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Tag: Abhishek Banerjee

  • Abhishek Banerjee: Abhishek Banerjee slams Centre for withholding MGNREGA funds

    Trinamool National General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee on Monday slammed the central government for blockade of MGNREGA funds for the last two years and “From the last two years, BJP blocked Bengal’s funds because they lost Bengal in 2021. When we went to fight for our rights in Delhi, our women MPs were dragged by their hair. The entire country saw these horrific visuals,” Banerjee alleged, speaking at a programme in his Diamond Harbour COnstituency.

    “Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in 2018 that by 2022, everyone will have a pucca house or roof over their head. What happened to it?”

    After six days, Diamond Harbour MP Abhishek Banerjee to hold another administrative programme in Maheshtala.”I give details of expenses incurred regarding the work done by me in the constituency,” Banerjee said while speaking about his accountability to people in his constituency.

    “I challenge Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman- none of them would be able to give accountability to people,” Banerjee said.

    “In next five years, I will show you where West Bengal stands. We will take Bengal to greater heights where New Delhi leaders will come seeking for assistance.

    Speaking on Central Agencies or Commissions coming to West Bengal, “The Centrewho think by sending these agencies or ED raid would corner us – they don’t have any idea about us. We won’t cow down. You will have to release people’s money.”The MGNREGA workers have been deprived of their hard-earned wages for the last 2 years. This is not an amount allocated to a new scheme but the wages of the workers. It is an established law that the Centre is bound to release these funds within 15 days,” Abhsihek Banerjee said. “Just because they have been defeated in Bengal, the funds are being withheld. Mamata Banerjee has said that a Swanirbhar Bangla will be created,” he said.

    ” We are not living at the mercy of anyone and that is why the rightful dues worth Rs 4000 crore of 25 lakh workers will be sent to their bank accounts directly by March 1 as promised by the Mamata Banerjee government,” Banerjee added.

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  • West Bengal teacher recruitment scam: Enforcement Directorate questions Abhishek’s wife

    By Express News Service

    KOLKATA: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) questioned Rujira Narula Banerjee, wife of chief minister Mamata Banerjee’s nephew and TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee, on Wednesday in connection with the alleged irregularities in recruitments in state-aided schools.

    It was the first time that the ED asked Rujira to appear for questioning in the teachers’ recruitment scam case. Earlier, she was interrogated in connection with money laundering related to coal pilferage.

    The ruling party of West Bengal described the central agency’s move as political harassment by the BJP due to vendetta.

    Rujira arrived at the ED’s office at around 10:45 a.m. After a marathon interrogation, she left the investigating agency’s Salt Lake office at around 4.20 p.m.

    The ED is investigating the possible involvement of Leaps and Bounds Private Limited, a company that has Abhishek as its CEO and Rujira as a former director, in the state’s primary school teacher recruitment scam.

    “We asked her to explain in detail about her knowledge about Leaps and Bounds and why she quit as the director of the company,” said an ED officer.

    Abhishek Banerjee, who was questioned by the ED for nearly nine hours in the teacher recruitment scam on September 13, had then claimed that the interrogation was an attempt to prevent him from participating in the opposition INDIA bloc’s meet and was a testament to the pivotal role the Trinamool Congress plays in forging opposition unity.

    The recruitment scam landed former education minister Partha Chatterjee and several TMC functionaries and officials of the state education department behind bars. Both the ED and the CBI are probing into the alleged irregularities following an order passed by the Calcutta High Court.

    In another development on Wednesday, the CBI pleaded to interrogate Chatterjee, who was produced before the court, in the jail saying it came across more evidence. While leaving the court, Chatterjee claimed his innocence in the recruitment scam.

    ALSO READ | ED issues fresh summons to TMC leader Abhishek Banerjee in Bengal school recruitment scam

    TMC minister Shashi Panja lambasted the BJP for using the central agencies politically.

    “Summoning Rujira by the ED is nothing other than political harassment. It is BJP’s political vendetta. The saffron camp failed to combat our party politically through elections and is now using the ED and the CBI to meet its political purpose. The people of Bengal realised it and they will give a befitting reply in the coming elections in Bengal,” she alleged.

    ALSO READ | Will defy ED summons, says Abhishek Banerjee even as HC removes officer in charge of probe into recruitment scam Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp

    KOLKATA: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) questioned Rujira Narula Banerjee, wife of chief minister Mamata Banerjee’s nephew and TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee, on Wednesday in connection with the alleged irregularities in recruitments in state-aided schools.

    It was the first time that the ED asked Rujira to appear for questioning in the teachers’ recruitment scam case. Earlier, she was interrogated in connection with money laundering related to coal pilferage.

    The ruling party of West Bengal described the central agency’s move as political harassment by the BJP due to vendetta.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    Rujira arrived at the ED’s office at around 10:45 a.m. After a marathon interrogation, she left the investigating agency’s Salt Lake office at around 4.20 p.m.

    The ED is investigating the possible involvement of Leaps and Bounds Private Limited, a company that has Abhishek as its CEO and Rujira as a former director, in the state’s primary school teacher recruitment scam.

    “We asked her to explain in detail about her knowledge about Leaps and Bounds and why she quit as the director of the company,” said an ED officer.

    Abhishek Banerjee, who was questioned by the ED for nearly nine hours in the teacher recruitment scam on September 13, had then claimed that the interrogation was an attempt to prevent him from participating in the opposition INDIA bloc’s meet and was a testament to the pivotal role the Trinamool Congress plays in forging opposition unity.

    The recruitment scam landed former education minister Partha Chatterjee and several TMC functionaries and officials of the state education department behind bars. Both the ED and the CBI are probing into the alleged irregularities following an order passed by the Calcutta High Court.

    In another development on Wednesday, the CBI pleaded to interrogate Chatterjee, who was produced before the court, in the jail saying it came across more evidence. While leaving the court, Chatterjee claimed his innocence in the recruitment scam.

    ALSO READ | ED issues fresh summons to TMC leader Abhishek Banerjee in Bengal school recruitment scam

    TMC minister Shashi Panja lambasted the BJP for using the central agencies politically.

    “Summoning Rujira by the ED is nothing other than political harassment. It is BJP’s political vendetta. The saffron camp failed to combat our party politically through elections and is now using the ED and the CBI to meet its political purpose. The people of Bengal realised it and they will give a befitting reply in the coming elections in Bengal,” she alleged.

    ALSO READ | Will defy ED summons, says Abhishek Banerjee even as HC removes officer in charge of probe into recruitment scam Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp

  • BJP resorting to violence post-defeat; its goons seeking legal protection: TMC’s Abhishek 

    Banerjee, the TMC national general secretary, said the BJP, “after losing its support base”, is now resorting to violence and a malicious campaign to divert attention from its failures. KOLKATA: Senior TMC leader Abhishek Banerjee on Friday criticised the BJP for allegedly letting loose a reign of terror after its defeat in the West Bengal panchayat polls and said the goons associated with the saffron camp are “seeking legal protection” from the judiciary preventing the law enforcing agencies from acting against them.

    Banerjee, the TMC national general secretary, said the BJP, “after losing its support base”, is now resorting to violence and a malicious campaign to divert attention from its failures.

    “We are against any form of violence. Since the election results were announced, the BJP has unleashed terror across the state. In Nandigram, where the BJP has won a few seats, the goons of saffron camp have driven TMC activists out of their homes, beaten them up and threatened to rape their woman,” he said.

    Banerjee was talking to reporters outside SSKM hospital, where he had gone to meet the victims.

    Nandigram is the assembly constituency of Suvendu Adhikari, the leader of the opposition.

    The two-time Diamond Harbour MP said he had noted the names of 20 such miscreants, named by the victims, who were behind the attacks on party workers in Nandigram and will submit it to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.

    Banerjee, the de-facto number two in the TMC, wondered how “the goons associated with the BJP can avail legal protection”, thus putting the lives of the common people at stake.

    “The goons associated with the saffron camp are seeking legal protection from the judiciary preventing the law enforcing agencies from acting against them. Unfortunately, these goons are getting legal protection,” he said.

    Accusing the BJP of trying to destroy the Independent judiciary and media — the third and fourth pillars of democracy — ever since they came to power at the Centre in 2014, he wondered why those who must be jailed and put behind bars are getting legal protection.

    “We have full respect for the judiciary. By speaking on it today, I want to bring it to the attention of the honourable judiciary. If the state administration fails to act against the miscreants, the opposition can then blame the administration. The truth is that the opposition and the Centre are not allowing the state government to function freely,” he said.

    Claiming that those who lost lives are mostly associated with the TMC, Banerjee said the BJP and its agencies should investigate who killed them.

    “The polls were conducted in more than 60,000 booths. If incidents were reported in around 60-62 booths, it comes to less than 0. 1 per cent. The deaths were miserable, and we would have been happier if people didn’t lose their lives. But one must take a look at who is suffering the losses. We have lost almost 30 of our workers, which amounts to about 70 per cent of the deceased,” he said.

    West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee claimed that 19 people, mostly from her TMC, died in poll-related violence since the election date was announced on June 8.

    Police sources, however, have put the number of fatalities at 38 but agree that at least 60 per cent of those who lost their lives were affiliated with the TMC.

    Taking a dig at Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s recent remarks about rural polls in Bengal, Banerjee said the slide in BJP’s vote share compared to 2021 shows the party is fast losing ground in the state.

    “If BJP’s vote share goes down from 38% to 22%, does that signal an increase or a decrease? Amit Shah is the Home Minister of the country. If he thinks 22 is more than 38. I think that explains why the country is in this position today,” he said.

    Shah on Friday said even “bloodcurdling violence” could not stop the BJP from putting up a stellar performance in the panchayat elections in West Bengal.

    Reacting to Banerjee’s remark, the BJP dubbed the allegations baseless.

    “The allegations against the BJP are baseless. Is BJP throwing bombs at workers of other opposition parties in the state? The entire country knows the truth, and TMC can no longer hide it,” BJP spokesperson Samik Bhattacharya said.

  • Abhishek Banerjee’s wife Rujira stopped from boarding flight to UAE

    By PTI

    KOLKATA: Rujira Banerjee, wife of senior Trinamool Congress leader Abhishek Banerjee, was allegedly stopped from boarding a UAE-bound flight citing a “lookout” notice by the Enforcement Directorate that asked her to appear before them on June 8, her lawyer said.

    Sources said Rujira reached Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport with her two children around 7 am to board the flight.

    “She was stopped at the immigration, citing a lookout notice issued by the ED in a case. A Supreme Court order says there is no bar on her foreign visits,” one of her lawyers told PTI.

    The lawyer said she had informed the ED on Saturday about her travel plans and gave a copy of her tickets to the agency.

    “Now she has been stopped. She was also handed over a copy of a summons dated June 5 asking her to appear before the ED office in Kolkata on June 8. She has now returned home,” he said.

    Repeated attempts to get a version from the airport and ED authorities elicited no response.

    A press statement issued by her office also claimed there is a Supreme Court order which says there are no foreign travel restrictions on the couple.

    “Rujira Banerjee had visited USA from October 5 to October 18 and there was no objection from the ED then. Rujira had not been stopped from travelling abroad during the ongoing investigation by the ED. She has not been called for interrogation except once in June last year, which she duly complied with,” the statement said.

    Last year, the ED had questioned her in connection with a coal pilferage scam.

    The CBI had also questioned her in 2021 in the same case.

    KOLKATA: Rujira Banerjee, wife of senior Trinamool Congress leader Abhishek Banerjee, was allegedly stopped from boarding a UAE-bound flight citing a “lookout” notice by the Enforcement Directorate that asked her to appear before them on June 8, her lawyer said.

    Sources said Rujira reached Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport with her two children around 7 am to board the flight.

    “She was stopped at the immigration, citing a lookout notice issued by the ED in a case. A Supreme Court order says there is no bar on her foreign visits,” one of her lawyers told PTI.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    The lawyer said she had informed the ED on Saturday about her travel plans and gave a copy of her tickets to the agency.

    “Now she has been stopped. She was also handed over a copy of a summons dated June 5 asking her to appear before the ED office in Kolkata on June 8. She has now returned home,” he said.

    Repeated attempts to get a version from the airport and ED authorities elicited no response.

    A press statement issued by her office also claimed there is a Supreme Court order which says there are no foreign travel restrictions on the couple.

    “Rujira Banerjee had visited USA from October 5 to October 18 and there was no objection from the ED then. Rujira had not been stopped from travelling abroad during the ongoing investigation by the ED. She has not been called for interrogation except once in June last year, which she duly complied with,” the statement said.

    Last year, the ED had questioned her in connection with a coal pilferage scam.

    The CBI had also questioned her in 2021 in the same case.

  • Centre spending crores on new parliament but depriving Bengal of funds: TMC leader

    The TMC national general secretary alleged the Centre, has stopped the funds due to Bengal at the instance of the ruling BJP party. DEBRA: Senior TMC leader Abhishek Banerjee on Monday took a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the inauguration of the new Parliament building and said while crores of rupees are being spent on its construction, the union government has withheld funds under the 100-day rural employment guarantee scheme for Bengal.

    Prime Minister Modi inaugurated the new Parliament building on Sunday even as around 20 opposition parties, including the TMC, boycotted the event, alleging that President Droupadi Murmu has been denied the right to inaugurate the building and called it an insult to India’s first woman president from the tribal community.

    “They have built a new parliament building by spending crores of rupees. The Centre is also spending crores of rupees on the Central Vista project. Whereas they have kept Rs 7,500 crores pending for the 100 days MGNREGA scheme in the State,” Abhishek said.

    The new parliament building was completed in about two-and-a-half years at an estimated cost of nearly Rs 1,200 crore.

    The TMC leader said he never had any issues in sitting in the old parliament.

    “As an MP, I never had any problem sitting in the old parliament building. The parliament is in session for nearly 40 days a year, and around 800 MPs are members of either Lok Sabha or Rajya Sabha. yet they are spending crores of rupees on new buildings,” he said.

    The TMC national general secretary alleged the Centre, has stopped the funds due to Bengal at the instance of the ruling BJP party.

    “They are depriving the poor people of West Bengal by denying MGNREGA funds to Bengal. It (BJP) is trying to punish the State’s people for their defeat in the last assembly poll in 2021,” he said while addressing a rally in the Debra area in Paschim Midnapur district.

    Banerjee was addressing the rally as part of the ‘Trinamool-eh Nabajowar’ (new wave in Trinamool) mass outreach campaign.

    His remark drew sharp reactions from the BJP, which dubbed the allegations baseless.

    “The TMC has a habit of levelling baseless allegations. The funds have been stopped as the state government has not submitted funds utilization certificates,” BJP state president Sukanta Majumdar said.

  • CBI questions TMC leader Abhishek for over nine hours in ‘school jobs scam’ case

    By PTI

    KOLKATA: CBI officers questioned TMC leader Abhishek Banerjee, who appeared before them Saturday as part of the agency’s probe into the school jobs scam, for more than 9 hours before letting the young politician out.

    Banerjee told newspersons keeping vigil outside the Nizam Palace office of the CBI, that the questioning was a waste of time for both him and the CBI officers, but that he “cooperated in all that was asked.”

    “I was questioned for 9 and-a-half hours by CBI. Questioning was a waste of time for them (CBI officers) as well as for me,” said Banerjee after emerging from Nizam Palace.

    He claimed the real reason why he was called in was because, he had refused to be a “pet dog of Delhi’s bosses” and that is why he has been “targeted.”

    He also alleged that while TMC leaders who were unwilling to bend were being harassed, BJP leaders who had been involved in various cases were allowed to go scot-free.

    Banerjee’s name cropped up in a complaint filed by Kuntal Ghosh where he alleged that central investigating agencies were pressuring him to name Abhishek Banerjee in the school scam case.

    KOLKATA: CBI officers questioned TMC leader Abhishek Banerjee, who appeared before them Saturday as part of the agency’s probe into the school jobs scam, for more than 9 hours before letting the young politician out.

    Banerjee told newspersons keeping vigil outside the Nizam Palace office of the CBI, that the questioning was a waste of time for both him and the CBI officers, but that he “cooperated in all that was asked.”

    “I was questioned for 9 and-a-half hours by CBI. Questioning was a waste of time for them (CBI officers) as well as for me,” said Banerjee after emerging from Nizam Palace.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    He claimed the real reason why he was called in was because, he had refused to be a “pet dog of Delhi’s bosses” and that is why he has been “targeted.”

    He also alleged that while TMC leaders who were unwilling to bend were being harassed, BJP leaders who had been involved in various cases were allowed to go scot-free.

    Banerjee’s name cropped up in a complaint filed by Kuntal Ghosh where he alleged that central investigating agencies were pressuring him to name Abhishek Banerjee in the school scam case.

  • School jobs scam: TMC leader Abhishek to appear before CBI, dares agency to arrest him

    By PTI

    KOLKATA: TMC leader Abhishek Banerjee, who has been called by the CBI to appear at its Kolkata office on Saturday as part of its probe into the school jobs scam, dared the central agency to arrest him if it has any proof of corruption or misconduct against him.

    His party chief and aunt, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday also took up the gauntlet on his behalf, claiming the BJP was gunning for her party colleagues and members of her family, using the investigative agencies, and wowed to oust the saffron party from the centre.

    Earlier, CBI officials Friday said Banerjee had been sent a missive asking him to join the probe at its offices at Nizam Palace here.

    “I dare the CBI to arrest me if they have any proof of corruption against me. They have been probing many cases in Bengal for the last several years. They should arrest me if they have any proof against me,” Abhishek said on Friday at a rally in Bankura, adding that he would return to the city this evening.

    On Thursday, Calcutta High Court had dismissed a petition filed by Banerjee seeking recall of a previous order of the court which said that investigative agencies such as CBI and ED could interrogate him in the teacher recruitment scam. CBI sent its letter asking Abhishek Banerjee to appear within 24 hours.

    The TMC leader’s name cropped up in a complaint filed by Kuntal Ghosh, an accused in the scam. Ghosh alleged that he was being pressured by central investigating agencies to name Abhishek Banerjee in the school scam case.

    “You are hereby directed to appear before me on Saturday, at 11 am …” the letter sent by a deputy superintendent of the CBI to Banerjee’s Harish Mukherjee road address said.

    In a tweet, Banerjee said, “unfazed by these events, I shall strive to serve the people…bring it on.”

    Abhishek at his rally soon after the letter was delivered, accused the BJP of “using” the central agency to stop his ongoing mass outreach campaign as the saffron party was “afraid of the public support” for the programme.

    “I will not bow my head before anyone apart from the masses. The BJP is afraid of the public support for the mass outreach campaign. CBI has summoned me, as they (BJP) want this mass outreach campaign to stop,” he said while addressing a roadshow here.

    TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee also lashed out at the right-wing party, stating, “BJP is after everyone in our party and my family, but we are not afraid of them. CBI should have given some time to Abhishek to appear before it as it had known that he has been on the streets since April 25 to lead the mass outreach campaign.”

    “Till BJP is ousted from the Centre, our fight against its tyranny will continue,” Banerjee thundered.

    The fiery leader had to step in at the last moment to address a late evening rally virtually from Kolkata, as Abhishek Banerjee, left for Kolkata to be able to appear before CBI on Saturday morning.

    A division bench of the Calcutta High Court on Friday did not allow an urgent hearing of an appeal by the Trinamool Congress national general secretary challenging the single bench order which said that there was no restraining order on CBI to act upon a notice to him.

    An attempt to get the chief justice to hear it also did not succeed. The matter may now be taken up before a vacation bench of the High Court which will sit from Monday onwards.

    Reacting to the TMC leaders’ remarks, the BJP dubbed the allegations as baseless. “The BJP has nothing to do with the CBI probe. If he has nothing to hide, why is he making such allegations,” BJP state spokesperson Samik Bhattacharya said.

    Standing atop a vehicle, the TMC’s national general secretary thanked people for their “overwhelming love and support” before leaving for Kolkata.

    “I dare the CBI to arrest me if they have any proof of corruption against me. They have been probing many cases in Bengal for the last several years. They should arrest me if they have any proof against me,” he said, adding that he would return to the city this evening.

    Banerjee said he has temporarily suspended his mass outreach campaign – Trinamool Nabojowar (Trinamool New Wave), to join the probe and will resume it again from Bankura on Monday.

    “Despite not being given even a day’s prior notice, I will still abide by it (CBI’s missive asking him to appear) as I have done no wrong,” he said.

    TMC leader criticized the CBI for not summoning BJP leaders accused of corruption.

    “A person was caught on camera taking bribes, but the CBI never summons him as he has joined the BJP. You can loot, take bribes and commit crimes; you won’t be touched once you join the BJP, as it is now a safe haven for thieves,” he said while referring to the Narada scam, which the CBI is also probing.

    KOLKATA: TMC leader Abhishek Banerjee, who has been called by the CBI to appear at its Kolkata office on Saturday as part of its probe into the school jobs scam, dared the central agency to arrest him if it has any proof of corruption or misconduct against him.

    His party chief and aunt, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday also took up the gauntlet on his behalf, claiming the BJP was gunning for her party colleagues and members of her family, using the investigative agencies, and wowed to oust the saffron party from the centre.

    Earlier, CBI officials Friday said Banerjee had been sent a missive asking him to join the probe at its offices at Nizam Palace here.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2′); });

    “I dare the CBI to arrest me if they have any proof of corruption against me. They have been probing many cases in Bengal for the last several years. They should arrest me if they have any proof against me,” Abhishek said on Friday at a rally in Bankura, adding that he would return to the city this evening.

    On Thursday, Calcutta High Court had dismissed a petition filed by Banerjee seeking recall of a previous order of the court which said that investigative agencies such as CBI and ED could interrogate him in the teacher recruitment scam. CBI sent its letter asking Abhishek Banerjee to appear within 24 hours.

    The TMC leader’s name cropped up in a complaint filed by Kuntal Ghosh, an accused in the scam. Ghosh alleged that he was being pressured by central investigating agencies to name Abhishek Banerjee in the school scam case.

    “You are hereby directed to appear before me on Saturday, at 11 am …” the letter sent by a deputy superintendent of the CBI to Banerjee’s Harish Mukherjee road address said.

    In a tweet, Banerjee said, “unfazed by these events, I shall strive to serve the people…bring it on.”

    Abhishek at his rally soon after the letter was delivered, accused the BJP of “using” the central agency to stop his ongoing mass outreach campaign as the saffron party was “afraid of the public support” for the programme.

    “I will not bow my head before anyone apart from the masses. The BJP is afraid of the public support for the mass outreach campaign. CBI has summoned me, as they (BJP) want this mass outreach campaign to stop,” he said while addressing a roadshow here.

    TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee also lashed out at the right-wing party, stating, “BJP is after everyone in our party and my family, but we are not afraid of them. CBI should have given some time to Abhishek to appear before it as it had known that he has been on the streets since April 25 to lead the mass outreach campaign.”

    “Till BJP is ousted from the Centre, our fight against its tyranny will continue,” Banerjee thundered.

    The fiery leader had to step in at the last moment to address a late evening rally virtually from Kolkata, as Abhishek Banerjee, left for Kolkata to be able to appear before CBI on Saturday morning.

    A division bench of the Calcutta High Court on Friday did not allow an urgent hearing of an appeal by the Trinamool Congress national general secretary challenging the single bench order which said that there was no restraining order on CBI to act upon a notice to him.

    An attempt to get the chief justice to hear it also did not succeed. The matter may now be taken up before a vacation bench of the High Court which will sit from Monday onwards.

    Reacting to the TMC leaders’ remarks, the BJP dubbed the allegations as baseless. “The BJP has nothing to do with the CBI probe. If he has nothing to hide, why is he making such allegations,” BJP state spokesperson Samik Bhattacharya said.

    Standing atop a vehicle, the TMC’s national general secretary thanked people for their “overwhelming love and support” before leaving for Kolkata.

    “I dare the CBI to arrest me if they have any proof of corruption against me. They have been probing many cases in Bengal for the last several years. They should arrest me if they have any proof against me,” he said, adding that he would return to the city this evening.

    Banerjee said he has temporarily suspended his mass outreach campaign – Trinamool Nabojowar (Trinamool New Wave), to join the probe and will resume it again from Bankura on Monday.

    “Despite not being given even a day’s prior notice, I will still abide by it (CBI’s missive asking him to appear) as I have done no wrong,” he said.

    TMC leader criticized the CBI for not summoning BJP leaders accused of corruption.

    “A person was caught on camera taking bribes, but the CBI never summons him as he has joined the BJP. You can loot, take bribes and commit crimes; you won’t be touched once you join the BJP, as it is now a safe haven for thieves,” he said while referring to the Narada scam, which the CBI is also probing.

  • ‘PM conducting ‘Mann ki Baat’ 100th episode while depriving Bengal of MGNREGA funds’

    By PTI

    KARANDIGHI: Senior TMC leader Abhishek Banerjee on Monday took a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his ‘Mann ki Baat’ radio broadcast and said while its 100th episode was heralded with great fanfare, the poor masses of Bengal were deprived of Central funds under the 100-day MGNREGA scheme.

    In the 100th episode of ‘Mann ki Baat’, Modi on Sunday said the broadcast filled the “emptiness” he felt after coming to Delhi in 2014 and described it as an expression of the feelings of crores of Indians which has ensured he is never cut-off from people.

    “On the one hand, the prime minister is busy conducting the 100th episode of the Mann ki Baat programme, and the Centre, out of vendetta, has stopped the funds due to Bengal.

    “They are depriving the poor people of West Bengal by denying MGNREGA funds to Bengal. It (BJP) is trying to punish the state’s people for their defeat in the last assembly poll in 2021. It is yet to accept the defeat,” he said while addressing a rally in Uttar Dinajpur district.

    Banerjee, the TMC national general secretary, while addressing a rally as part of the ‘Trinamool-eh Nabajowar’ (new wave in Trinamool) mass outreach campaign, criticised the BJP MPs from West Bengal for being party to the conspiracy in withholding the dues of the state.

    “People are failing to get roti and bhaat (rice) while the PM is conducting the Mann ki Baat programme. West Bengal is the only state where funds have been stopped. Lakhs of poor people across the state are affected due to non-payment of dues by the Centre. The MPs and MLAs of BJP from the state are also part of this conspiracy to withhold funds,” he said.

    Banerjee’s remark drew sharp reactions from the BJP, which dubbed the allegations as baseless.

    “The BJP has no role in stopping funds. The TMC has a habit of levelling baseless allegations. The people of the state disagree with such canards spread by the TMC,” BJP state spokesperson Samik Bhattacharya said.

    KARANDIGHI: Senior TMC leader Abhishek Banerjee on Monday took a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his ‘Mann ki Baat’ radio broadcast and said while its 100th episode was heralded with great fanfare, the poor masses of Bengal were deprived of Central funds under the 100-day MGNREGA scheme.

    In the 100th episode of ‘Mann ki Baat’, Modi on Sunday said the broadcast filled the “emptiness” he felt after coming to Delhi in 2014 and described it as an expression of the feelings of crores of Indians which has ensured he is never cut-off from people.

    “On the one hand, the prime minister is busy conducting the 100th episode of the Mann ki Baat programme, and the Centre, out of vendetta, has stopped the funds due to Bengal.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    “They are depriving the poor people of West Bengal by denying MGNREGA funds to Bengal. It (BJP) is trying to punish the state’s people for their defeat in the last assembly poll in 2021. It is yet to accept the defeat,” he said while addressing a rally in Uttar Dinajpur district.

    Banerjee, the TMC national general secretary, while addressing a rally as part of the ‘Trinamool-eh Nabajowar’ (new wave in Trinamool) mass outreach campaign, criticised the BJP MPs from West Bengal for being party to the conspiracy in withholding the dues of the state.

    “People are failing to get roti and bhaat (rice) while the PM is conducting the Mann ki Baat programme. West Bengal is the only state where funds have been stopped. Lakhs of poor people across the state are affected due to non-payment of dues by the Centre. The MPs and MLAs of BJP from the state are also part of this conspiracy to withhold funds,” he said.

    Banerjee’s remark drew sharp reactions from the BJP, which dubbed the allegations as baseless.

    “The BJP has no role in stopping funds. The TMC has a habit of levelling baseless allegations. The people of the state disagree with such canards spread by the TMC,” BJP state spokesperson Samik Bhattacharya said.

  • Bengal panchayat polls: Abhishek starts TMC’s mass outreach campaign in Cooch Behar

    By PTI

    KOLKATA: Senior TMC leader Abhishek Banerjee on Tuesday started a mass outreach campaign of the ruling party in West Bengal from Cooch Behar district, with an eye on the upcoming rural polls in the state.

    Banerjee, who is TMC’s national general secretary, commenced the campaign, ‘Trinamool ey Nabajowar’ (new wave in Trinamool), by offering puja at Madhaikhal Kali Mandir in the Dinhata assembly constituency.

    He spoke to locals and heard of their grievances.

    “He offered puja at the temple and then met villagers, who spoke about their grievances. He told them that their problems would be resolved soon. Abhishek also assured them that if the Centre doesn’t clear dues under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, the state will build houses for the poor people,” a TMC leader said.

    Abhishek, who is the nephew of TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee and considered the party’s number two leader, will travel around 3,500 km during the two-month outreach campaign and hold more than 250 rallies across the state.

    The TMC MP had earlier said that the outreach campaign aims at reaching out to the people and empowering them to decide on party candidates for the ensuing panchayat polls through secret ballots.

    During the day, he will address three back-to-back rallies in Dinhata, Sitai and Sitalkuchi assembly constituencies.

    Later in the evening, Banerjee will participate in a convention and ‘Gram Banglar Motamot (Opinion of rural Bengal) event, where locals will choose TMC candidates for the rural polls through secret ballots.

    KOLKATA: Senior TMC leader Abhishek Banerjee on Tuesday started a mass outreach campaign of the ruling party in West Bengal from Cooch Behar district, with an eye on the upcoming rural polls in the state.

    Banerjee, who is TMC’s national general secretary, commenced the campaign, ‘Trinamool ey Nabajowar’ (new wave in Trinamool), by offering puja at Madhaikhal Kali Mandir in the Dinhata assembly constituency.

    He spoke to locals and heard of their grievances.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    “He offered puja at the temple and then met villagers, who spoke about their grievances. He told them that their problems would be resolved soon. Abhishek also assured them that if the Centre doesn’t clear dues under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, the state will build houses for the poor people,” a TMC leader said.

    Abhishek, who is the nephew of TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee and considered the party’s number two leader, will travel around 3,500 km during the two-month outreach campaign and hold more than 250 rallies across the state.

    The TMC MP had earlier said that the outreach campaign aims at reaching out to the people and empowering them to decide on party candidates for the ensuing panchayat polls through secret ballots.

    During the day, he will address three back-to-back rallies in Dinhata, Sitai and Sitalkuchi assembly constituencies.

    Later in the evening, Banerjee will participate in a convention and ‘Gram Banglar Motamot (Opinion of rural Bengal) event, where locals will choose TMC candidates for the rural polls through secret ballots.

  • CJI Chandrachud raps HC judge, says he has no business giving media interview on pending case

    Express News Service

    NEW DELHI: Judges have no business giving interviews to the media on pending cases, CJI DY Chandrachud remarked on Monday as he sought clarification from a sitting judge of the Calcutta HC Justice Abhijit Gangopadhyay through the Registrar General over his interview to a news channel about a case being heard by him.

    “Judges have no business granting interviews to news channels on pending matters. If this is true, he cannot hear this case anymore. If he has done so then he cannot participate anymore. We will not touch the investigation but if a judge gives an opinion on the petitioner on a TV debate, then he cannot hear it. The HC chief then has to constitute a new bench,” the CJI said.

    The CJI said that although the court was not going into the merits of the case where the Calcutta HC directed the CBI to probe the role of TMC general secretary Abhishek Banerjee in the alleged recruitment scam as of now, it was imperative to know if the interview was given by the judge or not.

    ALSO READ | ‘Acting like political party:’ HC judge’s comments on Abhishek Banerjee draw TMC flak

    The remarks were made by the CJI while considering a plea filed by TMC general secretary Abhishek Banerjee against the Calcutta HC order directing the CBI and ED to question him over the primary teacher recruitment scam.

    Not only Banerjee but even the West Bengal government approached the Supreme Court against the Calcutta HC’s order directing the CBI to probe into alleged irregularities in recruitment on the ED’s plea. The HC on April 22 after taking note of the ED’s findings during its probe in the scam had directed the CBI to investigate.

    Appearing on behalf of Banerjee, senior lawyer Abhishek Singhvi requested the court to take note of the interview given by Justice Abhijit Gangopadhyay to ABP Ananda wherein the judge allegedly spoke against Banerjee. “This is a little unprecedented. This is with greatest humility and respect and just not done. This was said in presence of our lawyers. The single judge has not clarified or revoked the statement.”

    Last Monday, the SC had stayed the Calcutta HC’s order directing the CBI and ED to question TMC general secretary Abhishek Banerjee over the scam. Singhvi had submitted before the bench that although the writ filed before the HC had nothing to do with Banerjee, the judge had still directed the CBI and EC for questioning him. During the hearing, he had also referred to an interview which was given by Justice Gangopadhyay (the judge who had passed the order) in which some statements were allegedly made by him against Banerjee. He said that this was a ground for apprehension of bias.

    NEW DELHI: Judges have no business giving interviews to the media on pending cases, CJI DY Chandrachud remarked on Monday as he sought clarification from a sitting judge of the Calcutta HC Justice Abhijit Gangopadhyay through the Registrar General over his interview to a news channel about a case being heard by him.

    “Judges have no business granting interviews to news channels on pending matters. If this is true, he cannot hear this case anymore. If he has done so then he cannot participate anymore. We will not touch the investigation but if a judge gives an opinion on the petitioner on a TV debate, then he cannot hear it. The HC chief then has to constitute a new bench,” the CJI said.

    The CJI said that although the court was not going into the merits of the case where the Calcutta HC directed the CBI to probe the role of TMC general secretary Abhishek Banerjee in the alleged recruitment scam as of now, it was imperative to know if the interview was given by the judge or not.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    ALSO READ | ‘Acting like political party:’ HC judge’s comments on Abhishek Banerjee draw TMC flak

    The remarks were made by the CJI while considering a plea filed by TMC general secretary Abhishek Banerjee against the Calcutta HC order directing the CBI and ED to question him over the primary teacher recruitment scam.

    Not only Banerjee but even the West Bengal government approached the Supreme Court against the Calcutta HC’s order directing the CBI to probe into alleged irregularities in recruitment on the ED’s plea. The HC on April 22 after taking note of the ED’s findings during its probe in the scam had directed the CBI to investigate.

    Appearing on behalf of Banerjee, senior lawyer Abhishek Singhvi requested the court to take note of the interview given by Justice Abhijit Gangopadhyay to ABP Ananda wherein the judge allegedly spoke against Banerjee. “This is a little unprecedented. This is with greatest humility and respect and just not done. This was said in presence of our lawyers. The single judge has not clarified or revoked the statement.”

    Last Monday, the SC had stayed the Calcutta HC’s order directing the CBI and ED to question TMC general secretary Abhishek Banerjee over the scam. Singhvi had submitted before the bench that although the writ filed before the HC had nothing to do with Banerjee, the judge had still directed the CBI and EC for questioning him. During the hearing, he had also referred to an interview which was given by Justice Gangopadhyay (the judge who had passed the order) in which some statements were allegedly made by him against Banerjee. He said that this was a ground for apprehension of bias.