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Over 5 lakh Waqf properties uploaded on UMEED portal, 2.16 lakh approved by deadline
NEW DELHI: A total of 5.17 lakh Waqf properties were initiated on the UMEED portal while 2,16,905 properties were approved by the designated approvers during the six-month window provided, according to the data provided by the Ministry of Minority Affairs. The UMEED Central Portal for management of Waqf Properties in India, launched by Union Minister of Minority Affairs Kiren Rijiju on June 6, 2025, officially closed for uploads on December 6, 2025, completing its six-month window, as per the UMEED Act, 1995 and the clear directions of the Supreme Court. In the final count, the momentum significantly accelerated as the deadline approached, the ministry said in a statement. Many review meetings, training workshops, and high-level interventions even at the secretary-level injected renewed pace into the process, making the upload surge in the last hours, it said. According to the data provided by the ministry, 5,17,040 Waqf properties were initiated on the portal with 2,16,905 properties approved by the designated approvers. A total of 2,13,941 properties have been submitted by makers and remain in the pipeline as of the deadline, the ministry said, adding that 10,869 properties stood rejected during verification To support this massive national exercise, the Ministry of Minority Affairs conducted continuous workshops and training sessions with State/UT Waqf Boards and Minority Departments, the statement said. A two-day master trainer workshop was also conducted in Delhi to equip Waqf Boards and State/UT officials with hands-on training for the uploading process, the ministry said. Senior technical and administrative teams were deputed across states, and seven zonal meetings were held nationwide. A dedicated helpline was also set up at the Ministry office for technical support and quick resolution of issues arising during the uploads. Since the launch of the portal, secretary, Ministry of Minority Affairs, Chandra Shekhar Kumar took 20 plus review meetings, consistently guiding, motivating, and monitoring States/UTs to ensure timely and accurate uploading of existing Waqf property details, the statement said. The conclusion of this phase marks a significant milestone in bringing transparency, efficiency, and unified digital management to Waqf properties across India under the UMEED framework, it said. The highest number of Waqf properties initiated on the portal were from Uttar Pradesh (92,830 - 86,345 Sunni and 6,485 Shia), followed by Maharashtra (62,939) and Karnataka (58,328), while 23,086 properties were initiated from West Bengal. Rijiju on Friday had ruled out extending the deadline for registering Waqf properties on the UMEED portal but said his ministry, recognising the concerns of 'mutawallis' or caretakers, will not impose any penalty or take strict action for the next three months as a humanitarian and facilitative measure. The Centre launched The Unified Waqf Management, Empowerment, Efficiency, and Development (UMEED) Act central portal on June 6 to create a digital inventory. According to the provisions of the portal, details of all registered Waqf properties across the country must be uploaded within six months. The six-month deadline for registration ended at 11:59:59 pm on December 6. The six-month deadline mandated under the Waqf Amendment Act cannot be extended due to the provisions of the Act, and clear directions of the Supreme Court, the minister had said. The government, through the Ministry of Minority Affairs, has said it is committed to modernising Waqf administration and unlocking the full developmental potential of Waqf properties for the benefit of minority communities.
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.
WBSSC Group C and D recruitment 2025: The West Bengal School Service Commission (WBSSC) closes the online application process today for 8,478 Group C and Group D posts under the 1st SLST-2025. Candidates must submit the form by 5:59 pm, while fee payment remains open until December 12, 2025. The recruitment includes vacancies for Clerks, Librarians and Group D staff across multiple regions and mediums. Eligibility, salary details and exam dates have been issued, and applications can be submitted through the official website.
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 .
Insider track | Russian folk tune and Indian link
At the Rashtrapati Bhavan state dinner hosted by President Droupadi Murmu for Vladimir Putin, the Rashtrapati Bhavan Naval Band brought an unexpectedly cheerful moment by playing Kalinka. This famous Russian folk tune, composed by Ivan Larionov in 1860, often appears at diplomatic events as its lively rhythm travels easily across borders. For Indian audiences, the melody also carries a familiar warmth due to its Hindi adaptation, Darling, in 7 Khoon Maaf, sung by Usha Uthup. That connection may explain why it is instantly popular here. Kalinka has appeared at many multilateral gatherings, from BRICS to the SCO summit in Tianjin, where cameras caught it playing as Putin met Xi Jinping. It is not an official anthem, but it is clearly a tune with global stamina. TMCCongress tussle Inside the Trinamool Congress, there is near-total clarity: an alliance with the Congress for next years West Bengal Assembly polls looks unlikely. Despite polite public gestures, the relationship is visibly strained. TMC insiders cite a recent example to show their frustration. While the Congress criticised the electoral roll revision, it failed to provide even one Booth Level Agent when the TMC asked for help with BLOs and objecting to deletions or suspected manipulation. For TMC leaders, this confirms their belief that Congress has virtually no organisational presence in Bengal. As one insider put it, if Congress cannot provide BLAs, why consider them for a pact? For now, the TMC is confident it can win on its own. Polls are month away, but for now the TMC is firm that it doesnt need the Congress in Bengal. Naddas personal touch for TB end It is routine for a health minister to brief parliamentarians on major health concerns. JP Nadda, however, has added an unusual personal layer. He is determined to foster a united political push for a TB-Mukt Bharat and is meeting MPs state by state to build support. The latest WHO report notes a decline in TB cases and deaths, but India still ranks among the eight countries contributing 67% of global cases in 2024. India aims to eliminate TB by 2025. Nadda has already spoken with MPs from large states like Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Bihar. He is now reaching out to MPs from smaller states. Naddas personal touch may well spur MPs to turn the TB-free India mission into a true jan andolan. For Congress, after RJD, its SP After the Bihar election setback strained its ties with the RJD, the Congress now seems to be drifting apart from another ally, the Samajwadi Party (SP) in Uttar Pradesh. In Parliaments Winter Session, the SP stayed away from the Special Intensive Revision of voter rolls on the second day of the session. Behind the scenes, MPs from both parties blame each other for widening the gap. One SP functionary was overheard saying the party is not interested in an alliance with Congress for the upcoming panchayat elections. Leaders on both sides quietly admit the gap is growing and is now harder to ignore. Navneet Sehgals exit raises eyebrows Navneet Kumar Sehgal arrived at Prasar Bharati in the morning as chairman and, by afternoon, had resigned in a cloud of mystery. He spent the early hours having coffee, attending meetings and smiling through routine interactions, but by late afternoon, his resignation letter lay on the table. The suddenness left bureaucrats stunned. Sehgal, a retired UP-cadre IAS officer known for maintaining good equations with every governmentSP, BSP, BJPseemingly hit an unexpected eject button. Some insiders whisper that a few old friends triggered an online storm that made his position uncomfortable, while others speculate he may be headed toward something bigger and less tied to Doordarshan. For now, only CEO Gaurav Dwivedi knows what unfolded, and he isnt saying a word.
BJP Condemns Babri Memorial Remarks
Subhash criticised the Revanth Reddy-led Congress government for failing to act decisively, contrasting it with the West Bengal government's response to similar provocations.
Bengal to add 9,000 booths; digitisation nears finish
West Bengal is embarking on an ambitious plan to add around 9,000 new polling booths, a significant move prompted by the Election Commission of India's recent directive for booth rationalisation. This initiative specifically targets urban areas where large housing complexes exist, ensuring easier access for voters. Additionally, the digitisation of enumeration forms is rapidly approaching completion.
Bangladesh delegation to visit India for Vijay Diwas celebrations on Dec 1516
India prepares for Vijay Diwas celebrations honoring the 1971 War victory. A 20-member delegation from Bangladesh, including army officers and Mukti Yoddhas, will attend events in West Bengal. The Eastern Command's Vijay Rally concluded, marking the start of these commemorations. Celebrations include a Military Tattoo and wreath-laying ceremonies.
Rajnath Singh inaugurates record 125 BRO projects in Ladakh
NEW DELHI: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday described Operation Sindoor as a historic success, crediting the missions scale and efficiency to Indias rapidly strengthened border connectivity. Singh, who was in Ladakh to inaugurate 125 strategically significant infrastructure projects of the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) the highest number ever launched simultaneously, said the forces exercised restraint despite having the capability to go further. Speaking about the counter-operation launched after the Pahalgam terror attack, Singh said, Our Armed Forces launched the operation in response to the horrific terrorist attack in Pahalgam. Everybody knows what befell those terrorists. We could have done much more, but our forces, demonstrating both courage and patience, did only what was necessary. The success of the operation was made possible by seamless logistics and uninterrupted connectivity to forward areas. The projects inaugurated on Sunday span two Union Territories Ladakh and Jammu & Kashmir and seven states: Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Rajasthan, West Bengal and Mizoram. They include 28 roads, 93 bridges and four miscellaneous facilities, collectively built at an estimated cost of Rs 5,000 crore, marking the highest-value set of inaugurations in BROs history. As first reported by The New Indian Express , the assets represent a major boost to Indias border infrastructure push. These upgraded roads and bridges are expected to significantly enhance last-mile connectivity to remote villages and forward military posts, helping integrate these areas more closely into the national mainstream. The main event was held on the DarbukShyokDaulat Beg Oldie road at the newly completed Shyok Tunnel, one of the marquee projects unveiled by the minister. Calling the tunnel an engineering feat built in one of the worlds toughest terrains, Singh said the 920-metre cut-and-cover structure will ensure all-weather access to a strategically vital region frequently cut off by heavy snowfall, avalanches and extreme temperatures. The tunnel, he said, will boost mobility, security and rapid deployment capability, especially during harsh winters. Singh also virtually inaugurated the Galwan War Memorial in Ladakh, honouring the bravery and sacrifice of Indian soldiers. Reaffirming the governments commitment to developing border regions, the Defence Minister said robust connectivity acts as a lifeline for security, economic growth and disaster management. There are numerous benefits of strong border infrastructure. It enables military mobility, smooth transport of logistics, increased tourism and employment opportunities, and most importantly greater public faith in development, democracy and the government, he said. He noted that the BRO spent a record Rs 16,690 crore in 202425 and has been set a target of Rs 18,700 crore for 202526. In the past two years alone, 356 BRO projects have been dedicated to the nation, underscoring the agencys capability to operate in high-altitude, snowbound, desert, flood-prone and forested terrain. The Union Budget 202526 has raised the BROs allocation from Rs 6,500 crore to Rs 7,146 crore, reflecting its expanding role in national security and development.
Locals Pool In Money, Build A Bridge Called 'Gorkhaland' Near Darjeeling
Without government funding, residents contributed whatever amount they could to a common poll and built a bridge over Tungsung Khola, connecting Tungsung tea estate with Dhotrey valley near West Bengal's Darjeeling.
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.
NDA will win big in West Bengal and Tamil Nadu; people have rejected Congress and allies: Shah
Mr. Shah said the BJP and its alliance partners have continued their winning streak by recording a two-thirds majority in the recent Assembly elections in Bihar, and will record a big victory in West Bengal and Tamil Nadu, where elections are due next year
Ahead of West Bengal elections, scheduled for 2026, Ex-Trinamool MLA Humayun Kabir has issued a warning of to the party claiming that their 'Muslim Vote' bank is finished. He also vowed that CM Mamata Banerjee will not return to power for the fourth time. Humayun Kabir was suspended from the party a
After Bihar win, BJP next in line for power in Tamil Nadu & West Bengal: Amit Shah
Rahul Baba is still finding faults with EVMs or electoral rolls. Rahul Baba, neither are the EVMs faulty nor is there anything wrong with the electoral rolls:, Shah said
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 .
Trinamool's Muslim Vote Bank Will Be Finished: Suspended MLA Humayun Kabir's Warning
Suspended by Trinamool after his proposal to build a replica of the Babri Masjid in West Bengal's Murshidabad, MLA Humayun Kabir has vowed not to let Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee return to power for a fourth time next year.
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 .
Rajnath Singh to unveil 125 BRO infrastructure projects in key areas
NEW DELHI: In a major push to strengthen Indias border infrastructure, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will inaugurate and dedicate 125 strategically important projects of the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) on Sunday from the Shyok Tunnel in Ladakh. Sources said these vital projects that the minister will unveil cover 28 roads, 93 bridges, and four miscellaneous strategic facilities across seven states and two Union Territories, including Ladakh, Jammu & Kashmir, Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Rajasthan, West Bengal, and Mizoram. Showcasing Indias engineering and technological advancements, the event will highlight the 920-metre Cut and Cover Shyok Tunnel, which ensures uninterrupted movement of troops and civilians through landslide- and avalanche-prone terrain. The 3D-printed Himank Air Dispatch (HAD) Unit Complex in Chandigarh also highlights the countrys innovation in modern defence infrastructure. These projects mark a major milestone in enhancing operational preparedness, troop mobility, and socio-economic development in some of the most remote and challenging regions of the country, officials said. BROs achievements demonstrate its capability to operate across high-altitude, snowbound, desert, flood-prone, and dense forest terrains, while improving last-mile connectivity to remote villages, forward military posts, and strategic locations. Notable road projects include the Sela-Chabrela-BJG and Shungester-Sulula Roads in Arunachal Pradesh, the KalepGaigong Road in Sikkim, and connectivity works in Mizoram along the LawngtlaiDiltlangParva axis. Bridges such as Lumla I & II, Shungetsar I & II, Rabam Chu, and Tuichanglui enhance logistics and access across critical border stretches. Officials pointed out these projects are some of the toughest terrains and it is uphill task. Raised in 1960, BRO has an authorized strength of 41,600 personnel, including 2,426 officers and 39,174 subordinates, and continues to be the preferred agency for MHA, MEA, and MoRTH for projects in challenging terrains. Over the past two years, BRO has dedicated 356 infrastructure projects, with its budget increased from Rs 6,500 crore to Rs 7,146 crore in recognition of its strategic contribution. Lt Gen Raghu Srinivasan, Director General of BRO, lauded the dedication and professionalism of officers, supervisors, and labourers. Upholding its motto, Shramena Sarvam Sadhyam Everything is achievable through hard work, BRO continues to play a pivotal role in national security, strategic connectivity, and socio-economic development, linking Indias remotest and most strategically vital regions to mainstream.
Maharashtra Minister Refers To Mamata Banerjee As Terrorist
Alleging large-scale irregularities, Mr. Lodha claimed that over 10 centres had been set up in each district bordering Bangladesh in West Bengal to issue bogus birth certificates to illegal immigrants.
After Victory in Bihar, BJP Plans Massive Pre-poll Blitzkrieg In West Bengal
The saffron party has planned over 12,000 meetings and Prime Minister Narendra Modi is slated to address at least half a dozen rallies in the run-up to the announcement of dates for the 2026 Assembly polls
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.
Around 7.62 crore enumeration forms digitised in West Bengal since SIR launch: EC
West Bengal has digitized over 7.62 crore enumeration forms for its electoral roll revision. This significant progress was achieved over a month after the special intensive revision process began. The state now ranks eighth among other states and Union Territories in this digitization effort. The process is crucial for the upcoming 2026 assembly polls.
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.
The Indo-Islamic Cultural Foundation (IICF) has criticized suspended TMC MLA Humayun Kabir's plan to name a new mosque in West Bengal after Babur, calling it a politically motivated act that undermines the sacred purpose of worship.
Suspended Trinamool Congress (TMC) legislator Humayun Kabir on Saturday laid the foundation stone for a mosque modelled on the Babri Masjid in West Bengal's Murshidabad district, on the anniversary of the 16th-century religious structure's violent demolition by a Hindutva mob in 1992. Kabir, who had announced the foundation-laying ceremony earlier this month, cut a ceremonial ribbon alongside visiting clerics while slogans of Nara-e-Takbeer, Allahu Akbar were raised at the venue in Beldanga, where thousands had gathered since morning, reported PTI. The site of the ceremony was sealed into a high-security grid, with deployment of the RAF, district police, and central forces on both sides of the National Highway 12, after the Calcutta High Court declined to halt the event. Refusing to intervene in the event or the construction of the mosque, Calcutta HC on Friday directed that the responsibility of maintenance of law and order during the ceremony would rest with the state government. Kabir, who has hogged the limelight in the past with controversial statements on matters, including the party's internal affairs, was suspended by the TMC 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. (With inputs from PTI)
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 .
Suspended TMC MLA lays foundation stone for Babri Masjid-style mosque in Bengal
Baharampur: Suspended TMC MLA Humayun Kabir on Saturday laid the foundation stone for a mosque modelled on Ayodhyas Babri Masjid at Rejinagar in West Bengals Murshidabad district, amid tight security arrangements. Kabir cut a ceremonial ribbon alongside visiting clerics on the dais as slogans of Nara-e-Takbeer, Allahu Akbar were raised at the venue, 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 .
Battle against communal forces spewing hatred will continue: Mamata Banerjee
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee vowed to continue the fight against communal forces spreading hatred, emphasizing her government's commitment to upholding the Constitution's ideals. Her remarks coincided with a suspended TMC MLA laying the foundation for a mosque on the anniversary of the Babri Masjid demolition, a day the TMC observed as 'Sanhati Divas' (Unity Day).
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)
Bihar CM Nitish Kumar's name included in World Book of Records for taking oath for 10th time
PATNA: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is set to get global recognition as World Book of Records (WBR), London has listed his name for being the only individual to be sworn-in as chief minister of any state in independent India for 10th time. WBR congratulated Nitish for taking the oath of office as chief minister of Bihar for a record 10th time. In its congratulatory letter, WBR said that from 1947 to 2025, Nitish is the only individual to take the oath ten times. The milestone has set a benchmark in the countrys democratic system, reflecting rare continuity of leadership. It signifies his commitment, visionary leadership and unwavering trust of people of Bihar. Leading a state for ten times is not a remarkable personal achievement but also a moment of honour for entire country, WBR letter said. The letter pointed out that Nitishs consistent efforts in governance, development, social welfare and maintaining administrative stability has inspired millions of people across the country and will continue to motivate both present and future generations. As a mark of rare achievement, Nitishs name has been included in the list of WBR. The organisation will provide an official certificate acknowledging his record-setting milestone. On December 20, Nitish took the oath of office as CM along with 26 ministers. Reacting to WBRs initiative to list Nitishs name in its global list, Janata Dal (United) MLC and spokesperson Neeraj Kumar said that it was a moment of pride not only for Bihar but for the entire nation. This is recognition to Nitishs relentless efforts and vision for Bihars development. It will inspire workers of JD(U) who have been the backbone of the partys achievements, Neeraj said, adding that Nitish became the longest serving CM of Bihar as well. The list of other longest serving chief ministers includes Pawan Kumar Chamling (Sikkim), who served over 24 years, 5 months, and 14 days, followed by Naveen Patnaik (Odisha) with over 24 years and Gegong Apang (Arunachal Pradesh) for 22 years. Jyoti Basu (West Bengal) severed for 23 years. M Karunanidhi (Tamil Nadu) had the most terms and longest days across several stints. Lal Thanhawla (Mizoram) and Virbhandra Singh (Himachal Pradesh) served for nearly 22 and 21 years, respectively. WBR, London is a leading international institution dedicated to identifying, certifying and documenting extraordinary world records and outstanding achievements. The organisation honours eminent personalities, institutions, and historically significant sites worldwide for their contributions, impact and cultural heritage value.
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.
West Bengal is on high alert as suspended TMC MLA Humayun Kabir proceeds with a mosque foundation ceremony in Murshidabad, styled after the Babri Masjid, on December 6. The Calcutta High Court placed public order responsibility on the state, deploying extensive security. The event, coinciding with the Babri Masjid demolition anniversary, carries significant political and communal sensitivities.
West Bengal Police has released the provisional answer key for the 2025 Constable and Lady-Constable exam. Candidates can now download the key from the official website to calculate their tentative scores and identify any discrepancies. This allows aspirants to gauge their performance before the upcoming physical tests and final results.
Pregnant Sunali brought back to India with son
A pregnant woman and her son, detained as illegal immigrants and deported to Bangladesh, have finally returned to India after a six-month ordeal. The mother, nine months pregnant, and her eight-year-old son crossed the border into West Bengal. Her husband and another woman with her two sons remain in Bangladesh, awaiting repatriation.
West Bengal Mother-Son Duo, Pushed Over Border, Back In India After 5 Months
The Supreme Court recently ordered the Centre to bring back the mother-son duo on humanitarian grounds after their Indian citizenship was found valid during a verification in a legal battle contested by the Trinamul Congress government.
Saudi Clerics Expected, Biryani For 40,000 At Trinamool MLA's Mosque Event
The venue for suspended TMC MLA Humayun Kabir's foundation-stone ceremony for a 'Babri Masjid-style' mosque in West Bengal's Murshidabad on December 6 turned into a massive worksite on Friday, with Saudi clerics expected, food was being prepared.
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
Assam black tea, Kashmiri saffron, Bhagavad Gita among PM Modi's gifts to Putin
NEW DELHI: Flavourful Assam black tea, Kashmiri saffron, a handcrafted silver horse, an ornate tea set and a Russian edition of the Bhagavad Gita are among the gifts Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave to Russian President Vladimir Putin. A copy of the Srimad Bhagavad Gita presents Lord Krishna's guidance to Arjuna on duty, the eternal soul and spiritual liberation during the battle of the Mahabharata. Its timeless wisdom inspires ethical living, mind control and inner peace, with translations making it accessible to modern readers worldwide, officials said. Grown in the fertile Brahmaputra plains, Assam black tea is prized for its robust malty flavour, bright liquor and traditional processing using the 'Assamica' variety. Recognised with a GI tag in 2007, it represents a rich heritage shaped by land, climate and craft. Beyond its cultural legacy, it is also valued for potential health benefits, making each cup both comforting and wholesome. The ornate Murshidabad silver tea set, crafted with intricate engravings, reflects the rich artistry of West Bengal and the deep cultural importance of tea in both India and Russia. Gifted with affection, the set celebrates the enduring India-Russia friendship and the timeless ritual of tea, the officials said. The handcrafted silver horse from Maharashtra, adorned with intricate detailing, showcases the finesse of India's metal craft traditions. Symbolising dignity and valour celebrated in both Indian and Russian cultures, it reflects shared heritage and mutual respect, the officials said. The poised and forward-moving stance of the handcrafted horse serves as a metaphor for the enduring and ever-advancing India-Russia partnership. The handcrafted marble chess set from Agra blends fine craftsmanship with functional elegance, highlighting the region's stone inlay heritage under the 'One District One Product' (ODOP) initiative. Kashmiri saffron, locally known as Kong or Zaffran, cultivated in the highlands of Kashmir, is prized for its rich colour, aroma and flavour, and holds deep cultural and culinary significance.
Centre reworking and refining procedures to resume MGNREGA scheme in West Bengal
Centre froze MGNREGA funds to the State in March 2022, citing continued non-compliance with Central directives; in June 2025, the Calcutta HC ordered resumption of the scheme, which the SC upheld in October
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.
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 West Bengal BLOs to re-verify forms, delete dead or absent voters by December 11
In his note, the CEO reminded BLOs that they are on deputation to the ECI for the SIR exercise and are responsible for crucial verification work
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 []
Bengal SIR: CEO tells BLOs to re-verify forms 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 of 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 .
Rajya Sabha green light to excise policy to curb tobacco consumption
NEW DELHI: Parliament on Thursday passed the Central Excise (Amendment) Bill, 2025, after the Rajya Sabha approved it and returned it to the Lok Sabha. The Bill amends the Central Excise Act, 1944, with the key objective of increasing excise duties and cess on multiple tobacco products, including cigarettes, cigars, hookah tobacco, chewing tobacco, zarda and scented tobacco. Replying to the discussion on the Bill, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman accused the West Bengal government of obstructing the states development despite receiving full assistance from the Centre. She insisted that the Centre had never neglected West Bengal. In fact, it is the Trinamool Congress (TMC) government that is hurting the growth of the people of West Bengal, she said while responding to points raised by TMC members. Referring to health coverage, she reminded the House that West Bengal withdrew from the Ayushman Bharat scheme in January 2019, adding, Is that good for the people of Bengal? Sitharaman said industries were steadily leaving West Bengal and listed several indicators of the Centres contributions. She noted that AIIMS Kalyani had been established and 11 medical colleges were approved under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme. She added that West Bengal received a record railway budget allocation of Rs 13,955 crore for 202526, more than three times the 200914 average outlay of Rs 4,380 crore. In addition, 101 Amrit Stations are being developed in the state at a cost of Rs 3,847.5 crore. The minister said that 1,650 km of railway lines had been electrified, bringing total electrification in Bengal to over 98%. She informed the House that more than 2,300 km of National Highways had been built since 2014. Responding to concerns raised by TMC MP Sagarika Ghose about the Central Road and Infrastructure Fund (CRIF), Sitharaman said that transfers had not been halted.
Deploy extra staff: SC to states on concerns related to BLOs in SIR exercise
The Supreme Court plans to finish hearing challenges to electoral roll revisions before the winter break. States like Bihar, Tamil Nadu, and West Bengal are involved. Concerns were raised about the Election Commission determining citizenship and the pressure on booth-level officers. The court directed states to provide support to these officers.
Presidents rule would have been imposed in West Bengal had we not gone ahead with SIR says Mamata
Without making a direct reference to MLA Humayun Kabir who was suspended by the Trinamool Congress earlier in the day, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said that traitors take BJPs money to stoke communal tensions in Murshidabad
ECI to roll out Demographic Similar Entries Software in 12 states amid intensive voter roll revision
The Election Commission of India is launching new software to find and remove duplicate voters. This technology will be used in 12 states, including West Bengal, during a special revision of voter lists. Officials are urging election workers to be diligent in verifying voter details. Strict action will be taken against intentional errors.
TMC accuses Sitharaman of misleading Rajya Sabha during excise bill debate
TMC Rajya Sabha Deputy Leader Sagarika Ghose accused Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman of misleading the House on West Bengal during the Central Excise (Amendment) Bill, 2025 debate. The party staged a walkout, calling it a murder of constitutional democracy
Shah Planned Presidents Rule in West Bengal If We Didnt Allow SIR: Didi
They may be found in North Eastern states like Tripura.
'Mamata Banerjee Will Be Ex-Chief Minister In 2026': MLA Humayun Kabir
Suspended Trinamool Congress MLA Humayun Kabir on Thursday escalated his attack on West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, declaring that she will no longer remain in power after the 2026 Assembly elections.
Some traitors take BJPs money to stoke communal tensions: CM Mamata
Murshidabad: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday said Murshidabad would never accept politics of riots and that some traitors take BJPs money to stoke communal tensions on the day the TMC suspended MLA Humayun Kabir over his proposed Babri Masjid-style mosque. Addressing a rally in Baharampur, Banerjee, without naming Bharatpur MLA Kabir, said 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.
WBSU result 2025: UG NEP, CBCS even semester results declared at wbsu.ac.in, check direct link here
West Bengal State University (WBSU) has released the UG CBCS and UG NEP Sem-II/IV results for 2025. Students can now check their results online at the official portal by entering their registration number and captcha code. The results provide detailed subject-wise marks for both CBCS and NEP students. Candidates are advised to download or print their results for future reference. A direct link is available for quick and secure access.
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
NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court, on Thursday, issued a slew of directions to address the problems faced by the BLOs while working in the special intensive revision of electoral rolls in various states. A two-judge Bench of the top court, headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi, in its order directed that the states which were affected would depute additional staff for SIR duty to reduce the working hours of persons engaged in SIR. Whenever any individual has a specific reason for seeking exemption, the state government shall consider such requests on a case-by-case basis and replace such person with another person. The state is obligated to provide the workforce in case there is a need to increase the same. If any other relief is not dealt with, the aggrieved individual can approach the court, the apex court ordered. It passed these directions, after hearing an application filed by the political party Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) against the Election Commission of India (ECI), stating that the condition of BLOs, including the suicide of some of them who had cited work pressure before taking the extreme step. Thursday's hearing in the top court waspart of a batch of petitions challenging the SIR process in various states, including Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh and Kerala. During the course of the hearing,Senior Advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan, appearing for TVK, argued that 35 to 40 BLOs have died by suicide. These are all Anganwadi workers and teachers. He further submitted before the apex court that many were getting notices saying that they would be imprisoned for 2 years if they didn't meet deadlines. 50 FIRs have been filed against BLOs in UP. They (Election Commission of India) are taking pride in this. There was a boy who wanted to attend his wedding. He was denied, and he committed suicide, he contended before the top court.
West Bengal SIR: Polling stations with zero ineligible voters drops from 2,208 to 29
Between December 1 and December 3, the number of polling booths that recorded zero dead, duplicate, shifted or absent voters saw a drastic drop
Amit Shah behind SIR 'ploy' in Bengal; BJP dug its own grave by rushing it: Mamata Banerjee
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee fiercely criticized the BJP and Union Home Minister Amit Shah over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, alleging it was a ploy to manipulate voters and capture the state.
Bengal SIR: Nearly 50 lakh voters flagged for possible deletion from voter list
Around 50 lakh names have been identified for possible deletion from West Bengals voters list during the Election Commissions ongoing Special Intensive Revision
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 .
Trinamool MLA Humayun Kabir Suspended Over Proposal To Build Babri Mosque Replica
Trinamool MLA Humayun Kabir has been suspended from the party after he proposed to build a Babri mosque replica in West Bengal's Murshidabad.
WBSSC Group C and D registration underway for over 8000 vacancies: Check direct link to apply here
The registration window for WBSSC Recruitment 2025 is currently underway, inviting applications for 8,477 Group C and D non-teaching posts across West Bengals government-aided schools. Open until December 8, 2025, the drive covers clerical, administrative and support roles. The Commission has urged candidates to follow document and format specifications strictly to avoid application rejection.
SIR Reunites Son With Parents After 26 Years In West Bengal
The SIR process reunited Prashanta Dutta and his wife, Santona Dutta, with their son, Tarun Dutta, who left home 26 years ago.
29 Poll Booths In Bengal Have 0 Dead, Duplicate Or Shifted Voters
As on Monday evening, the Election Commission of India (ECI) identified 2,208 polling booths in West Bengal that did not have a single dead voter or duplicate voter or shifted voter.
RS fixes Vande Mataram, SIR discussions for next week at multi-party meet
NEW DELHI: The Rajya Sabha will take up two major debates next week one marking the 150th anniversary of the composition of Vande Mataram and the other on electoral reforms, including the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter rolls. A meeting of the Business Advisory Committee (BAC), chaired by Chairperson C P Radhakrishnan and attended by floor leaders of several parties, finalised the schedule on Wednesday evening. According to sources, the BAC decided to hold the Vande Mataram debate on Tuesday and take up electoral reforms on Wednesday or Thursday, once the Lok Sabha completes its own debate. Each debate has been allotted ten hours. In the Lok Sabha, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said that the lower House will take up the Vande Mataram debate on Monday and the discussion on electoral reforms on Tuesday. These decisions were taken after an all-party meeting and a BAC meeting chaired by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla. The move signals that the logjam over the Oppositions demand to discuss the SIR of voter rolls may finally be easing, after repeated disruptions since the Winter Session began on December 1. Opposition MPs said they plan to raise concerns about the ongoing SIR in Tamil Nadu, Kerala and West Bengal, as well as the reported suicides of booth-level officers and highlight the inhuman workload and coercive pressure on these officials. Opposition leaders are viewing the BAC okaying the debates as a victory, claiming the government had climbed down from its earlier stance. They said the role of the Election Commission will be examined, amid allegations of vote theft and manipulation of electoral rolls charges the EC has repeatedly denied. Rijiju told reporters that the SIR is an administrative exercise of the EC, adding that the government looks forward to a constructive and engaging discussion.
Modi meets BJP MPs to firm up Bengal strategy
NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday asked BJP MPs from West Bengal to counter the TMC government and work towards winning the assembly elections next year. BJP MPs from the state met the PM along with Khagen Murmu, Maldah Uttar MP who was attacked by a mob in October. The PM told us to keep fighting the West Bengal government to save democracy. We will remove this government, Union minister Sukanta Majumdar said after the meeting. Darjeeling MP Raju Bista said the PM highlighted BJP workers role in public outreach. He has encouraged us to continue the positive work and to take steps towards reaching out to every individual across the state, Bista posted on X.
Haryana CM Saini hits out at Mamata-led TMC government in Bengal; says targeting Hindus
CM Saini said that despite West Bengal having a woman Chief Minister, the condition of women in the state wassuffering and their situation was deteriorating
Mamata tries to allay fears of over implementation of Waqf Amendment Bill
The Chief Minister Mamata Banerjees remarks come days after a letter by West Bengal Minority Affairs Department directed all District Magistrates to upload registeredWaqfProperties on Data in UnifiedWaqfManagement, Empowerment
Sunali is Indian; despite every document, she was deported: Mamata Banerjee
West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee expressed concern over the alleged torture of Bengali-speaking migrant workers, who are reportedly being labeled as Bangladeshis and deported. She criticized the Centre's actions, citing the case of Sunali Khatun, and vowed to protect religious properties and oppose the hurried revision of electoral rolls ahead of the 2026 elections.
PM asks BJP MPs from West Bengal to keep SIR straightforward
PM asks MPs not to let the ongoing SIR become a subject of controversy in the State, where the BJP is the main Oppposition party; asks them to focus on ground level work ahead of next years polls
No termination for 32,000 West Bengal primary teachers: Calcutta HC
The Calcutta High Court has overturned a previous order that cancelled the jobs of 32,000 primary school teachers in West Bengal. A division bench ruled that innocent teachers should not suffer for administrative faults. The court stated that these teachers, who have been employed for about nine years, will retain their positions.
Modi meets BJP MPs over SIR & Matua vote fears
In a pivotal meeting, Prime Minister Narendra Modi engaged with a group of twelve BJP MPs from West Bengal, concentrating on strategies for the forthcoming assembly elections. Discussions highlighted the need for a thorough Special Intensive Revision of the electoral rolls, with a strong emphasis on ensuring the Matua community's representation.
Rajya Sabha back to normal, takes up first question hour of session
In a heated session of the Rajya Sabha, members of the Trinamool Congress voiced their frustration over the outstanding MNREGA payments owed to West Bengal. The BJP retaliated, expressing discontent with how the matter was presented. Congress threw their support behind the TMC, illustrating a united front.
Mamata Banerjee slams centre over deportation of pregnant woman Sunali Khatun
The Centre will bring back Sunali Khatun, a pregnant woman deported to Bangladesh, and her son. This decision follows a Supreme Court directive on humanitarian grounds. The West Bengal Chief Minister had criticized the deportation. The Supreme Court ordered the state government to provide all necessary medical facilities for Sunali and care for her child.
Mamata Banerjee defends Waqf properties, challenges centre's amendment act
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has vowed to protect Waqf properties in Malda. She stated the Central government's Waqf Amendment Act, 2025, will not be implemented. Banerjee asserted her government has moved the Supreme Court against the Act. She emphasized her commitment to secularism and protecting all religious places in Bengal.
NCBC recommends exclusion of35 communities, mostly Muslim, from West Bengals Central OBC list
The recommendation comes months after the NCBC initiated a probe into 37 communities included in the Central OBC list of West Bengal in 2014; the State will have Assembly polls in early 2026
Abandoned By Mother, Stray Dogs Guarded A Newborn All Night In West Bengal
In a remarkable incident from West Bengals Nabadwip, stray dogs saved an abandoned newborn girl by guarding her all night. A woman later rescued the child, and authorities have begun an investigation.
Keep up fight against TMC, will win polls next year: PM Modi tells West Bengal BJP MPs
NEW DELHI:Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday asked BJP MPs from West Bengal to effectively counter the Trinamool Congress-led government in the state and work towards winning the assembly elections next year. BJP MPs from West Bengal met the prime minister, along with Khagen Murmu the Lok Sabha member from Maldah Uttar who []
Calcutta High Court upholds jobs of 32,000 primary teachers, overturns single-judge order
The Calcutta High Court has retained the jobs of 32,000 primary teachers, overturning a single-judge order that had dismissed their appointments due to recruitment irregularities. A division bench ruled that innocent teachers should not suffer for the faults of authorities, stating they were not involved in corruption. This decision brings relief to the teachers and the West Bengal government.
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.
Amit Shah behind SIR ploy in Bengal, BJP dug its own grave by rushing exercise: CM Mamata Banerjee
MALDA: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday alleged that Home Minister Amit Shah was 'behind the ploy' of implementing the special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in the state, months before the assembly polls. Banerjee, addressing a rally here, called the SIR a 'politically-driven exercise' aimed at unsettling voters. Amit Shah is behind this ploy of implementing the SIR in Bengal just before the elections, she claimed. He wants to capture Bengal at any cost, but he will get a befitting reply, the chief minister asserted. Claiming that the BJP miscalculated the political impact of the voter revision exercise, Banerjee said. By implementing the SIR in Bengal, the BJP has dug its own grave. Bengal and Bihar are not the same. She, however, said that her party, the TMC, was not opposing the exercise, but you have to give appropriate time to conduct it. If BJP strikes me in Bengal, Ill shake its foundation nationwide: Mamata Banerjee | Bongaon rally You cannot just rush things to serve the political agenda of BJP. Banerjee also announced that from December 12, the TMC will launch 'May I Help You' camps across the state to assist people when SIR hearings begin later this month. Targeting the saffron party's ideological pitch, she added, We don't need to learn Hindutva from the BJP. She also referred to the case of Sunali Khatun, the pregnant woman who was pushed into Bangladesh along with her eight-year-old son. The (Supreme) court asked the Centre to bring back Khatun. We fought the case in court, the CM said. Questioning the conduct of central forces, she said, Sunali was an Indian, then why did the BSF push the pregnant woman to Bangladesh? Is it just because she is a Bengali that she was branded Bangladeshi and pushed across the border? Reiterating her stand on citizenship issues, the TMC chief asserted: As long as I am here, no Bengali will be sent to any detention camp or pushed back. Mamata to scale up anti-SIR campaign with rallies in Malda, Murshidabad, Cooch Behar
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 .
The Supreme Court allowed a pregnant woman and her child to enter India on humanitarian grounds after their deportation to Bangladesh. The court directed the West Bengal government to provide care and medical support, including delivery, for the woman. This decision follows the Centre's challenge to a Calcutta High Court order that deemed the deportation illegal.
West Bengal: Newborn left outside toilet survives only because stray dogs did the 'unthinkable'
A newborn abandoned outside a toilet in Nabadwip, West Bengal, was found safe after a pack of stray dogs formed a protective circle around him throughout the night. Discovered by a local woman at dawn, the infant was rescued and taken to the hospital, showing no external injuries.
SC allows entry of pregnant woman, her child into India from Bangladesh on humanitarian grounds
NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Wednesday allowed on humanitarian grounds the entry of a pregnant woman and her eight-year-old child into India, months after they were pushed into Bangladesh. A bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi asked the West Bengal government to take care of the minor and directed the chief medical officer of Birbhum district to provide all possible medical assistance to the pregnant woman Sunali Khatun. The bench noted the submission of Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Centre, that the competent authority has agreed to allow the woman and her child into the country purely on humanitarian grounds and they would be kept under surveillance. The top court said they would eventually be brought back to Delhi from where they were picked up and deported to Bangladesh. Senior advocates Kapil Sibal and Sanjay Hegde urged the court that there were others also, including Sunali's husband who are in Bangladesh and need to be brought back to India for which Mehta may seek further instruction. Mehta contended that he would be contesting their claim of being Indian citizens and maintained that they were Bangladeshi nationals and it was only humanitarian grounds that the union government was allowing the woman and her child into India. The woman's father alleged that the families, working as daily wage earners in Sector 26 of the Rohini area in Delhi for over two decades, were picked up by police on June 18 on suspicion of being Bangladeshis and subsequently pushed across the border on June 27.
Punjab records highest groundwater extraction in India, says CGWB report
CHANDIGARH: Groundwater extraction in the country is the highest in Punjab, followed by Rajasthan and Haryana, according to the latest National Compilation of Dynamic Ground Water Resources of India, 2025 report of the Central Ground Water Board (CGWB). The findings show that 25 per cent of the 6,762 total blocks in India have been categorised as over-exploited, critical or semi-critical, a situation concentrated in nine states, Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi and Puducherry. As per the report, groundwater extraction in Punjab stands at 156.36 per cent, the highest in the country, followed by Rajasthan at 147.11 per cent and Haryana at 136.75 per cent, all significantly above the national average of 60.63 per cent. At the national level, annual groundwater extraction has seen a marginal decline, from 27.66 billion cubic metres (BCM) in 2023 to 26.27 BCM last year. The total annual ground water recharge of Punjab has been assessed as 18.6 bcm and annual extractable ground water resource as 16.8 bcm. Out of total 153 assessment units including three urban areas taken for study, 111 assessment units (72.55 per cent) have been categorized as Over-exploited, 10 blocks (6.54 per cent) as Critical, 15 blocks (9.80 per cent) as Semi Critical and 17 blocks (11.11 per cent) as Safe, the report said. Similarly, out of 50175.27 square kilometers recharge worthy area of the state, 34294.3 sq km (68.35 per cent) area are under Over-Exploited, 4353.15 sq. km (8.68 per cent) under Critical, 4478.11 sq km (8.92 per cent) under Semi-critical and 7049.71sq km (14.05 per cent) under Safe category, reads the report. For Rajasthan, the report states,Out of the 302 assessment units (blocks and urban areas), 213 units (70.53 per cent) have been categorized as Over Exploited, 23 units (7.62 per cent) as Critical, 27 units (8.94 per cent) as Semi-Critical, 36 units (11.92 per cent) blocks as Safe and 3 units (0.99 per cent) as Saline. Similarly, out of 317010.74 sq km recharge worthy area of the state, 222266.46 sq km (70.11 per cent) area are under Over-Exploited, 19404.23 sq. km (6.12 per cent) under Critical, 22535.05 sq km (7.11 per cent) under Semi-critical, 43869.11 sq km (13.84 per cent) under Safe and 8935.89 sq km (2.82 per cent) area under Saline categories of assessment units. In Haryana, the situation is similar. While in Haryana, out of total 143 assessment units (blocks/Urban), 91 units (63.64 per cent) have been categorized as Overexploited, 6 units (4.20 per cent) as Critical, 15 units (10.49 per cent) as Semi Critical and 31 units (21.68 per cent) as Safe categories of assessment units. Similarly, out of 43,205.81 sq. km recharge worthy area of the State, 26,828.05 sq. km (62.09 per cent) area are under Over-Exploited, 1,170.46 sq. km (2.71 per cent) under Critical, 4,253.89 sq. km (9.85 per cent) under Semicritical, 10,953.42 sq. km (25.35 per cent) under Safe categories of assessment units, it added. The report assesses the total annual groundwater extraction of the entire country for 2025 at 247.22 bcm. Agriculture remains the largest consumer, accounting for 87 per cent, or 215.10 bcm, followed by 11 per cent for domestic use (27.89 bcm) and 2 per cent for industrial use (4.23 bcm). In the present assessment, total annual groundwater recharge has been pegged at 448.52 bcm, while the annual extractable groundwater resource stands at 407.75 bcm. The average stage of groundwater extraction at the national level is 60.63 per cent. Out of 6,762 blocks in the country, 730 units (10.80 per cent) are categorised as over-exploited, and 201 blocks (2.97 per cent) are classified as critical where extraction ranges from 90 to 100 per cent. Another 758 blocks (11.21 per cent) fall under the semi-critical category, while 4,946 units (73.14 per cent) are considered safe, with extraction below 70 per cent. Additionally, 127 blocks (1.88 per cent) have been listed as saline due to brackish or saline groundwater in phreatic aquifers. The report highlights that the percentage of over-exploited, critical and semi-critical blocks exceeding 25 per cent of total units is found only in nine states, Haryana, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi and Puducherry. It attributes the situation to region-specific factors, Over-exploitation of ground water resources could be due to various region-specific reasons. The assessment units located in the north-western part of the country (particularly in the states of Punjab, Haryana, Delhi and Uttar Pradesh) have plenty of replenishable ground water resources but because of the over extraction beyond the annual ground water recharge, many of these units have become Over-exploited. Overexploited units are also common in the western part of the country, particularly in Rajasthan and Gujarat where the prevailing arid climate results in low recharge of ground water and hence stress on these sources, the report stated. It further adds, In peninsular India, over-exploited units are wide spread in Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and parts of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana which could be attributed mainly to the low storage and transmission capacities of aquifers of the hard rock terrains, which results in reduced availability of the resource. The report also notes that in Arunachal Pradesh, Delhi, Goa, Kerala, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Tripura, Andaman and Nicobar, Chandigarh, Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh and Lakshadweep, domestic groundwater extraction exceeds 40 per cent. Groundwater extraction stands between 90 and 100 per cent in Delhi, and between 70 and 90 per cent in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry. In most other states and Union Territories, including Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Goa, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Odisha, Sikkim, Telangana, Tripura, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, West Bengal, Andaman and Nicobar, Chandigarh, Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu, Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh and Lakshadweep, extraction levels are around 70 per cent. The report concludes that compared to the Dynamic Ground Water Resource Assessment of 2024, the total annual groundwater recharge has marginally increased from 446.9 bcm to 448.52 bcm.
