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Droupadi Murmu Releases Constitution Of India In Santhali Language
Santhali is an ancient language spoken by a significant number of tribal people in Jharkhand, Odisha, West Bengal ,and Bihar.
Quack runs clinic in Thoraipakkam for 10 years, held
CHENNAI: A 38-year-old man, who studied only up to class 12, was arrested in Thoraipakkam on the outskirts of Chennai for posing as a doctor and providing medical treatment. The suspect, Vijayakumar, was running a clinic under the name Vijay Clinic and Home Visit Service at Okkiyam Thoraipakkam. The arrest followed a surprise inspection by a medical team led by Meenakshi Sundari, joint director of the Directorate of Medical and Rural Health Services, after several complaints were received by the health department. During the inspection, the officials found Vijayakumar had neither studied medicine nor registered with the Tamil Nadu Medical Council, but had been treating patients for nearly a decade. The police also seized a forged MBBS certificate that Vijayakumar showed the officials claiming that he had studied medicine in West Bengal. Based on a complaint lodged by the health officials, the Kannagi Nagar police registered a case and arrested him.
Migrant worker killed in Odisha, Trinamool says targeted for speaking in Bengali
This is not the first time that attacks and death of migrant workers from West Bengal in BJP-ruled states have evoked strong reactions from the Trinamool Congress leadership
West Bengal crowned as overall champion in Finswimming championship
30-Year-Old Migrant Worker Lynched After Fight Over Bidi In Odisha
A 30-year-old migrant worker from West Bengal was allegedly killed in Odisha's Sambalpur district following an altercation over a bidi, police said on Thursday.
Snubbed in Bihar, JMM looks to Assam for political expansion
RANCHI: After being denied any seat in Bihar by the Mahagathbandhan during the Assembly polls, the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) has begun exploring avenues in other tribal-dominated states across the country. According to party leaders, a four-member delegation will soon visit Assam to assess ground realities by holding a series of meetings with local party workers. Despite being a key coalition partner during the Bihar Assembly elections, the RJD did not concede a single seat to the JMM, while the Congress also remained silent on the issue. Subsequently, the JMM decided not to contest the Bihar polls, claiming the decision was taken in the wake of a political conspiracy by its allies RJD and Congress, which allegedly deprived it of seats under the Mahagathbandhan arrangement. JMM general secretary and spokesperson Supriyo Bhattacharya said that a decision would be taken by the partys top leadership based on the feedback submitted by the delegation. A four-member delegation of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha will soon visit Assam to explore avenues for the upcoming Assembly polls in the state. The leaders will stay there for a few days and hold meetings with local party workers to take stock of the partys ground situation, Bhattacharya said. He added that the delegation would submit a report after returning from Assam, on the basis of which a decision would be taken. The delegation will include minister Chamra Linda, MP Vijay Hansda, and MLAs M T Raja and Bhushan Tirkey. Bhattacharya said the party is keen on contesting the Assam Assembly elections as the state has a significant tribal population. Notably, during its 13th general convention held in Ranchi in April this year, the JMM had announced plans to increase its political activism in selected seats in Assam, Odisha and West Bengal. Party leaders had also said they were planning to contest elections in Assam by organising migrants from the state. As part of its broader expansion strategy, the JMM is working to establish its presence in various parts of the country with the aim of emerging as a national party. The party is also preparing to field candidates in the West Bengal Assembly elections and strengthen its position in other states. The JMM is actively working on shedding its image as a regional party and expanding its footprint in Delhi, West Bengal, Assam and Chhattisgarh. Preparations for this expansion are already underway. Although the party has not officially confirmed the details, sources indicate that the JMM plans to open offices in several states. Following its resounding victory in Jharkhand, the party is also considering opening an office in New Delhi.
TMC slams BJP over lynching of Bengal migrant worker in Odisha
KOLKATA: The Trinamool Congress on Thursday intensified its attack on the BJP, alleging that the lynching of a Bengali migrant worker in Odisha was a direct result of what it called a sustained campaign of harassment against Bengalis in BJP-ruled states. Reacting to the killing of 21-year-old Juel Sheikh from Murshidabad district of West Bengal in Sambalpur, the TMC said the incident reflected a dangerous narrative portraying Bengali-speaking Indians as infiltrators. In a post on X, the party alleged that Sheikh was beaten to death because a mob suspected him of being an illegal Bangladeshi immigrant. The lynching of a Bengali migrant worker in Sambalpur is the direct outcome of @BJP4Indias sustained campaign against Bengalis. A citizen of India was beaten to death because a mob believed the lie that Bengalis are infiltrators who must constantly prove their right to exist, the TMC alleged. Trinamool Congress Rajya Sabha MP Sheikh Samirul Islam said incidents of violence against Bengali-speaking migrant workers were becoming frequent in BJP-ruled states, particularly Odisha. Around 30 lakh migrant labourers from West Bengal work outside the state in the unorganised sector. The Bengal government has already moved the Supreme Court seeking justice on this issue, he told the TNIE . Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has earlier expressed concern over repeated incidents of harassment of migrant workers from West Bengal. In August, she urged migrant labourers to return to the state and start their own businesses. Addressing a programme on MSMEs, she said her government was working to prepare a list of migrant workers, which would be done at the 'Duare Sarkar' (government at doorstep) camps. The incident occurred on Wednesday night in Shantinagar under the Ainthapalli police station area in Sambalpur district, where Sheikh and other migrant workers from West Bengal were employed in construction work. Police said the group was stopped by six local men while returning from work, allegedly over a request for a bidi, which led to an altercation and a scuffle. Sheikh was allegedly thrashed severely and later died while undergoing treatment at a Sambalpur hospital. Police said all six accused have been arrested. Six held in migrant labourer murder in Odisha; lynching on suspicion of being Bangladeshi ruled out According to state labour department sources, around 1.2 lakh migrant workers have applied under the Shramasree scheme, expressing interest in returning to West Bengal. Of these, verification has begun and over 1,500 workers have been receiving a monthly allowance of Rs 5,000 since October. Under the Shramasree scheme, launched in mid-August, the state government offers returning migrant workers a one-time assistance of Rs 5,000 and a monthly allowance of Rs 5,000 for a year during the rehabilitation period. Applications are processed through a mobile app, with police verification underway. For years, BJP leaders have deliberately branded Bengali-speaking Indians as infiltrators, outsiders, and suspects. That poisonous narrative has now reached the streets, where anyone feels empowered to act as immigration officers and executioners, Mamata alleged while addressing on issues in connection with migrant workers working outside Bengal.
TMC claims PM not vocal against attacks on Bangladeshi Hindus, asserts party stands by sufferers
The Trinamool Congress has accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of silence on Hindu persecution in Bangladesh, while West Bengal's ruling party pledges support to the minority community there. The TMC also highlighted the alleged killing of a West Bengal migrant worker in Odisha, questioning the BJP's stance on similar incidents.
Kolkata Diary | Starter gun firing prompts Bengal Governor to order probe
Starter gun firing prompts Guv to order probe An incident involving the firing of a starter gun during flagging-off of a marathon run in the city on December 21 prompted the West Bengal Governor C V Ananda Bose to order a probe into the matter. The incident occurred when the Governor was firing from the gun to kick-off the event. Bose, on Tuesday, formed a probe committee to assess the matter by exploring multiple angles, officials at the Lok Bhavan said. The order followed a report submitted by the Aide-de-Camp on duty, Major Nikhil Kumar, which stated that the starter gun had been arranged by the event organisers. According to the report, the Governor had followed all prescribed safety instructions. CM Banerjee to visit Gangasagar on Jan 5 CM Mamata Banerjee is likely to visit Sagar Island in South 24 Parganas district on January 5 to review preparations for the annual Gangasagar Mela likely to be held in the second week of the month, an official said on Wednesday. During the visit, CM will hold a preparatory meeting with the district administration and is set to inaugurate and lay foundation stones for several development projects. She will also lay the foundation stone for a 4-km bridge over the Muriganga river. Soon, rail bridge over Rupnarayan river South Eastern Railway is constructing a new rail bridge over the Rupnarayan river in the Howrah-Kharagpur section of Kharagpur Division to improve section capacity in suburban section of Howrah-Kharagpur. This modern state-of-the-art bridge will replace the old Kolaghat Bridge no. 57 over which the Middle line and Down Main line currently runs between Deulti and Kolaghat stations of SER. The old Kolaghat bridge was opened in the year 1900 and has served as a vital link of SER providing connectivity to Howrah and Kolkata area to the rest of the country. This 804 metre long iconic steel girder bridge has served as a major railway asset for the past 125 years.
Bengal CEO, officials train 4,600 micro observers
West Bengal's Chief Electoral Officer Manoj Agarwal trained over 4,600 micro observers for hearings concerning unmapped voters. These observers will work with EROs and AEROs. Meanwhile, the Calcutta High Court has directed the Election Commission of India to clarify the validity of OBC certificates issued after 2010. The court seeks a reasoned order on this matter within a week.
BJP accuses Bengal police of using excessive force on protesters
BJP spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari said protests in other parts of the country were held peacefully, but in West Bengal, the police baton charged demonstrators
Protests held at land ports along Bangladesh border in West Bengal
Agitators warn chief adviser Mohammad Yunus that trade will be suspended if anti-Hindu situation in Bangladesh continues
Bordering districts hold 128 seats: Bangladesh unrest set to influence Bengal Elections 2026
Bangladesh News, India-Bangladesh Relations, West Bengal Election 2026.
The West Bengal Medical Counselling Committee has announced the round 2 seat allotment for NEET PG admissions. A total of 839 candidates secured MD and MS seats. Those allotted must report to their institutes by December 30. Round 3 registration begins December 31. Candidates can check results on wbmcc.nic.in. Required documents include ID proof and scorecards.
Mustard acreage rises 4% to 84.67 lakh hectares as crop condition remains normal
Mustard cultivation has increased by 4 percent nationwide. Major states like Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, and West Bengal show expansion. Crop conditions are generally normal. Early season rains caused some issues but recovery is evident. Favorable weather and soil moisture are supporting growth. Pest levels remain low across most regions.
KOLKATA: Violence broke out between two rival Matua groups affiliated to Union minister of shipping and BJP MP Shantanu Thakur and Trinamool Congress Rajya Sabha MP Mamatabala Thakur in Thakurnagar, the administrative headquarters of the Matua community in West Bengal, on Wednesday. The clash took place amid heightened tensions over the deletion of nearly one lakh Matua voters names following the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in the state. The clash followed comments made by Shantanu Thakur at a BJP meeting on Monday night, where he said the names of nearly one lakh Matuas could be excluded from the draft electoral rolls and remarked that a sacrifice was necessary, even as he spoke of disenfranchising 50 lakh Muslims. His remarks triggered anxiety within the Matua community and intensified political confrontation in Bengal ahead of the Assembly elections scheduled for next year. On Wednesday, several hundred supporters belonging to the Mamatabala Thakur group brought out a protest procession and marched towards the Union ministers residence in Thakurnagar, demanding clarification over the comments made on Monday night. However, followers of Shantanu Thakur attacked the protesters when they attempted to reach his house, triggering a scuffle between the two groups. The area near the ministers residence turned into a battlefield as the rival groups clashed. Several Matuas were injured in the violence, following which a large police contingent rushed to the spot to bring the situation under control. The All India Matua Mahasangha alleged, The aggrieved Matuas were organising a peaceful demonstrations in protest against deletion of their names from electoral rolls but they were attacked. BJP has been duping the Matuas giving false promises to them. Why did the party leadership organise camps and distribute cards assuring them to include names of Matua voters to the electoral rolls? Mamatabala Thakur said. The conspiracy of Shantanu Thakur and the BJP to delete one lakh Matua voters names has come to light through his statement, she added. Addressing a BJP meeting at Hanshkhali-Garapota on Monday night, the BJP MP from Bongaon appeared to ask members of the community to be prepared for what he described as a sacrifice for a good cause. Even if it is a problem, we should accept this, he added. Shantanu Thakur acknowledged the likelihood of a large number of Matua voters being dropped from the electoral roll and reiterated that applying for citizenship under the amended citizenship law was, in his view, the only solution to resolve what he described as the identity crisis of Hindu migrants from Bangladesh, including the Matuas. A large number of voters from Matua-dominated areas in North 24 Parganas, Nadia and parts of Jalpaiguri districts are among the 58 lakh dead, duplicate, permanently shifted and absentee electors dropped from the electoral rolls during the SIR exercise in West Bengal. Shantanu Thakur is the chief of the BJP-leaning faction of the All India Matua Mahasangha. His remarks, however, have put the BJP on the back foot, raising concerns within the party about a possible erosion of its Matua vote base. BJP leaders have sought to portray the omission of voters names as temporary, claiming it would ultimately lead to a permanent resolution of the citizenship issue faced by the community. Within the BJP, concerns over the potential fallout among Matua voters are also rising. BJP MLA Subrata Thakur, brother of Shantanu Thakur, has called for fast-track hearings of Citizenship (Amendment) Act applications to ensure citizenship and voter enrolment for eligible members of the community.
Anti-Bangladesh protests held at land ports in West Bengal
Kolkata: Members of a pro-Hindu organisation held demonstrations at several land ports along the India-Bangladesh border in West Bengal on Wednesday over the killing of a man belonging to the minority community in the neighbouring country. Scuffles also broke out between police personnel and BJP supporters during a protest in Howrah district. Trouble started after 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 .
Indias mustard acreage up 4.3% as of Dec 15
Significant expansion in Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, and West Bengal area, SEA survey shows
Fresh protests erupt in West Bengal against Bangladesh lynching
KOLKATA: Fresh incidents of demonstrations in Kolkata and several districts across West Bengal were reported on Wednesday in protest against the brutal killing of a Hindu Bangladeshi youth, Dipu Chandra Das, in Mymensingh. Violence erupted at Howrah Station this afternoon when police prevented demonstrators belonging to the BJP from reaching the Howrah Bridge, the prime lifeline connecting Kolkata and the south Bengal districts. The demonstrators were protesting against the Mymensingh incident in Bangladesh and were involved in heated arguments with security personnel on Howrah Bridge. We will not let anyone hamper normal life and cause trouble to commuters in the name of protest. We will act in accordance with the law to thwart any attempts to create trouble, said a senior officer of Howrah Police. As police prevented the march from proceeding, protesters squatted on the road and attempted to break through barricades, leading to scuffles. Bangladesh government pledges responsibility for family of lynched Hindu worker Dipu Das The area was barricaded, and as protesters raised slogans while sitting on the road, police moved in to disperse them. Police alleged that the demonstrators turned aggressive, forcing security personnel to take action to disperse the protest. Unrest was also reported along the Indo-Bangladesh border in Siliguri of Darjeeling district and Petrapol or Ghozadanga borders in North 24 Parganas district when different groups of Hindutva organisations demonstrated by blocking trucks carrying export and import items. Activists of Sanatani Jatiotabadi Mancha, a Hindutva platform, blocked the road at the Ghozadanga border and prevented trucks carrying goods from entering Bangladesh in protest against the atrocities against minority Hindus in Bangladesh. One agitator, Rajendra Saha, said, We want the Indian government to stop all trade and diplomatic relations with Bangladesh, where minority Hindus like Dipu Chandra Das are being killed and tortured by the majority there. On December 18, Dipu Chandra Das, a 25-year-old garment factory worker, was lynched by a mob and his body set on fire over alleged blasphemy in Baluka in Bangladesh's Mymensingh. Hundreds of people attempted to march to the Bangladesh Deputy High Commission on Tuesday in protest over the attack on minorities in the neighbouring country, but were stopped by the police midway, leading to a clash that left several injured. The rally started from Sealdah and was proceeding towards the Bangladesh Deputy High Commission's office in Park Circus, but was stopped by police in the Beckbagan area. As they tried to breach the barricade, police baton-charged the rallyists. On Monday, senior BJP MLA and Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the West Bengal Legislative Assembly, Suvendu Adhikari, along with other party leaders and supporters, staged a demonstration near the Deputy High Commission on the same agenda. Adhikari led a rally of around 2,000 people who squatted on the road after he was stopped by police from proceeding further. We want strict punishment for all those involved in the murder of Das. We want atrocities and attacks on Hindus in Bangladesh to be stopped immediately. If there is no end to attacks on Hindus, we will return with 10,000 people on December 26, he threatened. On Tuesday, a similar protest was organised outside the Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi. However, chaos erupted soon after as hundreds of protestors affiliated with the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal clashed with police. An officer said a 15,000-strong police force was deployed ahead of the demonstration. He said police managed to hold the protesters about 800 metres from the high commission. Anti-Bangladesh protests erupt near Deputy High Commission in Kolkata; 12 arrested
Fresh demonstrations in Kolkata and other districts in WB in protest against Mymensingh incident
KOLKATA: Fresh incidents of demonstrations in Kolkata and several districts across West Bengal were reported on Wednesday in protest against the brutal killing of a Hindu Bangladeshi youth, Dipu Chandra Das, in Mymensingh. Violence erupted at Howrah Station this afternoon when police prevented demonstrators belonging to the BJP from reaching the Howrah Bridge, the prime lifeline connecting Kolkata and the south Bengal districts. The demonstrators were protesting against the Mymensingh incident in Bangladesh and were involved in heated arguments with security personnel on Howrah Bridge. We will not let anyone hamper normal life and cause trouble to commuters in the name of protest. We will act in accordance with the law to thwart any attempts to create trouble, said a senior officer of Howrah Police. As police prevented the march from proceeding, protesters squatted on the road and attempted to break through barricades, leading to scuffles. Bangladesh government pledges responsibility for family of lynched Hindu worker Dipu Das The area was barricaded, and as protesters raised slogans while sitting on the road, police moved in to disperse them. Police alleged that the demonstrators turned aggressive, forcing security personnel to take action to disperse the protest. Unrest was also reported along the Indo-Bangladesh border in Siliguri of Darjeeling district and Petrapol or Ghozadanga borders in North 24 Parganas district when different groups of Hindutva organisations demonstrated by blocking trucks carrying export and import items. Activists of Sanatani Jatiotabadi Mancha, a Hindutva platform, blocked the road at the Ghozadanga border and prevented trucks carrying goods from entering Bangladesh in protest against the atrocities against minority Hindus in Bangladesh. One agitator, Rajendra Saha, said, We want the Indian government to stop all trade and diplomatic relations with Bangladesh, where minority Hindus like Dipu Chandra Das are being killed and tortured by the majority there. On December 18, Dipu Chandra Das, a 25-year-old garment factory worker, was lynched by a mob and his body set on fire over alleged blasphemy in Baluka in Bangladesh's Mymensingh. Hundreds of people attempted to march to the Bangladesh Deputy High Commission on Tuesday in protest over the attack on minorities in the neighbouring country, but were stopped by the police midway, leading to a clash that left several injured. The rally started from Sealdah and was proceeding towards the Bangladesh Deputy High Commission's office in Park Circus, but was stopped by police in the Beckbagan area. As they tried to breach the barricade, police baton-charged the rallyists. On Monday, senior BJP MLA and Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the West Bengal Legislative Assembly, Suvendu Adhikari, along with other party leaders and supporters, staged a demonstration near the Deputy High Commission on the same agenda. Adhikari led a rally of around 2,000 people who squatted on the road after he was stopped by police from proceeding further. We want strict punishment for all those involved in the murder of Das. We want atrocities and attacks on Hindus in Bangladesh to be stopped immediately. If there is no end to attacks on Hindus, we will return with 10,000 people on December 26, he threatened. On Tuesday, a similar protest was organised outside the Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi. However, chaos erupted soon after as hundreds of protestors affiliated with the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal clashed with police. An officer said a 15,000-strong police force was deployed ahead of the demonstration. He said police managed to hold the protesters about 800 metres from the high commission. Anti-Bangladesh protests erupt near Deputy High Commission in Kolkata; 12 arrested
Minimum temperatures to fall across West Bengal: IMD
Night temperatures in north Bengal districts will fall by two notches at a few places, IMD said in its forecast on December 24, 2025, dry weather will prevail over all districts during next seven days, says IMD
Investment pledges surge, jute and tea sectors under strain in West Bengal
West Bengal's economy in 2025 experienced significant investment in ports, power, and technology. Major companies pledged substantial funds for new projects. This growth occurred alongside challenges in traditional sectors like jute and tea. The state government expressed confidence in its economic direction. Fiscal matters remained a point of political discussion.
BJP criticises TMC government for 'targeted action' against Hindus
The BJP has accused the Trinamool Congress government in West Bengal of targeting Hindus, drawing parallels with alleged attacks by Jamaat-e-Islami in Bangladesh. BJP spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi claimed the state police used force on protesters expressing concern over minority violence in Bangladesh, alleging the TMC is acting on an agenda to 'eradicate sanatan dharma'.
13 sentenced to life over lynching of father, son during anti-Waqf Act protests in West Bengal
KOLKATA: 13 persons were sentenced to life imprisonment for the lynching of a man and his son during the protests over the Waqf (Amendment) Act by a court in West Bengal's Murshidabad district on Tuesday. The court also directed the state to give Rs 15 lakh compensation to the family of the victims. Special public prosecutor Bivas Chatterjee said this is the country's second conviction in a mob lynching case and first in West Bengal. Haragobinda Das (72) and his son Chandan Das (42) were killed by a mob at their house in Jafrabad in the Samserganj police station area on April 12. The court had convicted 13 accused on Monday: Dildar Nadab, Asmaul Nadab, Injamul Haque, Ziaul Haque, Fekarul Sheikh, Azfarul Sheikh, Manirul Sheikh, Ekbal Sheikh, Nurul Islam, Saba karim, Hazrat Sheikh, Akbar Ali and Usuf Sheikh. The accused were arrested from West Bengal, Odisha and Jharkhand. Each of the 13 convicts was also sentenced to 10 years in prison for dacoity, 10 years of imprisonment for house trespass and a five-year term for rioting. All the sentences will run concurrently, the court said. While speaking to reporters, Additional Director General of Police Supratim Sarkar said, police had framed a chargesheet in connection with the case within 56 days following prompt investigations. The Das family has expressed their discontentment with the court verdict. Haragobinda's wife, Parul Das, said, We want the death penalty for three of the convicts, whom we have already identified. We are not happy with the court order. Leader of Opposition in the state legislative assembly Suvendu Adhikari said, the BJP will assist the family move the high court seeking death penalty for three of the 13 convicts. We are not happy with this judgment, he claimed. Adhikari alleged that the charges against the three main accused were watered down by the SIT formed to probe the case. The SIT could not live up to the expectation of ensuring exemplary punishment to the main culprits, he said. (With inputs from PTI)
BLOs stage fresh protest at Bengal CEO office
Protests erupted as booth-level officers demonstrated against detentions, vowing to halt work. West Bengal is gearing up for extensive document verification hearings starting December 27. Around 20 lakh hearing notices are ready, with micro-observers set to train on Wednesday. Trinamool leaders met the CEO, raising concerns about voter inconvenience and distance to hearing centers.
All 13 get life imprisonment in father-son murder case in Murshidabad
Thirteen people received life sentences in Murshidabad, West Bengal. They were convicted for the murder of Haragobindo Das and his son Chandan Das. The killings occurred during protests against the Waqf (Amendment) Act. This marks a significant conviction under the new mob lynching law. The West Bengal Police affirmed their commitment to preventing communal unrest.
West Bengal govt. suppressing peaceful protests over violence against Hindus in Bangladesh: BJP
The attacks on the community in Bangladesh had deeply hurt and angered Hindus in India, prompting peaceful demonstrations in various parts of the country, BJP MP and spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi said
Nitin Nabin calls Rahul Gandhi a part-time politician
After Bihar, the BJP will win West Bengal and Kerala as well, the newly elected party president said, adding that the BJP is a party in which any worker who works with honesty and determination could reach the top
Court awards life term for 13 in lynching of father-son duo in Murshidabad
On April 12, Harogobind Das and Chandan Das were hacked to death after being dragged out of their home at Jafrabad village in West Bengal when a protest against the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025 turned violent
13 get life term for lynching of father-son in Murshidabad during protests over Waqf Amendment Act
Special public prosecutor Bivas Chatterjee said this is the country's second conviction in a mob lynching case and first in West Bengal.
SIR Draft Rolls Out: 42 Lakh Names Removed In MP, 27 Lakh In Chhattisgarh, And 22 Lakh In Kerala
The publication of the draft rolls comes days after the Election Commission released similar figures for West Bengal and Tamil Nadu
13 Get Life For Killing Father And Son During Waqf Act Violence In Bengal
A court in West Bengal's Murshidabad district on Tuesday sentenced 13 people to life imprisonment for the lynching of a man and his son during the protests over the Waqf (Amendment) Act in April.
Part-time politician Rahul visited Bihar during elections, left country post poll: Nitin Nabin
Patna, Dec 23: BJPs national working president Nitin Nabin on Tuesday termed Congress leader Rahul Gandhi as a part-time politician, claiming that he came to Bihar only during elections and left the country once the polls got over. Nabin, while addressing the party workers here, asserted that the BJP flag will fly high in the upcoming assembly polls of West Bengal and Kerala, where part-time politicians like Rahul Gandhi would be punished by voters. The 45-year-old BJP leader also alleged [] The post Part-time politician Rahul visited Bihar during elections, left country post poll: Nitin Nabin appeared first on Daily Excelsior .
Feel more scared as an Indian than as a Hindu, says West Bengal student in Bangladesh
The situation in Bangladesh has changed considerably from what it was in mid-2024, with mobs now replacing protesting citizens, the student said
KOLKATA: Three persons, including a ruling Trinamool Congress leader and his son, were sentenced to life imprisonment after they were found guilty in the gang rape and death of a schoolgirl in Hanshkhali of Nadia district in West Bengal. The incident took place in April 2022, prompting Opposition parties like the BJP, CPI-M and Congress to intensify protests against the ruling party in the State, demanding Chief Minister Mamata Banerjees resignation. The nine convicted in the case are Trinamool leader Samarendra Gayali, his son Brajagopal aka Sohail and seven others Prabhakar Samaddar, Ranjit Mullick, Surajit Roy, Akash Baroi, Dipta Gayali, Pijush Kanti Bhakta, and Anshuman Bagchi. The court, today, pronounced the sentence giving Sohail, Prabhakar and Ranjit imprisonment till death, while Samarendra, Dipta and another were sentenced for five years jail each. One of the nine convicted is a minor boy who has been granted conditional bail for now. The court will makdecide him after a year. However, the family members of the victim are not happy with the verdict, as they expected that the court would sentence the convicts to death. We are not happy with the judgment because we had demanded their death sentences. I had so many expectations and dreams for my daughter, but the bastards ruined all, the victims mother said. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) investigated the case following a Calcutta High Court order. They were pronounced guilty under various sections of the BNSS related to gang rape, criminal conspiracy, criminal intimidation, destruction and suppression of evidence, along with Section 6 of the POCSO Act. According to the prosecution, on April 4, 2022, the minor girl attended a birthday party organised for Brajagopal, where she was gang-raped. She returned home bleeding profusely and died the next day. The victims parents said that they were prevented by the convicts from taking her to a hospital. Her body was forcibly taken away and cremated locally without a post-mortem. She did not even get a death certificate.
How Successful Has WB Govt Under Mamata Banerjee Been in Tackling Unemployment
Read our story to find out how successful the West Bengal government has been in tackling unemployment.
Police registered cases against the constable and the passport applicant for creating false documents for cheating, forging a public register, dishonest misuse of property entrusted with someone, and causing disappearance of evidence
Sikkim: Army jawan dies as raft capsizes in Teesta river
An Army jawan, Lance Naik Rajasekhar, tragically died after a raft capsized in the Teesta river during a training exercise in Sikkim's Pakyong district. The accident happened when the raft struck a damaged bridge structure, leading to the jawan being swept away. His body was later recovered downstream in West Bengal.
Calcutta High Court declines to halt SIT and Inquiry commission probe into Messi event violence
The Calcutta High Court has refused to interfere with the ongoing investigation into the violence and disorder reported during an event linked to football icon Lionel Messi in Kolkata, allowing the West Bengal Special Investigation Team (SIT) and a state-appointed inquiry commission to continue their work. A Division Bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Sujoy Paul [] The post Calcutta High Court declines to halt SIT and Inquiry commission probe into Messi event violence appeared first on India Legal .
SIR in Bengal: Each ERO to daily handle 150 claims & objections from Dec 27
Kolkata: Each Electoral Registration Officer (ERO) will daily handle 150 cases of hearings on claims and objections to the draft voters list in West Bengal from Saturday, as per the target set by the Election Commission of India (ECI). The daily target had been fixed keeping in mind the schedule of the second and third 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 .
Around 32 lakh unmapped voters to be called in phase 1 of SIR hearings from Dec 27 in Bengal
Around 32 lakh unmapped voters in West Bengal will participate in the first phase of hearings for electoral roll revision starting December 27. Notices are being sent to these voters who couldn't link their names with family members in 2002 rolls. A delegation from the Election Commission will visit to review the progress of this special intensive revision process.
West Bengal to call 32L unmapped voters for first SIR hearings
Kolkata: Around 32 lakh unmapped voters will be called in the first phase of hearings under the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral rolls, officials said. Hearings for this category, in which voters could not link their names with those of family members in the 2002 electoral rolls, will begin from December 27, he 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 .
Around 32 lakh unmapped voters to be called in phase 1 of SIR hearings from December 27 in Bengal
KOLKATA: Around 32 lakh unmapped voters will be called in the first phase of hearings under the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral rolls, officials said. Hearings for this category, in which voters could not link their names with those of family members in the 2002 electoral rolls, will begin from December 27, he said. We have started sending notices to around 10 lakh such voters from today, while the same will be issued to another 22 lakh voters from Tuesday, the official at the office of the West Bengal Chief Electoral Officer told PTI. During the enumeration phase, a total of 31,68,424 unmapped voters were identified across the state, he said. He said that the proceedings will be conducted at district magistrates' offices, sub-divisional offices, various government departments, as well as in schools and colleges. Voters with logical discrepancies will be taken up in the next phase, for which guidelines have been sought from the Election Commission, another official said on Monday. Each hearing will be conducted under the supervision of a micro-observer, he said. Around 1.36 crore voters will be called for SIR hearings in West Bengal: CEO Training for 4,000 micro-observers will be held in two phases on December 24 in Kolkata, he said, noting that all the micro-observers are officials from the state. Trinamool Congress supremo and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday alleged that the micro-observers lack knowledge of the local Bengali language. Meanwhile, a delegation from the Election Commission will visit the state to review the progress of the SIR of the electoral rolls, sources in the office of the state CEO said. The commission's Principal Secretary SB Joshi and Deputy Secretary Abhinav Agarwal will arrive in the state to assess the progress of the hearing phase under the SIR process, he said. The officials will also attend the training programme for micro-observers on December 24, he added. West Bengal SIR: ECI begins to send notices for hearing over claims, objections to draft voters list
Murshidabad communal violence case: 13 convicted in murder of father-son duo
A district court in West Bengal's Murshidabad has convicted 13 individuals for the murder of a father and son during communal violence in April. The killings occurred following protests against the Waqf (Amendment) Act. Sentencing for the convicted will be pronounced on Tuesday, nine months after the incident.
BLOs protest outside West Bengal CEO office over workload, app changes; scuffles with police
Booth Level Officers protested outside the West Bengal Chief Electoral Officer's office. They raised concerns about mounting pressure and changes to the BLO app. The app now includes a new feature for delivering scheduled hearing notices. Hearings under the Special Intensive Revision are set to begin soon. The protest was organized by the Trinamool Congress-backed BLO Adhikar Raksha Committee.
Will not let W.B. become Bangladesh, says BJP leader and actor Mithun Chakraborty
Ever since violence erupted in Bangladesh, the West Bengal BJP leadership has been trying to draw a parallel between the situation in Bangladesh and West Bengal
Calcutta High Court reserves verdict on PILs over Lionel Messi event fiasco at Salt Lake stadium
KOLKATA: Hearing of three PILs over the fiasco during Argentine football legend Lionel Messi showcasing event last week that saw spectator rampage at the Salt Lake stadium here concluded before the Calcutta High Court on Monday. The petitioners sought investigation into the incident by central agencies as well as refund of ticket price to the spectators, a section of whom had gone on a rampage over not being able to see their favourite star and early conclusion of the event following a messy situation on the ground with some people jostling around Messi, thus blocking the view of those seated on the stands. The court reserved judgment after arguments by the parties in the matter were concluded. The counsel for the West Bengal government argued before a division bench presided by Acting Chief Justice Sujoy Paul that the state did not sell the tickets, and it was an event organised by a private event management company. Claiming that the investigation was being done in right earnest by the Bidhannagar Police Commissionerate, he stated before the court that the state's director general of police (DGP) was issued a show cause letter over the incident. The owner of the event management company, Satadru Dutta, was arrested on December 14, soon after the event on that day, in connection with the fiasco. Dutta's lawyer submitted before the division bench, also comprising Justice Partha Sarathi Sen, that they were unaware as to how so many people, who milled around Messi blocking the view of the spectators, entered the ground as the police were in charge of entry points. He further stated that the football legend's events were also held in Hyderabad, Mumbai and Delhi and that all went off smoothly. Billwadal Bhattacharya, the lawyer for Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari, who is one of the petitioners, questioned the source of funds for organising the event and prayed that the court order an investigation by a competent central agency. Senior advocate Bikash Ranjan Bhattacharya, representing another petitioner, submitted before the court that the enquiry committee formed by the state government is not a judicial commission, but is simply an administrative one. The state's lawyer stated that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had, soon after the incident, expressed regret for the fiasco and that her government formed the committee comprising a retired high court judge and top officers of the administration. He also said that the police are probing as to how water bottles, which were thrown onto the ground by irate spectators, found their way into the stadium when the police had ordered that these were among the objects not allowed to be taken inside.
Four of family charred to death in midnight fire in Bengal's Howrah village
KOLKATA: Four members of a family were charred to death while sleeping inside a room during a fire on Sunday night in Howrah district of West Bengal, officials said on Monday. The incident took place around midnight in Sauria village under the jurisdiction of Joypur police station in Howrah. The deceased were identified as Durjodhan Dolui (72), his son Dudhkumar Dolui (45), daughter-in-law Shibani Dolui (40), and granddaughter Shampa Dolui (15). Their bodies were recovered from the room by police after locals informed the police station. An investigation is underway to ascertain how the thatched house caught fire, officials said. Two fire tenders were deployed and the blaze was brought under control after about an hour. The bodies have been sent to a government hospital in Uluberia for post-mortem examination, officials confirmed. Locals said the family was reportedly very poor. Dudhkumar also had a son who works as a migrant labourer outside the state, officials added.
KOLKATA: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday urged minorities, who traditionally support the ruling Trinamool Congress, to remain united at a time when the partys suspended MLA Humayun Kabir floated a new political platform , the Janatar Unnyan Party (JUP). The move has raised concerns over a possible split in the minority vote bank barely four months ahead of the Assembly elections scheduled next year. Addressing a meeting of Trinamool Congress Booth Level Agents (BLAs) in the city, Banerjee appealed to minorities not to panic. I am telling you to take a decision and get united against the BJP, she said. BJP is trying to play division politics among you. But you have to be united against them, the Chief Minister added. Humayun Kabir, the Trinamool Congress legislator from Bharatpur, was recently suspended by the party leadership on charges of anti-party activities. These included allegedly making communal statements and laying the foundation stone of a mosque in Beldanga, Murshidabad district, modelled after the Babri Mosque in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh. On Monday, Kabir formally announced the launch of his new party, the Janatar Unnyan Party. Addressing a public meeting in Beldanga, Kabir named eight candidates whom his party will field in the 2026 Assembly elections in the state. He said he would himself contest from two seats, Rejinagar and Beldanga in Murshidabad district, and would soon release the names of other candidates. Kabir claimed that the JUP would field candidates in 90 Assembly constituencies across the state and would emerge as a decisive factor in the elections. People have already dethroned the Congress. Now they will also bring the Trinamool Congress and BJP down from power in the state and at the Centre, the JUP chairman said. My party will fight for the cause of common people in the state. He also announced that table would be the partys symbol and said an application would be submitted to the Election Commission of India (ECI) seeking recognition. He added that rose could be used as an alternative symbol if the table is not approved. In the 2016 Assembly elections, Kabir had contested as an independent candidate using the same symbol. West Bengal has earlier witnessed the formation of a new political party, the Indian Secular Front (ISF), which had forged an electoral alliance with the CPI(M)-led Left Front in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. ISF chairman Naushad Siddiqui is currently the partys sole MLA from the Bhangar constituency in South 24 Parganas. Political observers believe that the emergence of the JUP could significantly impact the Trinamool Congress vote base, particularly in minority-dominated Assembly segments in districts such as Murshidabad, Malda, South Dinajpur, North 24 Parganas and South 24 Parganas. Murshidabad district, which has around 70 per cent Muslim voters, could pose a serious challenge to the Trinamool Congresss electoral prospects following the formation of the JUP, observers said.
Suspended TMC MLA Humayun Kabir Launches New Party Amid Babri Row; Mamata Reacts
Addressing a public meeting in Beldanga, Kabir said his party would contest the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections.
Suspended TMC MLA Humayun Kabir announces new political party
Kolkata: Humayun Kabir, the suspended Trinamool Congress legislator from Bharatpur Assembly Constituency in Murshidabad district of West Bengal, on Monday announced his political party, christened the Janata Unnayan Party. According to Kabir, the name of his new political outfit was the result of a well-thought-out exercise since he neither wanted to include the word Congress Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .
KOLKATA: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday once again lashed out at Union Home Minister Amit Shah, alleging that he controls the Election Commission of India (ECI). Addressing a meeting of Trinamool Congress Booth Level Agents (BLAs) at the Netaji Indoor Stadium, around 1.5 km from the office of the West Bengal Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) at BBD Bag, the Chief Minister intensified her attack on Shah. I have never seen such an autocratic, worthless home minister who controls the Prime Minister, she said. Notably, Abhishek Banerjee, the partys national general secretary, was absent from the meeting. However, several ministers, including controversial leader Arup Biswas, who recently resigned from the sports and youth affairs portfolio following the Salt Lake Stadium chaos on December 23, along with Sujit Bose, party MLAs and MPs, attended the programme. Think about the future if these rioters run our country. They deleted Gandhijis name from the 100-day job guarantee scheme, Mamata said. On December 11, a day after Shah slammed the ruling Trinamool Congress in the Lok Sabha over alleged Bangladeshi infiltration into Bengal on December 10, Mamata Banerjee had termed him dangerous. She accused the Centre and the ECI of using the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls to unlawfully delete the names of lakhs of eligible Bengali voters ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections. The Election Commission is working only as per the directions of the BJP. There are gross errors in the mapping of voters during the SIR exercise in the state, she alleged at Mondays meeting. The Trinamool Congress supremo also claimed that central officers appointed as micro-observers for SIR hearings have little knowledge of the local language and are unfit to conduct verifications during the second phase of the revision exercise. Mamata further alleged that Shah was directly guiding attempts to remove as many as 1.5 crore names from the electoral rolls in the state. During a previous rally in Nadia district on December 11, she had warned that she would sit on an indefinite dharna if even a single eligible voter was excluded during the SIR exercise. The countrys home minister is dangerous. His two eyes send a message of disaster. In one eye you see Duryodhan, and in the other, Dushasan, she said, dramatically intensifying her rhetoric over the past week. She also alleged that the Commission was deploying officers close to the BJP during the revision process. According to her, the Commission has deleted 44,000 dead and bogus voters from the electoral rolls in her Bhawanipore Assembly constituency, while 72,000 names have been removed from the Chowringhee seat. What do you think? Can you defeat us in the coming Assembly elections by deleting voters? she asked. Names are being deleted if someones address changes because of delimitations. We will win the battle again despite these attempts at deletions, she said, targeting the ECI. We will win Delhi (the Centre) once we come back again in Bengal, she said, urging party grassroots workers to remain alert. She asked BLAs to verify draft electoral rolls through door-to-door visits to ensure whether voters whose names were deleted during the SIR exercise were genuine cases. Voters whose names have been deleted can fill up Form VI and Annexure IV and submit them to the concerned Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) for inclusion, she said. She also instructed BLAs to carefully check whether voters who were unmapped during the first phase of the SIR process had been issued notices by the Election Commission for hearings.
Bengaluru Power Cut Alert: Over 80 Areas To Be Affected On December 23
Large parts of south and west Bengaluru will face a power cut on Tuesday, December 23, between 10:00 AM and 4:00 PM.
Bengal Babri row: Suspended TMC MLA Humayun Kabir floats new party; CM Mamata hits back
Humayun Kabir, a West Bengal MLA, has launched his new political party, the Janata Unnayan Party. This move follows his suspension from the Trinamool Congress. Kabir plans to contest the 2026 West Bengal assembly elections. He aims to challenge Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and has declared his intention to contest from two seats in Murshidabad
Bengal MLA Humayun Kabir floats new party days after laying foundation for Babri-style mosque
In a bold political maneuver, Humayun Kabir, former MLA from West Bengal, has unveiled his new party, the Janata Unnayan Party, following his recent suspension from the Trinamool Congress (TMC). With the 2026 assembly elections on the horizon, Kabir is determined to challenge the political dominance of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.
Suspended TMC leader Humayun Kabir launches Janata Unnayan Party
Former TMC MLA Humayun Kabir launched the Janata Unnayan Party, stating it will work for the common man. This follows his suspension from TMC for remarks about inaugurating a Babri Masjid in West Bengal. RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat alleged a political conspiracy behind the move, which Kabir refuted, accusing CM Mamata Banerjee of aiding the RSS.
Mamata Banerjee on SIR in West Bengal: gross errors in SIR exercise conducted by EC
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has strongly criticized the Election Commission. She claims significant mistakes occurred during the voter revision process in the state. Banerjee also stated that the commission is acting on behalf of the BJP. She further alleged that central officers appointed as micro observers lack local language knowledge, making them unsuitable for the ongoing revision exercise.
BELDANGA: West Bengal MLA Humayun Kabir on Monday floated a new outfit, Janata Unnayan Party, days after he was suspended by the TMC for laying the foundation stone for a Babri-style mosque in Murshidabad district. Addressing a public meeting in Beladanga, Kabir named a few candidates that his new party will field in the 2026 assembly elections in the state. Kabir, the MLA of Bharatpur, said he would contest the assembly polls from two seats, Rejinagar and Beldanga in Murshidabad. 'Will be kingmaker in 2026', claims suspended MLA Humayun Kabir; TMC says 'daydreaming'
Four of family charred to death in fire at house in Howrah
HOWRAH: Four members of a family were charred to death in a fire at their house in West Bengal's Howrah district, officials said on Monday morning. The incident happened in Sauria village in the Joypur police station area around midnight, they said. The deceased were identified as Durjodhan Dolui (72), his son Dudhkumar Dolui (45), daughter-in-law Shibani Dolui (40), and granddaughter Shampa Dolui (15). An investigation is underway to ascertain how the kuchcha house caught fire, officials said. Two fire tenders doused the blaze, they said. The bodies have been sent to a government hospital in Uluberia for post-mortem examination, they said. The family was very poor, officials said, adding that Dudhkumar also has a son, who works as a migrant labourer outside the state
Bengal SIR hearing sessions: ECI disallows individual institution certificates
Kolkata: The Election Commission of India (ECI) has made it clear that academic qualification certificates issued by individual educational institutions, including schools and colleges, will not be recognised as valid identity documents or age proof during the hearing sessions on the claims and objections to the draft voters list in West Bengal, which will start Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .
Bengal SIR: Mamata Banerjee to hold meeting with TMCs BLA on Monday
Kolkata: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is set to hold an important meeting with the Trinamool Congress booth-level agents (BLAs) at Kolkatas Netaji Indoor Stadium on Monday. According to a senior Trinamool Congress leader, the Chief Minister will hold a meeting with selected BLAs from Kolkata and surrounding districts. BLAs from 11 Assembly constituencies 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 .
Talk of building Babri again not in Muslim or Hindu interest: Bhagwat
NEW DELHI: RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat on Sunday described the new controversy in West Bengal over the use of the term Babri Masjid as a political plot aimed at reigniting an old dispute for electoral gains. Building a Babri Masjid again and restarting the dispute is a political conspiracy for votes. This is neither in the interest of Muslims nor of Hindus. The dispute was gradually coming to an end and a healthy sense of goodwill was developing, but now efforts are being made to widen the divide again, Bhagwat told the media in Kolkata on the sidelines of the RSS centenary celebrations. The controversy erupted after the foundation of a structure, named Babri Masjid, was recently laid by suspended TMC MLA Humayun Kabir in Beldanga. Bhagwat said such actions were being carried out for votes and should not happen. He said that as per norms, governments should not construct temples or any religious structures. He said Ram temple was built in Ayodhya following a Supreme Court judgment and after the formation of a trust. Government money was not used. The temple was built through donations, he added. Speaking on alleged atrocities against Hindus in Bangladesh, Bhagwat said, Hindus in Bangladesh must remain united and Hindus across India should extend support to them. He added that if Hindu society remains united, a visible change will also be seen in Bengal. Responding to a question, he asserted that Hindustan is a Hindu nation. He rejected allegations that the RSS is anti-Muslim. The Sangh has no doors and works openly. Anyone can come and see how we function and then form their opinion, he said.
IMD weather update: The IMD has said dense fog is likely to tighten its grip in northern India and dense fog conditions are likely in Bihar, Odisha, West Bengal, Sikkim. A cold day warning has been issued for Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Chandigarh, Haryana and Punjab. The dense fog has also disrupted rail and air travel across the country.
BJP Minority Morcha National President Jamal Siddiqui condemned the lynching of a Hindu youth in Bangladesh, blaming rising radicalisation and alleging growing attacks on minorities. He criticised the Bangladeshi governments response, and said India was closely monitoring the situation. Siddiqui also accused West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee of encouraging radicalisation for political gain, claiming the state risked following a similar path.
2-0 in 2025 elections, can opposition bounce back in 2026?
Following BJP's 2025 victories in Delhi and Bihar, 2026 presents a crucial comeback opportunity for the opposition. Key contests in West Bengal, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Assam, and Puducherry will test incumbent governments and emerging political forces, with updated electoral rolls adding another layer of intrigue to these significant state elections.
Congress settled illegal Bangladeshi migrants to strengthen vote-bank, claims PM Modi in Assam
GUWAHATI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday attacked the Congress on the issue of illegal Bangladeshi migrants, accusing the party of settling and protecting them, while asserting that the BJP-led double-engine government was correcting decades of neglect and policy failures in Assam. Addressing a gathering after laying the foundation stone for a Rs 10,601 crore brownfield ammonia-urea plant in Assams Dibrugarh, Modi further accused the Congress of promoting what he termed an anti-India agenda and remaining indifferent to the identity and aspirations of the Assamese people. The Congress has no concern for the identity of Assam and its people. They are interested only in power and doing things they did before, Modi said. Thats why, they like illegal Bangladeshi migrants more. The Congress had settled them and are saving them. This is the reason why the Congress is opposing the ongoing exercise to correct voters list, the Prime Minister added. Even now the Congress wants to settle Bangladeshis on Assams lands and forests to consolidate its vote bank. You get destroyed (in the process) but they are not bothered. They have to strengthen their vote-bank, Modi told the crowd. Stating that Assam has to be protected from the poison of appeasement and vote-bank politics, the Prime Minister assured the people that the BJP was standing firmly with them to protect the states identity and honour. The BJP prioritises every work that enhances Assams prestige. But when it does that, the Congress gets troubled the most. When our government conferred Bharat Ratna on Bhupen da (legendary singer-songwriter Bhupen Hazarika), the Congress had openly opposed it, Modi said, continuing his attack on the opposition party. He further stated that the Congress had once again opposed development when the BJP-led government established a semiconductor unit in Assam. Despite being in power for many decades, the Congress had denied land right to Assams tea garden community. The BJP government has given them land right as well as a dignified life. I am a chaiwalla; if I dont do it, who will? the Prime Minister said. The Prime Minister also accused the Congress of neglecting industrial infrastructure in the state, particularly fertiliser units, leading to repeated shutdowns and hardship for farmers and workers. Just think, why is work for the welfare of farmers only happening after the BJP government came to power? The technology in the old factories became outdated, and the Congress governments paid no attention to it. Many units of Namrup kept shutting down because of this, Modi said. He added that previous governments never attempted to resolve these long-standing issues. Congress never found a solution to this problem. They were nonchalant. Our double-engine government is solving those problems too that were created by the Congress, he said. Highlighting reforms in the fertiliser sector, Modi said urea production in the country had increased significantly over the last decade. They did such a terrible job that even after 11 years of hard work, I still have a lot of work left to do. In 2014, only 225 lakh metric tonne of urea was produced nationwide. After the hard work of the last 10-11 years, this production has risen to around 306 lakh metric tonne, he said. Calling the fertiliser project a major milestone, Modi described the day as historic for Assam and the Northeast. Today is a big day for Assam and the entire North-East. The dream that Namrup and Dibrugarh had been waiting for a long time is being fulfilled today. A new chapter of industrial progress is about to begin in this whole area. Before coming to Dibrugarh, a new terminal of the airport was inaugurated in Guwahati. Everyone is saying that Assam has caught on to a new pace of development. What you are experiencing right now is just the beginning, he said. The brownfield Ammonia-Urea Fertiliser Project at Namrup, within the premises of Brahmaputra Valley Fertiliser Corporation Limited (BVFCL), is expected to meet fertiliser requirements of Assam and neighbouring states, reduce import dependence, generate substantial employment and spur regional economic development. Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal said BVFCL, the oldest fertiliser unit in Northeast India, would undergo major expansion. To further increase its capacity, a fourth plant is set to be established at the Namrup site. Supported by the Government of India, the new plant is expected to be completed in the next five years, with a production capacity of 12.5 lakh metric tonnes per annum, Sonowal said. He added that the expansion would transform the facility into a major production hub for the Northeast and enable exports to neighbouring countries such as Bhutan and Myanmar, besides supplying West Bengal and Bihar. Meanwhile, the Assam Valley Fertiliser and Chemical Company Ltd will have an annual urea production capacity of 12.7 lakh metric tonnes, with the project scheduled for commissioning in 2030. Earlier in the day, the Prime Minister visited the Swahid Smarak Kshetra in Paschim Boragaon, Guwahati, and paid homage to the martyrs of the Assam Movement. (WIth inputs from PTI, ANI)
Bengal SIR: ECI to seek explanations from BLOs on doubtful cases in draft voters list
Kolkata: The Election Commission of India (ECI) will take written explanations from the booth-level officers (BLOs) engaged in the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in West Bengal on the doubtful cases in the draft voters list, which was published on December 16. Insiders from the office of the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), West Bengal, 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 .
As PM Modi's chopper fails to land, TMC says BJP's push hits turbulence in West Bengal
Trinamool Congress mocked Prime Minister Narendra Modi's aborted visit to Nadia, claiming the BJP's 2026 election campaign in West Bengal was halted by bad weather. TMC spokesperson Kunal Ghosh stated Modi's speech disappointed the Matua community, who are living in fear and uncertainty following electoral roll revisions, and offered no roadmap or solutions.
Mamata wants to incite communal riots: BJP
New Delhi: The BJP on Saturday alleged that West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee wanted to incite riots between the Hindu and Muslim communities and accused her of indulging in communal politics, sensing defeat of the ruling TMC in the state assembly polls next year. Questioning Banerjees silence over the alleged remarks made by her 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 Government renames States job guarantee scheme as Mahatma-Shree to honour Mahatma Gandhi
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee announces the move in response to the Union Government renaming MGNREGA
Two from West Bengal held with 37 kg of suspected ganja
They had allegedly trafficked the suspected narcotic item from Odisha to Aluva by train
Qadir Ali Baig Theatre Festival was a melange of cultures and artistes
Hyderabad: Picture actors from Norway and Malaysia mingling with performers from Assam, Maharashtra and Kerala. Add playwrights from France and Telangana, musicians from West Bengal and Karnataka, all converging on a single platform in Hyderabad. That was the Qadir Ali Baig Theatre Festival. Now in its 20th year, Telanganas annual theatre festival continues to captivate 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 .
PM Modi's Bengal Address Decoded: Energising Cadre, Countering Mamata Banerjee
For the upcoming election in West Bengal, Prime Minister Narendra Modi remains the strongest brand equity for the state BJP in countering Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and her party, Trinamool Congress.
PM Modi's silence on voter deletions during West Bengal rally irks Matuas
KOLKATA: As the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in West Bengal puts thousands of Matua community members at a risk of losing Indian citizenship, Prime Minister Modi's silence during his rally in West Bengal has sparked sharp criticism from the ruling Trinamool Congress. While addressing the crowd at the Taherpur rally, a Matua-dominated region of the state, the PM started his audio message from Kolkata airport saying Jai Netai, and remembered the roles of social reformers such as Harichand Thakur, Guruchand Thakur and Baroma. However, the PM did not address a major issue plaguing the Matua community as thousands of names were deleted from the voters lists following the 2025 SIR process. Jai Netai is a devotional slogan used to venerate Nityananda Prabhu, a primary figure in Gaudiya Vaishnavism tradition, which is closely associated with the Matua Mahasangha, a significant social and religious reform movement in Bengal. Matuas attending the rally were expecting the PM to address the mass name deletions. Many were excluded from the 2025 draft rolls due to their absence from the 2002 electoral rolls. A majority of the Matuas who had migrated from Bangladesh are Hindus. Aggrieved Matuas staged demonstrations on Saturday in different parts of Ranaghat parliamentary area, a politically significant belt for BJP, demanding that their citizenship be secured. The agitators shouted slogans such as Go Back Modi. The PM could not attend reach the rally site as dense fog had prevented his helicopter from landing at the makeshift helipad in Taherpur this morning. BJP sources said, We had a phenomenal rise in since 2019 Lok Sabha elections in North 24 Parganas, Nadia and parts of Jalpaiguri because Matuas voted for us. But a large section of Matuas anxious about the SIR outcome that deleted thousands of voters belonging to the community. Modiji didnt say anything about their crisis during the rally, and it is upsetting for Matuas, the sources added. TMC Rajya Sabha MP Mamatabala Thakur, belonging to the Matua community, said, BJP has been giving false promises to the community for a long time, but our Prime Minister has nothing more to give them. Instead, he has taken away their voting rights what they used to enjoy in elections. BJP has got Matua votes by giving them false promises. Out of 17 Matua-dominated assembly constituencies in Nadia and North 24 Parganas district, BJP had won all the seats in 2021 assembly polls. The saffron party had also won Ranaghat and Bongaon Lok Sabha seats in Matua belts in 2024 elections. Interestingly, around 85,000 Matua voters names in Bongaon sub-division have been deleted from the electoral rolls following the SIR. Since the SIR kick-started in Bengal, the BJP has asked Matuas not to worry and has launched a massive drive to facilitate citizenship for eligible members of the community.
West Bengal Was Shamed Courtesy TMC: PM Modi Targets Mamata Banerjee Govt Over Messi Event
The controversy surrounding Lionel Messis visit to Kolkata escalated after high-profile event at Salt Lake Stadium ended in chaos, triggering public anger and political fallout.
Messi left Kolkata stadium as he was 'unhappy with being touched, hugged': Chief organiser tells SIT
Satadru Dutta, the arrested main organiser of the Kolkata event featuring football giant Lionel Messi, has told a Special Investigation Team (SIT) that the Argentine legend left the Salt Lake Stadium within minutes of his appearance on December 13 --resulting in chaos-- as he was unhappy with being touched or hugged, reported PTI. According to the report citing sources from the SIT, Dutta also disclosed that the much-awaited event ended in chaos and violence after a very influential person reached the stadium and increased the number of ground passes issued by three times. The organiser also claimed that after the influential person entered the stadium, the entire flowchart of the event got disturbed and he was unable to control it. During his interrogation on Friday, Dutta told the investigators that Messi did not like being touched on the back or being hugged and that the concern had been conveyed in advance by the foreign security officials responsible for the footballer's protection. Despite repeated public announcements to restrain the crowd, there was no impact. The manner in which Messi was surrounded and embraced was completely unacceptable to the World Cup-winning footballer, Dutta told investigators, according to sources. Dutta claimed that initially only 150 ground passes were issued, which, however, was tripled when a very influential person reached the stadium and overpowered him. The arrested accused also claimed that once that particular influential person reached the stadium, all the flow-chart for the Messi programme got disturbed and he could not control it, an official was quoted as saying by PTI. Police are examining whether the expanded access directly contributed to the breakdown of crowd control. They are also probing how such a large number of people gained access to the ground area. West Bengal Sports Minister Aroop Biswas was seen in close proximity to Messi throughout the programme, with visuals showing him holding the footballer around the waist while posing for photographs. Biswas has been accused of using his influence to allow relatives and personal acquaintances access to Messi. Amid mounting criticism , he resigned from his post as sports minister pending completion of the investigation. Dutta also disclosed financial details related to Messi's India visit. Lionel Messi was paid Rs 89 crore for the tour, while Rs 11 crore was paid as tax to the Indian government, he told investigators, placing the total expenditure at Rs 100 crore. Of this amount, 30 per cent was sourced from sponsors, while another 30 per cent was generated through ticket sales, sources said. Meanwhile, an amount of over Rs 20 crore was found in the frozen bank accounts of Dutta by the officers of the SIT, the officer said. On Friday, following the raids at Dutta's house, sleuths of the SIT seized several documents, he added. Dutta claimed that the amount in his bank account was the money which he got from selling the tickets for the Messi event in Kolkata and Hyderabad and also from the sponsors. We are verifying his claims, the officer said. Thousands of spectators had purchased high-priced tickets to attend the event at Salt Lake Stadium, but the programme descended into chaos as a large number of people crowded around Messi on the field, making him barely visible from the galleries and triggering anger among fans, some of whom later vandalised parts of the stadium. The West Bengal government had set up the Special Investigation Team (SIT) comprising senior IPS officers Piyush Pandey, Javed Shamim, Supratim Sarkar and Muralidhar to investigate the vandalism at Argentine football star Lionel Messi's event at the Salt Lake stadium. The SIT is also investigating security lapses, access violations, and the role of organisers and officials in the incident, the officer added. (With inputs from PTI) 'We travelled all the way...': Heartbreak for fans as organisers mess up Messi event in Kolkata
PM Modi attacks 'Maha Jungle Raj' in Bengal, pitches for BJP ahead of 2026 polls
KOLKATA: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday criticised what he called the 'Maha Jungle Raj' under Trinamool Congress in West Bengal and appealed to the voters to support the BJP in next year's assembly elections to bring a 'double engine' government to the state. Modi addressed a rally virtually in Taherpur, Nadia district, after dense fog caused by low visibility prevented his helicopter from landing there. The Prime Minister was scheduled to inaugurate and lay the foundation stone of two National Highway projects worth around Rs 3,200 crores and inaugurate 66.7 km long 4-Laning of Barajaguli Krishnanagar Section of NH-34 in the Nadia District of West Bengal. Modi pointed to the NDA's success in the recent Bihar elections, suggesting that the momentum could spill over into neighbouring West Bengal. People voted for NDA. I had said the Ganga flows from Bihar to Bengal, and Bihar has shown the path to victory in Bengal and a way out of jungle Raj, he said. Modi further said Bengal is currently reeling under corruption, nepotism and appeasement politics. Modi also said that the ruling party in Bengal is opposed to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. You (Trinamool Congress) shout 'go back' slogans against the infiltrators not against me, he said as a section of Matuas shouted slogans like go back Modi at Taherpur. The Matuas were agitating because names of thousands of voters belonging to community have been deleted from the electoral rolls during the SIR process. Claiming that the popular sentiment of Bengals grassroots people was to gain freedom from TMCs misrule, the Prime Minister said, the lanes and alleys of the state are resonating with cries of the slogan Banchte chai, BJP tai (Need BJP to live). Three run over by train Three persons died and three others were injured when they were hit by a train amid dense fog on Saturday. They were travelling to attend Modi's rally at Taherpur, a senior official said. The incident occurred between Taherpur and Badkulla railway stations under the Sealdah-Krishnanagar section of Eastern Railway, he said. Earlier in the day, the PM reached Kolkata at around 10.40 am and took a chopper onward to Taherpur in Nadia district, where he was scheduled to hold an administrative programme to launch highway projects in West Bengal, followed by a political rally of the BJP, titled Parivartan Sankalpa Sabha, which he was supposed to address. The PMs speech today was frustrating to Matua people because he could not give any positive message for the community who are spending days with tension and panic because of the SIR, Trinamool Congress spokesperson Kunal Ghosh said. He could not even say anything about releasing funds allotted for different schemes in Bengal, Kunal added.
In PM's absence, Bengal Guv launches national highway projects worth Rs 3,200 crore
West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose unveiled national highway projects worth Rs 3,200 crore, aimed at boosting economic activities and tourism. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, unable to attend due to dense fog, addressed the event virtually, apologizing for his absence and highlighting the projects' role in reducing travel time and improving connectivity.
PM Modi's speech at Bengal rally lacks concerns about Matuas' citizenship, alleges TMC
Trinamool Congress criticizes Prime Minister Narendra Modi's rally speech. They allege he showed no concern for the Matua community's electoral roll issues. The party also claims Modi ignored harassment of Bengali speakers in BJP-ruled states. Modi, speaking by phone, called West Bengal a 'maha jungle raj' and urged support for BJP in 2026.
Will end 'maha jungle raj' in Bengal; TMC making people suffer to oppose BJP: PM Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi strongly criticized the Trinamool Congress in West Bengal, labeling the state's situation as maha jungle raj. He alleged that corruption, nepotism, and appeasement have stalled development. Addressing a rally via phone, Modi urged voters to elect the BJP for a double engine government, promising to end the ruling party's alleged misrule and protect citizens.
Will End Maha Jungle Raj In Bengal; TMC Making People Suffer To Oppose BJP: PM
KOLKATA, Dec 20: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday lashed out at the Trinamool Congress in West Bengal, calling the states prevailing situation maha jungle raj and alleging that corruption, nepotism and appeasement of the ruling dispensation have prevented development in the state. Addressing a massive gathering at Taherpur in Nadia district over the phone from Kolkata, Modi urged the people to provide a chance to the BJP in the upcoming assembly polls to form a double engine government in [] The post Will End Maha Jungle Raj In Bengal; TMC Making People Suffer To Oppose BJP: PM appeared first on Daily Excelsior .
Four killed, 2 injured after being hit by train on way to attend PM Modi`s rally
Four people were killed and two others injured after being hit by a train near Taherpur station in West Bengals Nadia district while travelling to attend Prime Minister Narendra Modis rally
PM Modi unveils key connectivity initiatives, takes a hit at opposition in poll-bound West Bengal
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated two national highway projects worth Rs. 3,200 crore in West Bengal's Nadia district, enhancing connectivity between Kolkata and Siliguri and reducing travel time. His visit also served as a prelude to the upcoming assembly polls, where he criticized the TMC's governance and urged voters to support the BJP.
Modi targets TMC over infiltration, says Bihar results 'opened doors' for BJP victory in Bengal
Results from the recently-concluded Bihar assembly elections have opened up doors for the BJPs victory in West Bengal, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Saturday, addressing a rally in Taherpur virtually after dense fog prevented his helicopter from landing at the venue. Owing to low visibility, the prime ministers helicopter made a U-turn after hovering briefly over the makeshift helipad in Taherpur and returned to Kolkata airport, officials said. This was Modis first visit to the state since the draft SIR rolls were published and his third in the past five months. The trip comes amid heightened political tensions over the ongoing SIR exercise, during which he was scheduled to inaugurate national highway projects and address a public rally. Today the country wants rapid development. Bihar once again gave the NDA government a massive mandate for development...Bihar has also paved the way for the BJP's victory in Bengal, Modi said. Drawing parallels with his jungle raj claims against the RJD in Bihar, PM Modi took aim at the Trinamool Congress (TMC), saying the BJP would end its Maha jungle raj in West Bengal. Bihar has rejected the rule of the 'jungle raj' with one resounding voice. Even after 20 years, they have given the BJP-NDA more seats than before.... We will end TMC's 'Maha jungle raj' in Bengal, where corruption, nepotism, appeasement politics are ruling the roost, he said. Let TMC oppose me and BJP as much as it wants, but Bengals progress should not be stopped, the priminister added. Modi also alleged that infiltrators enjoyed the TMCs patronage in the state and claimed the party was opposing the SIR exercise to prevent them from being identified.
PM Modi arrived in Kolkata at 10:40 am and departed for Nadia. However, due to dense fog, Prime Minister Narendra Modi's helicopter was unable to land at the Taherpur helipad in West Bengal.
'Bengal Needs BJP': PM Modi Denounces TMC's 'Jungle Raj', Accuses It Of Sheltering Infiltrators
Prime Minister Modi insisted that he wanted to work for the development of West Bengal and appealed to people to give BJP a chance in the upcoming elections.
PM Modis Chopper Turns Back To Kolkata After Fog Prevents Landing In Bengal's Taherpur
PM Modi was set to lay the foundation stone and inaugurate national highway projects at Ranaghat in West Bengal's Nadia district.
PM Modi's Chopper Fails To Land In Bengal Town Due To Fog, Returns To Kolkata
Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to West Bengal's Nadia has been delayed due to dense fog. His helicopter returned to Kolkata airport after failing to land at the Taherpur helipad due to low visibility this afternoon.
Low Visibility Prevents PMs Helicopter From Landing In Taherpur, Modi Returns To Kolkata Airport
KOLKATA, Dec 20: Prime Minister Narendra Modis helicopter failed to land at the Taherpur helipad in West Bengal owing to low visibility on account of dense fog in the area on Saturday, an official said. The PMs chopper made a U-turn after hovering over the helipad ground for a while and returned to the Kolkata airport, he said. Till reports last received, the Prime Minister was waiting at the airport for further updates on the weather situation. It wasnt immediately [] The post Low Visibility Prevents PMs Helicopter From Landing In Taherpur, Modi Returns To Kolkata Airport appeared first on Daily Excelsior .
PM Modi returns to Kolkata airport after low visibility prevents helicopter landing in Taherpur
Prime Minister Narendra Modi's helicopter could not land at Taherpur in West Bengal on Saturday. Dense fog caused low visibility. The helicopter returned to Kolkata airport. The Prime Minister was waiting for weather updates. It is unclear if he will travel by road or attempt an aerial route later. He was scheduled for an administrative program and a BJP rally.
