Category Archives: Politics

National, Politics, Religion

A myth stalking Muslims busted: Questions over PM panel data on minority population

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The paper has emerged in the middle of the 2024 general election, during which Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other BJP leaders have tried to stoke insecurity among Hindus by portraying the Congress as a party that leans towards Muslims
A woman shows her inked finger after voting in Bareilly on Tuesday.: PTI picture.

G.S. Mudur, TT, New Delhi, 10.05.24 : 

Credible questions have been raised on conclusions reached by the Prime Minister’s economic advisory panel on the changing degree of India’s minority population over decades.

A non-government organisation that advocates population health and development strategies has called the panel’s interpretation “misleading and baseless” and has advised people not to engage with them.

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The Population Foundation of India said on Thursday that it was “deeply concerned” about how the media had misrepresented the study’s observations on the changes in the shares of India’s majority and minority religious groups over 65 years.

A PTI report on Thursday said a May 2024 paper by the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister (EAC-PM) had noted that the share of the Hindu population had decreased by 7.8 per cent while that of the Muslim population had increased by 43.1 per cent between 1950 and 2015.

The paper, titled “Share of Religious Minorities: A cross-country analysis (1950-2015)”, also said the share of Jains in India’s population had decreased from 0.45 per cent in 1950 to 0.36 per cent in 2015.

“The share of the majority Hindu population decreased by 7.82 per cent between 1950 and 2015 (from 84.68 per cent to 78.06 per cent). The share of the Muslim population in 1950 was 9.84 per cent and increased to 14.09 per cent in 2015 — a 43.15 per cent increase,” the PTI report said, citing the paper prepared by a team led by Shamika Ravi, a member of the EAC-PM.

The paper EAC/PM/WP/29/2024 was not accessible through the EAC PM website on Thursday evening.

The paper has emerged in the middle of the 2024 general election, during which Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other BJP leaders have tried to stoke insecurity among Hindus by portraying the Congress as a party that leans towards Muslims.

The EAC-PM study’s observ­ations “should not be used to incite fear or discrimination against any community”, said the Population Foundation, a 54-year-old non-profit organisation engaged in gender-sensitive population and development activities, including adolescents’ health and women’s empowerment.

The foundation has asserted that fertility rates are closely linked to education and income levels, and not religion. “States with better access to education, healthcare and socioeconomic development such as Kerala and Tamil Nadu exhibit lower total fertility rates across all religious groups,” it said.

“The media’s selective portrayal of data to highlight the increase in the Muslim population is an example of misrepresentation that has ignored broader demographic trends,” the foundation’s executive director, Poonam Muttreja, said.

Citing census data, the foundation said the decadal growth rate for Muslims had decreased from 32.9 per cent between 1981 and 1991 to 24.6 per cent between 2001 and 2011.

“This decline is more pronounced than that of Hindus, whose growth rate fell from 22.7 per cent to 16.8 per cent over the same period,” it said.

The foundation also said the population censuses from 1951 through 2011 had produced data “similar” to that in the EAC-PM paper, implying that the paper had not revealed new data or trends.

The EAC-PM paper focused on the changes in the religious compositions of populations in countries around the world, saying this aspect was “an axis of demographic change that has been under-studied”.

The paper hypothesises that the changes in the proportions of minority populations relative to a country’s total population are a “good proxy” for understanding the status of minorities in that country over time.

“A society which provides a congenial environment for the flourishing of minorities is more likely to witness an increase or stabilisation in their numbers over a period of three generations,” it said.

The Population Foundation has, however, underscored the association between fertility rates and education and income.

For instance, the total fertility rate (TFR) — the average number of children born to a woman over her lifetime — among Muslim women in Kerala (2.25) is lower than the TFR among Hindu women in Bihar (2.88), it said.

The TFR is declining among all religious groups and the steepest decrease in the TFR from 2005-06 to 2019-21 was among Muslims — by 1 percentage point — while it was 0.7 percentage points among Hindus.

Countries such as Bangladesh and Indonesia have achieved lower birth rates compared to India through higher levels of female education, greater employment opportunities, and better access to contraceptive choices, the foundation said.

“The most effective way to manage population growth is through investment in education, economic development, and gender equity,” Muttreja said.

“And women’s education is a critical factor in reducing fertility rates. Interventions should focus on providing education and family planning services, irrespective of religion.” 
Politics, Regional, West Bengal

TMC writes to EC, demands criminal proceedings against Suvendu & others

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MP, 10 May 2024, Kolkata: Revealing yet another video where the BJP’s Basirhat candidate Rekha Patra, along with few other women, were purportedly heard alleging that random women were taken to meet the President of India instead of the victims of alleged sexual harassment in Sandeshkhali, 

Trinamool Congress (TMC) on Thursday requested the Election Commission (EC) to direct the appropriate police station to initiate criminal proceedings against state BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari and others involved in hatching a conspiracy. 
Following the first video clip revealed by TMC where a BJP leader Gangadhar Kayal was purportedly heard saying that few women in Sandeshkhali were paid by his party leaders, including Suvendu Adhikari, to lodge false complaints of sexual harassment against some of the local Trinamool leaders, another clip was released by TMC on Thursday which purportedly showed Rekha Patra and some other women alleging that random women were taken to meet the President of India instead of the victims. 
The authenticity of the video clips in question has not been verified by Millennium Post. In its deputation to the EC, Trinamool complained against Suvendu Adhikari, Gangadhar Kayal, BJP’s mandal sabhapati in Sandeshkhali-II, Shanti Dolui, BJP’s mandal sabhapati in Sandeshkhali-I and other unknown individuals associated for alleged commission of “serious fraud upon society by terrorizing the general public with a false narrative of hostility being committed against women of Sandeshkhali, including rape.” 
Trinamool alleged that these people engaged in a “deep-rooted conspiracy to orchestrate false rape complaints” against now suspended TMC leader Sheikh Shahjahan Shibu Hazra and Uttam Sardar. The party alleged that it was done by the BJP to tarnish its image and sway public opinion in favour of the saffron brigade. 
The party further alleged that one of the complainant Jaba Rani Singha admitted to being misled and coerced into signing a false statement without fully understanding its implications. TMC demanded that the EC issue immediate direction to respective Inspector-in-Charges of competent police stations to initiate criminal proceedings against BJP leaders including Suvendu Adhikari and people associated with him for orchestrating the conspiracy. 
They demanded detention and interrogation of all individuals seen in the videos. Lastly, EC was requested to issue directions for restraining the BJP and its leaders from speaking on the “false Sandeshkhali incident”. 
On Thursday, BJP candidate Rekha Patra submitted her nominations in the district magistrate’s office in Barasat and was accompanied by Suvendu Adhikari but the duo reportedly refused to speak on the matter. Adhikari, however, reportedly told the media that the videos are a conspiracy hatched by Trinamool’s national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee and the I-PAC organisation. 
Meanwhile, a complaint has been filed against BJP leader Gangadhar Kayal and Basirhat BJP candidate Rekha Patra in the Sandeshkhali in connection with the sting video footage incident. 
According to sources, a local resident reportedly lodged the complaint against them 

https://www.millenniumpost.in/bengal/tmc-writes-to-ec-demands-criminal-proceedings-against-suvendu-others-563195
National, Northeast, Politics

Migrants threatening survival of indigenous people of Manipur: Biren Singh

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 Manipur CM says steps being taken to deport illegal immigrants

IANS, 

Imphal, May 9, 2024 :  Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh said that immigrants from across the border threatened the survival of indigenous people in the state and the government would not allow it to continue.

Singh in his series of social media posts without naming Myanmar said that till May 7, a total of 5,457 illegal immigrants have been detected and biometric data of 5,173 of them have been collected while the deportation process is underway.

“In this crucial juncture, we have noticed certain homegrown groups, based out of Western countries, criticising the steps taken up against illegal immigration by giving a communal tone and propagating it as violations of religious freedom,” the Chief Minister said.

“Ironically, this lobby is quiet about Western countries’ stance against illegal immigration but raises objections to the actions taken in Manipur, India. This selective outrage raises concerns about the agendas and propaganda pursued by these groups with secessionist tendencies.”

Singh, who also holds the home portfolio, during the past few days has been posting on various social media about aspects of illegal migrants in Manipur from neighbouring Myanmar.

Manipur shares around 400 km of international border with Myanmar. Works for fencing of the 20 km of the mountainous borders are now underway.

The Chief Minister had said that the influx of illegal immigrants from Myanmar led to the emergence of 996 new villages in the state in the past 18 years.

“The unnatural growth of 996 new villages since 2006 and illegal immigration from Myanmar is a threat to the indigenous people and national security. The immigrants have set up settlements by encroaching upon forest lands, leading to deforestation and environmental degradation,” a Manipur government report said.

It added that the immigrants have engaged in illicit activities such as poppy cultivation, further exacerbating the socio-economic and ecological challenges faced by the region.

In response to these challenges, the Manipur government has initiated several measures aimed at addressing the issue of illegal immigration and its associated impacts.

The report, accessed by IANS, said the state government following the advice of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has been collecting biometric data of the illegal immigrants and geotagging their settlements.

According to the report, the state government has taken various measures to curb the illegal influx from across the border.

The measures include enhancing security along around 400 km India-Myanmar border in Manipur, engagement of indigenous communities, empowering them to safeguard their rights and interests against encroachment and exploitation and urged the Central government to scrap the Free Movement Regime (FMR) between India and Myanmar.

The FMR allowed citizens residing close to both sides of the border to move 16 km into each other’s territory without a passport or a visa.

The Manipur Chief Minister had said that 877 square km of forest cover in the northeastern state were destroyed in 34 years (1987-2021), primarily for the illegal cultivation of poppy, which has been used to manufacture various drugs.

Singh, who also holds the Home portfolio, said that forest cover in Manipur was 17,475 sq km in 1987 and in 2021, it was destroyed to 16,598 sq km, primarily for the cultivation of poppy.

The eviction of unauthorised encroachers carried out ever since the BJP government led by him came to power in Manipur in 2017 and 291 encroachers were evicted from the Reserve Forest and Protected Forest throughout the state, the Chief Minister had said.

It was never targeted towards any particular community, Singh pointed out.
Crime, National, Politics, Regional, West Bengal

Guv Bose shows CCTV footage of Raj Bhavan to common people

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IANS, Kolkata, May 9, 2024 : Amid allegations of molestation against West Bengal Governor C.V. Ananda Bose, the Governor’s House on Thursday showed 69-minute CCTV footage of the Raj Bhavan premises dated May 2 to around 100 ‘common people’.


On May 2, a temporary female staff at the Raj Bhavan filed a police complaint accusing the Governor of ‘outraging her modesty’, triggering a political storm in the state.

Denying the charge vehemently from the beginning, the Governor on Wednesday announced that the CCTV footage of the Raj Bhavan will be screened at the Governor’s House for the common people, barring Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and members of the police force, on Thursday.

In the CCTV footage screened in three parts, the Governor could not be seen in any frame.

The footage from May 2 showed recordings of two CCTV cameras installed in the North Gate of the Raj Bhavan from 5.32 p,m. to 6.41 p.m. The screening event was titled ‘Sach Ka Samna’.

Although the Governor was not spotted in the footage, the complainant was seen twice — once entering the police post inside the Raj Bhavan premises, and then coming out of it and entering an adjacent room.

Heavy deployment of police was seen in the footage on account of the arrival of Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Raj Bhavan on the night of May 2.

Since the announcement of the screening on Wednesday, the Governor’s office received hundreds of applications from the common people seeking to attend the event.

The CCTV cameras inside the Governor’s House are maintained by the Public Works Department, while the monitoring is done by the Kolkata Police.
Crime, Politics, Regional, West Bengal

New videos surface, claim women deceived to lodge complaints of rape; TMC slams BJP

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PTI, 09 May, 2024 : The Trinamool Congress on Thursday accused the BJP of spreading falsehood about the incidents of Sandeshkhali, after several purported videos claimed that a local female BJP leader made multiple women sign on blank papers, which were later filled up as complaints of sexual assault against TMC leaders.


The allegation was levelled within three days after the TMC took to social media to unveil a Sandeshkhali “sting operation” video featuring a local BJP leader Gangadhar Koyal who claimed that the rape allegations were “staged” and were lodged at the behest of state Leader of Opposition, Suvendu Adhikari.

In a bid to reassert its claims, the TMC shared a fresh set of videos on Thursday of purported women residents of Sandeshkhali who alleged they were “manipulated” by the BJP into filing “false rape cases”.

The party also shared a fresh video where BJP’s Basirhat candidate and one of the leading faces of Sandeshkhali protests, Rekha Patra, was seen questioning the identity of the contingent of “Sandeshkhali victims” who were earlier taken to Delhi by the state BJP leaders to meet President Draupadi Murmu and relate their ordeal.

On Wednesday, the TMC had alleged that BJP leaders were issuing death threats to women who have expressed their willingness to withdraw their complaints of rape.

PTI, however, could not independently verify the authenticity of any of the tapes released so far.

Referring to the newly released videos, state minister and senior TMC leader, Shashi Panja, condemned the BJP for “perpetuating a false narrative on Sandeshkhali sexual assaults” and threatening victims who sought to retract their police complaints.

“Sandeshkhali victims may have had a few complaints over land grab. But they never had complaints of sexual offence. This again proves that the BJP is spreading falsehood. This despicable act of fabrication and intimidation will not go unpunished,” Panja said.

West Bengal’s Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari, on the other hand, dismissed TMC’s claims, alleging that the videos were fabricated by ‘bhaipo’ (nephew), an oblique reference to TMC leader Abhishek Banerjee and the party’s private poll-cum-political consultant, I-PAC, who “distributed money” to get the job done.

“We are soon moving court against both and will ensure they are taken to task for spreading such malicious lies,” Adhikari said while participating in a nomination filing rally of Rekha Patra at Basirhat.

BJP Rajya Sabha MP and party spokesperson Samik Bhattacharya told reporters that the more such videos surface, the higher the margin of votes by BJP from Sandeshkhali assembly segment under Basirhat Lok Sabha seat.

He said the state administration itself prepared a list of those whose plots of land had been taken away by TMC leader Shahjahan Sheikh, who was arrested and later suspended by the party, and started the process of returning those.

So circulating one video after another now contradicts the state’s move to set right the wrongs committed by the ruling party, he said.

Bhattacharya said the BJP Sandeshkhali mondal president, whose name figured in the purported video, requested the CBI to include the clipping in its probe.

Leader of Opposition Adhikari claimed that people could see through the web of Trinamool’s deceit and Patra would gain a lead of 1.5 lakh votes from the Sandeshkhali region itself.

In one of the latest videos, a woman was heard saying, “We were deceived into signing on blank papers. We discovered later that rape complaints had been lodged in our names. This is a blatant lie.” The woman said the authorities should take action against the woman BJP leader who manipulated them to sign blank papers.

Another alleged Sandeshkhali resident echoed similar sentiments in a separate video, claiming that they have become victims of a scheme orchestrated by BJP leader Piyali Das.

According to information last received, Das has been summoned by the local police for questioning.

In the video which features Patra, the BJP candidate was heard seconding another woman standing next to her who alleged that the victims who were taken to meet the President were arbitrarily chosen by local BJP leaders.

“Several oppressed women were taken to meet the President. We weren’t part of that group. We had gone to meet the Prime Minister (in Barasat where he addressed a public meeting on March 6). If not us, then who were these so-called oppressed women who met the President?” she asked.

“We have a right to know that if we were in Sandeskhali at that time, then who became our faces to meet the President?” Patra was heard adding.

Regarding this, Bhattacharya said hundreds of women had levelled charges of atrocities against TMC leaders from different islands of the area.

“It is clear that Patra did not know every one of them and this purported video must have been recorded before she was fielded as a candidate from Basirhat,” he said.

The TMC, meanwhile, has moved the Election Commission urging the poll body to initiate criminal proceedings against the BJP leaders concerned, including Adhikari, for “orchestrating the conspiracy including paying bribes to the women of Sandeshkhali to falsely raise complaints and attempting to influence central investigating agencies and other constitutional authorities”.

CPI(M) Basirhat Lok Sabha candidate Nirapada Sardar claimed that both TMC and BJP are trying to confuse the people of Sandeshkhali by circulating such videos. 
Crime, National, Politics

ED to file chargesheet against Kejriwal, Kavitha

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 Enforcement Directorate plans to file a charge sheet in the Delhi excise policy-linked money laundering case, naming Arvind Kejriwal, BRS leader K Kavitha, and others as accused, including individuals and companies.

PTI, May 09, 2024: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) is expected to soon file a fresh charge sheet in the Delhi excise policy-linked money laundering case and it may name Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, BRS leader K Kavitha and some others as accused, official sources said on Thursday. The federal agency had arrested Kejriwal from his official residence here on March 21 under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) while Kavitha, the MLC daughter of former Telangana chief minister K Chandrashekar Rao, was taken into custody from Hyderabad on March 15.

Official sources said a prosecution complaint against half-a-dozen entities, including the two politicians, some linked individuals and companies, has been readied and the agency may file it before a special PMLA court here within the next 4-5 days.

The accused will be charged with money laundering and the prosecution complaint will be filed under sections 45 and 44(1) of the PMLA, the sources said.

The agency may also name the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in this charge sheet along with attachment of some fresh assets in the case that was registered in 2022.
Crime, National, Politics

ED in SC opposes interim bail to Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal, says electioneering not fundamental right

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It is relevant to note that the right to campaign for an election is neither a fundamental right nor a constitutional right and not even a legal right: ED
Arvind Kejriwal : File photo

PTI, New Delhi, 09.05.24 : The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Thursday opposed in the Supreme Court the grant of interim bail to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in a money-laundering case linked to the alleged excise policy scam, saying the right to campaign in elections is neither fundamental nor constitutional.

In a fresh affidavit filed in the top court, the ED said no political leader has ever been granted interim bail for campaigning even if he is not contesting polls.
“It is relevant to note that the right to campaign for an election is neither a fundamental right nor a constitutional right and not even a legal right,” the agency said. It added that to its knowledge, “no political leader has been granted interim bail for campaigning even though he is not the contesting candidate. Even a contesting candidate is not granted interim bail if he is in custody for his own campaigning”.

On Wednesday, Justice Sanjiv Khanna, who headed the bench that heard Kejriwal’s petition against his arrest in the case, said, “We will pronounce the interim order (on bail) on Friday. The main matter related to the challenge to arrest will also be taken up on the same day.” The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader was arrested on March 21 and is currently lodged in Tihar Jail under judicial custody.

On May 7, the bench, also comprising Justice Dipankar Datta, had reserved its verdict on Kejriwal’s interim bail plea.

On Tuesday, a Delhi court extended Kejriwal’s judicial custody in the case till May 20.

The Delhi High Court had, on April 9, upheld the AAP leader’s arrest, saying there was no illegality and the ED was left with “little option” after he skipped repeated summonses and refused to join the investigation.

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.
National, Politics, Regional, West Bengal

Phase 3 records 77.53% voter turnout in 4 LS seats in state

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MP, 9 May 2024, Kolkata: The four Parliamentary constituencies in Bengal that went for polls on Tuesday in the third phase of elections, witnessed the lowest voter turnout in the last four decades. 

The four constituencies that had consistently witnessed 80 per cent turnout recorded 77.53 per cent voting, with the only saving grace being Murshidabad that saw over 80 per cent polls. Considering the last two Lok Sabha elections, there has been a decline of nearly four per cent. In 2019 and 2014, the four constituencies saw an average voter turnout of 81.66 and 81.85 per cent, respectively. 
Murshidabad, historically known for high voter participation, recorded 81.52 per cent in this election making it the lowest ever turnout in the last 40 years. In the 1980 Lok Sabha polls, Murshidabad recorded a turnout of 80.31 per cent, which is less than the current polling percentage.
Similarly, Jangipur registered a turnout of only 73.71 per cent, its lowest since 1977 when it was 58.07 percent. In Malda district, comprising Malda South and Malda North constituencies, the voter turnout was also low with Malda South recording 76.69 per cent and Malda North at 76.03 per cent. 
Prior to this, the district only saw a turnout of 75.54 per cent in 1980, which is lower than the current turnout. Interestingly, before the delimitation in 2004, Malda was only one constituency, which was subsequently divided into Malda South and Malda North. 
“The installation of CCTV cameras in all the polling stations and the strategic deployment of Central Forces have contributed significantly in keeping away the unwanted elements from the election process. We have also taken suitable measures for corrections in the voters list that resulted in weeding out fake voters from the list. This may have contributed to this turnout.  However, considering the other constituencies in the country that went for polls, our polling has been satisfactory,” an official in the office of Bengal CEO (Chief Electoral Officer) said. He added that there was hardly any complaint of false voting in this election. The genuine voters only exercised their franchise. 
A section of political analysts however believe that absentee voters and public apathy toward engaging in the democratic process, possibly due to widespread political corruption in recent months, may have significantly contributed to the low voter turnout in this election. 
https://www.millenniumpost.in/bengal/phase-3-records-7753-voter-turnout-in-4-ls-seats-in-state-563034
Crime, Northeast, Politics

Banned outfit’s cadre held in Manipur

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PTI, Imphal, May 8, 2024 :  A 33-year-old cadre of the banned National Revolutionary Front of Manipur was arrested from Imphal, police said on Wednesday.


Heisnam James Singh, an active member of the proscribed outfit, was involved in extortion and apprehended from the vicinity of the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences here on Tuesday, a police statement said.

A two-wheeler was seized from his possession, it said.

Search operations and area domination by security forces continued in the fringe and vulnerable areas of hill and valley districts in ethnic strife-torn Manipur, police said.

More than 219 people were killed and thousands displaced from homes after ethnic clashes broke out on May 3 last year in Manipur, when a ‘Tribal Solidarity March’ was organised in the hill districts to protest against the Meitei community’s demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status.

Meiteis account for about 53 per cent of Manipur’s population and live mostly in the Imphal Valley. Tribals – Nagas and Kukis – constitute little over 40 per cent and reside in the hill districts. 
Crime, National, Politics

Supreme Court to pass order on interim bail to Arvind Kejriwal on May 10

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We will pronounce the interim order (on interim bail) on Friday. The main matter related to the challenge to arrest will also be taken on the same day, says Justice Sanjiv Khanna
Arvind Kejriwal File picture

PTI, New Delhi, 08.05.24 : The Supreme Court will deliver its order on granting interim bail to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in a money laundering case linked to the alleged excise policy scam on May 10.

Justice Sanjiv Khanna, who headed the bench which heard Kejriwal’s petition against his arrest in the case, said, “We will pronounce the interim order (on interim bail) on Friday. The main matter related to the challenge to arrest will also be taken on the same day.” Justice Khanna, who was sitting in a different combination with Justices MM Sundresh and Bela M Trivedi, made the remark after Additional Solicitor General SV Raju, who was appearing for the Centre in a matter related to Goods and Services Tax, sought clarification on the listing of Kejriwal’s plea.

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader was arrested on March 21 and is currently lodged in Tihar Jail under judicial custody.

On May 7, the bench, also comprising Justice Dipankar Datta, had reserved its verdict on interim bail to Kejriwal.

The two-judge bench had risen without pronouncing order on granting Kejriwal interim bail to enable him to campaign in the Lok Sabha elections.

The bench had reserved its decision after hearing the arguments put forth by senior advocate Abhishek Singhvi and Additional Solicitor General S V Raju, who appeared for Kejriwal and the Enforcement Directorate, respectively.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, who also appeared for the probe agency, had staunchly opposed showing any leniency to Kejriwal on account of the Lok Sabha polls and said granting interim bail to the AAP national convenor would amount to creating a separate class for politicians.

The bench has divided the hearing on Kejriwal’s petition against his arrest into two parts.

His main petition challenges his arrest by the ED and seeks it to be declared as illegal, while the second aspect pertains to grant of interim bail keeping in mind the ongoing Lok Sabha polls.

The court reserved the order on the issue of grant of interim bail.

On Tuesday, a Delhi court has extended Kejriwal’s judicial custody in the money laundering case till May 20.

The Delhi High Court had on April 9 upheld Kejriwal’s arrest, saying there was no illegality and the ED was left with “little option” after he skipped repeated summonses and refused to join the investigation.

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.
Crime, Politics, Regional, West Bengal

Molestation case: Bengal Guv to show CCTV footage to 100 people, except Mamata Banerjee and police

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A contractual woman employee of the Raj Bhavan on Friday lodged a written complaint with the Calcutta Police alleging molestation by the governor in the Governor’s House
CV Ananda Bose : File picture.

PTI, Calcutta, 08.05.24 :In the backdrop of a woman employee levelling molestation charge against West Bengal Governor Dr CV Ananda Bose, the Raj Bhavan here on Wednesday said it would show the related CCTV footage to 100 people, except “politician” Mamata Banerjee and “her police”.

Following the allegation, the police requested the Raj Bhavan to share the CCTV footage concerned. The Governor, however, directed his staff not to cooperate with the police in this regard.

“Governor Bose has launched a programme ‘SACH KE SAAMNE’ in the background of the mischievous and fabricated allegations by the police that Raj Bhavan is not sparing the CCTV footage of an incident which is under the illegal and unconstitutional investigation of the police,” the Raj Bhavan said in a post on X handle.

It asked the people to send requests over email or phone to attend the programme at Raj Bhavan and the first 100 people would be allowed to see the footage inside the Governor’s House on Thursday morning.

“Governor has decided that the CCTV footage can be seen by any citizen of West Bengal — except politician Mamata Banerjee and her police for the stand they had taken, which is in public domain,” the post read.

A contractual woman employee of the Raj Bhavan on Friday lodged a written complaint with the Calcutta Police alleging molestation by the governor in the Governor’s House.

Bose had described the allegation as “absurd drama” and labelled Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s politics as “dirty”.
National, Politics

J P Nadda, Amit Malviya summoned by Bengaluru police over social media post

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 For the purpose of investigation of the said case, you are hereby directed to appear before the undersigned investigation officer at 11 am at High grounds police station within seven days of receipt of this notice, read the summons
BJP’s IT cell head Amit Malviya and BJP President J P Nadda, File picture.

PTI, Bengaluru, 08.05.24 : Bengaluru Police has summoned BJP President J P Nadda and the party’s IT cell head Amit Malviya in connection with a social media post allegedly intimidating members of SC and ST community not to vote for a particular candidate, officials said on Wednesday.

They have been asked to join the probe at the High grounds police station here.

“For the purpose of investigation of the said case, you are hereby directed to appear before the undersigned investigation officer at 11 am at High grounds police station within seven days of receipt of this notice,” the summons read.

The move comes after an FIR was registered against Nadda, Malviya and BJP’s Karnataka unit chief B Y Vijayendra in connection with a social media following a complaint filed by the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) with the Election Commission and police on May 5 alleging violation of model code of conduct.

They were booked under sections of Representation of People Act and section 505 (2) (Statements creating or promoting enmity, hatred or ill-will between classes) of the Indian Penal Code, a senior police officer said.

In the complaint, the KPCC cited the video uploaded on social media platform ‘X’ by the official account of Karnataka State BJP which, it alleged, is operated by Malviya, on instructions of Nadda and Vijayendra, BJP State President and Social Media incharge- Karnataka BJP, on May 4.

“The said video posted on social media featured animated characters of (Congress leader) Rahul Gandhi and (Chief Minister) Siddaramaiah. In the clip, SC, ST and OBC community are portrayed as “eggs” in a nest and it also suggested Rahul Gandhi planting a big egg labelled as Muslim community. It is projected as though funds are being fed to the chick depicting the Muslim community, which then kicks out SC, ST and OBC community,” it alleged.

“The act of the accused person (s) is to wantonly provoke rioting and promote enmity between different religions and is prejudicial to maintenance of harmony apart from intimidating members of SC/ST community not to vote for particular candidate and causing enmity against members of SC/ST community,” the complaint alleged.
Crime, Politics, Regional, West Bengal

X users get police notice for posting ‘hateful’ meme on Mamata Banerjee, warned of legal action

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PTI, Kolkata, May 7, 2024 :  The Kolkata Police warned of legal action against two users of micro-blogging site X for allegedly posting an “offensive, hateful and inflammatory meme” of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, a senior officer said on Tuesday.


Two X handles – @SoldierSaffron7 and @Shalendervoice – allegedly shared the ‘offensive’ meme of Mamata Banerjee, he said, The Kolkata Police wrote in the ‘reply’ box of the posts, “You are directed to disclose your full identity including name and address immediately”.

The police have warned that legal action will be taken against them.

“It has been observed that you are using social media for posting offensive, malicious and inciting post. Cyber Police Station Kolkata hereby issues notice against you under section 149 of the CrPC” for posting such a message which can affect the law and order situation, the police said in a notice to the X handlers.

“You are hereby directed to delete the above-mentioned post and also refrain from such acts failing which you will be liable for strict penal action under the relevant provision of law,” it added.

Though the post has been removed by @Shalendervoice, @SoldierSaffron7 retained the meme – a video of Banerjee made using artificial intelligence technology.

Condemning the police move, SoldierSaffron7 said in another post, “Those who say there is no democracy under BJP government in India should sometimes visit West Bengal. So much Freedom of Speech in Bengal!” 
Crime, Education, Politics, Regional, West Bengal

‘Very happy’ Mamata hails SC order, BJP says corruption has been proved in court

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PTI, Kolkata, 7 May, 2024 : Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday welcomed the Supreme Court order that stayed the Calcutta High Court verdict of cancelling more than 25,000 school jobs, and said she is “very happy and mentally relaxed” after getting justice in the apex court. 
“I am really very happy and mentally relaxed on receipt of justice at the highest Court of the land. Congratulations to the entire teaching fraternity and my humble regards to the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India,” Mamata said in a post on X. 
Speaking in a similar vein, TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee said truth has triumphed. 
“The Honorable Supreme Court has DEFUSED the BJP’s ‘EXPLOSIVE’ hurled last week to malign Bengal’s image and destabilise WB government. TRUTH HAS TRIUMPHED! We will continue to defy all odds and stand shoulder to shoulder with the people until our last breath,” he wrote on X.
The BJP, however, claimed that corruption in school recruitment in West Bengal has been proven in the court. “The TMC is neck-deep in corruption in this scam. They cannot evade their responsibilities,” BJP state spokesperson Samik Bhattacharya said.
Politics, Regional, West Bengal

MCC turned into ‘Modi code ofconduct’under BJP rule: Mamata

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 Addressing an election rally at Purulia, the TMC supremo also claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other top BJP leaders consider only themselves as Hindus, and they do not think about other communities.

PTI, May 07 2024 : West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday alleged that the Election Commission has turned a blind eye to the allegations against BJP leaders that they indulge in hate speeches during campaigns, converting the Model Code of Conduct to “Modi code of conduct”.
Addressing an election rally at Purulia, the TMC supremo also claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other top BJP leaders consider only themselves as Hindus, and they do not think about other communities.
Modi and other BJP leaders by their “hate-filled speeches” are intimidating lower caste Hindus, minorities and other marginalised sections, but the Election Commission is silent, she alleged.
“The Election Commission’s Model Code of Conduct has turned out to be a mockery and should be rechristened as Modi code of conduct. But we will continue to flag every incident of violation of rights of citizens of this country,” Banerjee said.
Continuing her tirade at Modi,  Mamata  said  she  has  not  seen another PM who utters so many lies. The Chief Minister asked: “What happened to his 2014 promise of giving Rs 15 lakh in the bank account of every citizen? What happened to his promise to give free LPG gases? What happened to his ‘Beti Banchao Beti Padao’ project?” “In every village, BJP leaders are making a false promise of giving Rs 3000 to every poor woman under the ‘Annapurna Bhandar’  scheme. Remember, the BJP has withheld 100 days wage to the poor in Bengal for three years.
The BJP is also not releasing a single paisa for rice, we have shouldered the entire amount  so  that  our  poor  don’t  feel  the crunch,” she added. The TMC supremo claimed  that  Modi  visits  Bengal  only during polls, and resurfaces only ahead of the elections. At another rally in Bisnupur in Bankura district, Mamata alleged that the BJP is offering cash to tribal people to win votes. 
“They had also offered cash to the mothers of Sandeshkhali as part of heir conspiracy to weave a narrative to defame Bengal and its women. They have misjudged Bengal’s women, their dignity and self-respect,” she said. In a recent viral video, it was claimed that BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari was behind the Sandeshkhali incidents and several women were paid money to raise protests against TMC leaders  accusing  them  of committing   atrocities   on them.
“The BJP thinks that by  distributing  cash,  they can win votes. But by such conduct, they are showing disrespect to the people of Bengal. If any BJP leader visits your residence before the day of voting and offers money, demand Rs 15 lakh. Ask them what happened to the earlier  promises of Modi,” she said.
Mamata said if the BJP returns to power for the third time, it will throw “Dalits and other communities out of the country”. 
Raising the slogan “Modi Hatao Desh bachao”, she alleged that the BJP is conspiring to implement the Uniform Civil Code which will make SCs, STs, OBCs and Muslims  lose  their  identity.  
The Chief Minister claimed that she received a message that a person belonging to the minority community was beaten to death on the way to a polling booth. She, however, added that she does not have details about the incident. The TMC supremo wondered whether the EC would take action on it.
Career / Jobs, Crime, Education, Politics, Regional, West Bengal

SC stays Calcutta HC order annulling appointment of 25,753 teachers, others in West Bengal

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The bench said the state government has nothing to show that relevant data was maintained by the authorities and asked about its availability
PTI, New Delhi, 07.05.24 : In a major relief to 25,753 teachers and non-teaching staff of West Bengal, the Supreme Court on Tuesday stayed the order of the Calcutta High Court order invalidating their appointment made by the state’s School Service Commission (SSC) in the state-run and state-aided schools.

The top court, however, permitted the central probe agency, Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), to continue with its investigation and said it may probe even the members of the state cabinet if needed.

While granting the relief on the pleas, including the one filed by the state government, a bench comprising Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud and justices J B Pardiwala and Manoj Misra asked the CBI not to take any precipitative action like any arrest of any suspect during its ongoing investigation.

The top court, however, made it clear that the teachers and non-teaching staff of the state, whose appointments were cancelled by the high court, will have to refund the salaries and other emoluments if it reaches the conclusion that their recruitment was illegal.

“We are of the view that an expeditious disposal of the matter will be in the interest of justice. We accordingly direct that the proceedings be listed for hearing and final disposal on July 16, 2024.

“In the meantime, we are inclined to continue the ad-interim protection granted by this Court in the order dated November 9, 2023, subject to the express stipulation that any person found to have been appointed illegally and has continued as a consequence of the present order shall undertake to refund the entire amount of the salary which may be paid from the date of this order and the final judgement of this court,” the bench said in its order.

It said the issue which would merit closer analysis is whether the appointment which suffers from tainted can be segregated (with the genuine ones). If such is possible then it would be wrong to set aside the entirety of the process, the bench said.

The court should also be mindful that a large number of teachers for class 9-10th would be effected. Assuming that such a segregation is possible, this court has to set out the modalities to determine the segregation, the bench said in the order.

Earlier in the day, it termed the alleged recruitment scam in West Bengal as “systemic fraud” and said the state authorities were duty-bound to maintain the digitised records pertaining to the appointment of 25,753 teachers and non-teaching staff.

“Public job is so scarce… Nothing remains if the faith of the public goes. This is systemic fraud. Public jobs are extremely scarce today and are looked at for social mobility.

“What remains in the system if their appointments are also maligned? People will lose faith, how do you countenance this?” the CJI asked the lawyers representing the state government.

The bench said the state government has nothing to show that the data was maintained by its authorities and asked about its availability.

“Either you have the data or you do not have it… You were duty-bound to maintain the documents in digitised form. Now, it is obvious that there is no data.

“You are unaware of the fact that your service provider has engaged another agency. You had to maintain supervisory control,” the bench told the state government’s lawyers.

The top court said expeditious hearing was needed in the matter and listed the pleas for hearing on July 16.

It took note of the submissions of Solicitor General Tushar Mehta that the order staying the high court judgment may hamper the ongoing CBI probe and clarified that the investigation by the central agency will continue without any coercive action against the government officials and others.

Senior advocates Rakesh Dwivedi and N K Kaul, representing the state government authorities, argued against the cancellation of the appointments by the high court.

During the hearing, senior advocate Dushyant Dave made comments against former Calcutta High Court judge Justice Abhijit Gangopadhyay and sought a stay of the high court order.

“Mr Dave, we are not on conduct of Mr Gangopadhyay. We have been here and listening the nitty-gritty of the case since morning. Please show some decorum,” the bench said.

The CJI, once during the hearing, got irked and said he will issue notice and keep the case for hearing in July if the orderly hearing is allowed to take place.

“We are not here to scrutinise the conduct of Justice Gangopadhyay,” the CJI said, adding that the lawyers should be concerned with the legality of the case and levelling allegations against the high court judge will not lead anywhere.

The bench, in its order, said, “We are of view that submission of petitioners (state government and others) merits further consideration.” The top court was hearing a batch of petitions challenging the Calcutta High Court’s April 22 decision that invalidated the appointment of 25,753 teachers and non-teaching staff in state-run and state-aided schools of West Bengal.

Besides cancelling the appointments, the Calcutta High Court had also directed the CBI to probe into the appointment process and submit a report in three months.

Over 23 lakh candidates had appeared for the State Level Selection Test (SLST)-2016 for 24,640 vacant posts. A total of 25,753 appointment letters were issued against 24,640 vacancies, Firdaus Shamim, a lawyer for some of the petitioners who had alleged irregularities in the selection process, had said.

The court also instructed those appointed outside the officially available 24,640 vacancies, appointed after the expiry of the official date of recruitment, and those who submitted blank Optical Mark Recognition (OMR) sheets but obtained appointments to return all remunerations and benefits received by them with 12 per cent per annum interest, within four weeks. 
Politics, Regional, West Bengal

Guv CV Ananda Bose’s sentries locked me up, snatched my phone and bag: Complainant

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One of the accused is a retired IAS officer now on special duty, another a pantry staff member and the third a chaprasi (peon), the police sources said. The names of the trio have not been revealed.
 Governor Ananda Bose and his wife show their inked fingers after voting in Thiruvananthapuram on April 26.: PTI picture

Monalisa Chaudhuri, TT, Calcutta, 07.05.24 : The young Raj Bhavan staffer who has accused governor C.V. Ananda Bose of making “physical advances” has named at least three Raj Bhavan employees who allegedly confined her in a room, snatched her mobile phone and bag, and tried to dissuade her from lodging a police complaint, police sources said.

One of the accused is a retired IAS officer now on special duty, another a pantry staff member and the third a chaprasi (peon), the police sources said. The names of the trio have not been revealed.

“There is a specific complaint against some of the staff who allegedly tried to confine the woman in a room, snatched away her belongings and tried to stop her while she was going out of the building to report the matter to the police,” an officer attached to the probe said.

This newspaper sent a detailed text message to Bose and emails to his official ID and the office of the Raj Bhavan secretary, seeking a formal response to the allegations against the three Raj Bhavan employees whose names the woman had mentioned.

There had been no response either through text or email till Monday evening.

“According to the woman, the pantry staff member and the chaprasi tried to stop her on the officer’s instructions. She alleged that the officer confined her in the EPBX room and snatched her phone when she tried to call her mother. One of them grabbed her bag and snatched it when she tried to run out of the room, she has alleged,” an officer said.

The woman has told the police that she got her stuff back when she started screaming for help, the officer added.

The woman, a contractual employee, had on May 2 alleged two instances of physical advances by the governor. The police later recorded and videographed her detailed statement, sources said.

A senior officer attached to the probe said on Monday the police had yet to get any CCTV footage from the Raj Bhavan, and that none of the Raj Bhavan employees summoned for an enquiry had turned up.

Senior advocates and constitutional experts said the immunity that a governor enjoys against criminal proceedings does not apply to the governor’s staff.

“Even if the governor has asked the Raj Bhavan staff not to cooperate with the police, the staff are free to make their own decision. There is no legal bar on the police. They can examine the Raj Bhavan staff,” former Bengal advocate- general Jayanta Mitra told The Telegraph.

Senior advocate Bikash Ranjan Bhattacharyya said the police also had the right to start a case, if they deemed fit, against the Raj Bhavan staff members.

“The police can lodge an FIR and start a case against the Raj Bhavan staff if they feel so. The police can go anywhere for the sake of investigation, including the Raj Bhavan, and take the accused staff into custody,” Bhattacharyya said.

“As far as my understanding goes, the governor has immunity only against criminal proceedings…. The question of proceedings comes at a much later stage. (But) there is no bar on the police conducting the enquiry.”

Bose, who had left for Kochi after the allegations emerged, returned to Calcutta on Monday. He accused chief minister Mamata Banerjee of “dirty politics” and alleged that she had “dragged me into politics”.

“A governor is supposed to stay away from politics…. I am very sorry that the chief minister has dragged me into politics, especially at a time when the elections are going on,” Bose said.

“I told a lot of good words about individual Mamata Banerjee. I stick to that. I spoke good words about the chief minister whom I always called my constitutional colleague. I stick to that.

“When questions were asked repeatedly about politician Mamata Banerjee, I used to say that politics is not my cup of tea, and I refused to comment.

“(But) now, because of the humiliating remarks she has made against me, against truth, I am forced to tell Mamata’s politics is dirty. Still, I pray God save her. But that is a difficult responsibility, even for God. “I will not accept, I will never accept this Didigiri on the distinguished office of the governor.”