Category Archives: Politics

National, Politics

Yet again, PM Modi uses Ram temple issue to attack Cong

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Alleging that the JMM, Congress and INDIA bloc have become the biggest model of corruption, appeasement and dynastic politics, Modi said he has resolved to free India from these vices

PTI, Giridih (Jharkhand), May 14 2024 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday attacked the Congress, accusing it of indulging in “shameful” politics and plotting to send “Ram Lala to tent” again.
Alleging that the JMM, Congress and INDIA bloc have become the biggest model of corruption, appeasement and dynastic politics, Modi said he has resolved to free India from these vices.
Addressing a public meeting at Jharkhand’s Giridih, the prime minister said, “Shameful statements are being issued by Congress leaders over Ram temple. Their leaders are plotting to send Ram Lala to the tent once again, and talk against the Supreme Court judgement.”
The old idol of Ram Lala was kept in a tent-like structure after the Babri Masjid was demolished.
They want to lock the premises again, he claimed and urged people to oust such “corrupt” forces.
Modi said, “Congress forced the nation to Naxalism, whereas BJP contained Naxal violence in the country.”
He also promised that during his third term as the prime minister, he would wipe out “Naxalism and terrorism” from the face of the country.
Modi alleged that the JMM-led ruling alliance in Jharkhand has been patronising infiltrators in the state.
He said his topmost priority would be giving priority to deprived people.
The prime minister also said that the abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu & Kashmir is one of the biggest steps in the interest of the nation and he is happy that the people there could celebrate the festival of democracy on Monday after decades.
The Srinagar constituency witnessed voting on Monday in the first Lok Sabha election in the Valley since the scrapping of Article 370.
He said INDIA bloc leaders are “dreaming of digging Modi’s grave”, but he is well protected with “suraksha kavach” of love and affection of people.
“I was not born in a royal family; I was poor. I have lived in poverty and have vowed to free my people from it,” Modi said, adding that this was the reason his government introduced Ayushman Bharat scheme for providing healthcare to the poor and set up AIIMS hospitals in various places including one in Jharkhand’s Deoghar.
He said his government has been providing food grains free to 80 crore people and promised to continue this for the next five years, if voted to power.
Referring to the UPA administration, Modi alleged that during the “Sonia Ben government”, food grains were subjected to rot but not distributed.
Citing instances of recovery of huge cash found at premises linked to Congress leaders in Jharkhand, the prime minister asserted that the JMM-led alliance in the state is neck-deep in corruption.
“JMM and Congress dance to the tune of ‘Shahi Parivar’. I will not allow thieves to sleep peacefully,” he said, adding that no corrupt people would be spared.
Modi also said that Jharkhand was devoid of benefits of its minerals including mica in Koderma, but it was his government that ensured that tribal areas get the mineral funds for development.
“During the Congress-JMM regime people got nothing, no benefits of mica were accrued to people. But Modi has ensured Rs 12,000 crore to Jharkhand under District Mineral Fund,” he said.
He charged the JMM-led alliance in Jharkhand with patronising infiltrators who were grabbing the land of tribal women by marrying them.
“INDIA bloc has openly announced Vote-Jihad against Modi,” he said.
The prime minister said he has resolved to make three crore women “lakhpati didis”.
The Lakhpati Didi scheme of the central government is aimed at training women in self-help groups so that they can earn a sustainable income of at least Rs 1 lakh per annum.
Referring to Jhumri Telaiya, a town in Koderma that shot to fame for the maximum number of requests for songs for then Radio Ceylon and Vividh Bharti, Modi said it is “more beautiful than its name” and apologized for the delay in arriving.
The prime minister’s rally was initially scheduled at 9 am which was postponed to 1.30 pm and finally started around 5 pm.
He said, “I have brought blessings of Bholebaba from Kashi. I filed my nomination and after filing nomination, this is my first public meeting.'”
A strong government keeps the interest of its people while a weak government as those headed by the Congress weakens the nation, Modi claimed.
Modi was campaigning for Union minister Annapurna Devi who is contesting from Koderma Lok Sabha seat, BJP ally AJSU Party’s candidate Chandra Prakash Chaudhary from Giridih Lok Sabha constituency and BJP nominee for Gandey assembly seat Dilip Kumar Verma.
Jailed former Chief Minister Hemant Soren’s wife Kalpana Soren is contesting bypoll to Gandey assembly segment which comes under Koderman Lok Sabha constituency.
The elections to these seats will be held on May 20.
Misc, Politics, Regional, West Bengal

Out of poll fray but not out of hills: Shringla to help youths of Darjeeling crack UPSC

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 Shringla made this announcement while delivering a lecture at Southfield College in Darjeeling on Saturday
Harsh Vardhan Shringla at Southfield College, Darjeeling, for a lecture : File image

                                                              Vivek Chhetri, TT, Darjeeling,12.05.24 :Harsh Vardhan Shringla, a former foreign secretary to have the rare honour of a road named after him in another country, has decided to help groom young minds from the region to crack the UPSC examinations.

Shringla made this announcement while delivering a lecture at Southfield College in Darjeeling on Saturday.
Apart from the announcement, Shringla’s public appearance after he was pipped to the post by sitting BJP MP Raju Bista for the BJP Darjeeling Lok Sabha ticket was a talking point in town. Shringla traces his roots to Darjeeling.

Although Shringla has remained mum on his political aspirations, his supporters are rooting for his entry to Parliament through the Rajya Sabha route.

On Saturday, Shringla spoke of the “interconnected nature of global affairs” and the way India’s image had transformed over the years.

Shringla also encouraged students to train on skills, spoke on techniques to crack the UPSC and announced the Darjeeling Welfare Society, a nonprofit he heads, would set up UPSC coaching centres in Darjeeling.

“The Darjeeling Welfare Society and Southfield College will soon be signing a MoU for establishing a coaching centre,” said Shringla, who until recently the chief coordinator of India’s G20 Presidency.

Shringla has previously served as India’s foreign secretary and the country’s ambassador to the United States, high commissioner to Bangladesh and ambassador to Thailand.

“Given his vast experience, the BJP is very keen to use his expertise (in this region). There are enough indicators on this front,” said a source.

The source added that although Shringla was never interested in politics, his name was strongly proposed by a strong lobby within the BJP as the party’s candidate from Darjeeling.

“The decision to drop him (as the BJP nominee) was taken at the very last moment. In fact, top guns of the BJP such as Narendra Modi, Amit Shah, Rajnath Singh and Yogi Adityanath had deliberated long on Shringla’s candidature,” said a source.

The BJP has won the Darjeeling seat back-to-back from 2009.

Shringla, 62, has a road at Bakerganj in Barishal district of Kalaskathi Union in Bangladesh named after him as a symbol of Bangladesh-India friendship.

The 2.7km “Shree Harsh Vardhan Shringla Road” was inaugurated on August 7, 2023, by local MP Nasreen Jahan Ratna Amin.

Shringla visited Kalaskathi when he was the Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh from 2016 to 2019.

Kalaskathi also has a Satindra Smriti Gandhi Ashram founded in 1946 by the then Gandhian leader Satindranath Sen and his associates. In 1971, the Pakistani occupation forces killed at least 360 people together on the bank of Kalaskathi canal. That is why the area has important memories of the Bangladesh liberation war.
Courtesy &source- The Telegraph
Crime, Politics, Regional, West Bengal

New video claims over 70 women received money to take part in Sandeshkhali protest

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In the video, lasting over 45 minutes, a man resembling Sandeshkhali mandal president Gangadhar Kayal told this to the questioner

PTI, Calcutta, 12.05.24 : 

In a purported video that surfaced from Sandeshkhali, a local BJP leader was heard saying that over 70 women had received Rs 2,000 each for taking part in protests against local TMC satrap Shahjahan Sheikh and his aides who were accused of sexual assault and land grab.

In the video, lasting over 45 minutes, a man resembling Sandeshkhali mandal president Gangadhar Kayal told this to the questioner. It was Kayal who had earlier said in another purported clip, the first in a series in the past week, that the rape allegations were “staged”.

PTI did not independently verify the authenticity of the videos.

In the latest tape that surfaced on Saturday night, Kayal was heard saying that 70 women got Rs 2,000 each for taking part in protests against Sheikh who was arrested and later suspended by the police.

“We will need Rs 2.5 lakh in cash for 50 booths where 30 per cent of protesters would be women. We have to keep the SC, ST and OBC people here in good humour by paying them satisfactorily. In any situation, women will form the front row confronting the police,” he said in the video.

Kayal could not be contacted, but the BJP has dubbed the videos as fake.

TMC spokesperson Riju Dutta said,”The truth of the BJP’s fake narrative on Sandeshkhali is tumbling out of the closet.” Multiple purported videos of Sandeshkhali women have surfaced and shared by the TMC in the past few days.

In the first such videotape that emerged on May 4, Kayal was heard saying that the “staged” protests were lodged at the behest of Leader of the Opposition, Suvendu Adhikari, who was behind the “whole conspiracy”.

The second video was about women, who had earlier filed rape complaints, claiming that they were made to sign a blank paper by the BJP leaders and coerced to go to the police station.

In another clip, BJP candidate from Basirhat constituency and Sandeshkhali protestor Rekha Patra claimed that she “doesn’t know the rape survivors who were taken to Delhi to meet the President.” The TMC has already moved the Election Commission against National Commission for Women chairperson Rekha Sharma accusing her that she had misused her official position by allegedly telling some of the women in Sandeshkhali to lodge rape complaints against TMC leaders in the area.

“The TMC is using fake videos to change the narrative ahead of the polls. The TMC has the least regard for NCW or the dignity of the women of Sandeshkhali. All the videos released are fake and doctored,” BJP state spokesperson Samik Bhattacharya said.

The riverine Sandeshkhali area — situated on the borders of the Sundarbans, about 100 kilometres from Kolkata — had been on the boil in February with protests over allegations of sexual abuse and land grab against now arrested TMC leader Shajahan Sheikh and his supporters.
Crime, Politics, Regional, West Bengal

Bengal teachers’ recruitment ‘scam’: TMC MLA Manik Bhattacharya withdraws plea from Supreme Court

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Bhattacharya, a former chairperson of the West Bengal Board of Primary Education, was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on October 11 last year after night-long questioning
 Manik Bhattacharya, TT, 

PTI, New Delhi, 11.05.24 : Jailed TMC MLA Manik Bhattacharya has withdrawn from the Supreme Court his bail plea in a case related to alleged irregularities in the recruitment of primary school teachers in West Bengal.

A bench comprising justices Bela M Trivedi and Pankaj Mithal allowed Bhattacharya to file a fresh plea with some additional documents before the High Court.

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“The High Court may consider the petition as filed by the petitioner on merits and as expeditiously as possible. High Court may consider the matter afresh and in accordance with the law,” the bench said.

Bhattacharya, a former chairperson of the West Bengal Board of Primary Education, was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on October 11 last year after night-long questioning.

The ED alleged the Palashipara MLA was not cooperating with the investigation.

On December 15, 2023, the top court had issued a notice to the ED on Bhattacharya’s appeal against a November 16 Calcutta High Court order rejecting his bail application.

The top court had on February 16 granted bail to Bhattacharya’s son Souvik in a money laundering case related to the case.
National, Politics

Merger wish deepens Leh-Kargil divide as Ladakh’s Buddhist-Muslim unity comes under fresh strain

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 Sonam Wangchuk said he was disturbed by Kargili’s statement and asked Kargil-based leadership to condemn or distance themselves from remarks

Muzaffar Raina, TT, Srinagar, 12.05.24 : Ladakh’s Buddhist-Muslim unity has come under fresh strain after Kargil leader Sajjad Kargili favoured re-merger of the region with Jammu and Kashmir if separate statehood for the cold desert was not possible.

Kargili wrote on X on Friday that they have been fighting for a four-point agenda, including statehood and Sixth Schedule status, for the last three years but regretted that the Congress has not clarified its position on the statehood for Ladakh in its manifesto but supports the Sixth Schedule status demand.

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“It’s necessary for the government to decide: grant us statehood or contemplate merging #Ladakh with J&K again when reinstating statehood to #JammuAndKashmir. With this UT setup, people across Ladakh are not happy,” he said on X.

The region’s top Buddhist leader, Sonam Wangchuk, who recently led a weeks-long fast for statehood and the Sixth Schedule status for Ladakh, on Saturday said he was disturbed by Kargili’s statement and asked the Kargil-based leadership to condemn or distance themselves from the remarks.

Speaking to a local social media channel, Wangchuk said Kargili should have spoken to the residents of Kargil before making such a contentious demand.

“Since he is a leader of KDA (Kargil Democratic Alliance), I think he should have first asked the people of Kargil whether it was their demand or his personal views. I think he is doing it at somebody’s behest. It is a loaded statement, which would create gaps between Leh and Kargil. I want to send a message to Kargil to avoid such things which will deepen the divide between Leh and Kargil,” Wangchuk said.

He added that other leaders of Kargil should also condemn the remarks or distance themselves from it. “If they don’t condemn it and if it is indeed people’s desire, we respect it with heart,” he said, adding it will not be a good thing for Ladakh though.

He said Kargil and Leh were his two eyes with one language, culture and identity.

“But if you still want to go with Jammu and Kashmir, Leh will be a UT and Kargil will become part of Jammu and Kashmir. If it is really so, we shall raise such a demand but I hope there is no such demand. That is why Kargil residents and leaders should clarify whether it is Sajjad sahab’s or Kargil’s desire or somebody is tutoring him so that there are divisions between Leh and Kargil,” he said.

Kargili shot back saying he was not expressing his opinion but as a representative of the Jamiat ul Ulama Isna Asharia, a major religious group in Ladakh.
National, Politics

PM on ‘One nation, One leader’ mission, wants to ‘finish off’ all leaders: Kejriwal

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PTI, New Delhi, May 11 : A day after his release on interim bail, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal Saturday launched a blistering attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, alleging he was on a “one nation, one leader” mission to impose “dictatorship” by putting all opposition leaders behind bars and “politically finishing off” those in the BJP.


Addressing a gathering at the AAP headquarters here, the party supremo said Modi is asking for votes for Union Home Minister Amit Shah, claiming the latter will be his successor after he “retires” on turning 75.

Later in the day, Kejriwal held his first roadshow for Lok Sabha election campaign along with his Punjab counterpart Bhagwant Mann in the South Delhi constituency. He also held his second roadshow in East Delhi’s Krishna Nagar.

Standing through the sunroof of a car in Mehrauli, he asserted the BJP will not form the government on June 4 and said if the INDIA bloc comes to power, the direction and fate of the country will change.

Full statehood will also be provided to Delhi, he promised.

Excitement was palpable at Kejriwal’s first roadshow. AAP supporters and workers danced to ‘dhol’ beats with pahadi music and bhangra performances setting the stage to welcome the chief minister in Mehrauli.

“In the last 20 hours after release from jail, I talked to poll experts and people, and got to know the BJP is not going to form the government,” Kejriwal told AAP workers and supporters at the party headquarters.

Ahead of restarting his election campaign, Kejriwal along with wife Sunita and Mann offered prayers at the Hanuman temple in central Delhi’s Connaught Place.

On Friday, the Supreme Court granted Kejriwal interim bail in a money laundering case linked to the alleged Delhi excise policy scam to enable him to campaign in the Lok Sabha elections and asked him to surrender on June 2, a day after the last phase of the seven-phase poll gets over.

“These people (BJP leaders) ask INDIA bloc about their (PM) face. I am asking the BJP who will be their PM. Modi ji is turning 75 on September 17 next year. He had made the rule that people aged 75 would be retired. They retired LK Advani, Murli Manohar Joshi, Sumitra Mahajan,” Kejriwal said at the AAP headquarters.

“Modi will retire next year. He is seeking votes for making Amit Shah the prime minister. Will Shah fulfil Modiji’s guarantee?” he asked.

Brushing aside Kejriwal’s remarks, Shah told a press conference in Hyderabad that Modi will continue to lead the country and there is “no confusion in the BJP” on the issue.

Hitting back at the BJP, senior AAP leader Sanjay Singh said Modi should come forward to clarify the BJP’s ’75 years retirement formula’ which they have imposed on their senior party leaders.

Singh said Kejriwal raised the “genuine” issue of ’75 years age rule’, which was made by Modi.

“They (BJP leaders, including Shah) said whatever rule PM Modi has made, it will be implemented on other leaders but not on Modi,” Singh said at the AAP office here.

BJP spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi also took a swipe at Kejriwal, saying his remarks about Shah are an acknowledgement that the BJP is set to retain power for a third straight term.

He also said Kejriwal is speaking of the BJP’s succession plan but could not have trust in any of his AAP colleagues to succeed him when he was jailed on money laundering charges.

In his speech at the party headquarters, Kejriwal claimed if the BJP wins the Lok Sabha elections, all opposition leaders including Mamata Banerjee, Tejashvi Yadav, M K Stalin, Pinarayi Vijayan and Uddhav Thackeray, will be in jail.

“The prime minister has launched a very dangerous mission. This mission is called ‘one nation, one leader’. Modi ji wants to finish off all the leaders in the country. It is being run at two levels- all the opposition leaders will be sent to jail and the BJP leaders will be politically finished,” Kejriwal charged.

“If they win the election, they won’t leave any BJP leader. They finished LK Advani, Murli Manohar Joshi and Sumitra Mahajan politically. They finished politics of Shivraj Singh Chouhan, who won the Madhya Pradesh polls for them but they did not appoint him chief minister. They also politically finished Vasundhara Raje, Khattar, Raman Singh,” he charged further.

The next in line is Yogi Adityanath, Kejriwal claimed.

“I can give in writing they will change the UP chief minister if they win the Lok Sabha polls. They will finish politics of Yogi Adityanath and also finish him politically,” he alleged.

“This ‘one nation, one leader’ is a dictatorship and only one dictator will remain in the country,” said the AAP national convener.

There were several occasions in the 4000-year-old history of the country when the dictators emerged and tried to capture the country but people uprooted them, he asserted.

Kejriwal said he will work tirelessly to campaign across the country to “finish dictatorship” in the country.

He alleged the prime minister gave a message to the country with his arrest that – “there will be no case and still I will get you arrested”.

The BJP has been attacking Kejriwal for not stepping down from the chief minister’s post despite being in custody for 50 days.

Talking about why he did not resign, he said, “The chief minister’s post is not important for me. I did not step down as the chief minister because a conspiracy was hatched to force me to resign on a fake case.” Kejriwal also alleged that all “thieves and dacoits” are inducted by the BJP.

“If the prime minister wants to learn about fighting corruption, he should learn from Arvind Kejriwal. We sent the corrupt to jail and even our own ministers,” he added.

He also alleged that the “prime minister has left no stone unturned to crush the AAP by sending its four top leaders to prison”.

“They thought that the party would be finished. But AAP is not just a party, it is a thought, the more they destroy, the more our party will progress,” he asserted.

“No one expected that I would be able to come out in the middle of the elections, but because of your prayers and blessings of Lord Hanuman I am among you all,” he said.

“Prime Minister, learn how to fight corruption from Arvind Kejriwal. Narendra Modi has gathered the country’s biggest thieves, bigwigs and dacoits in his party and says that I am fighting corruption,” he said.

“Kejriwal has fought against corruption. We have not spared even our ministers in corruption cases. They were sent to jail without the opposition and the media knowing about it,” he claimed.

Mann said Kejriwal is now a “top” political leader of the country and added his party will wipe out the BJP and the Congress in Punjab and win all 13 seats there.

At Mehrauli, Kejriwal said he was fighting against dictatorship with all his power.

“I need your support. The country never accepted any dictator and people removed them. I have come to seek your support to fight dictatorship,” he said.

“They are losing seats everywhere, be it Karnataka, Haryana. In Punjab, they will not win anything and even in Delhi, all the seven seats will be won by the INDIA bloc,” he claimed.

While granting Kejriwal interim bail on Friday, the apex court, however, barred him from visiting his office or the Delhi secretariat, and signing official files unless absolutely necessary for obtaining the lieutenant governor’s approval. 
Crime, Politics, West Bengal

Remove unauthorised political party offices: HC

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MP, 10 May 2024, Kolkata: The Calcutta High Court on Friday directed for the demolition of three unauthorised political party offices which were built on the West Bengal Housing Infrastructure Development Corporation (HIDCO) property. 

Following Justice Amrita Sinha’s order, a joint inspection was conducted by HIDCO and New Town Kolkata Development Authority (NKDA) wherein they identified the unauthorised structures. HIDCO filed a report mentioning that the area where the construction had taken place was owned by it. It was further placed before the court that the authorities were unaware of the setup. 
The advocate for the petitioner submitted that there were other similar constructions in the area as well. It was submitted that 35 such constructions, all party offices, were made within the HIDCO area. 
“Why don’t the authorities open a public redressal forum, wherein the public will give information on the unauthorised construction?” Justice Sinha questioned, adding: “You cannot protect your own property? Occupying the sidewalk? Built without any authorisation? 
Don’t you have any specific law?” According to a news agency, the three party offices were constructed by members of Trinamool Congress (TMC). On Friday, it was reported that most of these offices were locked and the banners were removed. Notice by HIDCO was found at the premises. 
Since the authorities have come to a conclusive finding that no permission was granted for raising the construction, Justice Sinha directed authorities not to allow the constructions to be used by any person for any purpose. 
The police were also directed to keep a strict vigil to ensure the same. The authorities were further directed to take steps for removal/demolition of the unauthorised construction at the earliest. 
 https://www.millenniumpost.in/bengal/remove-unauthorised-political-party-offices-hc-563317
Crime, National, Politics, West Bengal

Raj Bhavan’s woman employee to write to Prez seeking justice

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Agencies, 10 May 2024, Kolkata: A day after Governor C V Ananda Bose screened multiple CCTV footage from Raj Bhavan, in a bid to clear the air over allegations of molestation brought against him by a contractual woman employee of the Governor’s House, the victim on Friday said she will seek President Droupadi Murmu’s intervention into the matter. 

The employee raised her objections to the public screening of unedited footage where her identity was allegedly disclosed since her face wasn’t blurred. Stating that she could not repose much hope on the Kolkata Police whose hands are tied on account of the constitutional immunity the Governor enjoys, the victim said she was going through severe depression and felt that writing to the President was the only recourse to justice. 
“I know that because of Constitutional immunity nothing will happen to a sitting Governor. But what about the offence he committed? I have decided to write to the President seeking her intervention in the matter. I am writing to her to get justice and nothing else,” the alleged victim told a news agency. 
Asked if she planned to seek Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s assistance regarding the incident, the woman recounted how the alleged incident occurred on the day the PM was scheduled to stay at Raj Bhavan. 
“While I was in distress and protesting, PM’s security personnel witnessed my anguish. Although I believe they informed Modi, I received no response from him. Writing to him now seems futile,” she remarked. 
The alleged victim, who holds a Masters in Computer Application (MCA), said she was contemplating seeking therapy to overcome the depression she has endured since lodging her complaint against Bose. 
“I’ve been suffering from severe depression and humiliation. Coming from a modest background, I never imagined facing such a situation. It’s been a nightmare for me and my elderly parents. I am considering meeting a psychologist for counselling to cope with this ordeal,” she said. 
Expressing her outrage over the screening of the footage without protecting her identity, the victim said she would also approach the police for redress. 
She considered the act of screening of the May 2 CCTV footage an “insult” and accused the Governor of further violating her privacy and confidentiality while lamenting the “lack of cooperation from the Governor” throughout the investigation process. “How did the Governor screen my footage without my permission? 
He committed a new crime today,” she said.

https://www.millenniumpost.in/bengal/bdeshi-held-for-travelling-without-valid-documents-563408?infinitescroll=1

Crime, Politics, West Bengal

Police gets hold of Raj Bhavan CCTV footage

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MP, 10 May 2024, Kolkata: A day after the Raj Bhavan publicly disclosed selected CCTV footages, Kolkata Police is learnt to have finally got hold of the footages it had asked for as part of its probe into allegations of sexual harassment against the Governor C V Ananda Bose. Sources said the police have acquired the footage from the state’s Public Works department which is in charge of the security of Raj Bhavan. 

The footage was acquired on Thursday night. The police is now scanning through these since parts of the footage is said to be in congruence with the statements of the complainant, including the timings mentioned by the complainant. Earlier, the police had asked for the footage from Raj Bhavan authorities but was allegedly refused. 
The Governor had strictly asked the Raj Bhavan staff to refrain from giving any statements to the police. Police sources said that they are not probing any specific individual but certain complaints. 
As part of its ‘SACH KE SAAMNE’ (facing the truth) programme, Raj Bhavan disclosed CCTV footage to persons who either mailed or contacted the address provided by the Governor. 
Raj Bhavan released the hour-and-19-minute CCTV footage from May 2, the day when the woman contractual worker alleged she was sexually harassed by the Governor. 
The footage included recordings from two cameras in front of the North Gate from May 2. Footage from the two CCTVs showed the complainant approaching the Raj Bhavan’s officer-in-charge’s (OC) room from front and rear angles. 
Even though the complainant had alleged that the Governor sexually harassed her in the conference room on May 2, no footage from the inside of the Raj Bhavan was shown on Thursday. 
Neither was the Governor seen in any of the footage screened on Thursday. However, the complainant has now raised questions as to how the footages showing her were revealed when she has already lodged a complaint of sexual harassment. 
She is learnt to have alleged that the Governor had committed a crime against her and by disclosing the footage showing her, the Governor has committed another crime. She said that as far as she is aware, in such cases the identity of the victim cannot be disclosed without their permission. 
https://www.millenniumpost.in/bengal/police-gets-hold-of-raj-bhavan-cctv-footage-563326?infinitescroll=1
Politics, Regional, West Bengal

‘State must move Supreme Court’

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Soumyadip Mullick, MP, 10 May 2024, Kolkata: Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Abhishek Banerjee on Friday said that the state government should approach the Supreme Court over the incident involving allegations of sexual harassment against West Bengal Governor C V Ananda Bose. 

Abhishek questioned the CCTV footage shown by Raj Bhavan on Thursday. He asked what is the purpose of showing outdoor footage of Raj Bhavan. He challenged the Governor to reveal the footage of the inside chamber and corridor of Raj Bhavan. Banerjee told the media that if such an allegation is levelled against him and if he has to disclose CCTV footage then he will reveal the entire footage and not just selected parts of it. 
“The Governor should have disclosed footage of every area inside Raj Bhavan. What was instead done amounts to nothing short of a drama,” he remarked. He also added that by revealing such irrelevant footage the Governor has further insulted the woman. Abhishek said that Bose had insulted the chair of a Governor. 
He alleged that Bose sexually harassed someone who is of his daughter’s age in the name of giving her a job. “We have seen many Governors. We have seen Jagdeep Dhankhar but we have never seen a Governor stoop so low,” he said. 
When pointed out the constitutional protection that a Governor enjoys against criminal proceedings, Abhishek said: “The state government must approach the Supreme Court on this issue. It cannot happen that just because one is a Governor one can do anything. Law should be equal for all.” 
Accusing the National Commission for Women (NCW) of being politically biased towards the BJP, Banerjee alleged that it has not even asked a single question so far over this incident. He said people of this state will give a befitting reply to the ones who are out to malign Bengal. 
https://www.millenniumpost.in/bengal/state-must-move-supreme-court-563327
Crime, National, Politics, West Bengal

Bengal Guv must explain why he should not resign amid molestation allegations: Mamata

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MP, 11 May 2024 4:24 PM West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday slammed Governor C V Ananda Bose over allegations of molestation against him, and said he must explain why he should not step down. 

Addressing a poll rally here in support of TMC’s Hooghly candidate Rachana Banerjee, the CM also asserted she would not step inside the Raj Bhavan till Bose remains the governor. 
“The governor says ‘didigiri’ (high-handedness) will not be tolerated…But, I say Mr Governor, your ‘dadagiri’ will not work anymore,” the TMC supremo said. 
“Bose must explain why he should not resign after such allegations were levelled against him,” she said. A contractual woman employee of the Raj Bhavan had last week lodged a complaint with the Kolkata Police, alleging that she was molested by Bose in the governor’s house on April 24 and May 2. 
Bose had screened multiple CCTV footage of the Raj Bhavan on May 9, in a bid to clear the air over allegations of molestation brought against him. 
“The governor had released an edited video. I saw the entire footage and its contents are shocking. I have got another video… Your conduct is shameful,” the chief minister said. “I am not going to the Raj Bhavan till he is the governor… I prefer to meet him on the streets,” she asserted. 
https://www.millenniumpost.in/big-stories/bengal-guv-must-explain-why-he-should-not-resign-amid-molestation-allegations-mamata-563367?infinitescroll=1
National, Politics

‘4th phase to see lessor No. of Central Forces compared to 3rd’

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SOUMITRA NANDI, MP, 12 May 2024, Kolkata: The Election Commission of India (ECI) has decided to deploy a lesser number of Central Forces in the fourth phase of polls, scheduled on May 13, in comparison to the third phase. Eight Parliamentary constituencies – Berhampore, Ranaghat, Bardhaman- Durgapur, Bolpur, Krishnanagar, Bardhaman Purba, Asansol and Birbhum will go for polls on May 13. 

According to data provided by the Commission, there will be 596 companies of Central Forces during the fourth phase. Out of these, 579 companies are designated for overseeing 15,507 booths, while the remaining 17 companies will be deployed to supervise strong rooms and maintain law and order in various districts. 
During the third phase, the commission had deployed 406 companies of Central Forces. In the fourth phase, 3647 out of 15507 polling stations which accounts for nearly 21 per cent, have been labelled “sensitive”.
“The deployment of Central Forces is designed according to the sensitivity of the booths and the vulnerability of the constituency. So, it is not surprising that Central Forces will be less during the fourth phase. 
However, there will be adequate security arrangements in the fourth phase as well,“ an EC official said. The commission will be deploying 130 companies in Birbhum and an additional 73 companies for the Berhampur constituency in Murshidabad. 
Moreover, 152 companies have been assigned to Burdwan East, followed by 88 companies for the Asansol-Durgapur Police Commissionerate. 
There will be 81 companies for Krishnanagar and 54 companies for the Ranaghat Parliamentary constituencies in Nadia. In addition to the presence of Central Forces in all the booths, there will be 68 Quick Response Team (QRT) evenly distributed in all the constituencies.
In Asansol-Durgapur there will be 16 QRT teams followed by 15 in Murshidabad, 13 each in Birbhum and Burdwan Purba, 6 in Krishnanagar and 5 in Ranaghat. The Central Forces will also be supported by a state force of nearly 30,009 personnel. 
 https://www.millenniumpost.in/bengal/4th-phase-to-see-lessor-no-of-central-forces-compared-to-3rd-563407
Politics, Regional, West Bengal

Edwards meets AAP leader in Delhi, expresses support for Kejriwal

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EOI, DARJEELING, MAY 10, 2024 : Hamro Party president, Ajoy Edwards after meeting Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Rajesh Sharma in Delhi claimed AAP would support the demand for including the Hills areas under the sixth schedule. 

On Friday the HP president said he had a fruitful meeting with the AAP leader, who is in-charge of the northeastern states, and as a reciprocal measure decided to extend support to the Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal.
“The Gorkhas of Darjeeling have been demanding the status of 6th Schedule to be implemented. In the year 2007a bill was introduced in Parliament but due to various circumstances it could not be passed. To make our demand a reality Sharma has assured the AAP party’s support,” said Edwards. 
Ahead of the second phase of the ongoing Lok Sabha election, Edwards had joined the INDIA bloc and supported and campaigned for the Congress candidate Munish Tamang. 
The Memorandum of Settlement (MoS) for the implementation of the sixth schedule had been signed between the state, centre and the GNLF on December 6, 2005.However, the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha party led by Bimal Gurung and other political parties opposed the sixth schedule and with help of the BJP got the bill that was placed in Parliament in 2007, to be put in the back burner.
This was followed by four years of agitation for a separate Gorkhaland state spearheaded by the GJM which ultimately resulted in the formation of the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration in 2012. Apart from meeting Sharma, Edwards also submitted a letter addressed to Kejriwal expressing his support towards him and his “fight against injustice”. 
Commending the “exemplary work” being done by the AAP CM in Delhi, Edwards said, “As the president of Hamro Party, a proud member of the INDIA Alliance, I have closely followed the remarkable progress you have achieved in various sectors, which has served as an inspiration to me and many others across the nation. In these challenging times, as an alliance partner of the INDIA Alliance, HP stands firmly in solidarity with you, advocating for justice and fairness.”
Politics, Regional, West Bengal

Sandeshkhali: TMC accuses NCW ofconspiracy, rights body says womenforced to retract complaints

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PTI, 

10 May, 2024, Kolkata/New Delhi :  On a day the TMC accused NCW chairperson Rekha Sharma of “abusing her authority and being involved in a conspiracy” in Sandeshkhali, where women have claimed they were deceived by the BJP into filing sexual assault complaints against TMC leaders, the NCW asserted that the women were coerced into retracting their complaints.

Stating TMC’s intention to move EC against Sharma, West Bengal minister and TMC spokesperson Shashi Panja on Friday alleged that the NCW chairperson acted on “political bias” over the allegations and “encouraged women of the area to level false allegations of sexual atrocities.” Later in the day, the NCW in a letter to the poll panel claimed that women from the riverine area were being “compelled” to withdraw their complaints by TMC workers given the ongoing Lok Sabha polls and sought an inquiry from the Election Commission in the matter.

“It has come to the notice of the Commission that the women of Sandeshkhali are being compelled to withdraw their complaints by TMC workers as they are the ruling party in West Bengal,” the women’s panel said.

National Commission for Women (NCW) chairperson Rekha Sharma, after visiting Sandeshkali in February, had recommended to President Droupadi Murmu that President’s Rule be imposed in West Bengal over alleged atrocities on women and violence in Sandeshkhali.

Multiple purported videos of Sandeshkhali women shared by the TMC on Thursday claimed that a local saffron party leader made those women sign on blank papers which were later filled up as complaints of sexual assault.

The women in those purported videos claimed they were asked by local BJP worker Piyali Das to appear in person at the local police station and relate their ordeal before the NCW team which had visited Sandeshkhali to take stock of the situation.

The women later alleged that they never intended to lodge sexual assault complaints but were surprised to find such complaints filed in their names allegedly in the wake of the blank papers they were made to sign by Das.

Based on a complaint, police have filed an FIR against Das for coercing the women to “file false complaints”.

The TMC spokesperson claimed that the BJP was trying to create an “ecosystem” over allegations of atrocities in Sandeshkhali and that it was attempting to use various organisations for the purpose.

She alleged that although the BJP central leadership was regularly visiting West Bengal for poll campaigns, they have stopped talking about Sandeshkhali in the wake of the fresh developments from the ground.

“It is shameful that NCW has turned into BJP’s commission. We had heard about the Pulwama conspiracy in 2019, and now we are witnessing how the BJP hatches a conspiracy to malign us and the people of the state,” TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee said.

The rights panel requested the poll body to ensure that women are not compelled to withdraw their complaints due to threat from TMC workers.

The Commission requested the EC to look into the matter on priority and ensure that women are not compelled to withdraw their complaints due to the threat from TMC workers.

“The TMC party workers are instilling fear among the women of Sandeshkhali to suppress the victims from coming forward with their complaints potentially impacting the fairness of the election process in the area,” the NCW claimed.

Since last Saturday, three videos have been released by a portal, with the first one showing a man who claimed to be a BJP mandal president in Sandeshkhali was heard saying that the leader of the opposition in the West Bengal assembly, Suvendu Adhikari, was behind the “whole conspiracy”.

The second video was about women, who had earlier filed rape complaints, claiming that they were made to sign a blank paper by the BJP leaders and coerced to go to the police station.

The third video showed the BJP candidate from Basirhat constituency and Sandeshkhali protestor Rekha Patra claiming that she “doesn’t know the rape survivors who were taken to Delhi to meet the President.” Reacting to TMC’s claim, the BJP dubbed it baseless and accused them of circulating “fake videos”.

“The TMC is using fake videos to change the narrative ahead of the polls. The TMC has the least regard for NCW or the dignity of the women of Sandeshkhali. All the videos released are fake and doctored,” BJP state spokesperson Samik Bhattacharya said.

The riverine Sandeshkhali area — situated on the borders of the Sundarbans, about 100 kilometres from Kolkata — had been on the boil in February with protests over allegations of sexual abuse and land grab against now arrested TMC leader Shajahan Sheikh and his supporters. 
Crime, National, Politics

SC sets Kejriwal free for 21 days, barshim from attending office, signing files

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 The apex court asked the Delhi CM to not sign any official file unless absolutely necessary to obtain the LG’s sanction during the 21-day interim bail period. 

PTI, 10 May 2024, New Delhi : Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal cannot visit his office or the Delhi Secretariat during the tenure of his interim bail, the Supreme said on Friday as it imposed a slew of restrictions on him as part of the bail conditions.


It asked Kejriwal to not sign any official file unless absolutely necessary to obtain the Lieutenant Governor’s sanction during the 21-day interim bail period.

Imposing a raft of bail conditions on the embattled AAP leader, a bench of Justices Sanjiv Khanna and Dipankar Datta said, “He shall not visit the Office of the Chief Minister and the Delhi Secretariat.” “He shall be bound by the statement made on his behalf that he shall not sign official files unless it is required and necessary for obtaining clearance/ approval of the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi,” the top court said.

The bench also directed Kejriwal to furnish bail bonds in the sum of Rs 50,000 with one surety of the like amount to the satisfaction of the jail superintendent.

“He will not make any comment with regard to his role in the present case; and will not interact with any of the witnesses and/or have access to any official files connected with the case,” the top court said.

The apex court, while granting Kejriwal the relief said there was no doubt about the fact that serious accusations have been made against him but he has not been convicted yet.

“He does not have any criminal antecedents. He is not a threat to the society,” the bench said.

In a major relief to Kejriwal, the top court granted him interim bail till June 1 to campaign in the ongoing Lok Sabha elections.

The apex court said Kejriwal will have to surrender and go back to jail on June 2.

The matter relates to alleged corruption and money laundering in the formulation and execution of the Delhi government’s now scrapped excise policy for 2021-22. 
Politics, Regional, West Bengal

Bengal BJP launches portal, helpline number for ‘genuine candidates’ affected by school jobs scam

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The helpline number and the portal were made public on Wednesday night, days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi asked the state unit of the saffron party to establish a legal cell for the ‘genuine’ candidates

PTI, Calcutta, 09.05.24 : The West Bengal unit of the BJP has set up a dedicated legal support website and a helpline number to assist “genuine” candidates affected by the alleged school jobs scam, a senior party leader said on Thursday.

The helpline number and the portal were made public on Wednesday night, days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi asked the state unit of the BJP to establish a legal cell for the “genuine” candidates.

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“As per the instructions of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, West Bengal BJP is duty-bound to stand beside the eligible candidates who were affected due to the TMC’s illegal recruitment of some people,” BJP spokesperson Samik Bhattacharya said.

The legal support website is ‘bjplegalsupport.org’ and helpline number is 9150056618, he said.

“Once a complaint is received through the helpline number or the website, we will speak to the candidate concerned and seek the status of his or her case, following which we will provide legal help accordingly,” he said.

While addressing election rallies in the state on Friday, Modi had issued the direction to the state BJP in a bid to address grievances stemming from the scam and assured of support to genuine candidates who were affected.

The Calcutta High Court had on April 22 declared the recruitment process of the State Level Selection Test-2016 (SLST) in West Bengal government-sponsored and aided schools as “null and void”, ordering the cancellation of all appointments made through it. Around 26,000 people lost their jobs following the court order.

The Supreme Court, however, on Tuesday stayed the Calcutta High Court order invalidating the appointment of 25,753 teachers and non-teaching staffers made by the state’s School Service Commission (SSC) in state-run and aided schools.

A bench comprising Chief Justice DY Chandrachud and Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, however, permitted the CBI to continue with its investigation and probe even members of the state cabinet but asked the agency not to take any precipitate action like arresting a suspect.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had accused the BJP of “hatching the conspiracy” to snatch away the school jobs and thanked the apex court for staying the Calcutta High Court order.
Crime, Politics, West Bengal

Molestation allegations: Governor footage leaves ‘room’ for doubt

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 Footage was shown from two cameras — one near the North Gate and the other near the Raj Bhavan police outpost — not far from the main building 
The screening of the CCTV footage at Raj Bhavan. Sourced by the Telegraph.

Monalisa Chaudhuri, TT, Calcutta, 10.05.24 :  The Raj Bhavan showed CCTV footage for over an hour to a gathering of citizens on Thursday but not of the rooms where governor C.V. Ananda Bose has been accused of harassing a woman employee on April 24 and May 2.

The footage clearly showed the woman on the Raj Bhavan compound. On Thursday evening, she said: “Videos of mine have been circulated by Dr Bose without my permission and without blurring my face and body. I have learned that this is a crime.”

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She added: “I have already received this unblurred video from one of those who attended the event. That means it has been circulated and with the specific purpose of maligning my dignity.”

Indian law restricts people from revealing the identity of a sexual harassment complainant.

Bose had announced an email ID and a telephone number for ordinary citizens to register to see the footage. The Telegraph was at the Raj Bhavan to see the footage.

Footage was shown from two cameras — one near the North Gate and the other near the Raj Bhavan police outpost — not far from the main building.

A Raj Bhavan staff member said there was no CCTV camera in the first-floor room where the alleged May 2 incident happened. It could not be ascertained whether the room where the alleged April 24 incident took place has a CCTV camera.

Here’s what the footage showed and what it did not:

What was shown

· May 2, 5.33pm: A woman (purportedly the complainant) is seen walking hurriedly towards the police outpost. Her face is visible in the footage. She lifts her hand once, apparently asking something from a policeman nearby. She then walks towards the outpost.

Several men in white police uniform are seen standing, talking among themselves. A man and a second woman, wearing white and green salwar-kameez with a green dupatta, are seen walking behind the woman. The man and this second woman part ways as the man walks out of the main gate. The second woman comes near the outpost and stands there for a few minutes.

· 5.37pm: The second woman, later identified as a Raj Bhavan staff member, is seen loitering outside the police outpost and the sentry posts, making phone calls. The complainant has named this second woman to the police as one of those who allegedly tried to stop her when she was going to the police.

· 6.03pm: A fire tender arrives and heads into the Raj Bhavan as part of the security detail before the arrival of the Prime Minister. Narendra Modi visited Calcutta the same day and spent the night at the Raj Bhavan.

The complainant is still inside the police outpost.

· 6.29pm: The deputy commissioner (reserve force) of city police, who is in charge of Raj Bhavan security, is seen briefing police personnel. The complainant is still inside the police outpost and is not visible in the footage any more.

· 6.41pm: The footage ends with a large number of police personnel standing in the compound. The woman is still inside.

Not shown

· Any footage from inside the Raj Bhavan building where the alleged harassment happened. The closest that is visible in the footage is a portion of the Raj Bhavan compound several metres from the main building.

· Any footage from the room where, according to the woman’s police complaint, the governor had made physical advances on her on April 24.

· Any footage from the room where the governor had called her on May 2 and later allegedly tried to touch her inappropriately.

· Any footage from the room where the woman was allegedly confined and where her phone and bag were allegedly snatched.

· Any footage from the ground-floor corridor from where she says she entered the office of a senior Raj Bhavan official to report the incident before she came out of the building.

The woman has told the police she was crying while walking down the corridor. “There is a camera in the corridor and one near the lift. The footage from any of these cameras would have shown me crying,” the woman told this newspaper on Thursday.

· Footage of the woman stepping out of the outpost. (The woman has alleged that some Raj Bhavan staff were waiting outside the outpost and tried to send her home in an official vehicle, which she refused.)