Category Archives: Politics

National, Politics

INDIA bloc will disintegrate’khata khat’ after June 4: Modi

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PTI, PRATAPGARH,  MAY  16, 2024 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi Thursday said the INDIA bloc wants to make five prime ministers in five years and claimed that it will disintegrate after June 4.


The counting of votes for all the seven phases of polling for the Lok Sabha elections will be undertaken on June 4.

Addressing an election rally in support of Bharatiya Janata Party candidate Sangam Lal Gupta at the Government Inter College Pratapgarh grounds here, Modi said the INDIA bloc wants to replace the stable NDA government and make five prime ministers in five years.

“Many things will happen after June 4. The INDI alliance will disintegrate and they will look for a scapegoat after the defeat.”

Modi took a jibe on Rahul Gandhi’s statement of sending money khata khat, khata khat (quickly) in the account of women after coming to power.

“The Modi government will definitely be formed after June 4 but the INDI alliance will disintegrate khata khat, khata khat,” said the prime minister.

“These people will run away khata khat, khata khat after the elections. Only we will remain. I guarantee that I will work day and night to serve you,” he said.

In an apparent attack on Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav, he said, “The shehzade (princes) of Lucknow and Delhi will leave for abroad on summer vacations,” said Modi.

Commenting that running a country is not a play for those born with a golden spoon, Modi said, “They have gone from Amethi and will go even from Rae Bareli.”

The prime minister said, “The entire country is saying that the third term of this government will be more powerful.”

Modi said his every moment and every bit of his body will be in the name of the people.

He attacked the INDIA bloc leaders by saying they had questioned the bravery of the Army.

“What is their agenda? They are saying they will reinstate Article 370 in Kashmir. They will repeal the CAA law made by Modi… These people are appealing for ‘vote jihad’ against Modi,” he said, referring to an SP leader’s remarks.

Without taking names, Modi said a companion of the Congress’ prince remarked that if their government is formed they will send Ram Lalla back to the tent again and will lock him. But these people are forgetting that it is impossible to happen under him and the country will force the people of this mentality to live in tents, he added.

Modi said the SP and Congress leaders will again go to Pakistan with bouquets of flowers and fly pigeons with them and asked the people to be cautious with them.

He said the Congress and INDIA bloc have been out of power for 10 years and their coffers of “black money” have become empty. Their eyes are on the country’s treasury now, he added.

“The prince of the Congress is saying that they will get everyone’s earnings investigated. They will confiscate your money and distribute it among their vote bank,” he said.

Accusing the opposition parties of ruining the country before 2014, he said, “When the country became independent, it was the sixth largest economy in the world. These people caused such destruction that we reached number 11 from the sixth position.”

He claimed, “You gave Modi an opportunity to serve. We worked hard. Today we have brought the country’s economy to number five in the world. If we form the government for the third time, we will make India the third largest economy in the world. This is Modi’s guarantee.”

Enumerating schemes like toilets, housing and Ujjwala, he said the opposition questioned the development done in the country and they asked what was its need.

Modi said for the “princes” of the SP and the Congress, the development seems like children playing “gilli-danda”.

“But these princes born in palaces have neither the habit of doing hard work nor of getting results,” he said.

Modi asked the excited crowd shouting slogans, “Today the world is watching the glory of India. India’s voice is heard in the world. India organises G20 with great success. India leaves the imprint of its tricolour on the Moon. So don’t you feel proud of these successes?”

Appealing for votes for the BJP candidate, he said, “Could you have imagined such success 10 years ago? Was there any such news except the scams worth thousands of crores?”

Polling in Pratapgarh is in the fifth phase of Lok Sabha elections on May 25.
National, Politics, West Bengal

BJP fields about 8 turncoats for LS elections in Bengal

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Pradip Chatterjee, MP, 15 May 2024, Kolkata: The BJP has nominated around eight turncoats out of the 42 seats in the ongoing Lok Sabha candidates. Party’s leaders have justified their decisions, citing “winnability and political strategy” as paramount considerations. 

However, the nomination of turncoats has triggered protests and resentment against the BJP in certain regions. 
BJP had earlier also adopted a strategy of favouring turncoats over seasoned leaders in their candidate selections. 
BJP which had no robust organisation base in Bengal has increasingly been embracing the practice of endorsing turncoats, causing dissatisfaction among their loyal supporters. 
BJP MP from Barrackpore, Arjun Singh, who returned to the saffron camp after defecting to the TMC two years ago, was re-nominated from the same seat. 
Tapas Roy, a four-term MLA from TMC, joined the BJP due to disagreements over candidate selection and was nominated from Kolkata North. 
Silbhadra Dutta, a two-term TMC MLA who had switched to the BJP ahead of the 2021 assembly polls, was nominated from the Dum Dum Lok Sabha seat this time. 
Soumendu Adhikari, former TMC leader and chairman of TMC-led Kanthi municipality, is contesting from Kanthi on BJP’s ticket. He had switched sides after his elder brother Suvendu Adhikari joined the BJP. 
From the Howrah Lok Sabha seat, Rathin Chakraborty, a former TMC leader and ex-Mayor of Howrah, who joined the BJP ahead of the 2021 Assembly polls, has been nominated. 
Soumitra Khan is contesting from Bishnupur Lok Sabha seat on BJP’s ticket. Khan had once been associated with Trinamool Congress. 
Nisith Pramanik who had once been a Trinamool Congress leader had switched to the BJP and became an MP from Cooch Behar. He is again contesting from the same seat on BJP’s ticket. 
Meanwhile, the Trinamool Congress, in its roster of 42 candidates, has included four turncoats who are either elected representatives from other parties or joined the party in recent years. 
Among the notable turncoats fielded by the TMC are Biswajit Das, Mukutmani Adhikari, and Krishna Kalyani, contesting from Bongaon, Ranaghat and Raiganj Lok Sabha seats respectively. 
Another prominent candidate, Sujata Mondal from Bishnupur, is a former BJP leader and ex-wife of BJP MP Soumitra Khan. Mondal unsuccessfully contested the assembly polls on a TMC ticket in 2021. 
Actor-turned-politician Shatrughan Sinha, who won the Asansol seat in a bypoll on a TMC ticket in 2022, has been renominated from the same seat. 
Sinha, a former Union minister and two-term BJP MP from Patna Sahib, had defected from the BJP to join the Congress ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha polls before joining the TMC in 2022.

https://www.millenniumpost.in/bengal/bjp-fields-about-8-turncoats-for-ls-elections-in-bengal-563959
Politics, Regional, West Bengal

Scripting Sandeshkhali incident: BJP’s LS candidate Rekha Patra moves HC, seeks protection from coercive action

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MP, 15 May 2024, Kolkata: BJP candidate from Basirhat Lok Sabha seat Rekha Patra on Wednesday approached Calcutta High Court seeking protection from coercive action by the state police. 

On the same day, BJP leader Piyali Das approached the High Court against the Basirhat Sub-Divisional Court’s order refusing her bail. The lawyer representing Patra reportedly stated that several false cases have been filed against her by the police. Patra also sought for security and protection from the Calcutta High Court. 
The case will be heard by Justice Jay Sengupta on Thursday. Meanwhile, it was learnt that Das surrendered in Basirhat Sub-Divisional Court on May 14. There were allegations against her of getting women in Sandeshkhali to sign on white papers. 
The court rejected the bail plea and sent her to seven days judicial custody. When questioned by the media, Das said that the allegations against her are false and that there is no evidence to support those allegations. 
The ruling Trinamool Congress recently shared a video of an alleged sting operation featuring BJP leader Gangadhar Koyal. In the purported video, the veracity of which could not be confirmed by news agency, a man resembling Koyal was seen claiming that allegations of sexual abuse in Sandeshkhali were “staged”. 
Koyal had approached the High Court seeking transfer of investigation to the CBI into an alleged sting video. He claimed in his petition that technology-aided videos mimicking his voice were being circulated in a bid to defame him. 
https://www.millenniumpost.in/bengal/scripting-sandeshkhali-incident-bjps-ls-candidate-rekha-patra-moves-hc-seeks-protection-from-coercive-action-563961
Politics, Regional, West Bengal

Mamata Bala’s daughter starts indefinite protest

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MP, 15 May 2024, Kolkata: The daughter of Trinamool Congress MP Mamata Bala Thakur, has started an indefinite protest against the BJP Bongaon candidate Santanu Thakur for allegedly not allowing them access to Boro Maa’s (Matua matriarch Binapani Devi) idol. 

On being asked the reason for this indefinite protest, Madhupartna Thakur told the media: “BJP’s Bongaon candidate Santanu Thakur drove us out of our home a month back using muscle power and locked it. This is our birthplace. We are not able to see Binapani Devi’s idol. The room where it is kept remains ill-maintained. We will not tolerate this and won’t stop our protest till we get justice.” 
On April 7, TMC claimed that Santanu Thakur had attacked its Rajya Sabha MP Mamata Bala Thakur. 
The feud broke out between the two factions over the control of a house where community matriarch Binapani Devi, popularly known as ‘Boroma’, lived till her death five years back. Santanu is the grandson of Binapani Devi, while Mamata Bala Thakur is her daughter-in-law. Thakurnagar is in North 24-Parganas district. 
According to the TMC, the incident happened on April 7 when Santanu Thakur along with his supporters allegedly tried by force to take control of the house where Mamata Bala presently resides. 
She had taken out a rally in North 24-Parganas’ Thakurnagar to protest the attack. She had said: “I have lodged a complaint at Gaighata Police Station as Shantanu Thakur and his associates tried to break in at my residence. 
They forcibly entered my residence”. TMC wrote on X: “Madhuparna Thakur, the daughter of Rajya Sabha MP Mamata Thakur, is leading an indefinite protest at the Thakurbari premises. 
After being forcefully evicted by Shantanu Thakur over a month ago, they are now denied access even to Boro Maa’s idol. 
The ancestral house is shrouded in darkness and dirt. This reprehensible act is yet another proof of the BJP’s Matua-Birodhi agenda!” 
https://www.millenniumpost.in/bengal/mamata-balas-daughter-starts-indefinite-protest-563963
National, Politics, West Bengal

‘Will retrieve Bengal’s dues within 3 months once INDIA bloc forms govt’

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Soumyadip Mullick, MP, 15 May 2024, Kolkata: Campaigning for his party candidates of Arambagh and Barrackpore seats, Trinamool Congress (TMC) national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee on Wednesday said as soon as the BJP government at the Centre gets dislodged from power, his party will get back the dues of Rs 1.65 lakh crore owed to Bengal. Banerjee assured the gathering that the exit of the BJP government at the Centre is inevitable. 

He said BJP is anti-poor and anti-people and that is apparent from how the Centre has withheld dues owed to Bengal in relation to 100 days work under MGNREGA and PM Awas Yojana. He urged the people to give a “befitting” reply to the BJP in this Lok Sabha elections. 
Banerjee claimed that following the defeat of the BJP, “TMC will play a decisive role in the formation of a government at the Centre as part of the INDIA bloc”. “As soon as that happens, we will get back the dues for Bengal and will use it rightly for people’s welfare. We will get it back in three months from the time of the formation of the new Central government,” he promised. 
Abhishek also held a contrasting picture where he said that on one hand the BJP-led Centre is depriving people of their rightful dues and on the other TMC is spending on welfare schemes for people in Bengal. 
On the Sandeshkhali issue, he called the BJP “anti-national” and accused the party of allegedly insulting the women by paying them money to level false allegations of rape. He said that by doing this the BJP has also insulted Bengal. 
Banerjee maintained his position on the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) as he claimed once again that if it is implemented the most affected will be the backward classes. 
He alleged that the BJP wants to change the Constitution to suppress the rights of minorities and backward classes. 
https://www.millenniumpost.in/bengal/will-retrieve-bengals-dues-within-3months-once-india-bloc-forms-govt-563965
National, Politics

Fight for 6th Schedule key poll plank for Cong’s Ladakh candidate Tsering Namgyal

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PTI, Leh, May 14, 2024 :  Congress candidate in the Ladakh Lok Sabha seat Tsering Namgyal is contesting the election on a four-point agenda for the Union territory, the key among which is the fight for implementation of the 6th Schedule of the Constitution that guarantees land and job for the locals.


The four-point agenda also includes statehood demand, a public service commission for Ladakh and separate Lok Sabha seats for Leh and Kargil districts.

Stressing the INDIA bloc was committed to safeguarding the rights of the people of Ladakh, he said there is discontent among the populace following the failure of talks involving Home Minister Amit Shah and representatives of Leh Apex Body and Kargil Democratic Alliance over the demand for the 6th Schedule of the Constitution.

“The dialogue stopped there and so did our hope… people are now worried and angry,” Namgyal said in an interview with PTI.

The political landscape of Ladakh has been roiled by nearly two months of protests led by activist Sonam Wangchuk, culminating in a 21-day climate fast. Demonstrations, commencing on March 6 and concluding on May 10 to pave the way for parliamentary polls saw a turnout of around 50,000 people, representing a substantial portion of Ladakh’s population.

Ladakh’s transition into a Union Territory following the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019 has catalysed divergent reactions in the region. While celebrations marked the response in Leh, Kargil witnessed a contrasting sentiment marked by dissatisfaction with the territorial restructuring.

“At that time people danced and sang. Today, people are crying. People had hopes that our youth would get jobs and that ecology would be protected. But at the end of the day people are not happy with this government,” said Namgyal, the leader of the opposition in the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council.

The unfulfilled promises of attaining the 6th schedule status pledged by the BJP during the 2019 Lok Sabha polls and subsequent hill development council elections have fueled a shift from jubilation to discontent, prompting a wave of protests throughout the region.

“People hoped for a new beginning, but the dialogue did not go the way it should have. The government delayed it first, kept it hanging till the Model Code of Conduct came into place, and at the last moment, our leaders were called for talks,” said Namgyal, the leader of opposition in the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council.

Citing unmet expectations regarding job opportunities, land rights and environmental preservation he alleged that there was a lack of transparency in budgetary allocation and a failure to empower the hill councils effectively.

The Congress candidate accused the BJP of fooling the people of Ladakh.

“People of Ladakh are aware… they will not believe the false promises. People will vote in favour of the four-point agenda,” he said.

Namgyal remains optimistic about the prospects of the INDIA bloc and hints at a potential shift in national leadership dynamics.

Poling in Ladakh will be held on May 20. The showdown between Namgyal, BJP’s Tashi Gyalson, and Independent candidate Haji Hanifa Jan can shape the region’s political trajectory significantly.

The BJP had won the Ladakh seat for the first time in 2014, with prominent Buddhist leader Thupstan Chhewang becoming an MP. Chhewang, however, resigned from the post and BJP in 2018, citing disagreements with the party’s leadership. In 2019, Jamyang Tsering Namgyal of the BJP won the seat. 
National, Politics

CAA gets rolling, 1st set of 14people granted citizenship

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PTI, New Delhi, May 15, 2024 :  The first set of citizenship certificates under the Citizenship (Amendment) Act was issued Wednesday here to 14 people, nearly two months after rules under the contentious law were notified to grant Indian nationality to persecuted non-Muslim migrants from three neighbouring countries.

Sources said 14 people were handed over the certificates symbolically at a special function held here while digitally signed certificates are also being sent to a “few hundred” other applicants through email.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah termed it a “historic day”, saying the decades-long wait of those who faced religious persecution in Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan is over.

Home Secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla handed over the certificates to the 14 people after their applications were processed online through a designated portal, an official spokesperson said.

This comes in the midst of the general elections which started on April 19. The last phase of polling will be held on June 1 while the counting will take place on June 4.

The CAA was enacted in December 2019 for granting Indian nationality to persecuted Hindu, Sikh, Jain, Buddhist, Parsi and Christian migrants from Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan who came to India on or before December 31, 2014.

After the enactment, the CAA got the president’s assent but the rules under which the Indian citizenship was granted were issued on March 11 after over a delay of four years.

“It is a great feeling to be an Indian. It has given a new life to me,” 24-year-old Bharat Kumar, who had come from Sindh in Pakistan 11 years ago, told PTI minutes after he received the citizenship certificate.

Shah said the Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi and Christian brothers and sisters who fled religious persecution in the three countries have started getting Indian citizenship and Prime Minister Narendra Modi has fulfilled the promise made at the time of the country’s independence.

“I express my gratitude to Modiji for giving justice and rights to these people who suffered for decades. I also assure all my refugee brothers and sisters that the Modi government will give citizenship to all of them through the CAA,” he said on X in Hindi. “Modi’s guarantee…the guarantee of fulfilling promises.” While granting the citizenship certificates, the home secretary congratulated the 14 applicants and highlighted the salient features of the Citizenship (Amendment) Rules, 2024.

Secretary Posts, Director of the Intelligence Bureau, Registrar General of India and senior officers were also present during the interactive session when the certificates were issued.

The CAA rules envisage the manner of application form, procedure for processing applications by the District Level Committee (DLC), scrutiny and grant of citizenship by State Level Empowered Committee (SLEC).

“In pursuance of these rules, applications have been received from persons belonging to Hindu, Sikh, Jain, Buddhist, Parsi and Christian communities from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan who have entered into India up to December 31, 2014 on account of persecution on grounds of religion or fear of such persecution,” the spokesperson said.

The DLCs chaired by Senior Superintendents of Post or Superintendents of Post as designated officers, on successful verification of documents, have administered the oath of allegiance to the applicants.

After processing as per rules, the DLCs have forwarded the applications to SLEC headed by Director (Census Operation). Processing of application is completely done through the online portal.

The empowered committee, Delhi, headed by Director (Census Operation), Delhi, after due scrutiny, has decided to grant citizenship to 14 applicants. Accordingly, Director (Census operation) granted certificates to these applicants, the spokesperson said.

The passing of the CAA in 2019 sparked protests in different parts of the country with agitators terming it “discriminatory”. Over a hundred people lost their lives during the anti-CAA protests or police action in various parts of the country.

Shah has been maintaining that no one can stop the implementation of the CAA as it is the law of the land. He accused opposition of misleading the people on the issue. 
National, Politics

Srinagar Lok Sabha elections 2024: Kashmir sees highest turnout since 1996, says EC : Overall: 37.98 per cent

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 Srinagar voted for the first time in the Lok Sabha Elections after the removal of Article 370 from Jammu and Kashmir. The parliamentary constituency had recorded a total voter turnout of 14.43 per cent in the 2019 elections.

Ashesh Mallick, Edited By: Ashesh Mallick, India Tv:  In a tectonic shift and noticeable change in Jammu and Kashmir’s Srinagar, which voted for the first time in the Lok Sabha Elections post-Article 370 era on Monday (May 13), the parliamentary constituency has witnessed highest voter turnout of over 37.98 per cent till 11 pm since 1996. It is more than double the turnout of nearly 14.43 per cent in the 2019 elections. It breached the 2014 turnout of 25.86 per cent as well. The polling began at 7 am amid tight security in the fourth phase of polls in which 17.48 lakh voters are eligible to use their franchise in the city.

Polling was incident free without any calls of poll boycott.

According to the latest Election Commission data at 11 pm, the following are voting percentages in the Srinagar city

Central Shalteng – 26.43 per cent

Chadoora – 49.10  per cent

Char-e-Shareef – 56 per cent

Channapora – 22.60  per cent

Eidgah – 26.81 per cent

Ganderbal – 49.48 per cent

Habba Kadal – 14.05 per cent

Hazratbal – 28.28 per cent

Kangan (ST) – 58.80 per cent

Khan Sahib – 50.35 per cent

Khanyar – 24.24 per cent

Lal Chowk – 27.33 per cent

Pampore – 38.01 per cent

Pulwama – 43.39 per cent

Rajpora – 45.79 per cent

Shopian – 47.88 per cent

Tral – 40.29 per cent

Zadibal – 29.41 per cent

Overall: 37.98 per cent


Voting percentages in Srinagar in various general elections before the abrogation of Article 370:

1996: 40.94 per cent

1998: 30.06 per cent

1999: 11.93 per cent

2004: 18.57 per cent

2009: 25.55 per cent

2014: 25.86 per cent

2019: 14.43 per cent

Article 370 was abrogated in Jammu and Kashmir on August 5, 2019, ending the special status given to the erstwhile state, which is now a Union Territory. 

Crime, National, Politics

Supreme Court orders release of NewsClick founder Prabir Purkayastha, declares his arrest ‘invalid’

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 The order was issued by a bench of Justices B R Gavai and Sandeep Mehta

PTI, New Delhi, 15.05.24 : The Supreme Court on Wednesday declared as “invalid in the eyes of law” the arrest of NewsClick founder Prabir Purkayastha in a case under the anti-terror law, and directed that he be released from custody.


The apex court observed that a copy of the remand application in the “purported exercise of communication” of grounds of arrest in writing was not provided to Purkayastha or his counsel before the passing of the remand order dated October 4, 2023 which “vitiates” his arrest and subsequent remand.
“As a result, the appellant is entitled to a direction for release from custody by applying the ratio of the judgement rendered by this court in the case of Pankaj Bansal,” a bench of Justices B R Gavai and Sandeep Mehta said.


“Accordingly, the arrest of the appellant (Purkayastha) followed by the remand order dated … and so also the impugned order passed by the High Court of Delhi are hereby declared to be invalid in the eyes of law and are quashed and set aside,” it said.

The bench delivered its verdict on Purkayastha’s plea challenging the high court’s October 13 last year order dismissing his plea against arrest and subsequent police remand in the case.

He was arrested by the Special Cell of the Delhi Police on October 3 last year.

While pronouncing the judgement, the apex court said, “Though, we would have been persuaded to direct the release of the appellant without requiring him to furnish bonds of security but since the charge sheet has been filed, we feel it appropriate to direct that the appellant shall be released from custody on furnishing bail bonds to the satisfaction of the trial court.” The bench made it clear that none of the observations made by it shall be treated as a comment on the merits of the case.

After the verdict was pronounced, Additional Solicitor General S V Raju, appearing for the Delhi Police, said since the arrest was declared to be void, it should not preclude the police from exercising the correct powers of arrest.

“We need not observe anything on that,” Justice Gavai said, adding, “Whatever you are permitted in law, you are permitted in law.” The high court had on October 13 last year dismissed the pleas of Purkayastha and NewsClick’s human resources department head Amit Chakravarty against their arrest and subsequent police remand.

Chakravarty had earlier withdrawn from the Supreme Court his petition against his arrest under the anti-terror law, the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).

A Delhi court had earlier allowed Chakravarty to turn an approver in the case lodged against the news portal under the UAPA over allegations that it received money to spread pro-China propaganda.

According to the FIR, the news portal allegedly received huge amount of funds from China to “disrupt the sovereignty of India” and cause disaffection against the country.

It also alleged that Purkayastha conspired with a group — People’s Alliance for Democracy and Secularism (PADS) — to sabotage the electoral process during the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.

On April 30, a Delhi court had taken cognisance of a charge sheet filed against Purkayastha in the case.

The court had in January allowed Chakravarty to turn approver in the case.

The judge had pardoned Chakravarty, who was arrested in the case on October 3, 2023, on his application that claimed he had material information which he was willing to disclose to the Delhi Police, which is investigating the matter.
International, National, Politics

Bank notes showing parts of India as belonging to Nepal are the latest of our problems with Kathmandu, China’s the No. 1 problem

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China’s deadly serious about undermining India’s influence in Nepal, and India needs to come up with a counter strategy hinging on more bilateral trade, investment in infrastructure sectors and building on ‘civilisational ties’

Paran Balakrishnan, TT, 14.05.24 : It was a distinctly unsubtle punch from across the border. Nepal’s new 100-rupee banknotes show parts of India as being Nepalese territory – and it’s gone to unusual lengths to publicise the move. India, uncharacteristically, shrugged off the provocation, with foreign minister S. Jaishankar observing mildly that the Uttarakhand territory marked on the bills is definitely inside India.

The banknote row marks yet one more, albeit minor, skirmish in the battleground between India and Nepal. The strategic buffer state sandwiched between China and India has long resented India as the Big Brother that flexes its muscles too often. Nepal hasn’t forgotten the 2015 blockade at a crucial land crossing with India – New Delhi denied involvement – which came months after two deadly earthquakes when Kathmandu promulgated its new constitution.
But the once minor differences have become exacerbated. That’s partly because Nepal’s other giant neighbour is taking way more interest in the mountainous nation than it used to when Nepal was not only known as landlocked but “India-locked”. Says one former Indian ambassador: “In the old days, the Chinese were mostly worried about Tibetans using Nepal as an escape route to India. Now, they are deadly serious about undermining India’s influence in Nepal.”

There’s an additional factor also at play which has put Nepal in the headlights of big power rivalry. The US has turned its gaze on Nepal, and has become the third player in the 21st-century’s Himalayan Great Game. The Chinese, meanwhile, are liberally splurging money to make headway in Nepal.

Now, also, the Chinese have their dream ruling ticket in Nepal. The incoming prime minister is a pro-China advocate: Maoist leader Pushpa Kamal Dahal, best known by his rebel civil war name Prachanda. And his main coalition partner, the Communist Party of Nepal, is headed by former prime minister K. P. Sharma Oli has alway been pro-Beijing. Indeed, in what’s seen as “advantage Beijing,” Nepal’s foreign minister broke with tradition and made his first foreign visit to Beijing rather than New Delhi. “Today, after working with the left forces in Nepal, the Chinese are most satisfied because leftist forces have come together.” says another former diplomat.

At times, the Nepalese moves to annoy India have verged on the farcical – though they’re deadly serious for Hindu believers. Veteran politician Oli, Nepal’s then prime minister, claimed that Ayodhya, where Lord Ram was born, was actually a place called Thori in Nepal. Says Oli firmly: “The place called Thori, near Birgunj is the real Ayodhya, where Lord Ram was born. In India there is a great dispute on Ayodhya. But there’s no dispute in our Ayodhya.”

Oli stirred the pot once again by claiming that yoga originated in Uttarakhand, which he insists was a part of Nepal in ancient times. He also laid claim to Samkhya philosophy, which is said to form the theoretical framework for yoga. “Yoga originated from Uttarakhand and at that time Uttarakhand was not in present-day India.” said Oli, adding for good measure that, “India was not even born as an independent country at that time.” Going one step further, he also claimed that the founder of ayurveda, Charak Rishi, was born in Nepal.

But these are mere pinpricks. There are much bigger battles being fought over Nepal. The biggest battles involve a plan by the US to pour $500 million over the next five years into Nepal for vitally needed infrastructure, under what’s called the Millennium Challenge Corporation. The money will go mainly to boost hydropower generation and build roads. For starters, the US is looking at building a 300-km high voltage power line that will run through almost one-third of the country and have an extension to the Indian border.

Not to be left behind, India’s just signed a deal to buy 10,000MW from Nepal over the next 10 years. For the moment it appears that India has checkmated China – by refusing to buy power from projects built with Chinese money. That’s forced Nepal to hand-over several projects that had originally been given to the Chinese. It’s reckoned that Nepal has the capacity to produce about only 42MW of hydropower from its many fast-flowing Himalayan rivers.

But the Chinese are playing power games of a different kind meddling in Nepal affairs. (It’s believed to have helped engineer the coming to power of the current seven-party coalition and its crucial position in Nepal was visible when the deputy prime minister and foreign minister Narayan Kaji Sreshta made China his first port of call. He spent a full week there and China has managed to persuade Nepal to resume cooperation on Belt & Road projects – a move strongly opposed by India and the US which have warned Kathmandu it could fall prey to a Sri Lanka-style debt trap.

Can Nepal’s fragile democracy bring prosperity to the impoverished country? Nobody’s betting big on it. Nepal’s most recent government is barely 45 days old. (Since the advent of Nepal’s chaotic multi-party democracy in Nepal in 1990, the country has had a string of revolving-door governments).

There’s also still a royalist party and former king Gyanendra’s hoping the political parties mess up so badly, he’s called on to return to the throne. Says a senior Indian diplomat: “Gyanendra is hoping there’ll be this huge nostalgia for the monarchy. It’s more wishful thinking, though certainly pro-monarchy sentiment has grown.”

There’s another new factor in India-Nepal relations. The BJP and RSS have strong links in Nepal, which, while being overwhelmingly Hindu, now is constitutionally a secular republic. The BJP and RSS are eager to promote Nepal as a Hindu Rashtra. Says one former diplomat: “The BJP’s foreign cell and the RSS are supporting a lot of voices in Nepal that want a Hindu state.”

Also, there’s Yogi Adityanath who has always had a deep interest in Nepal though he hasn’t talked much about it after becoming Uttar Pradesh chief minister. His matt in Gorakhpur has always been close to Nepal. Says a diplomat: “His group has a very old connection with the Gurkha kings.”

Can India steer its way through the Nepalese minefield and regain its “special relationship” with Kathmandu? For what it’s worth, we’ve got some friends in Nepal who’ll raise their head above the parapet. On the weekend, Chiranjivi Nepal, an economic advisor to the Nepalese president, quit over the bank notes issue. Nepal, an ex-central bank governor, said it was “inappropriate” to publish notes with the inaccurate map. India and Nepal’s borders are internationally recognised, he pointed out, and clearly different from those shown on the banknote map.

But India has been facing increasing hostility from some Nepalis who object to what they see as New Delhi’s “high-handedness” and meddling. To counter this image, India’s been playing its cards right by keeping a low profile and avoiding interference in Nepal’s internal affairs, trying to lower the pitch in the “Big Brother-Small Brother” relationship, analysts say.

And India faces a stiff challenge from China. “Chinese diplomats are publicly warning Nepal about the ‘dangers’ of close relations with India. They’re openly meddling in Nepal’s internal affairs,” says a former ambassador. While China’s pockets are far deeper than India’s, and it’s been extending its sway in countries that have traditionally been India’s strategic backyard, New Delhi can’t afford to give up. More bilateral trade, investment in important Nepal infrastructure sectors and building on “civilisational ties” are all recipes for India to rebuild ties with Nepal.
Crime, Politics, Regional, West Bengal

CBI starts collecting details of teachers who lost jobs

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MP, 13 May 2024, Kolkata: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has started collecting the details of the more than 25,000 school teachers who are accused in the alleged SSC recruitment scam. 

According to sources, 25,753 teachers and non-teaching staff were dismissed from their jobs by Calcutta High Court and a CBI probe was ordered. However, the Supreme Court later imposed a stay on the order of dismissal but upheld the order of CBI probe. 
The Supreme Court directed that the investigation ordered by the Calcutta High Court as per clauses 7 and 8 in the operative directions shall continue but no coercive steps be taken. 
The CBI recently has taken the initiative and started gathering the details of the said teaching and non-teaching staff. 
According to sources, several such teachers and non-teaching staff have been summoned recently. The Central agency has reportedly started collecting documents from teachers and other staff. 
In some cases, the CBI has started collecting this information on its own initiative. The CBI is collecting the exam results, interview and physical test pass certificates, job offer letters, appointment letters, joining reports, salary statements etc. from schools. 
https://www.millenniumpost.in/bengal/cbi-starts-collecting-details-of-teachers-who-lost-jobs-563631
Crime, Politics, West Bengal

Court rejects BJP leader’s bail plea, sends her to 7-day jail custody

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Judicial custody for BJP worker accused of scripting fake rape complaints in Sandeshkhali
MP,14 May 2024, Kolkata: The Basirhat Sub-Divisional Court on Tuesday refused bail to BJP leader Mampi Das (aka Piyali) who has instead been sent to jail for seven days. It was learnt that Das surrendered in Basirhat Sub-Divisional Court on Tuesday. 
There were allegations against her of getting women in Sandeshkhali to sign on white papers. The court rejected the bail plea and sent her to seven days judicial custody. When questioned by the media, 
Das said that the allegations against her are false and that there is no evidence to support those allegations. She alleged that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is scared of losing her chair which has forced her to frame Das in such “false cases”. 
TMC had asked the Election Commission (EC) to direct the police to initiate criminal proceedings against the National Commission for Women (NCW) chairperson Rekha Sharma and other BJP leaders, including Piyali Das, for several alleged criminal offences, including criminal conspiracy and intimidation, committed against women in Sandeshkhali and electorates in general. 
The party claimed that such an act of obtaining a signature on blank paper through coercion to file a false rape complaint, “is not only an abuse of law and power, but also amounts to offences of forgery, cheating, fraud, criminal intimidation and criminal conspiracy. 
The exploitation of women for political gain is a reprehensible tactic that undermines their rights and dignity. Such manipulation not only violates the rights of these women but also damages the integrity of democratic institutions”

https://www.millenniumpost.in/bengal/court-rejects-bjp-leaders-bail-plea-sends-her-to-7-day-jail-custody-563774

Crime, National, Politics, West Bengal

Another sexual misconduct case against Guv: Cops submit report to Nabanna

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MP, 14 May 2024, Kolkata: Kolkata Police has reportedly sent a report to the Nabanna after conducting an enquiry on the allegations of sexual harassment of an Odishi dancer by the West Bengal Governor C V Ananda Bose. 

Sources said a few months ago a woman who is a professional dancer lodged a complaint against Bose alleging that last year she was sexually harassed by the Bengal Governor in Delhi. 
The woman reportedly claimed that last year she met the Governor who took her to Delhi to perform in a programme. A relative of Bose from Bengaluru had booked a room in a five-star hotel in Delhi for her. 
The complaint alleged that Bose sexually harassed her inside the hotel room. As no case can be registered against the Governor, Kolkata Police has started an enquiry into the matter which was reportedly led by a Deputy Commissioner ranked officer. 
After the enquiry was over, Kolkata Police submitted the report at the Nabanna in a sealed envelope. Kolkata Police presently is also conducting an enquiry based on a complaint of molestation against Bose which was filed by a contractual staff of the Raj Bhavan. 
https://www.millenniumpost.in/bengal/another-sexual-misconduct-case-against-guv-cops-submit-report-to-nabanna-563777
Politics, Regional, West Bengal

‘SC directs Chancellor to complete V-C appointment process in 21 state univs’

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MP, 15 May 2024, Kolkata: State Higher Education minister Bratya Basu on Tuesday stated that the Chancellor/Governor C V Ananda Bose was directed by the Supreme Court to complete the vice-chancellor (V-C) appointment process in 21 state universities. The Chancellor on Monday appointed three more V-Cs in state universities — Rani Rashmoni Green University, Harichand Guruchand University and Sadhu Ram Chand Murmu University. 

“The Hon’ble Supreme Court today directed the Chancellor to complete the process of appointment of all the 21 V-Cs of the state-aided universities as directed by the Hon’ble Court. A compliance report in this direction is to be filed on Friday. In fact the counsel for the Chancellor requested not to record the direction appointment of 21 vice-chancellors in the order. 
All attempts for stalling the process were foiled by the Hon’ble bench today,” Basu wrote on his social media ‘X’ feed.A case is going on with regards to appointment of interim vice-chancellors in state universities. 
A Special Leave Petition was filed by the state challenging the Calcutta High Court’s judgement which upheld the interim V-C appointments made by Chancellor in 13 universities. 
On Monday, Asutosh Ghosh was appointed as the V-C of Rani Rashmoni Green University in Tarakeswar. He was given the dual responsibility as V-C of Harichand Guruchand University as well. Ghosh was one of the state nominees. 
Another person, Kallol Paul was appointed as V-C of Sadhu Ram Chand Murmu University in Jhargram. Also Read – Illegal liquor, contraband seized; three held In an earlier occasion, V-Cs were appointed for two other universities. Burdwan University professor Pabitra Chattopadhyay was appointed as the officiating V-C of Gour Banga University and Bhaskar Gupta was appointed as the officiating V-C at Jadavpur University. 
Bench of Justice Surya Kant and K V Viswanathan on Tuesday heard the Special Leave Petition filed by the state challenging the order passed by Calcutta High Court with regards to the interim V-C appointments made by Bose in 13 state universities. 
During an earlier hearing of the matter in March, Justice Kant observed: “We were expecting understanding and maturity from both sides since this is a question of educational institutions and the future careers of lakhs of students. 
Bengal has been a hub of quality education right from the time of Shantiniketan. We thought those standards, values and morals would be observed by both sides and they would help us solve this amicably.”
https://www.millenniumpost.in/bengal/sc-directs-chancellor-to-complete-v-c-appointment-process-in-21-state-univs-563813
Crime, Politics, Regional, West Bengal

Calcutta HC adjourns till Friday hear-ing of Sandeshkhali BJP leader’s peti-tion over ‘sting video’

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PTI, Kolkata, May 14, 2024 : The Calcutta High Court on Tuesday adjourned till Friday the hearing of a petition by BJP’s Sandeshkhali leader Gangadhar Koyal, seeking transfer of probe to CBI into an alleged sting video over accusations of sexual atrocities in the riverine area, on a prayer by the state.

    
Advocate General Kishore Dutta, appearing for the West Bengal government, prayed for adjournment of the hearing of the matter.
    
He stated before Justice Jay Sengupta that an application has been filed by a woman before the Supreme Court, seeking inclusion as an intervenor in a plea by the state challenging a high court order, which directed CBI investigation into allegations of sexual atrocities and land-grabbing in Sandeshkhali, and as such this matter before the court be granted a short adjournment.
    
Granting the prayer, Justice Sengupta directed that Koyal’s petition seeking transfer of investigation into the alleged sting video related to allegations of sexual atrocities in Sandeshkhali be taken up for hearing again on Friday.
    
The ruling Trinamool Congress in West Bengal had recently shared a video of an alleged sting operation featuring Koyal.
    
In the purported video, the veracity of which could not be confirmed by PTI, a man resembling Koyal was seen claiming that allegations of sexual abuse in Sandeshkhali were “staged”.
    
The BJP leader had claimed in his petition that technology-aided videos mimicking his voice were being circulated in a bid to defame him.
    
Claiming that such purported videos were creating tension in Sandeshkhali and that he was apprehending a threat to his safety, Koyal also sought an order by the court for granting central force security to him.
    
The petitioner also stated that he has already met CBI officials over the alleged use of his fake voice.
    
The CBI is probing alleged sexual atrocities and land-grabbing cases in Sandeshkhali in North 24 Parganas on an earlier order of the Calcutta High Court.
    
The West Bengal government has moved an appeal before the Supreme Court, challenging the high court order.
   
The apex court posted the state’s plea for hearing in July, and made it clear that pendency of its petition will not be used as a ground for any purpose.
Politics, Regional, West Bengal

Matuas to get citizenship, Mamatacan’t stop CAA implementation: Shah

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PTI, Bongaon (WB), May 14, 2024 : In a bid to address concerns of the Matuas over citizenship, Union Home Minister Amit Shah assured the community that its members would get citizenship under the CAA and accused West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee of spreading falsehood about it.

    
Addressing a rally in Bongaon, a stronghold of the Matua community, in North 24 Parganas district, Shah asserted that Banerjee can “never stop the implementation of the CAA in the state as it is a law by the central government”.
    
“No power in the world can stop my refugee brothers from becoming citizens of India. This is the promise of Modi Ji. Mamata Banerjee must remember that citizenship falls under the exclusive authority of the central government, not the state governments,” he said.
    
Shah accused Banerjee of “lying” and spreading “falsehood” about the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).
    
“Mamata Banerjee is lying that anyone who applies for citizenship under the CAA will face problems. I have come to assure the people of the Matua community that no one will face any trouble. You will get citizenship and will be able to live with respect in the country,” he said.
    
The minister also said, “I guarantee you that no one will face any inconvenience and difficulty. You will get both citizenship and respect in the country.”
    
The Matuas, originally from erstwhile East Pakistan, are a weaker section of Hindus who migrated to India during the Partition and after the creation of Bangladesh, following religious persecution.
    
The Matua community’s initial jubilation over the implementation of CAA rules has been dampened as the All India Matua Mahasangha has advised its members to abstain from submitting citizenship applications due to lack of necessary documents proving their previous residential address in Bangladesh.
    
Shah, addressing a considerable Matua population in the Bongaon Lok Sabha seat, attacked Banerjee for opposing the CAA and “taking out rallies in support of infiltrators to appease her vote bank”.
    
“Why is she against refugees obtaining citizenship? She is supporting infiltration in Bengal but opposes Hindu refugees getting citizenship. She is taking out rallies against the CAA and supporting infiltrators,” he said.
    
Shah said that the BJP will win 270 of the 380 Lok Sabha segments where elections were held in the last four phases.
    
“Modi Ji has attained a majority with 270 seats, after the completion of voting in 380 seats of the first four phases. We will soon reach our target of 400 plus seats,” he said.
    
Banerjee had recently claimed that if the opposition bloc INDIA comes to power, of which the TMC is a part at the national level, it would repeal the CAA by bringing in a new law in Parliament.
    
The Centre, in March, implemented the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019, notifying the rules four years after the law was passed by Parliament to fast-track citizenship for undocumented non-Muslim migrants from Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan who came to India before December 31, 2014.
    
Hitting out at the TMC on the issue of graft, Shah said only the BJP can end the TMC’s “rule of corruption” in West Bengal.
    
“From ‘cut money’ culture to infiltration, from bomb blasts to Bhatija’s goons harassing people, from ‘Syndicate Raj’ to utter lawlessness, the situation of West Bengal is bad under the TMC rule. It’s only Narendra Modi Ji, who can save the state of West Bengal from this situation,” the BJP leader said.
    
“Those involved in the chit fund scam, teacher recruitment scam, municipal recruitment scam, ration scam, cow and coal smugglers should be prepared to go to jail. No one will be spared,” he said.
   ‘
Slamming TMC over various issues of corruption and scams, Shah said, “None of the corrupt people would be spared.”
    
Addressing another rally in Howrah district’s Uluberia, Shah alleged that Banerjee “changes names of centrally funded schemes and runs those as the West Bengal government’s initiatives.
   
“Rohingyas and Bangladeshis are Mamata Banerjee’s vote bank in Bengal,” Shah added.
National, Politics, Regional, West Bengal

Mamata’s offer to cook food for PM Modi stirs controversy

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 She made these remarks during an election rally in Kolkata, amidst the controversy regarding a video of RJD leader, Tejashwi Yadav, consuming fish during Navratri.

PTI, Kolkata, May 14, 2024 :  West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s offer to “cook food” for Prime Minister Narendra Modi elicited mixed responses from different political parties, with the BJP terming it a “political agenda” and the CPI(M) dubbing it as an “understanding” between the TMC and the saffron party.
    
Taking a jibe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his recent allegation that RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav last month had fish during a period when some Hindus abstain from having non-vegetarian food, Banerjee on Monday said she was ready to “cook something for him (Modi)” if he wanted though she was not sure whether he would eat what she cooked.

Banerjee, at an election rally here, had made the remarks while taking a dig at the BJP for allegedly interfering with the food habits of the people and had said she would be happy to cook food for Modi but is not sure “whether the PM will be ready to savour my cooked meal.”

“I have been cooking since my childhood days. People have praised my cooking. But will Modi ji accept my food? Will he trust me? I will cook whatever he loves,” she had said.

The TMC supremo had said, “I love both vegetarian foods like Dhokla and non-veg foods like macher jhol (fish curry). Different communities, and different sects among Hindus have their own unique rituals and eating habits. Who is BJP to impose a diktat on an individual’s dietary habits? It shows the BJP leadership has little idea and concern about the diversity and inclusivity of India and its people.”

Banerjee’s offer to cook for the prime minister, who is a vegetarian, drew sharp reactions from the saffron camp.

“Mamata Banerjee wants to feed Modi ji with fish and rice cooked by her. Good proposal. But before that, why doesn’t she first offer pork chop to her lieutenant Firhad Hakim? It will serve three purposes, secularism will be asserted, it will show charity begins at home and the fritters will also be praised,” former BJP state president and ex-Tripura Governor Tathagata Roy posted on X.

BJP leader Sankudeb Panda claimed Banerjee had deliberately invited Modi knowing well that he is a strict vegetarian.

“This is nothing but her ploy to trap the PM. She knows on the one hand the PM will never eat fish or any non-veg item. If she believes everyone should be allowed to eat what he/she loves to eat, then why is she twisting Modiji’s comments about one’s dietary habits? She is insulting devout Sanatani Hindus” he added.

Reacting to Banerjee’s comments, CPI(M) leader Bikash Bhattacharya said, “Being Dada-Bon (brother and sister), Mamata didi can certainly offer to cook meals for the prime minister, do not know if it is to placate him.”

Bhattacharya was referring to the jibe – “Didibhai-Modibhai” that the Left and the Bengal Congress unit use to refer to the alleged tacit understanding between the BJP and the TMC.

He said such comments in the backdrop of her public posturing against “Modi’s politics and divisive speeches show an apparent contradiction” in what she publicly says and preaches in private.

“Both Mamata Banerjee and Narendra Modi are responsible for bringing the country to such a state. Both are mixing politics with religion,” he added.

The TMC, however, supported the party supremo’s remark and said she spoke about the unique religious, and cultural diversity of India and the theme of “unity in diversity”.

“She spoke rightly and her comment regarding Modi stems from the fact that as Modi has the right to eat what he likes, every other Indian too has the same right,” TMC MP Dola Sen told PTI.

She also criticised the BJP for trying to impose the “Sangh Parivar’s narrative” about their agenda to impose a diktat on diets and other customs on people of this country.