amount of water was released was in September 2009. DVC had then released 3,03,046 cusecs from its Panchet and Maithon dams.

“We released 2.5 lakh cusecs for around six hours on Tuesday. West Bengal was informed. The flow of release was reduced to 1.2 lakh cusecs later during the day,” said a DVC official.
Mamata also asked District Magistrates to remain alert and Nabanna, the State secretariat, has instructed officials to be prepared to deal with the situation.

Two people have already died because of this flood-like situation. While one person died due to wall collapse following rain in Purba Bardhaman district, another died of electrocution in Hooghly district. In Murshidabad district, floodwaters swept away a seven-year-old girl.

Beyond the Bengal Rape: Examining the Perilous Reality of India’s Doctors

August 31, 2024, 2:42 am

A 31-year-old female trainee doctor at Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College retired to sleep in a seminar hall after a gruelling shift in the early hours of a Friday morning. It was the last time she was seen alive.
The following morning, her colleagues made a horrifying discovery: her half-naked body on the podium, bearing extensive injuries. Police later arrested a hospital volunteer worker in connection with what they describe as a case of rape and murder at the 138-year-old institution.
This tragic incident has reignited discussions about the safety of healthcare workers in India, particularly women. As enraged doctors across the country went on strike demanding better protection, the case has exposed the deep-rooted vulnerabilities plaguing the medical profession.

A System Under Strain
At RG Kar Hospital, which sees over 3,500 patients daily, overworked trainee doctors—some working up to 36 hours straight—had no designated restrooms. This forced them to seek rest in a third-floor seminar room, a situation that proved fatal for the young doctor.
Hospital doctors’ experiences highlight female doctors’ grim reality in India’s government hospitals. There are no designated restrooms or separate toilets for female doctors. Some of them might even sleep in an empty patient bed in the ward or a cramped waiting room with a bed and basin.
In a twist of bitter irony, those dedicated to saving lives find themselves fighting for their own safety in the very institutions meant to heal.
Women in Medicine: Progress and Peril
The face of Indian medicine, as claimed by the might of Government Statistics, is changing rapidly.
The National Medical Commission’s 2023 data shows women now make up 42% of registered medical practitioners, up from 35% in 2019. In nursing, women comprise nearly 90% of the workforce, according to the Indian Nursing Council’s latest report.
However, this progress is eclipsed by escalating safety concerns.
The National Crime Records Bureau’s 2023 report indicates a 7.6% increase in crimes against women in healthcare, with 25% involving severe violence, including sexual assault.
Recent incidents highlight this alarming trend. In March 2023, Dr. Priya Mishra, a Delhi hospital resident, was assaulted by a deceased patient’s relatives, suffering a fractured arm and facial injuries. In November, Dr. Sanjana Patil, a Pune gynecologist, endured a six-hour hostage situation by a disgruntled patient’s family.
These aren’t isolated cases. An Indian Medical Association survey in early 2024 revealed that 68% of female doctors experienced workplace violence or harassment in the past year, with 30% feeling unsafe during night shifts. In a cruel twist of fate, as women break glass ceilings in medicine, they find themselves trapped in hospitals of horrors – healing others while their own safety hangs by a thread.
One can’t help but wonder: in a profession dedicated to preserving life, why are we failing to safeguard the lives of those who serve it? And what does this say about our society’s true valuation of women’s contributions to healthcare?

A Culture of Fear for Women in India
The RG Kar Medical College incident epitomizes a pervasive culture of fear among women in India’s professional landscape, particularly in healthcare. Female doctors navigate a minefield of threats daily – from poorly lit hospital corridors to confrontations with aggressive patients.
Many resort to extreme safety measures, even bringing family members to overnight shifts.
In rural areas, the situation is dire. Female doctors in remote health centres face isolation and vulnerability, influencing career choices and exacerbating the rural healthcare divide. This fear reflects broader societal issues, persisting despite laws like the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace Act of 2013. The National Commission for Women reports a steady rise in workplace harassment complaints, with healthcare prominently featured.

A System in Need of Reform
India’s healthcare system suffers from systemic failures at multiple levels. The absence of a comprehensive federal law protecting healthcare workers and ineffective state legislation leaves medical professionals vulnerable. Healthcare’s status as a state subject under the Indian Constitution results in fragmented policies and implementation across the country.
Political factors complicate matters further. The government’s 2022 directive for enhanced hospital security remains unimplemented mainly due to budget constraints and a lack of political will. The intersection of gender politics and healthcare policy adds another layer of complexity, with women’s concerns often sidelined in policy discussions.

Urgent reforms needed include:
1. Robust federal legislation for healthcare worker protection
2. Mandatory safety audits and infrastructure upgrades in healthcare facilities
3. Integration of violence prevention acts in medical education
4. Fast-track courts for cases against healthcare workers
5. Increased healthcare spending, particularly on safety measures
6. A national database tracking incidents of violence against medical professionals
The medical community’s outcry following the Kolkata incident presents a critical juncture for political leadership to move beyond rhetoric. The health of India’s healthcare system – and its population – depends on creating a fear-free environment for those who heal.
Shruti Kaushik is a Branding Expert, Author, Startup Evangelist, Investor.

Mohammad Shami Expected To Join Bengal’s Ranji Trophy Squad: Report

August 18, 2024, 8:59 pm

Indian pacer Mohammad Shami is aiming for a return to cricket after an extended injury layoff. His last appearance for the national team was during the ODI World Cup final against Australia in Ahmedabad on November 19 of the previous year. Since then, Shami has been sidelined due to ankle surgery in the UK, which required a recovery period of at least six months.

According to PTI, Shami is anticipated to make his return to competitive cricket with his domestic team Bengal in the Ranji Trophy. He could also be in line for a spot in one of the Test matches against New Zealand.

The report indicates that Shami is expected to feature in either or both of Bengal’s opening Ranji matches—one away against UP on October 11 and another in Kolkata against Bihar on October 18. Due to the short interval between these matches, it’s unlikely that he will participate in both.

The New Zealand Test series begins on October 19 in Bengaluru, with subsequent matches in Pune on October 24 and Mumbai on November 1. Shami is projected to participate in one of these games before preparing for the significant tour of Australia.

While Shami has been seen on Instagram doing his RTP (Return To Play) drills at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru, including bowling with a reduced run-up, it was initially thought he might be ready for the Duleep Trophy. However, it has been noted that he won’t be fit in time for the Duleep Trophy, and selectors are cautious about rushing his return. The focus is on ensuring that India’s leading pacers—Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammad Shami, and Mohammad Siraj—are fully fit for the five-Test series in Australia.

Shami has accumulated 229 wickets in 64 Tests, including six five-wicket hauls and twelve four-wicket hauls.

West Bengal: 7 Die In Siliguri After SUV Runs Over Them

August 12, 2024, 3:03 pm

Seven people lost their lives and several others sustained injuries in a tragic accident near Siliguri in Darjeeling district of West Bengal on Monday morning. The incident occurred around 6 am when a sport utility vehicle (SUV), reportedly returning from a temple, struck a group of pedestrians on Asian Highway-II.

According to police reports, four of the deceased were aged between 20 and 28 years. The SUV, which bore a Sikkim registration number, allegedly hit the pedestrians at Howdi Jote in the Muni Tea Estate area near Bagdogra. The victims were on their way to the shrine when the vehicle veered off course and caused the fatal collision.

Eyewitnesses reported that the SUV struck 14 roadside markers before crashing into a ditch. Jagannath Roy, the chief of Hetmuri Singhiajhora gram panchayat, confirmed the timeline and details of the incident.

The victims were identified as Prahlad Roy, Gobind Singh (22), Amlesh Chowdhury (20), Kanak Burman (22), Pranab Roy (28), and Padakant Roy. The identity of the seventh victim is yet to be confirmed.

In the aftermath of the accident, the injured were swiftly transported to North Bengal Medical College and Hospital in Siliguri for treatment. The highway was subsequently blocked for several hours by locals demanding prompt action from the authorities.

This tragic incident has once again highlighted the need for stringent road safety measures on busy highways, especially in areas with significant pedestrian traffic.

Bengal Increases Vigilance After Bangladesh Jailbreaks, Terror Fears

August 9, 2024, 1:47 pm

Security agencies across Bengal have intensified vigilance following reports that several terror suspects were among the 709 prisoners who escaped during two recent jailbreaks in Bangladesh. Both state and central agencies are actively gathering intelligence from the neighboring country, while police in Kolkata closely monitor the city and its suburbs.

On Tuesday, a mob armed with sticks stormed the Sherpur district jail, freeing over 500 prisoners. On the same day in Gazipur, approximately 209 inmates escaped from the high-security Kashimpur prison. In the latter incident, prison guards opened fire to prevent the escape, killing six individuals, including three militants.

Among the escapees is Ikramul Haque, also known as Abu Talha, who was arrested in 2023 by Bangladesh’s Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime Unit, based on Indian intelligence, and later questioned by Bengal police in Dhaka. Authorities believe another escapee is Niyamatullah, identified as the leader of a module busted in Kolkata’s Haridevpur. Investigations are also underway to determine whether Abdul Alim, an operational commander of Jamaat-ul-Muslimeen, and Zakaria Mondal, who were believed to be in the same jail, also escaped.

With these four terror operatives from Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen and Ansarullah Bangla Team suspected to be on the run, law enforcement has increased surveillance in hotels, guesthouses, and “sensitive spots” around Bengal. Kolkata Police has instructed hotels to maintain detailed records of guests, with local officers collecting these details daily — or even twice a day in central Kolkata and surrounding areas — and reporting to Lalbazar and the Special Branch. Multiple areas in Kolkata where JMB personnel were previously hidden are also under scrutiny.

Bidhannagar police teams are patrolling areas near the airport, Narayanpur, Baguiati, Rajarhat, New Town, and Bhangar. An officer mentioned, “We are also monitoring brokers who have previously helped criminals from Bangladesh settle temporarily in Bengal.”

BSF Director General Daljit Singh Chawdhary met with district officials and trade representatives to warn them about the potential influx of criminals from Bangladesh. “We have been instructed not to allow anyone without verifying their IDs,” said a representative.

BSF Struggles To Block Entry Of Terrified Bangladeshis

August 9, 2024, 1:17 am

The Border Security Force (BSF) is struggling to block the entry of terrified Bangladeshis trying to flee their country, hoping to find shelter in India. Senior BSF officers said that the attempts were being seen from North Bengal to South, particularly in areas where the border is still unfenced. West Bengal shares a 2217-km long border with Bangladesh.
BSF personnel were forced to fire warning shots and form a human barrier at an unfenced section of the border as hundreds of Bangladeshis, mostly politicians and workers of ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s Awami League party, attempted to enter Bengal, fearing for their safety amid targeted violence in their nation.

A former Awami League MP from Kushtia II, Kamarul Arefin, was apprehended while trying to cross over to India through the Benapole-Petrapole border in North 24-Parganas district along with his wife and two daughters. While the ex-MP and his kin had passports, they did not have visas. They appealed to be let into India, fearing for their lives in Bangladesh. While BSF did not comment on the issue, BGB detained him after they were sent back on Wednesday.

BSF sources said North Bengal, in particular, witnessed a massive gathering of Bangladeshis along the international border on Wednesday: ordinary villagers, people from the minority Hindu community, Awami League supporters, all trying to cross over.
Panic-stricken Bangladeshis are massing on the border due to the continuing unrest in Bangladesh since Sheikh Hasina’s resignation and flight to India on Monday.
At one such border outpost, BSF had to fire a warning round in the air, faced with a gathering of 200-odd villagers, who were trying to cross into Indian territory.
Amit Kumar Tyagi, BSF DIG (North Bengal Frontier), confirmed the warning shot, saying, “At the Mukesh border post in the Kishanganj-North Dinajpur area, we had a gathering of over 200 villagers. We had to resort to one round of blank firing at 1.45 pm on Wednesday. The villagers are still standing between 200 m and 500 m from the international border.” He said these villagers were residents of Thakurgaon district in Bangladesh. Other BSF sources said senior officers were at the site, trying to convince the villagers. The local BGB has been alerted and their help sought.

“The villagers are still there, between 200m and 500m from the international border,” Tyagi said. Senior BSF officers are coordinating with BGB units to manage the situation.
At the Dharadhara Para area of the India-Bangladesh border in Jalpaiguri, over 600 Bangladeshis tried to enter India. There’s no fence here, so the BSF jawans are forming a human wall themselves. The Bangladeshis have gathered at the ‘zero point’, facing the BSF shield. Similar reports have come from Nagar Berubari (Satkura Bazar) in Jalpaiguri, along the international border in Dharadhara Para.

“They are standing barely a few metres from the international border. We have stopped them at zero point. We are taking local help to control the situation,” said a senior BSF official. BSF officials from the Radhabari sector have been asked to prevent all illegal entry in this area.

Sources said that residents of five villages in Bangladesh’s Panchagarh district – Lahiripara, Chirakuti, Bania Para, Balgram and Sundar Para – are seeking refuge in India.
At another border outpost, this one near Jalpaiguri, 600 Bangladeshis, mostly Awami League workers, are refusing to leave the no-man’s land, demanding passage to India, They are refusing to step back into their own country despite the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) calling them back.

On Wednesday, two more AL functionaries, who tried to cross over from the Darshana land port (on the Darshana-Gede border), were stopped by BGB. Later in the day, BGB issued a press note claiming that a total of three persons who tried to cross the border near Darshana and Benapole, were stopped and detained. Indians who had gone to Bangladesh have also started returning to India.

Thakurnagar resident Beauty Das, who had gone to Narail, Bangladesh, to meet her sister hours before Hasina resigned, managed to come out of her sister’s house on Wednesday morning, covering her face with a dupatta, draped like a hijab. “I had no idea of the political turmoil there. When I reached Narail, I saw people trying to break statues of Mujibur Rahman. When I asked what was happening, the auto driver asked me to stay silent. I could sense trouble but did not know what was waiting for me,” she said.
Over the next two days, she saw multiple attempts to destroy a temple near her sister’s house and attacks on neighbours. “We could not sleep for the next two nights and stayed huddled in a room, switching off the lights. On Wednesday, I gathered courage and wrapped a dupatta around my face, hid my passport in a bag and managed to reach the Benapole border,” Das said.

Saraswati Mandal from Bongaon, who visited her daughter in Jessore, shuddered as she recollected witnessing targeted violence against Awami League workers and Hindus. “They looted their homes and set houses on fire,” she said after crossing the Petrapole border on Thursday

BJP in Bengal to Line Up Mass Movement Against TMC Govt

July 16, 2024, 5:30 am

Ahead of the announcement of a series of mass movements in Bengal at BJP’s working committee meeting to be held this week, Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari announced a ‘Ganatantra Hatya Divas’ rally on July 21, the day Trinamool observes as Martyrs’ Day.

The BJP plans to stage protests across West Bengal, including Kolkata, against the State’s deteriorating law and order, particularly in response to post-poll violence. Adhikari said that party workers would burn the effigies of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Kolkata Mayor Firhad Hakim in front of police stations on July 21.

The BJP, which has previously called for implementation of the President’s rule in the State, has now demanded the enforcement of the Disturbed Areas Act in the State. A Disturbed Area Act is one that has been declared by notification under Section 3 of the AFSPA.
Adhikari, who held a dharna in front of Raj Bhavan on Sunday, also announced the launching of a portal to register names of those who could not cast their votes in the recently held Lok Sabha elections and four assembly by-polls.

“We will observe July 21 as ‘Ganatantra Hatya Divas’. Millions of people could not vote in the Lok Sabha polls. A specific community was not allowed to vote as the Trinamool party was afraid of losing in many seats. We will organize mass movements for such people who were denied their right to vote,” Adhikari said.

Bengal BJP, which got permission to hold a dharna in front of Raj Bhavan following a Calcutta High Court order, claimed that nearly one crore people could not cast their votes in the 2023 panchayat election. “In the bypolls, nearly 50,000 people in Raiganj could not vote; in Ranaghat 70,000 people were stopped from casting their votes, while in Bagda 10,000 people could not vote. People in at least eight wards in Maniktala could not vote this time,” Adhikari said.

While more than a dozen MLAs attended the dharna, Bengal BJP president Sukanta Majumdar and the party’s former national vice-president, Dilip Ghosh were not present. Former Lok Sabha MP Arjun Singh said that merely issuing statements would not be sufficient to build an offensive against the Trinamool Congress.

Adhikari said that mass movements, on the lines of those in Nandigram, would be launched soon.

Adhikari also demanded implementation of the Disturbed Areas (Special Courts) Act, 1976, in Bengal. “Like in Manipur, the Disturbed Areas act should be enforced in Bengal. We don’t need Article 356 here. We are in no hurry to come to office in the State. We want to give protection to people.”

Every year on July 21, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee addresses a public gathering in Kolkata to commemorate the 1993 firing. At least 13 people were shot by the city police and scores more were wounded during a rally by the West Bengal Youth Congress under Mamata Banerjee’s leadership on July 21, 1993.

Reacting to the BJP’s plans, Kunal Ghosh, Trinamool Congress spokesperson, said: “Are they mad that they are talking about having a programme against Mamata Banerjee on July 21? That day marks the martyrdom of innocent people who, under Mamata di’s leadership, were demanding proper voting rights. The context, importance and depth of martyrs’ day rally is beyond conventional politics. It is a watershed moment in Indian democracy.”

“On the other hand, the BJP has been staring at successive electoral defeats,” he said. “Every leader is working at cross purposes. They are alienated from people. They have spoken about launching a grievance portal. We believe the first caller will be Dilip Ghosh, who might ask why he was forced out of the Midnapore Lok Sabha seat to Bardhaman-Durgapur. Agnimitra Paul might complain about why Dilip loyalists worked at cross purposes in Midnapore, leading to her defeat. It remains a fact that wherever Adhikari has campaigned, including the four bypolls, they have only faced defeats. So, it is nothing but a feeble attempt to divert attention from the losses,” he said.

BJP releases another video of TMC goons flogging a man in Bengal

July 10, 2024, 3:18 am

Days after two incidents of Trinamool Congress activists beating hapless victims came to light in West Bengal, the Bharatiya Janata Party on Tuesday released another spine-chilling video of a group assaulting a person with wickets and staffs.
A fresh video shared by BJP’s West Bengal president Sukanta Majumdar showed Jayant Singh, a strongman linked with the Trinamool Congress, and his aides holding a person by the legs and hands and beating the person mercilessly at a local club in North 24 Parganas district’s Kamarhati with wickets and staffs. The person had long hair, but it could not be confirmed if it was a male or a female.
Last week, Jayant Singh had assaulted a college student and his mother in Ariahada. This incident came to light barely after a couple of days of the Chopra incident, where Trinamool Congress strongman Tajmul Haque, also known as ‘JCB’, was seen beating up a couple on the roads of Chopra. The couple was suspected of having an extramarital affair. Singh, who surrendered four days after the incident, was identified through CCTV footage. Apart from Singh, the police arrested nine others linked to the case.
“Absolutely appalled by the emerging video from Taltala Club, Kamarhati, showing Jayanta Singh, a close associate of TMC MLA Madan Mitra, brutally attacking a girl. This heinous act under a government that claims to champion women’s rights is a disgrace to humanity,” Sukanta Majumder, Balurghat MP, posted on his X handle.
The West Bengal Police filed a criminal case against Jayanta Singh, considered close to local Trinamool Congress MLA Madan Mitra, hours after the video went viral. According to police sources, the incident took place in March 2021.
Bengal’s Barrackpore Police took to X, writing, “BKP PC has taken note of an old video now in circulation on social media involving assault on a girl. A suo motu criminal case has been started. All legal actions against persons seen in video (2 among them are already in custody) are being taken.”
Amit Malviya, Bharatiya Janata Party’s co-observer for Bengal, also hit out at the “increasing crimes against women and complete collapse of constitutional framework”. “Flogging… in West Bengal’s Chopra was not an isolated instance of Mamata Banerjee’s men dispensing instant justice… Jayanta Singh, an associate of TMC MLA Madan Mitra, and his gang, routinely whip women in public. They recently lynched a woman and her daughter in Ariadaha, part of Kamarhati Municipality, Dum Dum. But this is the least of his crimes…” Malviya posted on X.
“Here is another horrific video (13 sec) of the same TMC men, brutalising a hapless girl in their ‘Insaf Sabha’, in Taltala Cub in Kamarhati Assembly.
This happened some six months ago in Dum Dum, which is not some remote area but part of the Greater Kolkata region. TMC men usually target women, who turn down their overtures… Perhaps Mamata Banerjee can explain why her confidant Madan Mitra’s men are assaulting women with such impunity… @NCWIndia @India_NHRC must take note of the lawlessness in Bengal, increasing crimes against women and complete collapse of constitutional framework,”’ Malviya
added.
“Why was Madan Mitra, a close aide of Mamata Banerjee, given a ticket in 2021, if his men were assaulting women brazenly? Mamata Banerjee can’t remain silent anymore. Bengal needs to know why she has allowed these Kangaroo Courts to flourish across the State? She needs to explain why women are so unsafe in Bengal. From Sheikh Shahjahan to Tajemul Islam, from #Sandeshkhali to Chopra, it is the same story…”, he said in another post.
Meanwhile, National Commission for Women condemned the incident and “urged a fair and time-bound investigation.”NCW, in their X post, said: “National Commission for Women has come across a video shared by Ms. Trupti Garg on ‘X’ showing a woman being brutally assaulted by men allegedly from TMC in West Bengal. The Commission strongly condemns this incident and urges a fair, time-bound investigation. The victim should receive free medical treatment. The strictest provisions must be invoked in the FIR, and all accused must be arrested promptly. A detailed action report has been asked by the Chairperson NCW from the DGP of the state within 3 days,” NCW added.
The BJP said that the flogging of Meherun Nesha in Chopra was not an isolated incident, alleging a pattern of instant justice dispensed by Mamata Banerjee’s men.
The aftershocks of the incident reached New Delhi as well.
The BJP’s national spokesperson, Shehzad Poonawala, also took to X to criticise the Trinamool Congress and said that, “TMC means Talibani Mujhe Chahiye.”
Poonawala took a swipe at I.N.D.I.A. bloc and Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi for not responding to Sandeshkhali, Chopra and other similar incidents: “Will leader of hypocrisy Rahul Gandhi say a word or visit? What about INDI alliance netas? (Sandeshkhali – silent, Chopra – silent, Post poll rapes – silent, Mahua Moitra tweetsilent, Swati Maliwal – silent.) TMC leaders have themselves confirmed the video. their defence is that it’s a few weeks/months old! Is that even a defence? It means TMC as usual suppressed the video using threats,” he said.
Sagarika Ghose, Trinamool Congress Rajya Sabha MP, posted on X: “The Bengal government is clear: ZERO tolerance on crimes. All those seen in videos committing criminal acts have been booked and will continue to be booked. Defeated @BJP4India can circulate as many old videos as it wants to defame Bengal and target @AITCofficial , @WBPolice will continue to act against ALL wrongdoers.”

Discuss in Parliament status of women in Bengal

July 2, 2024, 5:44 am

In the sad practice of hitting the headlines for the wrong reasons, West Bengal is back in the news, once again for a gender crime—this time for the public flogging of a woman by a leader from the state’s ruling Trinamool Congress in an area called Chopra in Uttar Dinajpur district. TMC leader Tajmul, alias JCB, was seen punishing a woman in public for the “crime” of indulging in an extra-marital affair.

The horrific video of the woman writhing on the ground as she is flogged by JCB went viral on social media, leading to public pressure on the Mamata Banerjee government, which arrested him. Coming soon after the blood-curdling revelations about Sandeshkhali, where local women alleged that they endured sexual violence by ruling party leaders, such an incident is extremely problematic. Also problematic is the complete silence on the matter by the so-called liberals, intellectuals and political parties just because the incident has taken place in a state governed by an Opposition party.

While an arrest has been made in the case, the local MLA, Hamidul Rahaman has gone on record to say that in a “Muslim rashtra”—a Muslim country—there exist some rules, but in this case the process of dispensing justice became a bit excessive. The question is, from which history book has the lawmaker discovered that West Bengal is a “Muslim rashtra” with its own set of civil codes? Democratic India, of which West Bengal is a part, is certainly not Afghanistan, where the medieval practice of stoning or flogging women in public by the Taliban is common. The world’s largest democracy has in place a proper law and order system. It has a fully-functioning judiciary, so “justice” cannot be dispensed by kangaroo courts even in the name of personal law. In fact, if Sharia, or Muslim personal law is the justification for the formation of such “kangaroo courts”, then it is time for the country to have a Uniform Civil Code. As it was seen in the case of triple talaq, personal laws cannot protect women. The country needs secular laws that guide the lives of all communities. UCC is needed for gender justice and that is how it should be projected, so that all political parties can come together to support it, without making it about hurting one particular community.

Additionally, that an elected legislator of a state Assembly can speak openly about “Muslim rashtra”, raises several questions about the kind of demographic changes that are taking place in Bengal. While only the next census will tell us what the proportion of the minority population in Bengal is, but even if it exceeds 50% in certain districts, that cannot be justification for having kangaroo courts dispensing medieval justice on the population. How much longer before such kangaroo justice starts imposing itself on other communities just because one community becomes a majority in a district? For that matter, how many women in the minority community are enduring such medieval justice, suffering in silence even now?

It’s a matter of shame that there is pin-drop silence in the Opposition camp on what happened in Chopra, and before that in Sandeshkhali. The same people who were in the forefront of supporting the women wrestlers who were sitting in protest in Delhi, have turned a blind eye to the suffering of the poor, uneducated, rural women of Bengal. No amount of political spin will be able to cover up the fact that something is terribly wrong in that state. This is not expected from a state governed by a woman Chief Minister, Mamata Banerjee. Her party feels proud that it has sent 11 feisty women to the Lok Sabha—38% of its 29 MPs in 2024. This apparently sets West Bengal apart as a women-friendly state which allows space for women to grow and realise their potential. But is there any space for the poor and oppressed women of Bengal in the universe in which these political leaders dwell? Women’s emancipation is complete only when women at the grassroots feel empowered, not when they are flogged publicly, or exploited and harassed. It is time to discuss the plight of Bengal’s women—in Parliament. It is time to ask Mamata Banerjee and her women MPs what they are doing to empower their oppressed sisters.

Woman Caught With 7-Months Old Baby In Bag On Bengal Train

June 26, 2024, 3:31 pm

Passengers on a local train in North 24 Parganas district, West Bengal, assaulted a woman on Wednesday after allegedly discovering a seven-month-old baby in her bag. Police are currently questioning the woman.

Sources report that just before the Sealdah-bound train from Duttapukur arrived at Birati railway station, passengers heard a baby crying from a bag the woman was carrying. When confronted, the woman remained silent, prompting the passengers to beat her, accusing her of stealing the baby.

Some passengers intervened, rescuing the woman and handing her over to the Government Railway Police in Dumdum. The police had to resort to a lathicharge as passengers protested at the station, demanding the woman be handed over to them.

In the past week, four similar incidents of mob assaults over child-lifting allegations have been reported in North 24 Parganas. One incident occurred in Srikrishnapur on June 12, and another in Barasat.

Cyclone ‘Remal’: Indian Navy Initiates Preparatory Actions In Bengal

May 26, 2024, 2:21 pm

The Indian Navy has started preparatory actions, following Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to mount a credible Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) response in the aftermath of Cyclone Remal.

Coast on the intervening night of May 26 and 27. The situation is being handled closely at the Nasal Headquarters, with comprehensive preparatory actions undertaken by the Headquarters of Eastern Naval Command.

Cyclone Remal, expected to intensify into a severe cyclone, is forecasted to land on Sagar Island, West Bengal and Khedupura, Bangladesh.

In preparation, the Indian Navy has readied two ships equipped with HADR and medical supplies for immediate deployment to ensure the safety and welfare of the affected populace.

Additionally, Indian Naval aviation assets, including Sea King and Chetak helicopters as well as Dornier aircraft, are on standby for rapid response, the Navy said.

Specialised diving teams with equipment have been stationed in Kolkata to provide prompt assistance. Additionally, diving teams with necessary equipment are on standby in Visakhapatnam, prepared for quick deployment if needed.

Two Flood Relief Teams (FRTs), along with HADR and medical supplies, are being positioned in Kolkata. In addition, two FRTs each from Visakhapatnam and Chilka are ready and on standby for deployment at short notice.

The Indian Navy remains vigilant and is closely monitoring the evolving situation to provide immediate and effective assistance in the wake of Cyclone Remal.

Bengal minister likens Mamata with Sri Chaitanya, Opp mocks him

December 28, 2023, 5:35 am

West Bengal minister Bratya Basu courted controversy by likening Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee with the state’s spiritual icon Mahaprabhu Sri Chaitanya.
His comments have drawn ridicule from the opposition parties.

Basu while speaking at a programme at Purbasthali in Purba Bardhaman district on Tuesday described the Trinamool Congress supremo as the “true inheritor” of the philosophy of Sri Chaitanya, a 15th century Hindu saint from the state who founded Gaudiya Vaishnavism.
“Mahaprabhu Sri Sri Chaitanya had dwelt on inclusive society without any differences. He spoke about giving equal dignity and respect to every human being and is not keeping anyone away. Our chief minister as the true inheritor of the philosophy of Sri Chaitanya, too believes in taking everyone along,” he said.

“Mamata Banerjee does not practice the politics of division, she never believes in keeping people away. She does not believe in casteist and communal agenda. She believes in the politics of humanity,” Basu added.

BJP state spokesperson Samik Bhattacharya jeering at the comment Wednesday said, “Another TMC leader had earlier likened Mamata Banerjee with Maa Sarada (wife and spiritual consort 19th century Hindu mystic Sri Ramakrishna Paramahansa). Now we are hearing a different thing from Bratya Basu. Which one is true? We are confused.” Basu’s comments are not sensible by any standard, he said.

CPI(M) leader Sujan Chakraborty dubbed Basu’s comments as “Nothing but limitless sycophancy to placate his boss”.
Senior TMC MLA Nirmal Majhi had in the past called ‘Mamata didi’ (elder sister) a “reincarnation of Sarada Maa”, while another party legislator Biswajit Das had compared Banerjee to Sister Nivedita, an Irish teacher, author, social activist and disciple of Swami Vivekananda.

BJP to bank on social media warriors to win Lok Sabha polls in Bengal

December 27, 2023, 1:34 am

Home Minister Amit Shah today addressed a meeting of BJP Bengal’s social media and IT karyakartas in the city and said that the party would contest the upcoming Lok Sabha elections on its social media strength because the regional media does not carry the message of the BJP “fearing Didi”, alluding to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.
“⁠If all of you social media warriors decide, you can have more reach than any channel or newspaper and no one can stop you from making Modi ji win. That is the reason you have the biggest responsibilities,” said Amit Shah at the meeting held at the heritage National Library on Tuesday, stating that the BJP would win more than 35 seats in West Bengal.

Shah also underlined the themes that the party’s social media team would focus on.
He assured that forming a BJP Government in West Bengal would mean the end of infiltration, cow smuggling and giving the citizenship rights to religiously persecuted people through CAA.
“⁠Before 2015, Didi used to take the BJP lightly. ⁠The cut money collected from Bengal is used to buy palatial mansions in foreign countries but the same people roam around here with hawai chappal. People will no longer be hoodwinked by these optics. People will now ask for an account for everything,” he said.

Shah said, the karyakartas in Bengal have made the biggest sacrifices in history and have even attained martyrdom and the Karyakartas from Kashmir to Kanyakumari will stand by you. ⁠Look at the outcome we have achieved. We did not have a single MLA but today we have 77 of them in Bengal and 20 Lok Sabha members. If we can achieve 77 seats from zero, then we can form a Government with two-third majority also”.
He added that ⁠Bengal used to lead the nation in every aspect and the same Bengal “is today known for its cut money, syndicate, infiltration, dynasticism, corruption and bomb blasts”.

He exhorted the social media team to give 35 seats to Modi Ji “from the land of Syama Prasad Mookherjee, I guarantee that Modi Ji will make Sonar Bangla”.
Shah repeatedly brought up the deterioration of West Bengal under the Trinamool Congress. “⁠When Didi ousted the communists in Bengal, people were happy and hoped that the condition of Bengal would be better. But what she gave instead was worse than that. ⁠Stacks of currency notes worth Rs.50 crore have been recovered from her Minister. But Didi calls him a Sipahi of the party”.

He said that under the leadership of Narendra Modi, “the entire nation is progressing fast but under Didi, the growth of West Bengal has stagnated. Because she is afraid that if the development schemes of Modi Ji are rolled out in West Bengal then the popularity of the BJP will increase”.
Shah said that Mamata Banerjee had put national security at stake for her vote bank politics by keeping the international borders open. “And the infiltrators vote for her,” he added.

Shah also brought up the Mahua Moitra issue, saying: “⁠Didi’s MP shares her password with businessmen in exchange for gifts and now she is trying to safeguard that MP. How many questions were asked about the poor in Bengal? They will never do that because the poor cannot give them expensive gifts. Her other MP also mimics the Vice-President of India. Does it behove an MP?, he asked.

The Home Minister also said that the UPA Government gave Rs 2,09,000 crore to Bengal in 10 years while Modi ji gave Rs.7,17,000 crore in nine years. “Didi will have to account for every rupee,” he said.

BJP forms 15-member team to supervise Bengal LS campaign

December 27, 2023, 1:30 am

The Bharatiya Janata Party on Tuesday announced the formation of a 15-member election management committee to oversee Lok Sabha campaign in West Bengal. The party announced this on the day Union Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP national president Jagat Prakash Nadda came to Kolkata to take stock of the readiness of the State unit. The BJP is targeting to win 35 out of the 42 Lok Sabha seats in West Bengal in the coming polls. In the 2019 general elections, the BJP had set a target to win 22 seats and bagged 18.

The election management committee comprises 10 Bengal BJP leaders along with the four Central leaders who would supervise the electoral battle. Both Amit Shah and Nadda are members of this committee. Interestingly, the name of Anupam Hazra, the only representative of the State in J.P. Nadda’s national committee who holds the rank of national secretary, does not figure in this list.

The core members of the committee are Amit Shah, J.P. Nadda, Satish Dhond, state party chief Sukanta Majumdar, MP and former state president Dilip Ghosh, the Leader of Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly Suvendu Adhikari, Rahul Sinha, Amitabh Chakraborty, Satish Dhaund, Mangal Pandey and Asha Lakra.
The committee also has five general secretaries, including MP Locket Chatterjee, MLA from Asansol South Agnimitra Paul, Jagannath Chatterjee, Jyotirmoy Singh Mahato and Deepak Burman.

There are 42 Lok Sabha constituencies in West Bengal. In 2019, the Trinamool Congress won 22 seats but faced stiff competition from the BJP, which won 18 seats. The remaining two seats went to the Congress.
On Tuesday, Shah visited Gurdwara Bara Sikh Sangat in Jorasanko in north Kolkata and Kalighat temple, following which, he, along with BJP president J.P. Nadda held a meeting with the core committee of the party’s Bengal unit.
The two leaders also met with the BJP social media volunteers’ team in the National Library. Sources said that members of a social management agency based in Mumbai were introduced to the Bengal social media team.

The crucial visit of the top BJP leaders comes at a time when the party is looking to fortify its organisational machinery ahead of the upcoming Lok Sabha polls. Internal discord and defections have marred the BJP following the announcement of the 2021 Assembly election results.
Former Union Minister Babul Supriyo, party MP Arjun Singh, and six legislators, including national vice-president Mukul Roy, have defected to the Trinamool Congress since the 2021 Assembly polls.

In the 2021 elections, the Trinamool Congress secured a resounding victory for the third consecutive term, winning 215 Assembly seats, while the BJP secured 77 seats.
BJP won 18 seats in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections which was one of the best performances of the party in Bengal till now. Therefore, it is a challenge for the party this time to repeat the result.

Meanwhile on Tuesday, the Trinamool Congress’ youth wing conducted a rally in every block and town in the State in protest against the alleged derogatory remarks made by the BJP State president Majumdar on Swami Vivekananda, demanding an apology from him and Amit Shah and to pay tributes to Swami Vivekananda.
In reply, Majumdar said his comments were twisted by the Trinamool Congress to peddle falsehood and deflect attention from its failure to stop the leak of Teachers’ Eligibility Test question paper on Sunday.

A video on Sunday went viral in which Majumdar was seen saying: “Bengal had been the cradle of the Bhakti movement. Bengal had espoused Sanatan dharma for ages but got derailed from the track for some time due to the Leftists. Those who rate football game higher than Gita are all Leftist products, they prove a little learning is a dangerous thing. Bengal would now follow the right path which starts from today (December 24, when a mass-reading of the Gita was organised in Kolkata).

On Monday, Majumdar told reporters that he had meant “present-day Leftists and the TMC should not teach us about the ideals of Swamiji”. “I did not indicate Swami Vivekananda. How can I? If you listen to my comments in the video you
will see I said Leftists of today. TMC is trying to do politics and misleading people,” he said.

Amit Shah, Nadda to assess BJP’s election readiness in Bengal

December 26, 2023, 1:16 am

Union Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP national president JP Nadda are set to arrive in Kolkata late on Monday night to hold several organisational meetings on December 26 with regard to the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
According to party insiders, Shah will visit Gurudwara Bara Sikh Sangat, Jorasanko, and Kalighat temple on December 26, following which, he, along with BJP president J.P. Nadda will hold a meeting with the core committee of the party’s Bengal unit. The two leaders will also meet with the BJP social media volunteers’ team and thereafter might introduce some new workers during the organisational meeting.

A senior party leader from West Bengal said: “They (Amit Shah and JP Nadda) will visit all States to hold Lok Sabha organisational discussions. We are happy that they chose West Bengal to start these meetings. This clearly proves that they are giving huge importance to Bengal.” The Bengal BJP unit is in an upbeat mode for the organisational meeting before the New Year. Party insiders have claimed that this time, from candidature fixation to campaign plans, all poll-related nitty-gritty in West Bengal will be specially monitored by both Shah and Nadda.

Senior party leader Dilip Ghosh said: “They were supposed to visit after the conclusion of the Winter Session of Parliament because now the preparations for Lok Sabha elections are setting in, we are looking forward to this meeting.”
Amit Shah has set a target of 35 seats for the State BJP, which observers say, is not going to be an easy task.
Amit Shah had earlier visited Kolkata amidst the Assembly election in four States and had said that the Bengal unit should realise the target so that “Narendra Modi is forced to say that Bengal made him the Prime Minister for the third time”.
According to Agnimitra Paul, BJP state general secretary, the joint visit of the top two leaders underscores the significance that Bengal holds in the eyes of the party’s central leadership.

“I have never witnessed both top leaders visiting Bengal simultaneously. This indicates the substantial importance that Bengal holds for the leadership of the BJP,” she said.
Reacting to Shah’s visit, Trinamool Congress spokesperson and Minister Shashi Panja said: “Honourable Minister may come anytime but what I have heard is that he is coming to sort out problems in their Bengal BJP unit.”

Meanwhile, on December 26, the Trinamool Congress’ youth wing will conduct a rally in every block and town in the State in protest against the remarks made by BJP State president Majumdar on Swami Vivekananda, demanding an apology from him and Amit Shah and pay tributes to Swami Vivekananda.
The crucial visit of the top BJP leaders comes at a time when the party is looking to fortify its organisational machinery ahead of the upcoming Lok Sabha polls. Internal discord and defections have marred the BJP following the announcement of the 2021 Assembly election results.

Former Union Minister Babul Supriyo, party MP Arjun Singh, and six legislators, including national vice-president Mukul Roy, have defected to the Trinamool Congress since the 2021 Assembly polls.
In the 2021 elections, the Trinamool Congress secured a resounding victory for the third consecutive term, winning 215 Assembly seats, while the BJP secured 77 seats.
BJP won 18 seats in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections which was one of the best performances of the party in Bengal till now. Therefore, it is a challenge for the party this time to repeat the result.

‘Violence and corruption new normal in Bengal’: Anurag Thakur slams Mamata

June 12, 2023, 2:54 pm

Union Minister and BJP leader Anurag Thakur hit out at the West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee and Trinamool Congress for the increase in violence ahead of the upcoming Panchayat elections in the state.According to Thakur, violence and corruption are the new normal in West Bengal. “Violence and corruption are the new normal in Bengal. Violence has increased ahead of the upcoming Panchayat Elections. Bengal is known for ‘cash for the job,” said Union Minister Anurag Thakur.

“During UPA there was so much corruption but today in PM Narendra Modi’s government there is no corruption,” he added.The West Bengal panchayat elections will be held in a single phase on July 8. The counting of votes will be done on July 11.Earlier the West Bengal Congress chief Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury on Saturday alleged that the Trinamool Congress (TMC) government was creating an atmosphere of fear in West Bengal in the run-up to the panchayat polls.

Notice issued by SC in WB school recruitment scam involving Abhishek banerjee

May 26, 2023, 1:17 pm

The Supreme Court refuses to stay the Calcutta High Court order allowing central agencies to question TMC leader Abhishek Banerjee in the West Bengal school recruitment scam. However, the SC stays the part of the order imposing costs on him and issues a notice on Abhishek Banerjee’s plea challenging the HC order. The matter will be heard after the vacation and is listed for July 10.

The SC decides not to interfere with the HC order permitting the probe agencies to interrogate Abhishek Banerjee regarding the alleged recruitment scam.

Abhishek Banerjee challenged the Calcutta High Court order that imposed costs on him and permitted the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and CBI to investigate him for recruitment irregularities. The High Court had granted permission to the central agencies to question Abhishek Banerjee, who is the nephew of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and a leader of the Trinamool Congress (TMC), in relation to the recruitment scam in West Bengal schools. Following the court’s order, the CBI issued a summons to Abhishek Banerjee and subsequently questioned him regarding the school recruitment scam. Abhishek Banerjee raised concerns about the probe agency’s decision to summon him on short notice.

WB Governor on violence: “Won’t allow forces of darkness to hold society to ransom”

April 4, 2023, 1:52 pm

Governor of West Bengal CV Ananda Bose condemned the Bengal’s acts of violence and said strict action will be taken against wrongdoers.
The Eastern Railway was forced to suspend all local and mail express train services running to and from Rishra railway station on Monday evening after a new incident of stone-pelting occurred in the Rishra town of the Hooghly region. Bose during press conference in Salt Lake, said that the rights of the people of Bengal to live in peace will be upheld at all costs because they have endured great suffering.

“We will never allow forces of darkness to take society to ransom. We will take strict action against wrongdoers. People have the right to a peaceful living and that right will be established at any cost,” he said.

Later in the day, Governor Bose arrived at Rishra, amid an uneasy calm in the wake of a fresh flare-up on Monday.Earlier in the day, senior advocate and BJP MP Mahesh Jethmalani claimed in a tweet that of all the ‘pseudo-secular’ parties, the “most dangerously communal” was the Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress.
Jethmalani alleged that the loss of the Sagardighi assembly bypoll spurred Mamata to incite violence against Hindus during Ram Navami.

“Of all the pseudo-secular parties the most dangerously communal is the #MamataBanerjee-led TMC. Not chastened by the SC transfer to the CBI of the horrendous post-poll violence cases, the mere loss of the Sagardighi assembly bypoll spurred Mamata to incite violence against Hindus during #RamNavami akin to her call to violence against BJP supporters after the 2021 Assembly,” tweeted the senior advocate.

“The BJP were not provocateurs on Ram Navami: Mamata’s ruthless quest to cling to power by mollycoddling her Muslim vote Bank to any extent is the root cause of the continuing mayhem in W.Bengal. Pity the State,” he tweeted.
The fresh violence came a day after clashes erupted during the BJP’s march in Hooghly on Sunday. The state government later issued prohibitory orders and also suspended internet services across the district.

The chief public relations officer of Eastern Railway, Kaushik Miron, said an incident of stone pelting took place at Rishra railway station. Police and rapid action force (RAF) were also deployed in the area to prevent any untoward incidents, he added.
Earlier, on Thursday, several vehicles were set on fire after two groups clashed in Howrah amid Ram Navami celebrations. During the procession, rioters vandalised public and private properties while setting vehicles on fire.

Following the violence in Howrah during the Ram Navami celebrations, the West Bengal government on Friday handed over the probe to Criminal Investigation Department (CID). A special team led by Inspector General of Police, CID, Sunil Choudhury has initiated an investigation.

Pathashree-Rastashree road project launched by CM Mamta Bannerjee

March 29, 2023, 11:11 am

On Tuesday, Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee launched the ‘Pathashree-Rastashree’ initiative in Singur, Bengal.
‘Pathashree-Rastashree’ is a flagship initiative of the West Bengal administration that will build 12,000 kilometers of roads in 22 districts of the state to improve road infrastructure and connectivity to villages. Tapas Roy, TMC MLA, and Barrackpore Organization District Secretary stated that the initiative will include the construction of 12,000 kilometers of roads in 22 districts across the state.
Mamata Banerjee stated at a public meeting in Singur that the fund used for the initiative is not funded by the Centre, but by the state.
She went on to say that it was the fault of the state administration to support GST.
“They are taking all the money in the name of GST.” It was our responsibility to support the GST. “We thought it would be beneficial to us,” she explained.
Notably, the project was unveiled by state finance minister Chandrima Bhattacharya on February 15 during the presentation of the West Bengal Legislative Assembly’s Budget.

BJP party president Nadda to visit Bengal

January 13, 2023, 7:01 pm

Under the party’s Lok Sabha Pravas campaign, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) national president JP Nadda will visit West Bengal on 19 January. “We are still in the process of finalizing the detailed schedule but as of now he is to visit the ISCKON Temple in the vicinity and will address a public meeting and hold an organization meeting amongst other things,” a top BJP functionary said. However, from West Bengal BJP leader said now the party focus is on strengthening booth and booth workers.

Stones pelted at Vande Bharat Express in Bengal’s Malda

January 3, 2023, 9:32 am

Four days after its debut, the Howrah to New Jalpaiguri-connecting Vande Bharat Express was attacked with stones. Near Malda station is where the incident happened.

PM Modi flagged off Bengal’s first Vande Bharat Express

December 30, 2022, 12:33 pm

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday gave the people of West Bengal their first Vande Bharat Express. PM Modi flagged off the semi-high-speed train that will run between Howrah and New Jalpaiguri. Through video conferencing PM Modi flagged off the nation’s seventh Vande Bharat express train minutes after the last rite of his mother Heeraben Modi. Earlier in the morning, PM Modi’s mother Heeraben Modi passed away at the age of 100 in Ahmedabad.

Clashes erupt over wearing of hijab, exams cancelled

November 23, 2022, 2:03 pm

A scuffle had erupted between two group of students over wearing of hijab and namabali when one of them turned up at the school gate and demanded that they should be allowed entry wearing nambali while the other group of girls cam to school wearing hijab. The scuffle resulted in the cancellation of examination at a government school in West- Bengal’s Howrah district.

Police were called to defuse the tensions between the two groups which prompted the authorities to cancel the examination including pre-boards. “The pre-board exams were going on Monday when some students went to the school wearing hijab. Seeing them, another group of students demanded that they be allowed to wear namabali. The school authorities diffused the tension by asking students to follow the dress code,” said a police officer.

The next day girls arrived in school wearing hijab which prompted the tensions. “The school authorities informed police. The police did not enter the school first as it was an internal matter. But later officers of the local police station went inside to bring the situation under control,” said the officer.

Bengal minister Arup Ray said, “There has been an instigation. I have also spoken to police. I have requested police for a thorough probe, not only to find the perpetrators but also to find who instigated them.”

PKL: UP Yoddhas eager to beat Bengal Warriors, all set to get back to winning ways

November 8, 2022, 3:49 pm

On November 8, 2022, at the Shree Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex, here in Balewadi, the Yoddhas, representing the state of Uttar Pradesh, will take the field against the Bengal Warriors in match number 66 of Season Nine of the Pro Kabaddi League (PKL).

According to a statement from the Pro Kabaddi League, the Bengal Warriors are currently ranked eighth with 29 points, while the UP Yoddhas are currently ranked eleventh with 27 points. Bengal Warriors and UP Yoddhas have met ten times in Pro Kabaddi League history. Three times, Up Yoddhas defeated Bengal Warriors by a narrow margin, and three of their encounters were ties.

The last time these two teams faced off, the UP Yoddhas defeated the Bengal Warriors 36-40 in season 8.

Surender Gill, a fellow raider and teammate, along with captain Pardeep Narwal, led the attack for the UP Yoddhas, which was crucial to their dramatic victory.

The UP Yoddhas’ head coach expressed confidence in his side’s chances against the Bengal Warriors and praised the recently named captain, under whose leadership the team has excelled.

“I am hopeful of a better result in our game against the Bengal Warriors. The team has been training hard, and given our last encounter, the team has performed well under Pardeep’s captaincy. I am looking forward to our game tomorrow,” said Jasveer Singh, Head Coach, UP Yoddhas.

Surender Gill has once again dazzled everyone for the UP Yoddhas, repeating his brilliance from season 8, while newly selected Captain Pardeep Narwal has gradually begun to reveal glimmers of his superstar potential. A lot will be expected of this raiding combo in the match against the Bengal Warriors, while the formidable defence of Nitesh Kumar, Ashu Singh, and Shubham Kumar will be required to build a firm wall for their opponents.

8 trucks seized after Bengal police avert cattle smuggling scheme

November 6, 2022, 6:48 pm

In the early hours of Saturday, the Bengal police halted eight vehicles carrying livestock near the border between Bengal and Odisha.

The West Midnapore police at the Bengal-Odisha crossing stopped the trucks after spotting suspicious activity.

Illegal cattle were discovered when the vehicles were searched. The police confiscated all the trucks and the livestock.