kolkata News

EC officials organise SIR camps to assist sex workers in Kolkata

Civil Aviation Ministry inspects 10 major airports after Indigo flight disruptions

NEW DELHI: Following widespread disruptions in Indigos flight operations, senior officers from the Civil Aviation Ministry began inspections at ten major airports across the country on Wednesday. The inspections, ordered by Civil Aviation Secretary Samir Kumar Sinha, are expected to continue till Friday. The airports under review include Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Chennai, Ahmedabad, Pune, Guwahati, Goa, and Thiruvananthapuram. Officers at the level of Deputy Secretary, Director, or Joint Secretary have been tasked with conducting a comprehensive assessment of on-ground operations. The inspections will cover flight delays and cancellations, airport congestion, queue management at check-in counters, security and boarding gates, status of information dissemination to passengers on delays and alternative arrangements. Officers will also review manpower availability for operational duties, staffing of airline help desks, and the provision of essential amenities such as drinking water. The Ministrys move comes as part of ongoing efforts to stabilise flight operations and ensure passenger convenience amid the recent operational crisis at Indigo.

Perfectly Fine Physically And Mentally Feeling Ready, Says Gill Upon Returning To Indian T20I Squad

Indian T20I: Shubman Gill, Indias vice captain for the five-game T20I series against South Africa, said that his body was feeling perfectly fine heading into the series as he made a return to international cricket after recovering from a neck injury. Gill sustained a neck injury during the first Test against South Africa in Kolkata last month and underwent rehabilitation before being cleared by the BCCI Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru. Following Indias 2-1 ODI series win over South Africa on Saturday, head coach Gautam Gambhir confirmed Gills readiness for the five-match T20I series. The 26-year-old was then named in the playing XI for the series opener and will open the innings alongside Abhishek Sharma while also taking on the leadership responsibilities as skipper Suryakumar Yadavs deputy. Speaking to Murali Kartik, one of the members of the commentary and presentation panel for the series, before the start of play here in Cuttack, Gill said that he is mentally ready to get back to the grind. Body feels perfectly fine. I spent a bit of time at the CoE and perfectly fine physically and mentally feeling ready, Gill said. The 26-year-old was then named in the playing XI for the series opener and will open the innings alongside Abhishek Sharma while also taking on the leadership responsibilities as skipper Suryakumar Yadavs deputy. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Speaking of the game, South Africa won the toss and asked the hosts to bat first. Gill, however, couldnt make a mark on his return and was dismissed cheaply, scoring just four runs off two deliveries. After hitting Lungi Ngidi for a four off the first ball he faced in the match, the Protea pacer got the better of the Indian opener and dismissed him on the next ball as India were reduced to 5-1 just three balls into the game. Article Source: IANS

West Bengal LoP accuses TMC of 'issuing SC/ST certificates to infiltrators'

KOLKATA: Suvendu Adhikari, BJP legislator and Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the West Bengal Legislative Assembly on Tuesday alleged that the ruling Trinamool Congress is holding camps to issue SC, ST and OBC certificates for undocumented infiltrators and fake claimants. Suvendu shared a memo issued by the block development officer (BDO) of Kandi in Murshidabad district to substantiate his allegations against the Trinamool Congress. He showed instances of three such beneficiaries who were issued such certificates allegedly by the BDO after 24 June when the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls started in Bihar. He urged the Election Commission of India (ECI) to look into the issue seriously. The Opposition leader requested the national poll body to conduct exhaustive probes into each certificate and cross-verify whether the community is genuinely enlisted as an SC, ST or OBC community by the Centre. Why the sudden panic? Because the Election Commission of India's Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise is about to expose their voter fraud racket! The desperation is obvious because a large chunk of Mamata Banerjee's 'vote bank' is unable to link their names to the authentic 2002 Voter List, are staring down exclusion from the draft electoral rolls, he claimed in a post on X. It's a blatant bid to arm ineligible voters with 'certificates' that slyly match the ECI's list of 13 documents for hearings after the publication of draft electoral rolls. An attempt to make a mockery of democracy, by flooding the system with bogus SC/ST/OBC creds, he alleged. Adhikari alleged that efforts were being made to rob the true marginalised communities of their rightful share. Real SCs, STs, and OBCs will watch their benefits evaporate as ineligible people will swarm in, staking unethical claims, he claimed. The WB Govt has the habit of issuing OBC Certificates (mostly religion based) to ineligible people which have been struck down by the Honble Courts. Let the SIR purge the electoral rolls clean, and let Democracy prevail, he added. On the other hand, the Trinamool Congress continued its crusade against the Commission since it announced dates of the SIR process in Bengal. The Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee while addressing in a rally in Cooch Behar district on Tuesday alleged, The Election Commission of India may announce the dates of the assembly polls, scheduled next year, soon after the final voters list is released so that no one can move the court challenging the electoral rolls. Names of many genuine voters are being deleted during the roll revision exercise. People who are still alive being shown as deceased in the voters list by the Commission, she alleged. The Chief Minister during her two-day visit to Cooch Behar on Monday afternoon questioned in the administrative review meeting at Rabindra Bhavan in the district about timing and urgency of the SIR.

Let women protest against BSF atrocities: West Bengal CM

KOLKATA: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday urged women to protest against the Border Security Force (BSF) atrocities against people residing along the borders in the state. Let the women protest against BSF atrocities on people living in border areas. Let them come to the front to protest against the force, the Chief Minister said today while addressing in a rally organised by her party Trinamool Congress at Rashleela ground in Cooch Behar district. She urged the people to unite against the Central force. I want to see whether our mothers and sisters are more courageous and mightier than that of the BJP, she said. On Monday, while delivering speeches in an administrative meeting in the district she had alerted police administration to take prompt steps if the BSF tortures anybody along the border. Dont get panicked. I can assure you that no detention camp is allowed in Bengal as long Trinamool Congress is there in the state. No one will be pushed back and the BSF or not. We wont be cowed down by the BJP, the ruling party supremo said. We are trying to bring back the four other Bengali-speaking Indian citizens from Bangladesh. We have already brought back the pregnant Sunali Khatun and her eight-year-old son from to their motherland in Birbhum. The BSF had pushed them back to Bangladesh though they have necessary documents related to Indian citizenship, she added. BSF had pushed six Bengalis hailed from Paikar village in Murarai of Birbhum back to the neighbouring country on suspicion of them being Bangladeshi nationals in June. Raising the issue of the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise in the state she also said, The Election Commission of India may announce the dates of the assembly polls, scheduled next year, soon after the final voters list is released so that no one can move the court challenging the electoral rolls. Names of many genuine voters are being deleted during the roll revision exercise. People who are still alive being shown as deceased in the voters list by the Commission, she alleged while addressing in the rally. The Chief Minister during her two-day visit to Cooch Behar on Monday afternoon questioned in the administrative review meeting at Rabindra Bhavan in the district about timing and urgency of the SIR. Why must everything be done in such a hurry? Last time in 2002, the process took two years. I dont understand how an impartial poll panel can act so biasedly? she said. She also attacked the Centre, accusing it of not releasing funds due to the state for MGNREGA, the 100-day job guarantee scheme, despite an order of the Supreme Court. The CM charged the BJP-led central government with attempting to starve Bengal financially. All funds allotted for the 100-day job guarantee scheme and awas yojana have been stopped. The Centre has been imposing conditions on job guarantee scheme, she alleged by tear and tore a letter sent by it to her.

UK Trade Commissioner for South Asia on Two-Day Kolkata Visit

During the visit, Kang will meet representatives from key sectors in the region, including technology, innovation, advanced manufacturing, and financial services

350 Players To Go Under The Hammer At IPL 2026 Auction On Dec 16

Kolkata Knight Riders: A total of 350 players are set to feature in the IPL 2026 mini auction on December 16 at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi as the BCCI revealed the Player Auction list for the 2026 season on Tuesday. A total of 1390 players registered for the Player Auction, out of which 350 players were shortlisted. Of the 350 players shortlisted, 240 are Indian and 110 from overseas. The pool comprises 224 uncapped Indian players and 14 uncapped overseas players, adding significant depth and fresh talent to this year's auction roster. Franchises will compete for 77 available slots overall, including 31 spots reserved for overseas players. As many as 40 players have listed themselves at the maximum base price of Rs 2 crore, with Venkatesh Iyer and Ravi Bishnoi being the only two Indians among them. Earlier, a total of 173 players have been retained, across teams, including 49 overseas players. A combined purse of Rs 237.55 crore will be available at the auction for a total of 77 player slots. South African wicketkeepers Quinton de Kock and George Linde, and Sri Lanka's Dunith Wellalage, who were not part of the longlist, have been included in the final list. Earlier, a total of 173 players have been retained, across teams, including 49 overseas players. A combined purse of Rs 237.55 crore will be available at the auction for a total of 77 player slots. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Australia's Cameron Green has been tipped to become the most expensive buy at the upcoming IPL auction as both KKR and CSK, who have the highest purses, are expected to put in strong bids for the allrounder. Article Source: IANS

Queues thin at Chennai International Airport; IndiGo cancels 71 flights

CHENNAI: After nearly a week of chaos, the thinning of queues outside IndiGo counters at Chennai International Airport, that began on Sunday, continued on Monday as well, and flight operations showed further signs of normalisation. Cancellations, however, still remained high. The airline cancelled 71 flights throughout the day - 38 departures and 33 arrivals. On Sunday, the airline had cancelled a total of 91 flights at Chennai airport, including 49 arrivals and 42 departures. Many passengers were seen enquiring whether their scheduled flights on Tuesday would operate or if they needed to seek refunds. For some, there was relief after IndiGo officials confirmed a few of the previously cancelled services would operate as scheduled. Abul Basan, an employee at Pullman Hotel in Chennai, told TNIE that he had visited the airport to check the status of his flight from Chennai to Kolkata, with a connecting service to Agartala. The IndiGo official at the counter told me the flight will operate as per schedule, he said. Inbound services linking Chennai with Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Kolkata and Hyderabad were impacted. Delhi emerged as the worst-hit route, accounting for nearly half of the cancelled departures, followed by Kolkata, Bengaluru and Mumbai. Anchal, who had gone to Ahmedabad to attend a wedding, said she was relieved to get back to Chennai. I was struggling to get back and was finally able to fly back home on Monday, she added. Meanwhile, Indian Railways set up a help desk at Chennai International Airport to assist stranded passengers in booking train tickets. Railway officials said 15 passengers availed themselves of the service on Monday. Ashant Kumar and Abdurrahim, commercial and ticket clerks with Southern Railway, said the special counters had been functioning since Sunday. Twelve passengers were guided to book train tickets to destinations such as Bengaluru, Ranchi and Tatanagar. The railways has made provisions for special ticketing in select routes, including 3 AC, 2 AC and 1 AC coaches. On other routes, additional coaches have been earmarked for stranded passengers, they added. Railways helpdesk Indian Railways has set up a helpdesk at Chennai International Airport to assist stranded passengers in booking train tickets. Railway officials said 15 passengers availed themselves of the service on Monday

Gold, silver prices today, December 9: Check city-wise rates in Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata and more

On December 9, 2025, gold prices in India range from Rs 13,043 per 1 gram for 24K gold and Rs 11,956 per 1 gram for 22K gold. Silver is priced at Rs 1,90,900 per kilogram. Check city-wise rates here.

Cocomi Memo urges PM to reject Kuki claims to jurisdiction over hills

Despite Centres vigorous efforts, complex issues delay Manipur solution By Rabindra Nath Sinha KOLKATA: Actions and reactions, depending upon the situation that keeps on evolving, distinguish the narrative of the ethnic conflict in Manipur. The ministry of home affairs (MHA) held meetings on November 6 and 7 with the representatives of United Peoples Front [] The post Cocomi Memo urges PM to reject Kuki claims to jurisdiction over hills appeared first on Northlines .

Hindustan Files by Kolkatas Virasat Art exhibited at Chitrakala Parishath

Virasat Art from Kolkata recently showcased rare engravings, posters and paintings from the Colonial-era in Bengaluru

UP forms SIT to crack Rs 425-crore codeine cough syrup smuggling racket

LUCKNOW: The Uttar Pradesh government on Monday announced the formation of a Special Investigating Team (SIT) to dismantle an organised racket involving the illegal diversion of codeine-based cough syrup for narcotic abuse. The smuggling case came to light around 20 days ago when a truck loaded with codeine-based cough syrup was seized in Sonbhadra. Speaking to the media, FSDA Secretary Roshan Jacob, accompanied by Principal Secretary Sanjay Prasad and DGP Rajeev Krishna, said the SIT had been formed to investigate the case. Three accused have been arrested so far. Jacob said misleading information was being circulated on social media. Police have taken action. A truck of cough syrup was caught in Sonbhadra some 20 days ago and based on that evidence, a second truck was recovered in Ranchi, she said. She clarified that the UP case has no connection with a similar case reported in Madhya Pradesh. She said the investigation had been expanded to 300 drug dealers to trace the main supply channels. We want to reach the big traders, not the small retailers, Jacob added. UP DGP Rajeev Krishna said that using cough syrup for any purpose other than its normal medical use amounted to a legal offence. Several pieces of evidence have been found in the last two months. FSDA has registered 128 FIRs across 28 districts, including 38 in Varanasi, 16 in Jaunpur, eight in Kanpur, six in Ghazipur and four each in Lakhimpur Kheri and Lucknow, he said. Meanwhile, Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak, who holds the health portfolio, said in Jaunpur that strict action would be taken against the guilty irrespective of their social standing. The DGP added that 279 medical stores were inspected, and many were found to be non-existent. Others had serious anomalies in sale and purchase records. It reflects that the firms were selling cough syrup in an organised manner as an intoxicant, not a medicine. The drug was being supplied from Lucknow, Lakhimpur, Bahraich, Varanasi, Ghaziabad and even Nepal to Bangladesh, he said. In a parallel crackdown, the SIT constituted by the Varanasi Police Commissionerate to probe the smuggling racket run by Shubham Jaiswal of Varanasi arrested two close associates of the kingpin. The racket was operated through his firm, Shelly Traders. Shubham Jaiswal is believed to have fled to Dubai along with his associates Gaurav Jaiswal and Varun Singh on November 5. His father, Bhola Prasad Jaiswal, was arrested at Kolkata airport on November 30 while attempting to fly to Dubai. The two accused arrested on Monday, Vishal Jaiswal and Badal Arya, revealed key details during interrogation. They allegedly earned large sums by setting up shell firms, receiving Rs 25,00030,000 per consignment. The SIT also uncovered suspicious transactions worth Rs 425 crore linked to Shubham Jaiswal over the past two years. DCP Gaurav Basbal said Shubham Jaiswal had left India and look-out circulars were being issued. A Red Corner Notice would also be sought through Interpol. The arrested duo told interrogators that CA Devesh Jaiswal had full access to Shubhams bank accounts. They said they had conducted business worth around Rs 7 crore with him within a year. One of the accused, Badal Arya, claimed Devesh Jaiswal helped him open his firm. The other accused, Vishal Jaiswal of Hukumganj, also said Devesh Jaiswal helped him open a firm named Hariom Pharma. I would place orders but the syrup never came to my shop. I used to get Rs 20,00030,000 in cash, he said. SIT chief ADCP Kashi Zone Saravanan T said two more suspects were being questioned and their documents were being scrutinised.

'Complete lack of planning': Mamata Banerjee accuses Centre for flight disruptions across the country

KOLKATA: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday accused the BJP-led Central Government of the ongoing flight disruptions across the country. She also said that the passengers could even go to court over the crisis. The Chief Minister made a scathing attack on the Centre this afternoon while speaking to the reporters at the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport before leaving for an official visit to the north Bengal district Cooch Behar. She said the situation had escalated due to the Centres lack of proper planning. Passengers are facing immense difficulties because of the non-availability of flights every day, she said. I believe this situation has arisen due to a complete lack of planning. This is a disaster. The Centre is responsible for the entire crisis triggered by flight disruptions, Mamata alleged. The Central Government should have arranged alternatives earlier. I even feel passengers may go to court over this, she added. She said that after flight cancellations by IndiGo, passengers are being told to travel by other means of transport. How is that possible? A journey that takes two hours by air takes 24 to 36 hours by train. And then you need advance tickets and reservations. Overall, this has caused extreme hardship for travellers, she pointed out. According to her, the Central Government remains preoccupied with elections, instead of focusing on public welfare. The Centre always thinks of elections; we think about people. That is why we are deeply concerned about the suffering of passengers, she claimed. Passengers have been facing a gruelling experience at airports across the country over the last few days. IndiGo, which operates around 2,300 flights daily, is cancelling flights in hundreds as it struggles to secure adequate crew, with the second phase of the pilots' flight duty and rest period norms kicking in.

ECI appoints five more special roll observers in West Bengal

KOLKATA: The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Monday appointed five more IAS officers as Special Roll Observers (SROs) to oversee the second phase of the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise in West Bengal. The second phase of the three-tier SIR process begins after the draft roll is published on 16 December. The five bureaucrats--Neeraj kumar Bansor (Home Affairs), Kumar Ravikant Singh (Defence), Alok Tiwari (Finance), Pankaj Yadav (Rural Development) and Krishna kumar Nirala (Information and Broadcasting)--in the rank of joint secretaries will look after SIR drive in five divisions like Midnapore, Presidency, Malda, Jalpaiguri and Bardhaman separately in the state. They will work as micro-observers. About 10 days ago, the national poll body had engaged Dr Subrata Gupta, retired IAS and former secretary of the Union Food Processing Ministry, as the SRO and 12 others serving IAS officers of Bengal cadre for the SIR in the state. All the SROs and 12 other IAS officers will work in coordination with the West Bengal Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Manoj Agarwal in Kolkata. According to the ECI sources, the additional team of five new SROs have been engaged for the process in a bid to strengthen the second stage of the electoral roll revision process so that no genuine voter is deleted from the list and at the same time no dead, duplicate, absent and permanently shifted voter is included to the SIR list. This time, the national poll body wants the final voters list to be decisive and error-free. This stage involves the filing of claims and objections, along with the notice period for issuing, hearing, verifying and disposing of applications, all of which will be carried out simultaneously by the Electoral Registration Officers (EROs). Dr Gupta, along with 12 other IAS officers assigned earlier by the Commission, met the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar at ECI office in Delhi today and updated him about the progress of the SIR in the state. Almost all opposition parties have asked for micro observers to ensure there is no manipulation at this stage, sources in the CEOs office said, adding that the Commission had found merit in these concerns. Once the second stage is completed, the final version of the electoral roll will be published on 14 February. The announcement of dates for the West Bengal Assembly elections is expected shortly afterwards. Sources in the ECI said that around 55 lakh dead, duplicate, permanently shifted and absent voters have been deleted so far till Saturday. The Commission has identified around 24 lakh dead out the 55 lakh deleted voters. The national poll panel has also instructed electoral officers to intensify progeny mapping, after irregularities were found in parental details in the current voter rolls as of 27 October. The exercise compares parental information on the latest list with records from 2002, when the last SIR was conducted in the state.

Really Hope Gill Performs Well In This Five-match T20I Series Against South Africa, Says Pathan

T20 World Cup: Former India fast bowler Irfan Pathan has expressed optimism over Shubman Gill coming good in the upcoming five-match T20I series against South Africa, saying he hopes the opener delivers strong performances which in turn will cement his place in the side ahead of next years World Cup. Gill was out of action after suffering a neck injury during the first Test against South Africa in Kolkata. Since his return to the T20I team from the Asia Cup, Gill has been inconsistent with his scores while opening the batting alongside the in-form Abhishek Sharma. Shubman Gill should cement his place at the top of the order in T20 cricket. We believe in all-format players. We have seen how well he plays in the IPL. Now, he has a chance to cement his place in India's T20 International side. There is a little pressure, but he is a good player. I hope he performs well in this five-match T20I series against South Africa. He is coming back from a small injury. He will get a lot of opportunities across five matches on good pitches. The pitches will have pace and bounce, like in Dharamshala, and he will love batting on them, said Pathan on JioStar. He also said his eyes in the five-match series will be on who would take up the mantle of finishing the innings alongside a returning Hardik Pandya. I would like to see who plays the role of a finisher with Hardik Pandya and how they do it. This is a very big aspect. If we have to defend the World Cup, which is in India, it is crucial that our lower-middle order batters stay in form. Along with Hardik, the other batters become very important. Axar Patel can do that, Jitesh Sharma is there, Rinku Singh can also come in. But we have to see who will complement Hardik down the order. My eyes will be on that. He also said his eyes in the five-match series will be on who would take up the mantle of finishing the innings alongside a returning Hardik Pandya. I would like to see who plays the role of a finisher with Hardik Pandya and how they do it. This is a very big aspect. If we have to defend the World Cup, which is in India, it is crucial that our lower-middle order batters stay in form. Also Read: Live Cricket Score How they perform in this series against South Africa will be very important. With the T20 World Cup scheduled for February next year, this series is really important from a bowling point of view. Article Source: IANS

Connection With Kohli Clicked Right From Day One In RCB Camp: Phil Salt

Royal Challengers Bengaluru: England opener Phil Salt said his partnership with Virat Kohli clicked from the time they met in the Royal Challengers Bengaluru camp for IPL 2025, adding that he was pleased with its development, including the role clarity on who would take charge of scoring. Salts partnership alongside Kohli gave RCB several good starts in the powerplay, which was crucial in them winning IPL 2025. It's always important to have a strong relationship with whoever you're opening with. You need to understand how they play, and they need to understand your game too, so that you can bring the best out of each other. We started building that connection from the moment we both arrived here, and Im really pleased with how its developing. Its very much a conversation that happens out in the middle, and sometimes it doesnt even need words. You can just sense how the other guy is playing. In Jaipur, for example, there wasnt much chat at all, it was just obvious that whenever Virat got on strike, he was happy to rotate it to me. On other days, like the game in Delhi, either of us could have gone on a run. Both of us were striking it well, and it just worked out that I took charge at the start of the third over. Sometimes you talk it through, and sometimes it happens completely organically. Its a moving picture, said Salt in an episode of the RCB podcast released on Monday. Asked on first thoughts after being bought by RCB at the IPL 2025 auction, Salt, who previously won the trophy in 2024 with Kolkata Knight Riders, said, My first thought was that this is a team I would really suit playing for. The way RCB have always carried themselves, the brand of cricket they play, it all appealed to me. From my very first conversation with Mo after the auction, I could clearly see why they wanted me and what role they had in mind for me. Everything felt very aligned with my game. Salt has been an integral part of Englands T20I team and he spoke at length about maintaining high standards and strike rate while opening the batting in the shortest format. Cricket now demands a far more attacking style of play. Does that make it the most consistent approach? Probably not. From my very first conversation with Mo after the auction, I could clearly see why they wanted me and what role they had in mind for me. Everything felt very aligned with my game. Also Read: Live Cricket Score For me, its all about working day by day and being completely process-driven. I focus first on the small things; getting into the gym, keeping my body right, making the right decisions physically. Then comes the cricket side of it. When I focus too much on big goals and outcomes, I lose clarity. I learned that the hard way when I was younger. Now everything for me is about small steps and daily progress, not being obsessed with results, he concluded. Article Source: IANS

Hardiks Experience Is Invaluable, Gives Good Balance To The Side: Suryakumar

Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy: Ahead of the T20I series opener against South Africa, India skipper Suryakumar Yadav welcomed Hardik Pandyas return to the set-up, saying the seam-bowling all-rounders experience lends crucial and significant balance to the side in their preparation for next years T20 World Cup. Pandya, who has played 120 games in the shortest format for India, is back in the T20I team after recovering from a quadriceps injury sustained during the Asia Cup in the UAE in September. He has already shown good form in the games he turned out for Baroda in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and was among the first to hit the nets in Indias practice session at the Barabati Stadium on Sunday. Apart from him, India are also welcoming back vice-captain Shubman Gill, who has recovered from a neck injury sustained during the Test match against South Africa at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata last month. Both of them look healthy and fit. They have come along with the team. What you saw in Asia Cup also was when he opened the bowling with the new ball, he opened up a lot of options and combinations for us with respect to the playing eleven. So thats what he brings to the table and his experience is invaluable. He has done well in a lot of good games, big games and ICC and ACC events also. So that experience counts for a lot and his presence will definitely give a good balance to the side, said Suryakumar in the pre-match press conference on Monday. Gills return to open the batting alongside the in-form Abhishek Sharma will give some sheen to Indias preparation for the mega event. Suryakumar also explained about how India shifted from having Sanju Samson as the opener to now zeroing in on Gill for that slot. Since Gills inclusion, Samson has been batting either at number five or slotted at number three. In terms of Sanju, when he came on the circuit, he batted higher up the order. Now the thing is, other than the openers, everyone has to be very flexible. He did really well when he opened the innings, but Shubman had played before him in the Sri Lanka series and so he deserved to take that spot. But we gave Sanju enough opportunities hes ready to bat at any number, which is good to see any player whos ready and flexible to bat anywhere from three to six. I have told batters other than the openers that you have to be flexible to bat. So, both are in the scheme of things its lovely to have players like them be a part of the squad. One can open, the other can bat lower down the order even both can do all the roles. So they are a good asset for our team and a good headache to have, he said. But we gave Sanju enough opportunities hes ready to bat at any number, which is good to see any player whos ready and flexible to bat anywhere from three to six. I have told batters other than the openers that you have to be flexible to bat. Also Read: Live Cricket Score As you saw in Australia, Dubey went in to bat at number three. It depends on the entry point of the batter. We have to be really flexible during that. Before us, you get to know how the squad will be. More likely, this is what the team and the squad looks like. It looks good. It looks strong. So, I am very happy with it. Article Source: IANS

Aryan greets paparazzi with 'namaste' amid controversy

Aryan Khan, amidst a recent controversy over a viral hand gesture, appeared cheerful at a Kolkata event, engaging with fans and paparazzi. While a lawyer filed a complaint alleging insult to women's modesty, a close friend defended Khan, stating the gesture was a playful interaction with his manager, not intended for the public, and was a misunderstanding.

Veteran Bengali actor Kalyan Chatterjee dies at 81

KOLKATA: Veteran Bengali actor Kalyan Chatterjee died at a government hospital here, West Bengal Motion Picture Artists Forum said in a statement on Monday. He was 81. Chatterjee, who had been suffering from typhoid along with age-related ailments, was under treatment at MR Bangur Super Speciality Hospital, where he breathed his last late Sunday night. The actor, who had acted in more than 400 films, mostly in supporting roles, debuted in Aponjon, which was released in 1968. Some of his notable films include Dhanyee Meye, Dui Prithibi, Sabuj Dwiper Raja and Baishe Srabon. He had worked in Satyajit Ray's Pratidwandi. Apart from Bengali films, he also worked in Hindi cinema, including Sujoy Ghosh's film Kahaani. The Artists Forum statement said, One of our most valued members, Kalyan Chattopadhyay, has left us. We are deeply shocked. May his soul rest in peace. Chattopadhyay had studied at Pune Film Institute. His contemporaries include Soumitra Chatterjee, Sabitri Chattopadhyay and Dipankar De.

West Bengal Govts assurances, work on testing Labs for Tea industry not progressing

Producers facing quality issues quality issues as competition from Sri Lanka gets stiffer By Ashis Biswas KOLKATA: Despite official assurances to set up at least three tea testing laboratories in North Bengal to improve quality control methods, preliminary work undertaken by the West Bengal Government has made little progress. North Bengal tea producers recently [] The post West Bengal Govts assurances, work on testing Labs for Tea industry not progressing appeared first on Northlines .

Will ally with AIMIM after party launch: Suspended TMC leader Humayun Kabir

Kolkata: Suspended Trinamool Congress leader Humayun Kabir on Sunday expressed his desire to form an electoral alliance with All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) once he launches his new political outfit on December 22. He also invited the CPIM, Congress and Indian Secular Front (ISF) of Naushad Siddiqui to join the alliance to fight against the Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .

Gold, silver prices today, December 8: Check city-wise rates in Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata and more

On December 8, 2025, gold prices in India range from Rs 12,965 per 1 gram for 24K gold and Rs 11,884 per 1 gram for 22K gold. Silver is priced at Rs 1,90,900 per kilogram. Check city-wise rates here.

Stranded with her husbands coffin: Womans ordeal after IndiGo crisis

By Our Reporter SHILLONG, Dec 7: Manjuri travelled from Shillong to Guwahati with her husbands embalmed body in a coffin, booked on an IndiGo flight to Kolkata for the final rites. She reached the airport on timeonly to watch every IndiGo flight get cancelled one after another with no prior warning. There was no information, []

Gita chanting event in Kolkata turns into political show of strength for BJP

Mass Gita recital at Brigade Parade Ground becomes platform for BJP leaders amid row over mosque foundation in Murshidabad

Severe cold grips north India; IMD warns of cold wave, fog across multiple states

NEW DELHI: Cold conditions prevailed across north India on Sunday, with the Amarnath yatra base camp being the coldest recorded place in Jammu and Kashmir at minus 4.3 degrees Celsius and parts of Punjab, Haryana, and Rajasthan reporting minimum temperatures between three and seven degrees Celsius. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said cold wave conditions were very likely to prevail in isolated pockets over Madhya Pradesh, Vidarbha in Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, and Odisha on Monday and Tuesday. In Delhi, the minimum temperature was recorded at eight degrees, up from 6.8 degrees a day ago and yet 1.6 notches below normal. The maximum temperature was 24.7 degrees Celsius, 0.1 notch below normal, while the relative humidity was 92 per cent in the morning. For Monday, the weather department forecast a minimum of 10 degrees Celsius and a maximum of 25 degrees Celsius, with mist expected. Pollution levels in Delhi remained in the very poor category on Sunday, prolonging the spell of toxic air that has hung over its residents for several weeks now. The city logged a 24-hour average AQI of 308. According to the Central Pollution Control Board, an AQI between 0 and 50 is classified good, 51 and 100 satisfactory, 101 and 200 moderate, 201 and 300 poor, 301 and 400 very poor and 401 and 500 severe. Further in the north, the night temperatures in Kashmir rose by several degrees but stayed below the freezing point, officials said. The Pahalgam resort in south Kashmir, which serves as the base camp for the annual Amarnath yatra, was the coldest recorded place in Jammu and Kashmir as the minimum settled at a low of minus 4.3 degrees Celsius. The minimum temperature in Srinagar -- the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir -- settled at minus 0.9 degrees Celsius, a rise of 3.2 degrees compared to the previous night. The gateway town to the valley, Qazigund, recorded a low of minus one degree Celsius, while the minimum settled at minus 0.8 degree Celsius in north Kashmir's Kupwara, and 1.1 degrees Celsius in south Kashmir's Kokernag, according to officials. The meteorological department said the weather would remain generally cloudy but dry on Sunday, and a brief spell of light snowfall at isolated places in the higher reaches of north and central Kashmir is likely on December 8. In Himachal Pradesh, The IMD predicted dense fog in parts of the state until Wednesday. A yellow alert for dense fog was also issued in parts of the reservoir area of the Bhakra dam in Bilaspur district and over some parts of the Balh valley in Mandi district during early morning till Monday. In Punjab, Faridkot remained the coldest place, with the minimum temperature settling at 4.4 degrees Celsius, while in Haryana, Narnaul saw the lowest temperature at 4.6 degrees Celsius, according to the local meteorological department. Chandigarh, the common capital of the two states, recorded a minimum temperature of 8.2 degrees Celsius. In Punjab, Bathinda and Gurdaspur recorded a minimum temperature of 4.6 degrees Celsius, while Ferozepur recorded 6 degrees, Amritsar 6.1 degrees, Ludhiana 6.8 degrees, and Patiala 8.9 degrees. In Haryana, Bhiwani recorded a low of six degrees, Hisar 6.2 degrees, Sirsa 6.6 degrees, Karnal seven degrees, Rohtak 7.8 degrees, and Ambala 9.8 degrees. Rajasthan, similarly, reeled under intense cold, the Meteorological Centre here said. Fatehpur in the Sikar district continued to record the lowest minimum temperature, albeit at 3.5 degrees Celsius, slightly up from 2.3 degrees a day ago. According to the weather department, Lunkaransar (Bikaner) recorded a low of 5 degrees Celsius, followed by Dausa at 6 degrees, Churu at 6.3 degrees, Vanasthali (Tonk) at 6.4 degrees and Jhunjhunu at 7.2 degrees Celsius on Sunday morning. The department said a fresh but weak western disturbance is likely to cause partly cloudy skies in some parts of the state over the next few days. Under its influence, the minimum temperature is expected to rise by two to three degrees Celsius, providing relief from the cold wave, it said. Meanwhile, in Jharkhand, eight districts recorded minimum temperatures below 10 degrees Celsius, the IMD said, noting a cold wave in parts of the state. Gumla recorded the lowest temperature in the state at 3.5 degrees Celsius up from three degrees Celsius while Khunti logged five degrees Celsius, the IMD weather bulletin stated. The minimum temperature in Jharkhand's capital, Ranchi, was 7.5 degrees Celsius, while Daltonganj recorded 6.5 degrees and Jamshedpur recorded 9.6 degrees Celsius. Deputy Director of the Ranchi Meteorological Centre, Abhishek Anand, said, North-westerly winds prevailing in the lower tropospheric levels over Jharkhand have caused the drop in mercury. Dry weather conditions are likely to prevail across the state over the next five days.The minimum temperature may rise by 2-3 degrees Celsius during the next 72 hours, he added. In West Bengal, the mercury dipped below the 10-degree mark for the first time this winter in the state's plains with Sriniketan in Birbhum districts recording a minimum temperature of 9.8 degrees Celsius on Sunday, the IMD said. Its forecast for West Bengal suggested dry weather across all districts of West Bengal for the next week, with shallow to moderate fog likely in the northern districts. Darjeeling was the coldest in the hills at 6.2 degrees Celsius, while the other Himalayan tourist town of Kalimpong was warmer at 10.5 degrees Celsius. The other places which recorded low night temperatures are Alipurduar (11 degrees), Kalyani (11.4 degrees), Purulia (11.4 degrees) and Panagarh (11.9 degrees). Kolkata recorded a minimum temperature of 15.2 degrees Celsius, the IMD said, forecasting mist in the morning on Monday. IMD further predicted dense fog conditions in isolated pockets of Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, and Tripura between December 8 and 12. It was also very likely in parts of west Madhya Pradesh on Monday and in Odisha until Tuesday. In west India, a gradual fall by two to three degrees over the next three-four days is expected, and no significant change is anticipated thereafter, the IMD said.

'Babri Masjid' foundation, Gita recital in WB trigger political uproar over 'religious polarisation'

KOLKATA: Despite charges of large scale corruptions levelled against the Trinamool Congress government in West Bengal, politics of religious polarisation is likely to feature prominently in the upcoming Assembly polls in the state. The suspended rebel Trinamool Congress MLA Humayun Kabir on Friday laid the foundation stone of a Babri Masjid in Beldanga of Murshidabad district and threatened to float a new political platform for Muslims to contest 90 out of total 294 assembly seats in the forthcoming assembly polls. Political observers felt that Kabir attempted to engineer a new political narrative among Muslims, who form over 30 per cent of Bengal voters and traditionally vote for Trinamool Congress since the party to power in 2011. Fearing a possible erosion in the majority Hindu vote bank in favour of the Trinamool Congress, the party supremo as well as the chief minister Mamata Banerjee suspended Kabir for his anti-party activities mainly communal statements ahead of the elections. Suspended Trinamool MLA Humayun Kabir to float new party in alliance with AIMIM On Sunday, Bengal witnessed a massive Bhagavad Gita recital at Brigade Parade ground where the Bengal Governor C V Ananda Bose was present triggering controversy. While addressing the programme, Bose asserted that the state was eady to end religious arrogance, referring to something witnessed in Murshidabad a day before. Addressing a Gita recital at Brigade Parade Ground here, he said that the state is also ready to end corruption. Senior BJP leaders such as former state chiefs Sukanta Majumdar, Dilip Ghosh, Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari, ex-MP Locket Chatterjee and MLA Agnimitra Paul, along with religious figures including Swami Pradiptananda Maharaj, popularly known as Kartik Maharaj, Sadhvi Ritambhara and Dhirendra Shastri, joined the programme. Christened Panch Lakkho Konthe Gita Path (Gita chanting by five lakh voices), the event has been put together by the Sanatan Sanskriti Sansad, a collective of monks and spiritual leaders representing multiple monasteries and Hindu institutions. The organisers say the effort aims to highlight Bengals spiritual heritage and build social harmony through shared recitation. Paul said, The Gita is not for Hindus alone, it is for all 140 crore people of India. In his address, Kartik Maharaj noted the current social mood. In a climate of division, spiritual practice can restore calm and direction, he said, adding that thousands from across the state had pledged participation. To manage the turnout, organisers have arranged extensive crowd regulation, stepped-up security, and emergency medical services. Three large stages have been built across the expanse of Brigade, and security presence has increased across central Kolkata. Swami Gyananandaji Maharaj of the Geeta Manishi Mahamandal is leading the spiritual component of the gathering, while yoga guru Baba Ramdev and several noted monks have been invited. Exactly two years ago, a one lakh voices Gita chanting event ahead of the Lok Sabha elections sparked a political confrontation, with the ruling TMC accusing the BJP of using religion as a tool for polarisation.

Suspended Trinamool MLA Humayun Kabir to float new party in alliance with AIMIM

KOLKATA: Suspended Trinamool Congress MLA Humayun Kabir, on Sunday said that his proposed new political platform would make an electoral alliance with the Hyderabad-based All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) of Asaduddin Owaisi. Kabir has also invited the CPI-M, Congress and West Bengal-based Indian Secular Front (ISF) of Nawsad Siddiqui to join the alliance to fight against both BJP at the Centre and ruling Trinamool Congress in the state. A day after laying the foundation stone of a mosque modelled after the Babri Masjid of Ayodhya in Uttar Pradesh at Beldanga in Murshidabad on Saturday, Kabir told media, I wont resign as a legislator now. I will announce the name of my new party 22 December and a state conference of the new platform will also be held in Behrampore, Murshidabad. My party will ally with the Asaduddin Owaisis All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) and I have already discussed the issue with Owaisi saheb. He has asked me to come to Hyderabad for further talks. Alliance with the AIMIM is confirmed. I also welcome ISF and CPI-M and Congress also so that we can rout the BJP at the Centre and Bengal chief minister who is influenced by RSS together. Rubbishing Kabirs proposal for an electoral understanding with the Left, the CPI-M leadership said there is no question of making any alliance with those whose agenda is only mandir and masjid, not development issues. TMC suspends Humayun Kabir for plan to build 'Babri Masjid' in Murshidabad; MLA to form new party Traditionally, minorities in Bengal have aligned themselves with mainstream parties, unlike states such as Telangana and Assam, where minority-based parties AIMIM and Badruddin Ajmals All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) have emerged. Though such attempts were made by Mamata Banerjee's current cabinet colleague Siddiqullah Chowdhury, through his outfit Jamait Ulama E-Hind, these weren't not successful. Very recently, Nawsad Siddique's ISF tried to craft its space among minorities, but had to join hands with the Congress and the CPM for the lone seat it won in 2021. Suspended from Trinamool Congress on Friday on charge of making communal statements violating the party rules Kabir a Congress and BJP turncoat immediately made the announcement of floating a new political party catering to Muslims. People of Murshidabad had voted Kabir to win assembly polls in 2021 because they trust Mamata Banerjee for her good governance not him. Our party has suspended him and now its his lookout to take decision on what he will do in coming days, said Sashi Panja, Bengal industry minister. To counter the massive Bhagavad Geetha recital at Brigade Parade ground he also announce to organise a Koran recital programme during February next year where one lakh people will gather.

Bangladesh to Send 20-Member Team for Vijay Diwas Celebrations in Kolkata

This is also the second time a delegation from the neighbouring country will undertake the visit on the historic occasion since the fall of Hasina's regime and her escape to India in August last year

Suspended TMC MLA Humayun Kabir Promises 'Quran Recitation' After 'Gita Path' In Kolkata

Kabir's remarks came after lakhs of devotees gathered at Kolkata's Brigade Parade Ground for a mega Bhagavad Gita recital, including senior BJP leaders.

Three Days of Exceptional Classical Performances in Kolkata

The Sammelan featured an extraordinary lineup of legendary artistes, distinguished Gurus, accomplished accompanists and the Academys own rising Scholars, offering audiences a rare confluence of tradition, virtuosity and innovation

Multiple IndiGo Flights Cancelled Across India; Chaos Continues With Delhi, Kolkata, Hyderabad Hit Hardest

Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has served a show cause notice to IndiGo's accountable manager

'Everyone In India Excited To Have Gill Back', Says Steyn Ahead Of T20I Series

Former South Africa: Former South Africa fast bowler Dale Steyn said the return of India vice-captain Shubman Gill for the upcoming T20I series, starting on December 9 in Cuttack, will lead to widespread excitement among Indian supporters. Gill sustained a neck injury during the first Test against South Africa in Kolkata last month and underwent rehabilitation before being cleared by the BCCI Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru. Following Indias 2-1 ODI series win over South Africa on Saturday, head coach Gautam Gambhir confirmed Gills readiness for the five-match T20I series. Sounds like he's back for India, so that makes every fan in India pretty excited to have him back, said Steyn in a video posted by Star Sports on their X account in terms of three things to look forward to in the T20I series. Apart from Gill, India are also boosted by the return of seam-bowling all-rounder Hardik Pandya after a quadriceps injury sustained during the Asia Cup in September had kept him out of action. Steyn also expressed excitement over the return of South Africa batter David Miller, who will be back in action after suffering a grade one right hamstring strain which led him to miss the T20I series against Pakistan. He's back for South Africa. Big hitting David Miller, he hits the ball out of the ground. I'm excited to watch him back, added Steyn. Steyn also expressed excitement over the return of South Africa batter David Miller, who will be back in action after suffering a grade one right hamstring strain which led him to miss the T20I series against Pakistan. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Last time I watched South Africa play India in a T20 was in a World Cup final in Barbados. It's going to be a great thing to watch and very excited to be a part of it, concluded Steyn. Article Source: IANS

Mamata trying to split votes on religious lines: Union min Sukanta Majumdar

Kolkata: Union minister Sukanta Majumdar on Sunday accused West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee of fostering communal polarisation in the state to split votes on religious lines. The former BJP state chief alleged that the TMC government has encouraged fanatic and communal forces ahead of the 2026 assembly elections. Speaking on the sidelines of a Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .

Thousands of devotees from across Bengal, other States arrive in Kolkata for mega Gita recital

'Panch Lakkho Konthe Gita Path' (Gita chanting by five lakh voices) is being projected as the largest collective recital of the Bhagavad Gita ever attempted in the State and possibly in the country

Bengal SIR: ECI stresses on minute progeny mapping

Kolkata: With the digitisation of enumeration forms in the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in West Bengal almost nearing conclusion, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has directed the electoral officers in the state to focus on minute progeny mapping amid serious flaws being detected with regards to the parents identities in the current voters Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .

Hugh Grant jokes Im half-Indian, says dad was born here

Grant also recalled his first visit to India in 1988 when he came to shoot for La Nuit Bengali (The Bengali Night) in Kolkata, then Calcutta

Gambhir: Gill 'ready to start' T20Is against South Africa

He had suffered a neck injury while batting during the Kolkata Test last month

Chowringhee assembly seat in Kolkata records highest number of 'uncollectable' enumeration forms

KOLKATA: Chowringhee Assembly constituency in Kolkata has recorded the highest number of uncollectable enumeration forms (EFs) in West Bengal at 71,505, while Jorashanko comes next with 67,578 till Friday night. The abnormally high number of such forms in assembly areas such as Chowringhee, Jorashanko, Kolkata Port, Ballygunj and Bhawanipore, where Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had contested in a bypoll in 2021 and won, has raised the eyebrows of Election Commission of India (ECI) officials. The prime reasons for enumeration forms being deemed uncollectable are categorized as ASDD (absent, shifted, dead and duplicate), indicating individuals who are dead, permanently shifted to different location or constituency, untraceable or absent and duplicates who are found to be enrolled in multiple polling stations or have fake entries. The forms are thus not collected by Booth Level Officers (BLOs) during the ongoing door-to-door exercise of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjees assembly constituency records 41,495 'uncollectable' SIR forms: ECI EC data indicated that a total of more than 55 lakh voters belonging to the ASDD category have been identified across the state till Friday night. The figure may shoot up further. Sources said that according to figures available so far, the number of dead voters in the state was about 24 lakh till Friday. The data of dead persons would be available from Janmo Mrityu Tathya/ Registrar General on Births and Deaths and cancellation of ration cards on deaths. Election Registration Officers (EROs) should verify the entries, if any, made by BLOs, for all such cases. Sources also said that the identification of so many dead, shifted, absent and duplicate voters in the existing electoral rolls indicated that annual revision of rolls had not been carried out thoroughly in the state over the years.

Congress takes out Sadbhawna rally in Kolkata, denounces polarisation bid

The party asked people not to bring back the days after the demolition of Babri Masjid on December 6, 1992

West Bengal CM assures to fight against political forces fanning 'flames of communal hatred'

KOLKATA: The West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, while observing Samhati Diwas on Saturday, appealed to people to maintain peace and integrity. She vowed to continue her fight against those political forces who are fanning the flames of communal hatred and playing a destructive game against the nation. Mamatas appeal for communal harmony come at a time when the State braced for a tense situation after the suspended rebel and Trinamool Congress MLA Hymayun Kabir laid the foundation stone of a Babri Masjid-style mosque at Mirzapur in the Beldanga area of Murshidabad district. The locality is one among the communally vulnerable districts in the state. Ex-TMC MLA lays foundation stone for mosque modelled on Babri Masjid in Murshidabad amid tight security TMC suspends Humayun Kabir for plan to build 'Babri Masjid' in Murshidabad; MLA to form new party She said that her government is committed to protecting the ideals and principles of the Constitution of India. The soil of Bengal is the soil of unity. Its the land of Rabindranath, the land of Nazrul (Islam) and the land of Ramakrishna and Vivekananda, and this land has never been cowed down by any divisive force and nor will it ever do so in the days to come, the Bengal chief minister said on X post. We know how to walk shoulder to shoulder in Bengal-the land of Hindus, Sikhs, Christians, Jains and Buddhists, she said. In Beldanga, massive security arrangements were made in order to avoid any untoward incident prompted by communal tension. A huge contingent of RAF companies, state police units and central forces has been deployed along both sides of National Highway 12 after the Calcutta High Court on Friday declined to stall the event and placed full responsibility for public order on the state government. Governor C. V. Ananda Bose urged citizens not to be influenced by provocative statements and rumours and asked the State to ensure no disturbance anywhere. The ruling TMC suspended Kabir, who was once with Congress and then BJP, and later in TMC, on Thursday, on charges of his 'communal politics' that go against the party's stance. His suspension for what the party termed communal politics has given the event an added political edge. Two clerics from Saudi Arabia and others, mainly belonging to minority communities across the state and even outside, attended the event. Seven catering agencies from Murshidabad were engaged to prepare shahi biryani, with an estimated 40,000 packets for attendees and another 20,000 for residents. A close aide estimated food expenses at over Rs 30 lakh, with the total cost of the venue approaching Rs 70 lakh. Across the State, the ruling party observed Samhati Diwas (Unity Day) with rallies promoting communal harmony. The government has declared a holiday, presenting a message of restraint. The CPI-M-led Left Front also observed the day as Black Day, marking the demolitions anniversary and underscoring its continued political weight. Left Front brought out a communal harmony march in the city this afternoon.

Special SIR camp for sex workers in Kolkatas red-light area on Dec 9

Kolkata: The West Bengal CEOs office is set to launch a camp on December 9 at Sonagachi, Asias largest red-light district, to aid sex workers in filling up enumeration forms as part of the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, an official said on Saturday. This initiative comes as a response to concerns Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .

Shubman Gill cleared to play T20I series vs South Africa

Shubman Gill had been included in the T20I squad subject to fitness and was required to undergo a full set of rehabilitation and skill-based Return To Play (RTP) protocols. Gill's injury occurred due to a whiplash incident on the second day of the Kolkata Test, resulting in Gill being hospitalised for a couple of days and administered an injection.

Bengali actor Anirban Chakraborty escapes unhurt as car collides with bus in Kolkata

KOLKATA: Popular Bengali actor Anirban Chakraborty had a close shave on Saturday when his car was hit by a bus in Kolkata, police said. The incident took place near Charu Market in south Kolkata when Chakraborty and his driver were travelling in the car. The actor said both of them were safe, but the car suffered major damage. The bus was plying along a south-north route with commuters on board. According to an eyewitness, a two-wheeler suddenly came in front of the car, and to prevent a collision with it, the car swerved and was hit by the oncoming bus. Chakraborty is famous for portraying the role of fictional detective character Eken Babu in films and a web series. A Kolkata Police officer said a case has been lodged and law enforcers were scrutinising CCTV footages and speaking with eyewitnesses.

SCR Operates Special Trains to Chennai, Mumbai, Kolkata to Clear Extra Rush

The SCR is operating special trains to clear extra rush

Cold wave grips north, east India; Kolkata records seasons lowest, Kashmir below freezing point

Residents across parts of north and eastern India woke up to biting cold on Saturday, with temperatures dipping well below normal, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD). In Kolkata, the mercury plunged to 14.5 degrees Celsius, the coldest morning this season and 2.1 degrees below normal. The maximum temperature in the city is expected to hover around 26 degrees Celsius, with misty and foggy conditions likely in the evening. Other parts of Gangetic West Bengal are also experiencing a gradual temperature drop, which IMD forecasts will continue over the next 24 hours. Cold wave conditions gripped Jharkhand, with Gumla recording the states lowest temperature at 3 degrees Celsius. A yellow alert for cold wave has been issued for 11 districts including Garhwa, Palamu, Chatra, Lohardaga, Simdega, Ranchi, Ramgarh, Bokaro, Khunti, Latehar, and Gumla till 8.30 am on Sunday. Minimum temperatures ranged from 3 degrees in Gumla to 10.1 degrees in Ranchi, with north-westerly winds contributing to the fall in mercury. Officials expect temperatures to drop by up to 2 degrees more over the next 48 hours before rising slightly. Meanwhile, in Kashmir, night temperatures plunged well below the freezing point, with Srinagar recording a low of minus 4.1 degrees Celsius. Shopian was the coldest place at minus 6.4 degrees, followed by Pahalgam at minus 4.4 degrees. Other towns such as Qazigund, Kupwara, Kokernag, Gulmarg, and Konibal recorded minimums ranging from minus 0.2 to minus 5.2 degrees. A thick layer of fog engulfed parts of the valley, and the meteorological department has forecast generally cloudy but dry weather on December 6-7, with light snowfall at isolated higher reaches possible on December 8. No respite from toxic air in Delhi The air quality in the national capital remained in the 'very poor' category on Saturday morning, as the Air Quality Index (AQI) at 9 am settled at 335. According to the Central Pollution Control Board Sameer App, 36 monitoring stations across the capital also reported very poor air, with Mundka recording the worst levels at 387. According to the CPCB, an AQI between 0 and 50 is classified good, 51 and 100 satisfactory, 101 and 200 moderate, 201 and 300 poor, 301 and 400 very poor, and 401 and 500 severe. Delhi's air quality has swung sharply through the week, the city recorded an AQI of 279 on Sunday, 304 on Monday, rose sharply to 372 on Tuesday, and stood at 342 on Wednesday. The city's AQI remained in the very poor category on Thursday with a reading of 304, and 327 on Friday. Meanwhile, the minimum temperature settled at 6.8 degree Celsius, 2.7 degree Celsius below normal, with morning humidity at 95 per cent. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the maximum temperature may reach 24 degree Celsius under a partly cloudy sky. (With inputs from PTI)

West Bengal on high alert as suspended TMC MLA Humayun Kabir to lay foundation of Babri Masjid-style mosque

BAHARAMPUR: West Bengal braces for a politically fraught Saturday as suspended TMC MLA Humayun Kabir pushes ahead with the foundation-laying ceremony for a 'Babri Masjid-style' mosque in Murshidabad, triggering high alert and sharpened political messaging on a date laden with communal sensitivities. The Beldanga site, where Kabir claimed hree lakh people would assemble, has been sealed into a high-security grid, with deployment of RAF, district police, and central forces on both sides of the National Highway 12, after the Calcutta High Court declined to halt the event but placed full responsibility for public order on the state government. The proposed mosque, which Kabir has repeatedly described as being modelled on the Babri Masjid, has stirred political unease in a district where symbolism and mobilisation often feed off each other. For the TMC- which has distanced itself after suspending Kabir- the optics of the foundation-laying ceremony for the mosque on December 6, the anniversary of Ayodhya's Babri Masjid demolition, carry risks it has sought to pre-empt. The run-up to the proposed event has forced the administration to arrange for expansive security cover. RAF teams arrived in Rejinagar on Friday and were stationed at a local school ahead of deployment, while the district police - acting on a Calcutta High Court directive to ensure law and order - have drawn up a security grid covering Beldanga, Raninagar and all approach roads to NH-12, the states only north-south arterial highway. A senior officer said nearly 3,000 personnel would be deployed throughout the day, with multiple diversion plans ready if turnout threatens to choke the highway. On Friday, the high court, hearing a petition seeking to halt the event, declined to intervene and placed the onus of maintaining public order on the state government, a cue that prompted the police to talk with Kabirs team via backchannel on Friday night. Governor C V Ananda Bose, meanwhile, urged citizens not to be swayed by provocative statements and rumours and asked the state to ensure there was no disturbance anywhere. For Kabir, a Congress-BJP-turned-TMC rebel whose political career has oscillated as sharply as the reactions to his announcements, Saturdays event is both a test of his mobilisation prowess and a declaration of defiance after his suspension from the TMC on Thursday for what the party called communal politics. The MLA, who has often embarrassed the party with remarks that triggered showcause notices, said he would resign as legislator and launch his own outfit later this month. On Friday, he was seen personally supervising the stage and food arrangements, appearing unfazed by either the political backlash or the administrative glare. The scale of preparations has lent the venue the ambience of a massive public fair. A 150-ft-long, 80-ft-wide dais towers over paddy fields off NH-12, with seating arranged for 400 guests. Two clerics from Saudi Arabia, organisers claim, will arrive in a special convoy from Kolkata airport. Nearly 3,000 volunteers - 2,000 of whom began work early Friday- have been tasked with regulating access roads, preventing bottlenecks and keeping the national highway running. Seven Murshidabad-based catering agencies have been contracted to prepare shahi biryani, with an estimated 40,000 packets for guests and another 20,000 for residents. A close aide of Kabir estimated food expenses alone at over Rs 30 lakh, with the total venue budget likely to touch Rs 70 lakh. The days programme, circulated by organisers, lists Quran recitation at 10 am, the foundation ceremony at noon, a community meal at 2 pm, and dispersal by 4 pm as per police instructions. On Saturday, the ruling party will observe 'Samhati Diwas' (Unity Day) statewide with rallies to spread the message of communal harmony. The state government has declared a holiday on the day, projecting a message of peace and restraint. The Left Front, meanwhile, will mark the day as Black Day in memory of the demolition, underscoring how December 6 continues to be a political faultline. As Bengal steps into a Saturday thick with symbolism, security and competing political narratives, Beldanga becomes the stage upon which defiance, faith, politics and electoral calculations converge. Whether the event passes off as a controlled show of strength or becomes a fresh flashpoint will test not just the districts policing bandwidth, but the political temperature of the state.

Indigo crisis: cancellations leave passengers high and Dry

CHENNAI: Hundreds of passengers were left stranded at Chennai International Airport on Friday after IndiGo cancelled all its flights departing from the T1 terminal, triggering confusion, frayed tempers and soaring travel costs. Crowds, many sleepless, hungry and dehydrated, gathered outside IndiGos counters. According to officials, all services to Bengaluru, Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata and Hyderabad scheduled before 6 pm were cancelled. With seats scarce on other carriers, fares surged dramatically, in some cases more than fivefold, leaving many stranded both physically and financially. The prices are astronomical between Rs 35,000 and Rs 50,000 for a ticket to Mumbai, said Prabhans, a traveller from Delhi who had flown to Chennai for a US visa interview. Travelling without luggage as per consulate rules, he found his return flight cancelled. I tried to book other airlines, but dynamic pricing pushed fares beyond Rs 35,000, he added. Fares on competing carriers climbed steadily. A SpiceJet ticket to Mumbai crossed Rs 50,000, while Bengaluru-bound trips touched Rs 25,000. Hyderabad-bound fares approached Rs 50,000. Several airline counters were closed early, displaying full signs. For some, the disruption had more severe consequences. Acharya (70), travelling with his family, lost his flight to Bengaluru, and missed his connecting Qantas service to Sydney. Now we have to wait four days before we can even think of travelling, he said. Nearby, Shirundu Mazumdar and his wife, Seema, sat huddled against a wall after a medical trip to Chennai. Their flight to Bagdogra was cancelled after their bags had been checked in. We left home at 6 am and only found out here. There are no arrangements, not even water, Seema said. Among those affected was Reeta Kumari (55) from Varanasi, returning from a pilgrimage to Madurai. She discovered her onward flights to Bengaluru and Varanasi had been cancelled only after landing. A group of 50 students from a Hyderabad on a field trip to Puducherry sat on the floor under the supervision of a teacher. We were not informed that the flight was cancelled, their teacher said. (With inputs from B Anbuselvan @ Chennai)

Indigo resumes partial service at Chennai airport with ten flights in the morning

The destinations are Pune, Ahmedabad, Port Blair (two flights), Coimbatore, Guwahati, Kolkata, Bhuvaneshwar, Jaipur and Kochi

Kolkata Police Constable admit card 2025 released: Check direct link to download hall ticket here

Kolkata Police Constable and Lady Constable admit cards are out for the 2024 recruitment cycle, with the preliminary written test scheduled for December 21, 2025. Over 3,700 vacancies are available. Candidates can download their hall tickets from the official WBPRB website using application details. The selection process includes written tests and physical assessments.

Mass IndiGo flight cancellations see rival airline fares soar; Rs 39k for Delhi-Mumbai, Rs 23k for Bengaluru-Kolkata

IndiGo's mass flight cancellations have caused fares on competing airlines to skyrocket, with one-way economy tickets on popular routes now costing upwards of Rs 21,000. Passengers are facing significant price hikes and uncertainty as IndiGo expects to resume normal operations between December 10 and 15, while other carriers grapple with concentrated demand.

Gold, silver prices today, December 6: Check city-wise rates in Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata and more

On December 6, 2025, gold prices in India range from Rs 12,994 per 1 gram for 24K gold and Rs 11,911 per 1 gram for 22K gold. Silver is priced at Rs 1,86,900 per kilogram. Check city-wise rates here.

JKUT Junior Judo Cship on Dec 21

Excelsior Sports Correspondent JAMMU, Dec 5: The Judo Association is set to organise the JKUT Junior Judo Championship-cum-Selection Trials on December 21 at the Indoor Sports Complex, Bhagwati Nagar Stadium, Jammu. The event is being conducted under the banner of the J&K Sports Council. Judokas selected from this championship will represent the Union Territory in the Junior National Judo Championship, scheduled to be held in Kolkata in the first week of January 2026. All participating athletes have been advised to [] The post JKUT Junior Judo Cship on Dec 21 appeared first on Daily Excelsior .

Mahindra Logistics locks 3.28 lakh sq ft lease in Telangana a strategic bet on logistics expansion

Mahindra Logistics is significantly expanding its nationwide warehousing footprint in 2025, with a strategic focus on emerging industrial corridors. Recent leases in Telangana, Pune, the Northeast, and near Kolkata highlight the company's push into Tier-II and Tier-III markets to meet rising supply chain demands across India.

Pregnant Sunali Khatun and son returns from Bangladesh; four family members still stranded

KOLKATA: Pregnant Sunali Khatun and her eight-year-old son Sabir finally returned to India on Friday evening after spending more than six months in Bangladesh. However, four others from the group of six Bengali-speaking Indians, who were pushed back to Bangladesh by the Delhi Police on suspicion of being Bangladeshi nationals, continue to remain in the neighbouring country. All six are members of the same family and hail from Birbhum district in West Bengal. Sunali and her son crossed the India-Bangladesh border in Malda district amid tight security arrangements by the Border Security Force (BSF). They were taken to a local BSF camp for official formalities in the presence of senior administrative officials and later shifted to Malda Medical College and Hospital for comprehensive health check-ups. Trinamool Congress Rajya Sabha MP Samirul Islam told TNIE , Sunali and her son have been taken to Malda Medical College and Hospital for their health check-ups. They will return to their village Paikar in Murarai, Birbhum, on Saturday. We demand that the Bangladesh government immediately repatriate the remaining four individuals. Calling it a historic moment in an X post, Islam said the episode exposed the torture and atrocities inflicted on poor Bengalis. He added, Sunali, who was pregnant at the time, was forcibly deported in June this year. After enduring six months of unimaginable suffering, she and her child have at last returned to their homeland. He further alleged that despite the Supreme Courts clear order, the Centre failed to take any action over the past two days to ensure their immediate return, forcing their advocates to raise the issue once again before the court. Only then was the return finally made possible, he said. Finally, after a long battle against the Bangla-Birodhi Zamindars, Sunali Khatun and her minor son have returned to India. This day will be remembered as a historic moment that exposes the torture and atrocities inflicted on poor Bengalis. Sunali, who was pregnant at the time, pic.twitter.com/ktfMkeOJIQ Samirul Islam (@SamirulAITC) December 5, 2025 The Supreme Court on Wednesday directed the West Bengal government to provide free medical care to Sunali, who is in an advanced stage of pregnancy, after the Centre informed the bench that it would bring her and Sabir back to India purely on humanitarian grounds. The court also said that the well-being of eight-year-old Sabir would be the responsibility of the Bengal government. On a request from Sanjay Hegde, counsel for Sunalis father Bhodu Sekh of Birbhum, the court agreed that she should receive medical treatment in West Bengal rather than Delhi. The hearing pertained to the Centres appeal challenging a September 26 Calcutta High Court order directing the government to bring back Sunali, her husband Danish Sekh, their son Sabir, and three others who were deported to Bangladesh in June on allegations of being infiltrators. The high court had observed that they were deported without a proper inquiry or an opportunity to be heard, violating their fundamental rights. The bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi also orally suggested that Sunalis citizenship could be verified based on her father Bhodus citizenship documents. In its order, the Supreme Court noted, Pursuant to the observations made on the previous date of hearing, Tushar Mehta, learned Solicitor General of India, on instructions, informs that purely on humanitarian grounds, the Government of India has agreed to bring back Sunali Khatun , D/o Bhodu Sekh, along with her eight-year-old son, Sabir. The verdict, which came two days after the deportees were granted bail by a Bangladesh court brought relief and joy to the family in Birbhum. Bhodu Sekh said he was elated after hearing the Supreme Court order and that his worries would finally end with his daughters return home. 'Can't deport Bangla-speaking people to Bangladesh': TMC, BJP spar in Lok Sabha

No intervention in foundation stone-laying of Babri-style mosque in Murshidabad, says Calcutta HC

KOLKATA: The Calcutta High Court on Friday refused to intervene in the construction of a mosque modelled on Ayodhya's Babri Masjid at Beldanga in West Bengal's Murshidabad, proposed by suspended TMC MLA Humayun Kabir. The court's observation comes ahead of the scheduled foundation-laying ceremony for the proposed 'Babri Masjid' on December 6, which also marks the anniversary of the demolition of the original sanctum. The division bench of Acting Chief Justice Sujoy Paul, after hearing a PIL seeking a stay on the foundation stone laying ceremony for the proposed mosque, directed that the responsibility of maintenance of law and order would rest with the West Bengal government. The PIL, which was filed on Thursday, sought the stay on grounds that the ceremony could disrupt communal harmony in the region. The petitioner prayed that the court should take immediate action against Kabir's provocative remarks that have allegedly disrupted communal harmony. The writ petition pertains to stop the foundation stone laying of Babri Masjid in Beldanga Block 1, Murshidabad to maintain Law and order. The MLA has been using filthy and derogatory statements and hate speech against a community, which causes breach of public tranquility. Such kind of statements and hate speech over social media and You Tube news portal, being a Member of Legislative Assembly, may break the communal harmony of our state as well as our country, the petition stated. Kabir, who has hogged the limelight in the past with controversial statements on matters, including the party's internal affairs, was suspended by the Trinamool Congress on Thursday for indulging in what it termed communal politics. The suspended leader subsequently announced his decision to resign as MLA and launch his own party later this month.

Bonus Partners with Bridge Federation of India for 67th Ashok Ruia Winter Nationals in Kolkata

~Featuring the specially crafted legendary Bonus playing cards that elevate the game for seasoned players, the tournament celebrates the timeless charm and enduring magic of Bridge~

Delhi-Kolkata Flight More Expensive Than Round Trip To UK Amid IndiGo Crisis

The chaos that impacted hundreds of IndiGo's flights is set to burn a deeper hole into the passenger pockets. Flight fares have soared multifold, with the budget carrier now cancelling all their domestic flights till midnight.

ISKCON Thanks PM Modi For Gifting Russian Edition Of Gita To Russian President Putin

Vice President and Spokesperson of ISKCON Kolkata, added that the organisation would be happy to supply copies in all available languages for further distribution.

Mpower's 5-Year Data Reveals Rising Mental Health Challenges Among Indian Men

Mpower, a leading holistic mental health care provider and an initiative of the Aditya Birla Education Trust, founded by Mrs Neerja Birla, has released a consolidated analysis of five years of data from its helpline, counselling ecosystem and youth outreach programmes, highlighting a steady rise in mental health challenges experienced by Indian men. The findings show that more men are reaching out for help than ever before, yet the emotional strain they carry continues to intensify, particularly among younger and working-age groups. Across all service verticals and outreach channels, Mpower engaged with an estimated 2.83 lakh men over the review period, with the largest segment being young men between 18 and 25 years. Youth-focused programmes alone reached around 2,07,350 young men through screenings, early-intervention initiatives, campus engagements, community projects and multi-city outreach efforts. This indicates not only high vulnerability within this age group but also greater receptiveness to mental health conversations when support is made accessible at educational and community touchpoints. For working-age men between 26 and 40 years, help-seeking behaviour was most visible on the 247 Mpower 1on1 helpline, which recorded 75,702 male callers between 2022 and 2025. Many of these callers reached out anonymously, reflecting the hesitation men often feel about approaching in-person services due to stigma or fear of judgment. Of these calls, 16,698 were specifically linked to relationship issues, depression and stress, indicating that emotional strain, interpersonal conflict and mood-related concerns remain the most prominent triggers for seeking support. Encouragingly, 40% of male callers reported feeling a reduction in stress by the end of the call, demonstrating the tangible value of immediate, empathetic intervention. Geographically, urban and semi-urban regions showed strong engagement, with Pune accounting for 1,13,435 young male beneficiaries and Mumbai engaging 53,657 young men through clinical services, outreach and youth initiatives. Other regions including Rajasthan, Delhi, Bangalore, Goa and Hyderabad collectively contributed over 40,000 additional young male engagements, reflecting a broad, national footprint of mental health needs across diverse communities. The most common mental health challenges reflected across Mpowers helpline and programme interactions include stress, burnout, depression, anxiety, relationship distress, academic pressure, family conflict, low self-esteem, loneliness and financial uncertainty. Many men expressed difficulty sharing their emotional struggles openly and frequently described coping by suppressing feelings, withdrawing socially or over-focusing on work. Some also reported resorting to unhealthy coping mechanisms such as substance use. These behavioural patterns underline the cultural and social expectations that continue to discourage men from acknowledging or expressing distress. Mpowers clinical presence ensures access to qualified experts in key metros, including: best psychiatrists in Mumbai best psychiatrist in Kolkata psychiatrists in Bangalore psychiatrists in Pune best psychiatrist in Delhi This multi-city network enables timely and professional support for men nationwide. Mpower continues to strengthen its mental health services for men through clinical care, multi-lingual helplines, university and school programmes, early screening, community-based initiatives, capacity-building workshops pan India. Its integrated model, combining clinical expertise with proactive outreach, aims to create safe spaces for men across age groups, cities and socio-economic backgrounds to seek help without stigma. Furthermore, for those in need of immediate, confidential support, Mpowers 1on1 Mental Health Toll-Free 24x7 Helpline is available at 1800-120-820050. About Mpower Mpower, an initiative of Aditya Birla Education Trust is a pioneering social enterprise dedicated to transforming India approach to mental health. Founded 9 years ago, Mpower has emerged as a leading force in spreading awareness, reducing stigma, and delivering holistic mental health care. With a robust team of over 200 trained professionals, Mpower impacts more than 121 million lives across seven cities, including Mumbai, Bengaluru, Kolkata, Delhi and Pune. Operating through five key verticalsMovement, Clinical Care, Outreach, Academia, and Mpower 1 on 1Mpower offers a comprehensive range of services. The Movement focuses on changing cultural perceptions and alleviating stigma. Clinical Care provides world-class mental health services through the Centre, the Foundation, and the Cell, catering to various needs from holistic care to affordable support for the underprivileged. The Outreach vertical drives awareness and capacity-building through IGNITE Programs for schools, colleges, NGOs, and corporates. Academia equips individuals and professionals with skills to handle mental health crises and foster empathy. The Helpline offers 24/7 multilingual support, while special projects like Samvedana enhance mental health care in primary health centers. Mpowers integrated approach and collaboration with government agencies underscore its commitment to creating a supportive and stigma-free mental health landscape.

Andre Russell finally breaks silence on his shocking IPL retirement, says 'couldn't see myself playing as...'

Days after Kolkata Knight Riders' all-rounder announced his retirement as a player, Russell finally broke his silence on his decision.

West Bengal CEO directs BLOs to re-verify voter lists, remove ineligible names by December 11

KOLKATA: West Bengal Chief Electoral Officer Manoj Agarwal has directed booth-level officers (BLOs) involved in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls to re-check enumeration forms and ensure that the names of all deceased, absent, or duplicate voters are removed before the first phase concludes on December 11. The deadline for the first phase of the SIR has been extended from December 4 to December 11. In a message to BLOs, Agarwal emphasised the need for utmost care while uploading data. You must ensure every single dead, absent, or duplicate voters name is deleted from the voter list, as the Election Commission aims to include every eligible voter and remove every ineligible one. There should not be any mistake, inadvertent or otherwise, Agarwal said on Thursday. 'They are forcing me to end my life': Why many BLOs in Bengal found the SIR drive 'inhuman' He warned that the commission will take legal action if any intentional mistake is detected. A senior official in the CEOs office stated that only seven polling booths reported having no deceased or shifted voters in the past year, a decline from 2,208 initially and 480 two days ago. The revised figures came after the CEOs office instructed districts to thoroughly re-check numbers before submission, the official added. In his note, the CEO reminded BLOs that they are on deputation to the Election Commission for the SIR exercise and are responsible for critical verification work. He also expressed gratitude to those BLOs who have done a commendable job, saying no word is enough to praise them. The CEOs message, however, did not mention the BLO Oikyo Manchs claim that four BLOs had died due to stress and deadline pressure during the SIR process over the past month, nor did it address compensation for their families. A deputy CEO earlier stated that district election officers have been asked to submit reports on the alleged incidents and the actual causes of the deaths. ECI directs states, UTs to expedite preparations for Special Intensive Revision

CEO tells Bengal BLOs to re-verify forms, delete dead or absent voters by Dec 11

KOLKATA: West Bengal Chief Electoral Officer Manoj Agarwal directed booth-level officers (BLOs) engaged in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls to re-check enumeration forms and ensure that names of all deceased, absent or duplicate voters are deleted before the first phase ends on December 11. The last date for the first phase []

Gold, silver prices today, December 5: Check city-wise rates in Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata and more

On December 4, 2025, gold prices in India range from Rs 12,965 per 1 gram for 24K gold and Rs 11,884 per 1 gram for 22K gold. Silver is priced at Rs 1,90,900 per kilogram. Check city-wise rates here.

Chennai Airport continues to suffer fresh wave of disruptions

CHENNAI: Chennai International Airport suffered a fresh wave of disruption on Thursday, with dozens of flights delayed or cancelled through the early hours, as operational difficulties continued to ripple through. Between midnight and 9am on December 4, at least 13 arriving flights and 11 departures recorded delays ranging from 18 minutes to more than three hours, according to internal airport movement logs. Indigo, which operates the largest number of domestic flights, faced the bulk of the disruption, with several of its Airbus A320 and A321 services significantly behind schedule. Inbound traffic was hit hardest in the early hours. Flights from Kolkata, Kochi and Patna saw delays of more than two hours, with one service from Hyderabad (6E6007) arriving nearly four hours late. International services from Singapore, Doha, Dubai and Kuwait also landed behind schedule, with delay durations spanning 30 minutes to close to two hours. Departures were similarly affected. Indigo's early-morning Delhi service (6E0456) pushed back more than three hours late, while departures to Kolkata and Port Blair saw delays of over two hours. Kuwait Airways and Jazeera Airways services experienced moderate delays, indicating that the operational disruption extended across both domestic and international carriers. The morning irregularities escalated into a wider schedule breakdown, prompting a wave of cancellations across the day. At least 26 departuresmostly operated by Indigowere cancelled for operational reasons, affecting services to key metros including Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, Ahmedabad, Pune and Hyderabad, as well as regional centres such as Coimbatore, Guwahati, and Visakhapatnam. Some international short-haul routes, including those to Colombo and the Andaman Islands' Veer Savarkar Airport, were also withdrawn from the day's roster. Arrivals were similarly thinned out, with at least five inbound flights scrapped, including services from Indore, Mumbai, Kochi, Jaipur and Ahmedabad. 'Could not live up to promise,' says IndiGo CEO amid hundreds of flight cancellations, delays

HC to hear PIL on suspended TMC MLAs Babri-modeled mosque plan

Kolkata: A PIL seeking a stay on suspended TMC MLA Humayun Kabirs plan to lay the foundation stone for building a mosque modelled on the Babri Masjid, in Murshidabad district on December 6, is likely to be heard by the Calcutta High Court on Friday. The Bharatpur MLA was suspended by the ruling Trinamool Congress Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .

West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjees assembly constituency records 41,495 'uncollectable' SIR forms: ECI

KOLKATA: The West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjees Bhawanipore Assembly seat under the Kolkata South electoral district has recorded 41,495 uncollectable enumeration forms (EFs) so far till Thursday afternoon, Election Commission of India (ECI) says. According to the office of the West Bengal Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), 41,495 EFs in Bhawanipore Assembly remained uncollected so far till today. Uncollectable EFs means that they cannot be collected by Booth Level Officers (BLOs) during the ongoing door-to-door exercise of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. The ruling Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee, after being defeated by the BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari in Nandigram constituency in East Midnapore district in 2021, had contested the by-polls in Bhawanipore against the BJP candidate and won the same year. More than 1.5 lakh EFs out of total 2.6 lakh voters in her constituency have been digitalised so far, the CEO office said. Around 1.88 lakh EFs have been reported uncollectable in the Kolkata South electoral district. The uncollectable forms include dead, duplicate, shifted and absent voters. The prime reasons for EFs deemed uncollectable are categorized as ASDD voters indicating individuals who are dead, permanently shifted to different location or constituency, untraceable or absent and duplicates who are found to be enrolled in multiple polling stations or have fake entries.

Mamata Banerjee slams BJP over SIR deaths; says will never allow NRC, detention camps in West Bengal

KOLKATA: With the assembly polls scheduled next year in West Bengal, Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee has intensified her attacks on the BJP. She was addressing a TMC rally in Murshidabad's Berhampore, a strong citadel of Trinamool Congress that has a 70 per cent Muslim population. Trinamool had bagged 20 out of the 22 assembly seats in the 2021 elections. She claimed that more than half of those who died in incidents linked to the enumeration exercise across the country were Hindus, and warned the BJP against cutting the very branch it was sitting on. Her remarks came a day after her address in Malda, where she criticised the BJP on the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, NRC and the Central Governments reluctance to release funds for different schemes in the state. Addressing an anti-SIR rally in Berhampore ground on Thursday, she accused the BJP of indulging in eligious politics ahead of the 2026 assembly polls. The BJP is indulging in religious politics over the electoral roll revisions exercise. More than half of those who died because of SIR-related panic triggered by loss of documents, stress and workload were Hindus, she alleged adding, Dont cut the very branch you are sitting on. Amit Shah behind SIR ploy in Bengal, BJP dug its own grave by rushing exercise: CM Mamata Banerjee The TMC supremo also reiterated that she would never allow NRC or detention camps to come up in Bengal even if my throat is slit. She also alleged that Union Home Minister Amit Shah and his party would have sabotaged and overthrown her government ahead of the assembly elections had she not allowed the SIR to be conducted. After opposing the Waqf Properties Amendment Act, introduced by the Narendra Modi government earlier this year, the Bengal government last week notified all Waqf properties in Bengal around 82,000 across the state to be registered in the central portal UMEED by 5 December. Today, Mamata assured Waqf properties would remain untouched. Waqf properties will not be encroached upon; the safety of minorities is my responsibility, the chief minister said. For the past few days, some miscreants have been spreading rumours that the state government has recorded religious sites as mosques or graveyards under Collector Khatian number 1. This is a lie, she said. Anti-Waqf Amendment Act protests had escalated into large-scale violence in Murshidabads Jangipur and Umarpur, claiming three lives, and thousands of villagers were left homeless a few months ago. Homes, shops and police vehicles were torched in villages. The chief minister said she would not allow bloodshed in Murshidabad in the coming days.

Kolkatas bus, not as celebrated as the tram or taxi, to be given its due by heritage fest

The fifth edition of the annual The City as a Museum event on art and heritage from December 6 to 15 will celebrate this humble mode of transport by converting the bus into a mobile installation

'We are on the verge of breakdown': BLOs protest outside CEO office in Kolkata, seek further extension of SIR deadline

Amid the rising number of suicides and deaths allegedly due to work pressure during the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in West Bengal, hundreds of Booth Level Officers (BLOs) on Thursday protested outside the office of the state's Chief Electoral Officer in Kolkata. Breaching police barricades, a group of over 400 BLOs marched towards the office of CEO Manoj Agarwal and staged a sit-in demanding further extension of the enumeration deadline of the SIR exercise by at least three months, citing inhuman work-related stress. We are working round-the-clock and are on the verge of a breakdown. We have to attend to our duties in schools, remain up all night to digitise the enumeration forms. Despite our repeated appeals for deadline extension, the EC is not responsive. They are issuing fresh notifications and orders over WhatsApp every day, said BLO Reba Muhuri. We demand immediate extension of the SIR deadlines for submitting forms, and preparing draft rolls not by a week, but by three months at least, if not six months, she added. Sasanka Pal, another forum member and a state government employee, maintained that although he was not a BLO, he joined the protests to express his solidarity with them. Union Home Minister Amit Shah is arm twisting the EC to enforce the BJP's diktat for completing the SIR before assembly polls, which has triggered so much pressure on the BLOs and Booth Level Assistants (BLAs) of political parties, he said. The BLOs, accompanied by the family members of four officials who lost their lives allegedly due to SIR work pressure also demanded adequate compensation to the next of kin of the deceased. The protest march was conducted under the banner of the TMC-leaning 'BLO Aikya Manch' (BLO Unity Forum). The protesters held a march from the Sealdah Station in north Kolkata to the CEO's office in BBD Bag, where it merged with a section of aggrieved BLOs, who are already holding a sit-in before the premises for the past 10 days. This is the second such protest at the CEO's office in 10 days despite the Election Commission directing Kolkata Police Commissioner Manoj Kumar Verma to ensure safety and security of officers and staff at the office of the CEO. An EC official said the CEO's office was yet to receive any reports from District Election Officers (DEOs) on the alleged deaths of BLOs due to work-related stress. We cannot comment on the issue till there is confirmation that those deaths are connected to the SIR exercise, the Deputy CEO-ranked official said. The EC has extended the deadline of the enumeration phase of SIR, and the subsequent publication of draft and final rolls by seven days, but the opposition parties and the BLOs have pointed out that the time is too short to complete the job. Following the EC's extension of deadlines, the house-to-house enumeration phase would conclude on December 11, followed by the publication of draft electoral rolls on December 16. The final rolls are scheduled to be published on February 14 next year, after completion of the claims and objections period, and the notice phase of hearing and verification of voters. (With inputs from PTI) SC directs states to deploy additional staff for SIR duty; passes slew of orders to ease pressure on BLOs

Does This Viral Video Show Chennai Submerged After Cyclone Ditwah? No!

This video is from Kolkata in September 2025, not from Chennai after Cyclone Ditwah

Bengal SIR: 50 lakh names identified for likely exclusion from voters list

Kolkata: Around 50 lakh names in West Bengal have been identified for exclusion in the voters list as per the latest trend available during the digitisation of the enumeration forms in the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) by the Election Commission of India (ECI) that started from November 4. The same figure was a little Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .

Chaos at Bengaluru Airport as IndiGo Cancels Over 100 Flights

Passengers left stranded as key routes including Delhi, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Pune and Goa disrupted

Watch: IndiGo chaos leaves passengers stranded, social media erupts with frustration; 200+ flights cancelled

IndiGo, India's largest airline, is experiencing significant flight cancellations and delays. Lakhs of passengers are stranded across the country. The disruptions are primarily caused by a shortage of pilots and cabin crew. Flights have been cancelled daily, with some delays extending up to ten hours. Passengers at Delhi, Pune, and Kolkata airports report long waits and frustration.

Navy Day demo paints mighty picture in Kerala

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: As a MiG-29K fighter jet thundered off from INS Vikrant, there was pin-drop silence among the spectators who had gathered in their thousands along Shankhumukham and other beaches nearby. The might of Vikrant the countrys first indigenous aircraft carrier and the magnificent sight of the jet punching through the skies painted orange by the descending sun was awe-inspiring. The state capital was on Wednesday evening treated to an exhilarating demonstration of operational capabilities by the Indian Navy as part of its Navy Day celebrations. It was the first time that Kerala was playing host to the marquee event, which offers a glimpse into the multi-domain combat proficiency and battle-readiness of the Navy. Fighter aircraft MiG-29 taking off from aircraft carrier INS Vikrant during the celebrations The demonstration commenced after INS Kolkata gave a 21-gun salute to welcome President Droupadi Murmu, who was the chief guest on the day. As many as 19 warships, a submarine, four fast-interceptor craft, and 32 naval aircraft including fighters and helicopters took part in the event. The MH-60R helicopters, led by Captain Sidharth Rana, offered a grand salute to the President by flying at low altitude and dipping its nose in flight, setting the tone for a mesmerising evening that displayed Navys precision, power projection, co-ordination, and expertise. Apart from the President, Governor Rajendra Arlekar, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and Navy Chief Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi were also in attendance. Warships INS Imphal, INS Udayagiri, INS Kolkata and INS Tamal closed the beach front and fired flares illuminating the skies. Three Chetak choppers were the next to take the stage and flew a banner formation in the flypast. Navys trainer jet, Hawk, performed a bomb-burst manoeuvre, while special forces simulated Visit, Board, Search and Seizure (VBSS) operations that deal with pirates. Another attraction was the combat freefall performed by Navy MARCOS commandos off a Dornier aircraft flying at 8,000ft. Using parachutes, they made pinpoint landings at the drop zone and one of the members walked on to the dais to present a memento to the President. Equally admired was the performance of the combat diving team, who ran a simulation of how vital infrastructure is targeted during war. Hawk advanced training jets, P-8I Neptune aircraft, Narang and Chetak choppers also stole the show. Navy Chief meets CM TPuram: Ahead of the Navy Day celebrations in the state capital, Chief of Indian Naval Staff Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi met Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Wednesday. Meeting him at the CMs chamber at secretariat, Dinesh Tripathi formally invited him to take part in the Navy Day celebrations. Following the meeting, CM posted on X that they exchanged regards and ideas for further strengthening our collaborations.

Gold, silver prices today, December 4: Check city-wise rates in Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata and more

On December 4, 2025, gold prices in India range from Rs 13.059 per 1 gram for 24K gold and Rs 11,971 per 1 gram for 22K gold. Silver is priced at Rs 1,91,100 per kilogram. Check city-wise rates here.

Mosque Near Kolkata Airport Affects Secondary Runway Use: Centre

Minister of State for Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol said the mosques location affects the secondary runway.

Relentless Rains In Nellore, Tirupati Districts Turn National Highway Into River

Traffic on the Chennai-Kolkata National Highway (NH-16) has come to near standstill, as high floodwater is flowing dangerously across multiple stretches between Kakuturu and Venkatachalam and near Manubolu.

Indigo cancels over 200 flights due to crew shortage

NEW DELHI: Indigo airlines cancelled over 200 flights, and delayed countless others due to a crew shortage across airports in the country on Wednesday. This is the second consecutive day that Indigo is unable to operate a large number of flights. Sources said, the shortage is due to a massive recruitment drive by international airline Emirates at Delhi and Mumbai this week. However, Indigo attributed the significant disruption to multiple reasons including unforeseen operational challenges. Sources stated that there is a severe shortage of both cockpit and cabin crew. Flyers complained of these undesirable circumstances to the Ministry of Civil Aviation and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation. 67 flights were cancelled at Delhis Indira Gandhi International Airport alone. 13 flights departing from Hyderabad's Rajiv Gandhi International Airport were cancelled; over 70 flights from Mumbai and Bengaluru airports were cancelled till Wednesday evening. Furthermore, flights to Kolkata and Srinagar were also cancelled. Airline sources said that several Indigo crew have been making a beeline for Emirate's recruitment roadshow in Mumbai and Delhi the last two days. Aviation source said, The mismanagement on part of Indigo too is a major reason for the crisis they have been facing the last two days. The revised Flight Duty Time Limitations were implemented by all airlines from November 1. Why is Indigo alone facing an issue? It is because of poor management of the situation, nothing else. The new rostering rules included increased weekly rest for pilots, from 36 hours to 48 hours, and limiting night landings carried out by pilots to just two instead of six. Passengers rage Ashish K Singh posted about his delayed flight from Mumbai to Ahmedabad 6E 534 on X. Stranded for 1-2 hours. Passengers deserve better. This is not just a delay. Passengers are left struggling, including senior citizens and families. Another flyer Satish said, Indian Railways takes around eight hours from Tirupati to Hyderabad. The great Indigo takes five hours from Tirupati to Hyderabad. N Pradeep from Hyderabad posed, Indigo, experienced your gate changing circus and flight delays for over four hours with no responsible staff in Hyderabad SHUT DOWN your pathetic service. In a statement, Indigo said, We acknowledge that IndiGos operations have been significantly disrupted across the network for the past two days, and we sincerely apologize to our customers for the inconvenience caused. The airlines attributed the disruption to a multitude of unforeseen operational challenges including minor technology glitches, schedule changes linked to the winter season, adverse weather conditions, increased congestion in the aviation system and the implementation of updated crew rostering rules. To contain the disruption and restore stability, Indigo claimed to have initiated calibrated adjustments to their schedules. These measures will remain in place for the next 48 hours and will allow us to normalise our operations and progressively recover our punctuality across the network, it said.

Uttar Pradesh: Cough syrup racket kingpin arrested at Kolkata airport

Bhola Prasad Jaiswal, alleged mastermind of a large cough syrup racket, was arrested at Kolkata airport and brought to Sonbhadra on transit remand

Fit-again Gill Picked For T20I Series Against South Africa

Gill, who is India's Test and ODI skipper, sustained the injury during the opening Test against the Proteas in Kolkata

BJP made Waqf Act, TMC won't allow anybody to touch properties: West Bengal CM

KOLKATA: In an apparent attempt to retain the Trinamool Congress' Muslim vote bank for ahead of the 2026 West Bengal Assembly polls, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday claimed that the BJP made the Waqf Act, not her party. We wont follow the Act and have opposed it in the state legislative assembly. The state government has filed a case in the Supreme Court. The case is still on and I wont allow anybody to touch the Waqf properties, Mamata said while addressing a party rally at Gazole in Malda district. Earlier this year, the Central Government amended several provisions of the Waqf Act, 1995. While some of these amendments remain under consideration before the Supreme Court, a senior official of the state government pointed out that here is no stay on the implementation of the Centre's proposed changes. The state is obliged to follow the directive within the given timeframe, he felt. Under the amended rules, mutawallis (caretakers of a waqf) of 8,063 Waqf estates in Bengal must register complete property details on the UMEED portal by 6 December, he elaborated. The Trinamool Congress supremos statement came hardly four days after her government directed district magistrates (DMs) across the state on Friday to upload details of Waqf properties to the Central Governments Unified Waqf Management, Empowerment, Efficiency and Development (UMEED) portal. The state minority affairs and madrasah education department sent the directive to the DMs in this regard at a time when some officials in the department felt that the exercise as a ime-bound compliance requirement set by the Centre. The Centre has asked the states to upload information on all undisputed Waqf properties by 6 December, prompting the state administration to start the data-entry process immediately, according to officials. The directive sent to DMs lists four primary issues. They have been asked to convene meetings with imams, muezzins (a person who proclaims the call to the daily prayer five times a day at a mosque) and madrasa teachers to explain the uploading procedure, an official said. The DMs have been told that only uncontested properties are to be entered in the portal, he said. All districts have been asked to set up facilitation centres wherever technical support is necessary, the official added. Bengal government order to upload details of the states waqf properties onto the UMEED portal has triggered a political controversy, the state having earlier said it would not implement the amended Waqf Act that came into force in April. Senior BJP leaders in the state held the chief minister responsible for the communal violence in Samserganj, Murshidabad, arising from a protest against the amendment in April this year. Will Mamata Banerjee apologise to Hindus in Mothabari (Malda) where 68 shops belonging to them were vandalised? leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari had said hours after the state governments directives to the DMs to upload the Waqf properties on UMEED portal on Friday. Bengal is home to around 82,000 waqf properties under nearly 8,000 waqf estates.

Calcutta HC division bench sets aside order terminating appointment of 32,000 primary teachers

KOLKATA: A division bench of the Calcutta High Court on Wednesday set aside a single bench order that annulled appointments of 32,000 primary school teachers in West Bengal. These teachers were recruited through the Teachers' Eligibility Test (TET) of 2014. The bench, presided by Justice Tapabrata Chakraborty, said it is not inclined to uphold the single bench order as irregularities have not been proven in all the recruitments. The court maintained that the termination of employment after nine years would have a great adverse impact on the primary teachers and their families. It said that the CBI, which was directed to investigate the matter by the high court, had initially identified 264 appointments in which irregularities took place, following which the names of another 96 teachers came under the agency's scanner. The court said that in view of this, the entire selection process cannot be cancelled. A single bench of then Justice Abhijit Gangopadhyay on May 12, 2023, had terminated the appointments of these 32,000 primary teachers.

Have ensured that persons with disabilities lead life of dignity: Mamata

Kolkata: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday said her government has strengthened institutional mechanisms to support persons with disabilities right from their birth through their entire lifecycle. Banerjee said the government has also created a robust social security network for PwDs through various schemes. On this International Day of Persons with Disabilities, we Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .

Bengal SIR: 46 lakh names identified, likely to be excluded from voters list

Kolkata: Over 46 lakh names in West Bengal have already been identified for exclusion in the voters list as per the latest trend available during the digitisation of the enumeration forms in the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) by the Election Commission of India (ECI) that started from November 4. The total number of names Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .

SMAT: J&K thrashes Chandigarh by 29 runs

Excelsior Sports Correspondent JAMMU, Dec 2: Jammu & Kashmir inched closer to a knockout berth in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy Elite Group B after securing a commanding 29-run victory over Chandigarh at the Jadavpur University Campus Ground, Kolkata. With this impressive win, J&K registered their third triumph in four matches, strengthening their position in the group standings. Opting to bowl first, Chandigarh were met with a fierce batting display by J&K, who posted a formidable 192 all out in [] The post SMAT: J&K thrashes Chandigarh by 29 runs appeared first on Daily Excelsior .

Rebel TMC MLA Kabir stokes Babri row, vows mosque & Dec 6 blockade

Kolkata: A fresh political firestorm gripped West Bengal on Tuesday as estranged TMC MLA Humayun Kabir doubled down on building a mosque modelled on the Babri Masjid in Murshidabad district and warned that NH-34 would be under Muslim control on December 6, escalating a clash the ruling party is scrambling to contain. Kabir, the Beldanga Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .

Japanese Film Festival 2025: Full city list from Hyderabad to Noida

The Japan Foundation is delighted to announce the return of the Japanese Film Festival (JFF) 202526, one of Indias most anticipated cultural events celebrating the richness, creativity, and cinematic brilliance of Japan. This year, the festival will travel across eight citiesHyderabad, Pune, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Kochi, Ahmedabad, Noida, and Kolkatabringing an exciting lineup of films to Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .

For Kolkata fans, money doesnt matter when it comes to Messi

The football legend last came to the city in 2011 to captain Argentina in a friendly match against Venezuela at the Salt Lake City stadium, the same venue for an upcoming event that will include a celebrity match and a masterclass

West Bengal govt to provide Rs two lakh aid to families of 39 people who passed away over SIR work pressure

KOLKATA: The West Bengal government has announced that it will provide two lakh rupees financial assistance to bereaved families of the 39 persons who allegedly passed away due to panic and stress triggered by the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR). The Chief Minister, Mamata Banerjee, made the announcement releasing the report card of her governments performance during the past 14 years. Mamata claimed that 39 people have died in the State due to SIR-induced panic, including cases of suicide. She also said that thirteen others who fell ill during the SIR exercise, including three BLOs allegedly burdened by 'excessive workload', would be given Rs 1 lakh each. The launch of the SIR exercise since November 4 has triggered widespread fear and distress among sections of the public across the State. West Bengal CM says SIR exercise is putting BLOs under stress, expresses solidarity with them INTERVIEW | One extra week not enough, BLOs scramble to meet deadline

Mamata presents report card ahead of polls, alleges Centre withheld Bengal's long-pending dues

KOLKATA: As the countdown for the assembly polls in West Bengal begins amid the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, Chief Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday alleged that the Centre has withheld the state's long-pending dues. Releasing the report card Unnayaner Panchali of her government during the past 14 years since 2011, Mamata told media at the state secretariat Nabanna, The central government has withheld our long-pending dues -- one lakh and eighty-seven thousand crore rupees. When will they pay? Elections are nearing but development works in Bengal cant be stopped. Hope, they will release the funds. She claimed, Bengal is a model across the country in terms of development schemes. We have launched different social security schemes in the state since we formed the government. We have created twelve lakh self-help groups in our state. On the issue of job creation, Mamata said, More than two crore jobs have already been generated in the state during the last 14 years and an additional one crore will be created in future. Six economic corridors are under construction. We have decreased unemployment by 40 percent in our state. There has been a massive investment of two lakh crore rupees since we formed the government. She said that West Bengal topped the country in MGNREGA, rural housing, and village road construction four times in a row before the Centre withheld money. The West Bengal government continued with its development activities despite the Centre not clearing the state's dues... we spent Rs 1 lakh crore on Khadya Sathi food security scheme covering 9 crore people and Rs 1,717 crore on Duare Ration for 7 crore people, she also claimed. For Lakshmi Bhandar, a populist scheme for women social security launched in 2021, she said, We are giving monthly Rs 1000 every woman and for those who belong to SC/ST category its Rs 1200. The scheme is lifelong for every woman. In all, two crore and twenty one lakh women get the social security benefits. She added, A woman who belongs to SC/ST category gets Rs 14400 every year. In Bihar, they (NDA government) have given a one-time fund of Rs 10000. She claimed that the state never drifted from its development path in spite of the Centre withholding its dues in crucial schemes involving rural upliftment. She also highlighted the setting up of a Jagannath temple in Digha and the Durga temple, which is undergoing construction on 15 acres of land in New Town. A Mahakaal Mandir (Shiva Temple) will also come in Siliguri in north Bengal, she said.