Working remotely from hill stations in India may be cheaper than renting in cities. Various listings show monthly rates in Himachal, Uttarakhand, Sikkim and West Bengal.
Watch: CJP Dipke on X says he wont be surprised if his handle is taken down before Oct 10
CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke said on X that he would not be surprised if his handle is taken down before October 10, after a post thanking former West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee was restricted.
West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Saturday alleged that Mamata Banerjee had 'faked' her leg injury during the 2021 assembly elections and said a probe would be conducted by the government over her 'false claims'.
The retired Havaldar Mallesh allegedly explored selling the stolen military weapons to contacts in West Bengal
Sagardighi MLA Byron Biswas was seriously injured after a fire broke out at his home in Murshidabad on Saturday afternoon. The fire started in one of the rooms of his house in the Old Dak Bungalow area under Shamsherganj police station, according to local sources.
Govt to launch probe into Mamata's leg injury during 2021 polls: Bengal CM
The West Bengal government will launch a fresh inquiry into Mamata Banerjee's false claims of leg injury during the 2021 assembly poll campaign, Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari said on Saturday. Addressing a press conference at state secretariat Nabanna, Adhikari claimed Banerjee had faked her injury during the elections. Mamata Banerjee faked her leg injury during campaigning in Nandigram in 2021. We have the medical report which stated that there was no evidence of fracture or dislocation. We will initiate an investigation into the matter, Adhikari said, while displaying Banerjee's medical report issued by the Bangur Institute of Neuroscience. Her false allegation insulted the people of Nandigram. I will come out with more details after the MCC (model code of conduct) is lifted after October 9... Today, I am saying this in support of my claims made yesterday, he said. By-election will be held in Nandigram on October 6 and the results will be announced on October 9. Adhikar
Seva Setu camps draw over 10 lakh registrations on Day 1 across Bengal
Digital Desk | Kolkata, Oct 3 (IANS) More than 10 lakh people registered on the first day on Saturday of the three-day Seva Setu Abhiyan camps launched by the West Bengal government on the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti to help people access various welfare schemes of both the Centre and the state. According to state government data, 10,68,033 people had registered at the camps by 8 p.m. on Friday. Of them, 5,47,965 were male applicants, 5,17,546 were female applicants, and 2,522 belonged to other genders. The highest number of registrations was reported from Burdwan, Malda, Cooch Behar and Jhargram districts, according to the state government. The government expects a similar response on Saturday and Sunday, the second and third days of the campaign. A senior state government official said the initiative was designed as a single-window system to help people access welfare schemes without having to make repeated visits to different offices. The state government has taken this initiative to bring various people-oriented schemes of the Central and State governments to the doorsteps of the people. Basically, this camp has been organised in every district of the state to provide benefits of all the schemes under one umbrella, instant enrolment, verification of documents and listening to complaints of people, the official said. The Bengal government has set a target of conducting 3,251 Seva Setu Abhiyan camps during the three-day programme. On Friday, the first day, 1,081 camps were held across the state. The remaining 2,170 camps will be organised over the next two days, the official said. Among the key schemes covered at the camps are Annapurna Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, Shiksha Shree, Joy Johar, PM Kisan Credit Card and PM Kisan Svanidhi. New forms for applying for widow allowance, old age allowance and disability allowance are also being distributed from these camps. Apart from this, the status of Annapurna Yojana and Ayushman Card can also be enquired at these camps, the official said. In Kolkata, one Seva Setu Abhiyan camp has been arranged for every two adjacent wards. The state government has also opened a dedicated helpline to guide residents to the camp nearest to their homes.
West Bengal Assembly Speaker Rathindra Bose was hospitalised after complaining of uneasiness and chest pain, officials said on Saturday. He was admitted to a hospital near EM Bypass in eastern Kolkata on Friday night after feeling unwell following his return from a programme at the state Assembly.
WB Police Driver Recruitment 2026 - Apply Offline
West Bengal Police Telecommunication (WB Police) Recruitment 2026 for post of Driver. Candidates with 10th Pass Can Apply Offline. The last date to apply offline is 16-10-2026. The candidate shall apply offline through WB Police official website wbpolice.gov.in.
West Bengal Assembly Speaker Rathindra Bose Hospitalized Due to Chest Pain
West Bengal Assembly Speaker Rathindra Bose hospitalized for chest pain; health condition stable after tests and treatment. West Bengal Assembly Speaker Rathindra Bose Hospitalized Due to Chest Pain
Impostor posing as Minister threatened judges inside District Judges chamber in West Bengal
Three judicial officers at Alipore Court, including two women, wrote to the District Judge alleging intimidation by a man who falsely claimed to be a Cabinet Minister and had earlier been in Enforcement Directorate custody in the Rose Valley case
Senior Congress leader and former Union Minister P Chidambaram on Saturday questioned the process of excluding voters during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and asked who would be responsible for the expenditure involved in subsequently re-enrolling those left out of the rolls. In a post on X, Chidambaram questioned why the Election Commission did not inform the Supreme Court during the hearing of the West Bengal SIR case that voters left out of the electoral rolls could re-enrol by simply filing Form 6.
Example has been set before whole world: Dilip Ghosh lauds Captain Smit Machchhar
West Bengal Minister Dilip Ghosh on Saturday hailed the heroic action of Captain Smit Machchhar, who thwarted an attack from his co-pilot on a flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv, stating that Indian pilots have consistently proven their ability to put their lives on the line to safeguard others. The world has seen that our country
Chidambaram questions Election Commission over voter exclusion and re-enrolment in West Bengal SIR
The News Mill
Mamata Banerjee Accused of Compromising Principles for Political Survival
West Bengal Minister Dilip Ghosh criticizes Mamata Banerjee for seeking support from Congress and the CPM to maintain her partys existence. Mamata Banerjee Accused of Compromising Principles for Political Survival
Mamata backs CJP protest seeking CEC Gyanesh Kumar
Kolkata: Former West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday, October 2, extended her support to the Cockroach Janta Partys agitation, demanding the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Banerjee was speaking to reporters at the Kolkata airport after returning from Delhi, where she attended an INDIA bloc meeting. We are fully supporting the Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .
West Bengal to Conduct Extensive Survey to Identify Encroachments on Government Land
The West Bengal government is launching a statewide survey to identify encroachments on public land and reclaim it. West Bengal to Conduct Extensive Survey to Identify Encroachments on Government Land
SP MP Mohibullah Nadvi Criticizes BJP, Claims Youth Sentiments Are Being Stifled
SP MP Mohibullah Nadvi condemns BJP, alleging suppression of youth sentiments and undermining of institutions ahead of West Bengal by-elections. SP MP Mohibullah Nadvi Criticizes BJP, Claims Youth Sentiments Are Being Stifled
Across Bihar and West Bengal, lakhs of voters were deleted from the electoral rolls during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise, leaving them unable to vote in the 2025 and 2026 Assembly elections. Over 47 lakh names were deleted in Bihar and nearly 91 lakh in West Bengal. Shrabana Chatterjee and Senjuti Sengupta met some of those affected, documenting the uncertainty, paperwork, and repeated attempts to prove their citizenship and eligibility that followed the deletions
BMC races to complete Salt Lake road repairs before Mahalaya deadline
Good news for tipplers: Foreign-origin spirit prices set to dip
Not forcing you to say Jai Shri Ram: CM to minority voters in Nandigram
Not PM But Home Min Amit Shah To Attend Mahalaya Event At Eden Gardens
2 Wks To Puja, Kumartuli Makes Most Of Dry Spell
Seniors recall when King came to Kol for a Cosmos-MB exhibition match
Work begins on roads, drainage in Howrah
Its mind vs heart for expats but love for game wins
Clear tram tracks of illegal parking
8 City Durga Pujas To Get Adani Grants
2k cops, 400 civic volunteers, no food kiosk at stadium for Brazil match
With eye on sky, KMC hits roads with Monday deadline in mind
BLOs to visit homes, help deleted voters return on roll
Join us to protect Rejinagar booths, Trinamool tells Cong & Left
ED summons Indranil again over massArt probe
SCO takes over passport verification
Health dept checks to root out fake docs
Rescue act: On tiger reintroduction in West Bengals Buxa
Preventing ecological degradation is the way to protect wildlife
State Cong chief seeks EC clarification
Bengal Minister seeks Mamata Banerjees arrest over ED claims in Indranil Sen probe
Digital Desk | Kolkata, Oct 2 (IANS) A political controversy erupted in West Bengal on Friday after Labour Minister Arjun Singh demanded the arrest of former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, citing an Enforcement Directorate (ED) statement claiming that Rs 30 lakh was transferred to her from the bank account of Octave Records, a proprietorship concern of former state minister Indranil Sen, who is under investigation in connection with alleged money laundering cases. The people of Bengal know that Mamata Banerjee made her nephew a money-making machine. The former Chief Minister was very much a part of the game. Now everything is coming out in the open, Singh told reporters. He alleged that Mamata Banerjee had damaged the state's finances during her tenure and said she should be arrested. The comments came after the ED issued a statement on Thursday naming Mamata Banerjee and former West Bengal Tourism Minister Indranil Sen in connection with an investigation into a money laundering case separate from the Mass Art case, in which the organisation had been accused of selling Durga Puja preview show passes in 2024 and 2025. Sen is already under the ED scanner in connection with the Mass Art case. The latest matter relates to the ED's investigation into Sen's proprietorship concern, Octave Records. According to the ED statement, during Sen's tenure as Tourism Minister in a Trinamool Congress government led by Mamata Banerjee, multiple tenders worth more than Rs 85 crore from the state Tourism and Cultural Affairs Departments were allegedly awarded to entities owned by Dhrubajyoti Bose and Dipesh Roy, who were described as close associates of Sen. The agency alleged that these entities subsequently transferred large sums of money to businesses controlled by relatives of Indranil Sen. It also claimed that substantial cash withdrawals were made from the accounts of the entities that secured those tenders. In the same statement, the ED claimed that its investigation revealed that more than Rs 3.3 crore in cash had been deposited in the bank accounts of Sen and his proprietorship concern, Octave Records. The agency further claimed that nearly Rs 30 lakh was transferred from the bank account of Octave Records to Mamata Banerjee through banking channels. According to the ED statement, Indranil Sen stated that the amount was paid as royalty. Singh's demand for Mamata Banerjees arrest was based on the contents of the ED statement. However, Trinamool Congress MLA from Beliaghata Assembly constituency Kunal Ghosh came out in defence of Mamata Banerjee. The money that went to Mamata Banerjees account from Sen's organisation was completely legal and is reflected in income tax records, Ghosh said. He said Mamata Banerjee had been writing and composing songs for many years and that Sens organisation had commercially marketed those songs. According to Ghosh, the payments received by Mamata Banerjee were royalty payments arising from those works. He alleged that there was an attempt to politically malign the former Chief Minister.
BJP attributes Rahul Gandhi's 'silence' on Captain Smit Machchhar to 'vote bank politics'
Digital Desk | New Delhi, Oct 2 (IANS) The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Friday lashed out at the Leader of Opposition (LoP) in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, saying that the latter is silent on the bravery showcased by Flydubai pilot Captain Smit Machchhar due to his compulsion for vote bank politics and disregard for India's honour. Addressing a press conference, BJP national spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari said: Every Indian and every person of Indian origin across the world is proud that Captain Smit Machchhar prevented a 9/11-style terror attack. The entire world is saluting India and thanking the country for the bravery displayed by Captain Smit Machchhar, who is an Indian. Yet, the Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, who is a public figure and not a private individual, has not said a word in support of Captain Smit Machchhar. He has not posted a single social media post or shared a video message for the pilot or his family, despite regularly speaking on a range of issues on his social media account, Bhandari added. It is not a mere coincidence. Rahul Gandhi's silence on Captain Smit Machchhar, who saved over 170 lives, is driven by a calculated 'vote-bank' compulsion, he claimed. Adding to the criticism, Bhandari said: Rahul Gandhi can express his views separately at INDIA bloc meetings and speak independently on issues concerning vote-bank politics, but he cannot say a single word in support of Captain Smit Machchhar. The BJP leader accused the LoP of following a pattern, saying: Whenever India feels proud as a nation, including for cross border surgical strikes against terrorism like Operation Sindoor, Congress doesn't take part in the celebrations and Rahul Gandhi is silent. He remarked that LoP Gandhi's silence on the Indian pilot's rave act reflects the former's hatred for India and its Constitution, love for his vote bank and disregard for India's growing global respect. Pradeep Bhandari also pointed guns at the other INDIA bloc leaders, including former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. The BJP national spokesperson said: Mamata Banerjee and other key leaders of the INDIA bloc, have also remained silent. The INDIA bloc knows that Captain Smit Machchhar brought honour to the country and that he is being discussed across the world. Yet, they (INDIA bloc) are not speaking in his support because they are behaving like vote-bank-driven terror apologists. The terror apologists are silent because they prioritise vote-bank politics over India's pride and honour. There can be no greater hatred or contempt for Indian democracy than what Rahul Gandhi has shown, Bhandari added.
Bengal CM explains decision to retain Bhabanipur seat
Digital Desk | Kolkata, Oct 2 (IANS) West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Friday explained why he chose to retain the Bhabanipur Assembly constituency in South Kolkata instead of his original constituency, Nandigram, in East Midnapore, after winning simultaneously from both constituencies in the West Bengal Assembly elections earlier this year. Had I not retained Bhabanipur, then the bypoll would have been for Bhabanipur and not Nandigram. In that case, the Trinamool Congress candidate whom I defeated would have contested from Bhabanipur in the bypoll, CM Adhikari said at Nandigram while campaigning for Hasirani Rath, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate for the bypoll there, which is scheduled for Oct 6. In the Assembly elections earlier this year, Adhikari, as a BJP candidate, was elected simultaneously from Nandigram and Bhabanipur. At Bhabanipur, he defeated his predecessor and former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee by a margin of over 15,000 votes. Later, he retained Bhabanipur, necessitating a bypoll for Nandigram. Speaking on the occasion, he also appealed to the voters of Nandigram to vote in such a manner that the deposits of the principal opposition parties are forfeited. The sin committed by Trinamool Congress has crossed all limits. So, Oct 6, the polling day, will be the day to teach them a lesson, the Chief Minister said. Referring to the assassination of his former personal assistant, late Chandranath Rath, who was killed on a public road at Madhyamgram in North 24 Parganas district on May 6 this year, and whose mother is Hasirani Rath, CM Adhikari urged voters to respond democratically. The voters of Nandigram will have to take a democratic revenge on Oct 6 for the murder of Chandranath Rath merely for being my assistant, CM Adhikari said. Speaking on the occasion, he also referred to the recent arrest of Sumit Roy, the executive assistant of Trinamool Congress General Secretary and the partys Diamond Harbour Lok Sabha member, Abhishek Banerjee, on charges of corruption. Sumit Roy has already been arrested on charges of corruption. Now a bigger thief will be behind bars soon, the Chief Minister said, without clarifying whom he was indicating as the bigger thief.
Will fall at Shahs feet if CM ignores Rejinagar: Humayun Kabir
Official says this could create two parallel re-enrolment routes, one through the tribunals and one through Form 6 applications to Electoral Registration Officers
RSS doesnt believe in religious divisions, works for society
West Bengal FM Swapan Dasgupta calls for scrapping Urban Land Ceiling Act
Finance minister urges organised real estate players to invest in West Bengal, saying land laws and tenancy issues remain impediments to the state's development
CPM meet vandalised in Birati, party blames BJP
CJP launches Jail Bharo agitation at Mumbai's Shivaji Park to demand CEC Gyanesh Kumar's resignation
Digital Desk | Mumbai, Oct 2 (IANS) The Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) on Friday launched its Jail Bharo protest demanding the immediate resignation of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, against the backdrop of reports indicating purported internal rifts within the poll panel. Despite heavy police deployment and denial of formal permission to hold the protest at Shivaji Park, thousands of citizens and supporters gathered at the spot, as slogans against the Central government and the ECI rang out. The demonstration, dubbed by organisers as Season 2 of their movement, comes in defiance of a permit denial by Mumbai Police, who deployed heavy security contingents and barricades around the Dadar precinct. The protest witnessed backing from public figures, intellectuals, and prominent Bollywood personalities who gathered to support the cause, emphasising that the right to vote remains fundamental to Indian democracy. Notable attendees included Shabana Azmi, Naseeruddin Shah, and Vishal Dadlani. In their remarks on the occasion, the Bollywood personalities reiterated that voting rights are under threat and highlighted the imperative to safeguard democratic institutions. Actor Prakash Raj also extended support through a broadcast visual message urging citizens to protect democratic integrity. Addressing the crowds, CJP founder Abhijit Dipke attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, CEC Gyanesh Kumar, and Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, challenging the authorities while formally launching a Jail Bharo call, insisting that peaceful assembly to defend voting rights remains a fundamental constitutional entitlement. He directly challenged the Maharashtra Chief Minister regarding police warnings against unlawful assembly, saying CM Devendra Fadnavis, you spoke about putting us in jail for just 3 days. Had you said 3 months, the whole of Mumbai would have been brought to a complete standstill. Dipke also invoked the legacy of Maharashtras social reformers while rejecting state threats of arrest. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, we have one request for you. You are the Chief Minister of Maharashtra, a state built on a rich heritage. This is the land of Dr B.R. Ambedkar, Mahatma Jyotirao Phule, and Rajarshi Shahu Maharaj. You might have forgotten this legacy, but we have not. Such threats are not how Maharashtra operates. You claimed that protesting would mean going to jail. Does that mean you intend to lock us up? Then lock us all up! Don't just jail us for 3 days; put us away for 3 months. But know this -- the moment I walk out of jail, I will repeat the phrase you once used 'I will return, I will return, I will return', he said. Despite the police presence around Dadar Railway Station and key access points, protesters flooded Gate No. 6 of Shivaji Park carrying national flags and placards featuring satirical memes, popular film dialogues, and sharp slogans aimed at the poll chief. Slogans such as Gyanesh BRO, JUST RESIGN and Gaddaar Gyaanu Must Go resonated across the grounds alongside chants of Chale Jao and Vapas Do. The CJPs central charter submitted during the rally outlines three immediate demands directed at the Union Government and the Election Commission. They include the immediate resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, accompanied by a formal independent investigation into electoral roll management, an immediate halt to ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) operations, restoration of the January 2025 electoral lists, and a comprehensive audit of recent voter deletions and the repeal of the Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners Act, 2023, to be replaced by a transparent selection process incorporating multi-partisan and civil society oversight. A parallel counter-demonstration emerged nearby, organised by a group styling itself as Gen Next Mumbai. Holding posters beneath the local statue of Dr Ambedkar, counter-protesters accused the CJP of creating unnecessary public disruption and misrepresenting constitutional processes. Several Shivaji Park residential associations also voiced concerns regarding traffic blockades, noise levels, and security risks in a densely populated residential zone. CJP leadership countered these complaints by claiming political interference aimed at creating artificial local friction against the movement. Mumbai Police personnel, including quick-response units and female police contingents, remain stationed along Cadell Road and Shivaji Park perimeters to prevent violence or movement toward state government offices. While minor scuffles over access barricades were reported, the gathering remained largely peaceful through late afternoon. CJP leaders said that Friday's Mumbai gathering marks the opening leg of a broader national campaign. Parallel drives and state-level rallies are scheduled across West Bengal, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, and Bihar over the coming weeks, culminating in a planned mass demonstration at Jantar Mantar, New Delhi.
Bengal: Eight Pujas selected for inaugural Durga Puja Adani Preview 2026
Digital Desk | Kolkata, Oct 2 (IANS) Adani Group, this year, is participating in a major way in the forthcoming Durga Puja festival in West Bengal by organising the Durga Puja Adani Preview 2026, a three-night public preview designed to give people the time and space to experience the artistry, craftsmanship and stories behind the celebrations before the city enters the full rhythm of Puja. This year, ahead of the main Puja days, eight of the citys Pujas will come together for the inaugural Durga Puja Adani Preview 2026, and more than 70 artists have registered to participate in the initiative, while over 30,000 visitors have already registered for the preview, said Adani Group on Friday. The eight Pujas were selected independently by a four-member jury comprising Padma Shri award winner, artist-cum-sculptor Paresh Maity; industrialists and art connoisseur, Harshavardhan Neotia; acclaimed architect, Abin Chaudhuri; and Kolkata Restorer and heritage conservationist, Mudar Patherya The selection process was conducted at arms length from Adani, with the jury independently assessing the entries and determining the final selections. Adani had no role in choosing the selected Pujas, said the statement. The selected artists and Puja organisers are Anirban Das of Alipore Sarbojanin Durgotsav, Bhabatosh Sutar of Yuba Sangha, Debasis Barui of Rajdanga Naba Uday Sangha, Eshika Chandra & Deep Das of Barisha Club, Pradip Das - Behala Club Sarbojonin, Purnendu Dey of Rajdanga Amra Kayjan Kalyan Samity, Raju Sarkar of Thakurpur State Bank Park Sarbojanin and Sanatan Dinda of Nalin Sarkar Street Sarbojanin Durgatsob Samity The Preview will take place on October 10, 11 and 12, ahead of the main Puja days, and it will remain open from 6 p.m. to 4 a.m. across all three nights. Entry to the Preview is free with a Preview Pass. Registrations are being accepted, with access subject to capacity and applicable arrangements. The experience has also been designed with senior citizens and persons with disabilities in mind, to make the Preview more accessible, reads the statement. According to it, visitors will have an opportunity to explore the selected Puja installations, discover the art and craftsmanship behind them and understand the stories that shape them ahead of the main Puja period. The Preview is also intended to help guests from outside Bengal engage more deeply with Kolkatas Durga Puja traditions, building greater awareness of its artistic and cultural richness and encouraging them to carry those stories beyond Bengal as informed ambassadors of the experience, the statement added.
Mamata Banerjee has no right to talk about democracy: BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Ravi Shankar Prasad on Friday hit back at former West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee over her allegations against the Election Commission of India (ECI) and the conduct of the 2026 state Assembly polls, saying she has o right to talk about democracy and democratic rights. Speaking to reporters on Banerjee's remarks, Ravi Shankar Prasad said,
Saroj Poddar Group, Keventer launch real estate-focussed AIF, target 400 crore corpus
The category II Alternative Investment Fund, the first AIF launched by a real estate developer from West Bengal, is expandable to 600 crore through a 200 crore greenshoe option
Govt orders drinking water test in all state schools
50% Puja discount on food sold through PDS
West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari has made claims regarding Mamata Banerjee's injury during the 2021 elections, alleging it was not genuine. He asserts to have documents showing that her doctors found no fracture. Adhikari revisited the incident, implying that Banerjee inflated her injury for political leverage. This event, occurring during her campaign in Nandigram, significantly influenced her electoral endeavors, exemplifying the fierce rivalry between the BJP and Trinamool Congress.
Adhikari Alleges 'Bhaipo Gang' Link In PA's Murder
West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari stated that the CBI has completed 90% of its investigation into the murder of his personal assistant, Chandranath Rath, with only the alleged money trail left to be established. Adhikari claimed the murder involved shooters from Uttar Pradesh, a hirer from Bihar, and a Bhaipo gang in the Rs 2 crore contract money. He urged voters to seek evenge for Rath's death in the Nandigram bypoll.
Eastern Himalayan Dialogue in Kalimpong calls for integrated policy approach on climate, security
Kalimpong: The Eastern Himalayas need an integrated policy approach covering development, climate resilience, security and the aspirations of local communities, participants at the Eastern Himalayan Dialogue 2026 said in Kalimpong, West Bengal. The Dialogue was jointly convened by the Chintan Research Foundation (CRF) and the Eastern Himalayan Centre for Public Policy (EHCPP) under the theme [] The post Eastern Himalayan Dialogue in Kalimpong calls for integrated policy approach on climate, security appeared first on NorthEast Now .
CM Adhikari To Watch India-Brazil Football Match In Kolkata
West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari will attend the India-Brazil international football friendly in Kolkata on October 3. The city is preparing for the historic match, with Brazil's five-time world champions having arrived and security measures stepped up.
Tripura launches innovation challenge, Digi-SAPNE 3.0 for start-ups
Three arrested for extortion, attacking woman police officer in Tripura
Dog bites over 40 people in East Burdwan in one day
Saroj Poddar, Keventer launch Rs 400cr real estate AIF, first from eastern India
West Bengal finance minister says Urban Land Act has to go
Swapan Dasgupta highlighted the need to repeal the Urban Land Ceiling Act for development in West Bengal. Developers expressed challenges in acquiring large land parcels due to existing regulations. The local real estate market is expected to thrive with government reforms and improved infrastructure. Kolkata's economic position can facilitate greater investment opportunities and development networks. Overall, sustained demand and rising land prices indicate a promising future for the sector.
Keventer, Saroj Poddar groups launch Rs 400-cr real estate debt fund
Keventer Group and Saroj Poddar Group proudly unveil a Rs 400-crore investment fund tailored for real estate ventures. This fund implements a secured debt financing approach, focusing its efforts on projects within the Delhi-NCR and West Bengal regions. The enthusiastic sponsors, having pledged Rs 80 crore, are optimistic about the fund's prospects, which aims for a substantial gross internal rate of return between 18 and 22 percent.
West Bengals Keventer, Saroj Poddar groups launch 400-cr real estate debt fund
Fund to focus on projects in Delhi-NCR and West Bengal
Judicial panel begins probe against Indranil Sen over Bengal tender irregularities case
Digital Desk | Kolkata, Oct 2 (IANS)A judicial inquiry commission, set up by the West Bengal government to investigate alleged institutional corruption during the previous Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress regime, has started an investigation against former West Bengal Minister Indranil Sen over alleged multi-crore irregularities in the tendering process of the Information & Cultural Affairs Department. During the previous Trinamool Congress regime, Sen had served as a cabinet minister with two portfolios, first as the Minister of State for the Information & Cultural Affairs Department and second as the state Tourism Minister. The judicial panel is probing alleged irregularities in contracts awarded for the Moder Gorob Bangla (Bengal, Our Pride) project, launched during his tenure in the department. Confirming the development, a member of the judicial probe panel told IANS that the investigation had started based on specific allegations. Right now, I am unable to divulge further information for the sake of the investigation, the probe panel member said. The project Moder Gorob Bangla was launched by the West Bengal Information & Cultural Affairs department to promote Bengal's folk culture, handicrafts, history and tourism potential and also provide opportunities to local artists in every district of the state. Fairs were organised in each district. As part of the project, fairs, exhibitions and handicraft stalls were organised in different parts of the state. The judicial panel received a complaint that in 2022 and 2023, all the tenders for this fair and exhibition were given to a few special organisations close to Indranil Sen It was alleged that Sen used his influence to arrange for tenders worth crores of rupees for select entities of his choice and confidence, some of them being Sens relatives. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) is already conducting a probe into two corporate entities linked to Sen and his wife Madhuchhanda Sen. One such entity is Mass Art, which is accused of issuing passes for Durga Puja Preview Shows by using the name and logo of the UNESCO without the latters authorization. The second entity, Octave Records, is a proprietorship firm owned by Sen. In connection with the probe, the ED has also named former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.
Buxa Tiger Reserve gets its first tigress from Bihars Valmiki reserve
West Bengal has reintroduced a tigress into Buxa Tiger Reserve after translocating it from Bihars Valmiki Tiger Reserve, with three more tigers expected to be brought in over the next two months. The wider programme aims to rebuild a viable tiger population by improving prey availability, habitats and wildlife corridors while reducing human-wildlife conflict.
West Bengal government raises pay for contractual school education employees from October 2026
The News Mill
Kolkata (West Bengal) [India], October 2: For Gulam Ashraf, Chairman and Managing Director of Phonex Group, business growth and social responsibility are closely connected, with the logistics entrepreneur looking to expand the company's operations while increasing its contribution towards education, healthcare, skill development and livelihood opportunities.
Intruder Lynched By Locals In Bengal
A man identified as Gopal Halder was beaten to death by locals in Sonarpur, West Bengal, after he and two accomplices allegedly broke into a house with a firearm. Halder was reportedly an accused in the homeowner's son's murder case from several years ago. Police are investigating the incident.
Digital Desk | New Delhi, Oct 2 (IANS) Uttar Pradesh Minister Om Prakash Rajbhar on Friday hit out at the Opposition over its protest against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, saying that the Opposition parties were only looking for an excuse in the name of the Election Commission. Reacting to the protest, Rajbhar said, These people are just looking for an excuse in the name of the Election Commission. They should know that in 2019, the Bharatiya Janata Party won 303 seats. After Gyanesh Kumar came, it came down to 240. If there was theft, would it have increased or decreased? He further said, And secondly, before 2014, the entire system was under the control of Congress. So, did Congress get the Election Commission to commit irregularities and make Modi ji the Prime Minister? Rajbhars remarks came amid the Oppositions continued criticism of Gyanesh Kumar over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. Opposition parties have been demanding his resignation over the issue. Speaking on the Oppositions protest against the CEC, Bihar Minister Ram Kripal Yadav said that the Opposition had no faith in democratic and constitutional institutions. The people in the Opposition have no faith in democracy. They also have no faith in constitutional institutions. These are people who are murderers of democracy and do not believe in the Constitution. The Election Commission is a constitutional institution, and Gyanesh Kumar is heading it, he said. Meanwhile, West Bengal Minister Dilip Ghosh criticised the Congress over the protest. As the winter session of Parliament approaches, Congress MPs sit outside and inside Parliament, basking in the sun. Others also join them. This will continue for a month, two months or even three months during winter, with them sitting in the sun. This is how the Congress conducts its publicity campaigns, Ghosh said. The Opposition parties have been criticising Gyanesh Kumar over the SIR of electoral rolls and demanding his resignation after it was reported by a section of media that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had recorded objections on at least 14 occasions over 10 months to decisions and orders, some of which they said were issued without their knowledge. The Election Commission, however, has clarified that the three-member Commission had taken all decisions, including those relating to the SIR, unanimously.
Clear skies continue in Delhi; heavy rainfall likely in Arunachal, Kerala
The IMD expects isolated to scattered rainfall over parts of northeast India, Odisha, West Bengal, central India, Maharashtra and the southern peninsula over the coming days.
ON the occasion of the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi on 2nd October this year several opposition parties including Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) have launched massive protests across the country demanding resignation of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar who according to the Indian Express expose flagrantly violated the constitutional provisions and rules leading to the appalling erosion of independence of the Election Commission of India for implementing SIR without involving two other Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi. It has resulted in the disenfranchisement of crores of voters across India and the expose revealed the shocking decision of Kumar to include illegally and in an unauthorised manner a provision in Form 6 asking the first time voters, using that Form for getting enrolled in the electoral roll, to mention from the electoral roll of 2002 the names of their parents and or grand parents. Additionally the Indian Express revelations laid bare the manipulation of electoral rolls to add and delete voters centrally at the office of Election Commission of India by employing a software which lawfully should have been operated by Electoral Registration Officers posted in different States of the Indian Union. Such egregious transgressions of CEC Kumar with impunity has erased millions of names from the voters list and overwhelmed people with anxiety and desperation. They apprehend that because of their disenfranchisement they would lose their citizenship and all other rights enshrined in the Constitution assuring them their individual dignity. Specious Grounds For Disenfranchisement It is salutary to note that the aforementioned protests unleashed against Kumar in defence of the right to vote of the citizens has an echo of Mahatma Gandhis 1894 heroic struggle in South Africas Natal province for retaining the voting rights of Indians after the Franchise Law Amendment Bill was introduced in the Natal Assembly to take away their restricted franchise rights on very specious grounds. On December 16, 1895 Mahatma Gandhi in his article Indian Franchise wrote that British authorities asked Indians to prove that they were voters in India so as to be entitled to it in Natal. He then asked, Why such a rule for the poor Indians alone? He added that they would not object to such an arrangement if it were applicable to all including whites who were inhabitants of Natal . He noted that the Europeans would find it difficult to get their names on the Voters List in the Colony under such conditions. Colonial Playbook For Disenfranchisement and SIR That colonial play book of 1894 asking Indians in Natal Province of South Africa to prove that they were voters in India is getting replicated in 2026 SIR mandating that those desirous of getting enrolled in the electoral roll should locate their names in the voter list of 2002. Any attempt to ask Europeans to prove their status as voters in the countries from where they came to Natal, in the words of Gandhi, would be received with the strongest indignation. His utterances are resonating in 2026 when people in India are expressing their indignation because the ECI while implementing SIR asked them to prove their citizenship and eligibility as a voter disregarding their enrolment in earlier electoral rolls and Supreme Court in its May 2026 judgement upheld that ECI can examine citizenship of a voter in a limited way. It is instructive to note that the right to vote in Natal in 1894 was restricted to a few and it was available to those possessing immovable property worth 50 pounds. Yet Gandhi in his July 1894 petition to Lord Rippon, Principal Secretary of State for Colonies, stated that any civilised country would value franchise right as the birth right and the commonest right of a citizen and asserted that disenfranchisement of Indians would subject them to indignity and heap insult to the whole Indian nation. Fast forward to 2026 when 13 crores of voters are now facing disenfranchisement due to SIR. Combine it with Indian Express expose pinning the Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar for his deliberate acts of commission and omission in flouting all rules and norms while taking crucial decisions concerning SIR. All such actions removing millions of voters from the electoral roll constitute an insult to the Indian nation and its Constitution which upholds the dignity of an enfranchised country upholding parliamentary democracy. In the aforementioned petition to Lord Rippon, Gandhi wrote that bereft of voting rights Indians would lose, self-respect, to remain in the Colony and that such a thing would materially interfere with their business, and throw hundreds of Her Majestys Indian subjects out of work. Those articulations of Gandhi uttered in echo in Rahul Gandhis assertions during his Vote Adhikar rally in Bihar in September 2025 that Vote Theft meant theft of rights, theft of employment, theft of education, theft of democracy and theft of the future of the youth. In fact many people whose names were removed from the electoral rolls in West Bengal and Bihar following the implementation of SIR are now being deprived of their opportunities to earn their livelihood, their small business establishments getting demolished and even the ration cards issued to them have been withdrawn. What Indians are facing on account of their disenfranchisement in 2026 were predicted by Mahatma Gandhi when voting rights of settlers of India in Natal were taken away by colonial rulers. He, in his article, The Indian Franchise written on December 16, 1895 very emphatically stated, I repeat again, it is not political power that the Indians want. It is degradation, it is many other consequences and measures that will flow from and will be based on the disfranchisement that they dread and resist. Hundred and thirty one years later Indians suffering the process of disenfranchisement on account of SIR are indeed confronting its dreadful consequences and, therefore, on October 2, 2026, on Gandhi Jayanti, country wide protests have been launched to uphold the jurisprudence of universal adult franchise and flag the point that the constitutionally mandated independence of Election Commission of India must be restored and defended to salvage democracy from the onslaught of the powers that be. Communal Grounds for Disenfranchisement The British rulers of Natal employed communal factors in 1894 to disenfranchise Muslims hailing from India. They manufactured the reasoning that mostly Muslims among Indians were more keen to retain their right to vote. Specifically peddling the false argument that overwhelming numbers of Muslims in the voter list would enable them to wield greater political power over Hindus they cautioned the latter to be wary of the former. Mahatma Gandhi in his aforementioned letter to Rippon referred to charges made by British rulers that a few Indians wanted political power and that those few were Mahomedan agitators and so the Hindus should learn from past experience that the Mahomedan rule would be ruinous for them. He remarked that people of both the communities lived amicably in Natal and such attempts to set the Hindus against the Mahomedans would be most mischievous and calamitous causing grievous results which India tragically faced due to divisive British rule. Juxtapose those observations of Gandhi with the SIR produced curated voter list from which more names of Muslim voters have been deleted across the country. In doing so the play book of colonial rulers in employing Hindu-Muslim narrative to disenfranchise voters is being followed by those operating State apparatus of India during 2025-2026 when SIR process is being carried and adverse consequences on the purity and integrity of electoral process are being unmistakably felt. Debunking Ghuspatia Narrative It is rather tragic that the devious strategy of British rulers of Natal describing Indians settled there as intruders and so should be devoid of right to vote has been replicated by the present rulers of India including CEC Gyanesh Kumar who justified SIR on the ground that Ghuspatias (infiltrators) would be removed from the electoral roll. Mahatma Gandhi in his above mentioned article, Indian Franchise, debunked the characterisation of Indians as intruders and charged that even the white rulers coming from Europe would not be spared of the same charge that they intruded to South Africa. A Retrograde Step It is quite significant that Gandhi described Franchise Law Amendment Bill to disenfranchise Indians as a legislative activity, of a retrograde character. Description of the SIR by opposition leaders as a form of Vote Bandi captures Gandhis words retrograde invoked in the context of Franchise Law Amendment Bill of 1894. That retrograde Bill became an Act but due to petitions of Gandhi that Indians were removed from electoral roll on racial grounds, the UK Government disallowed it. But it was then altered and racial element was removed by providing for the disqualifications as voters of all Asiatics as such. That became an Act and Indians lost their voting rights. Gandhi wrote in his petition to Lord Rippon I take the liberty to say that, had not an attempt been made to tread upon their commercial pursuits, had not attempts been made and repeated to degrade them to the condition of pariahs of society, had not, in fact, an attempt been made to keep them for ever hewers of wood and drawers of water, i.e., in a state of indenture or in one very much resembling it, there would have been no franchise agitation. It is indeed tragic that several decades after splendid success of universal adult suffrage in India and an agitation has been launched in defence of the right to vote, that too on the occasion of birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi whose first struggle in South Africa in 1894 was in defence of the voting rights of Indians who were then disenfranchised. Millions of Indians now losing their right to vote and massive erosion of independence and integrity of the Election Commission under the leadership of CEC Gyanesh Kumar is imperilling democracy in India . The struggle of Mahatma Gandhi in South Africa during 1894-95 against disenfranchisement of Indians in South Africa offers valuable lessons to uphold universal adult franchise and the rights of all Indians who are constitutionally mandated to be treated equally regardless of their identities rooted in faith, caste, language or ethnicity for inclusion in voter list. Presumption of Citizenship In his book Satyagraha in South Africa Gandhi wrote, There is always a general presumption in favour of the right of the subject. So long, therefore, as the government of the day does not become positively hostile, the names of Indians and others could be included in the electoral roll, the above law notwithstanding. Those words are assume salience in the context of the protests against mass disenfranchisement on account of SIR and erroneous functioning of CEC Kumar disregarding the general presumption in favour of the rights of the citizens. Therefore, Mahatma Gandhis 1894 struggled for the rights of Indians in Natal to vote is of enduring significance to save the Constitution.
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