News Analysis India

Tag: Mamata Banerjee

  • ‘We Are Not Safe…’: Mamata Banerjee Blames BJP For Threatening Her, Nephew Abhishek |

    New Delhi: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has made serious accusations against the BJP, claiming that she and her nephew, TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee, are being targeted and feel threatened. She said, “The BJP is targeting me and Abhishek; we are not safe.”  

    These allegations came a day after a statement by the Leader of Opposition in the assembly, Suvendu Adhikari, who hinted that there would be a “big explosion on Monday that will shake the TMC and its top brass,” reported PTI.  

    “But we are also not afraid of the saffron party’s conspiracy. We urge everyone to be on guard against a conspiracy against TMC leaders and the people of West Bengal,” she said at a rally in support of party candidate and state minister Biplab Mitra for the Balurghat Lok Sabha seat in Kumarganj.  

    In response to Adhikari’s remark, the TMC leader conveyed that there is an individual who has aligned with the BJP purportedly to safeguard his family and acquire assets. She asserted that his suggestion of instigating a “chocolate bomb explosion” was regarded with disdain by her party.  

    She emphasised that the party would expose the irregularities in the PM Care Fund and the unfulfilled promise of depositing Rs 15 lakh into each citizen’s bank account. She accused him of disseminating misinformation.  

    Banerjee further commented on the alteration in the colour scheme of the Doordarshan logo, indicating that all of these were done to suit the party’s agenda during he election. She said, “Why did the DD logo suddenly turn saffron? Why were the official residences of army personnel painted in saffron? Why was the uniform of police in Kashi (Varanasi) changed to saffron?” It represents yet another instance of the BJP’s authoritarian governance. Should they regain power, future elections may cease to exist, she added. 

  • Explosion, Stone-Pelting Mar Ram Navami Procession In Bengal’s Murshidabad; BJP Says ‘Mamata Banerjee’s Provocative…’ |

    An incident of stone-pelting has been reported during the Ram Navami procession in Murshidabad, West Bengal on Wednesday. Specifically, in the Shaktipur area of Rejinagar within Murshidabad district, claims of clashes and violence have emerged on Wednesday evening during the Ram Navami parade, resulting in injuries to some individuals. It is alleged that stone-pelting commenced when the Ram Navami procession was underway, with people seen throwing stones from their rooftops. The situation escalated to the point where the police had to resort to a baton charge. The BJP has accused that Hindu devotees were targeted in Rejinagar.

    According to the news agency PTI, an explosion also occurred during the Ram Navami procession on Wednesday evening in Shaktipur, Murshidabad, injuring a woman. The police reported that the injured woman was taken to the Murshidabad Medical College and Hospital. A police officer stated that the explosion took place on Wednesday evening, injuring a woman. The investigation into the incident is ongoing. However, the officer did not clarify whether the explosion was caused by a bomb or another reason.

    STORY | Blast in Ram Navami rally in Bengal’s Murshidabad; one injured

    READ: https://t.co/MW2KVbAtjZ

    VIDEO: pic.twitter.com/fKQjyqxAng
    — Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) April 18, 2024

    The incident reportedly took place on Wednesday evening in the Shaktipur area when a group was leading the procession on the occasion of Ram Navami. Several videos have gone viral on social media, showing people pelting stones at the procession from their rooftops. The police had to conduct a baton charge and fire tear gas shells to disperse the crowd. The police further stated that the situation has been brought under control, and additional forces have been deployed in the area.

    Meanwhile, BJP leader Amit Malviya tweeted, accusing that Hindu devotees were targeted during the Ram Navami festival in Rejinagar, Murshidabad. Amit Malviya said, “Mamata Banerjee is a blot on West Bengal. She, once again, failed to protect Ramanavami Shobha Yatras. Hindu devotees targeted in Rejinagar, Murshidabad. Hindus are a minority in this area. Just pointing it out, so that she doesn’t blame the Hindus for the attack on themselves…”

    Mamata Banerjee is a blot on West Bengal. She, once again, failed to protect Ramanavami Shobha Yatras. Hindu devotees targeted in Rejinagar, Murshidabad. Hindus are a minority in this area. Just pointing it out, so that she doesn’t blame the Hindus for the attack on themselves… pic.twitter.com/pzvJt0aZ4x
    — Amit Malviya (मोदी का परिवार) (@amitmalviya) April 17, 2024

    In another post, Amit Malviya stated, “Mamata Banerjee’s provocative communal speeches are responsible for the attack on the Ramnavami Shobha Yatra in Rejinagar, Murshidabad. High time election commission took note of Bengal Chief Minister’s irresponsible utterances, which are leading to targeted violence against the Hindus”

    He shared another video saying, “Bengal is falling apart and Mamata Banerjee is responsible for it. Her vituperative and communal speeches are the reason Ram Bhakts have been attacked across Bengal. After widespread rioting in Murshidabad, now devotees of Shri Ram targeted in Egra, Medinipur. BJP Karyakartas will gherao Egra Police station NOW to protest the brutal attack on Ramanavami Shobha Yatra. Bengal CM must be held to account for failing to protect Bengali Hindus.”

     

    Bengal is falling apart and Mamata Banerjee is responsible for it. Her vituperative and communal speeches are the reason Ram Bhakts have been attacked across Bengal. After widespread rioting in Murshidabad, now devotees of Shri Ram targeted in Egra, Medinipur.

    BJP Karyakartas… pic.twitter.com/8dG0pMzMIR
    — Amit Malviya (मोदी का परिवार) (@amitmalviya) April 17, 2024

  • West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee Sustains ‘Major’ Injury, Rushed To Hospital |

    KOLKATA: In an unpleasant development, West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee sustained a ”major” injury, her party said in a post on X. The Trinamool Congress supremo was immediately taken to the state-run SSKM hospital in Kolkata. Her party, TMC, also shared pictures of Mamata Banerjee in which her forehead can be seen bleeding. 

    ”Our chairperson @MamataOfficial sustained a major injury. Please keep her in your prayers,” West Bengal’s ruling party posted on X. 

     

    Our chairperson @MamataOfficial sustained a major injury.
    Please keep her in your prayers pic.twitter.com/gqLqWm1HwE
    — All India Trinamool Congress (@AITCofficial) March 14, 2024

     

    In one of those photos, the Trinamool Congress chief can be seen lying on a hospital bed with a deep cut in the middle of her forehead and blood on her face. The 69-year-old politician slipped and hit her head on a furniture at her Kalighat residence. She suffered major injuries to her forehead after which she was immediately rushed to the state-run SSKM Hospital by her party workers.  

    As the news spread, Delhi Chief Minister and AAP convenor Arvind Kejriwal expressed shock and grief over Mamta Banerjee’s injury and wished her a speedy recovery. 

    ”Shocked to see this. Pray for ur speedy recovery Didi. God bless u,” Kejriwal posted on X.

     

    Shocked to see this. Pray for ur speedy recovery Didi. God bless u https://t.co/Cc9fn1cNMO
    — Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) March 14, 2024

     

    Meanwhile, West Bengal BJP president Sukanta Majumdar also reacted to the news and said, “We wish for the speedy recovery of the West Bengal Chief Minister. We pray to God that she recovers soon and returns to her normal health.” 

     

    #WATCH | Balurghat: West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee sustained ‘a major injury’, State BJP President Sukanta Majumdar says, “We wish for the speedy recovery of the chief minister…” pic.twitter.com/bTKhgt0Mqr
    — ANI (@ANI) March 14, 2024

     

    Mamata Banerjee had shortly returned from an event in South Kolkata’s Ballygunge and was at her home when the incident occurred. 

  • Yusuf Pathan Joins Mamata Banerjee`s TMC; To Contest Lok Sabha Polls From Berhampore

    Yusuf Pathan will also contest the upcoming Lok Sabah polls from the Berhampore (Bahrampur) Lok Sabha seats, announced West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.

  • TMC: Modi hits out at TMC over corruption and dynasty politics

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday upped the ante against the TMC on the issue of corruption and dynasty politics and said the opposition alliance INDIA parties such as the Trinamool Congress and the Congress are bothered only about the development of their families. Giving a clarion call to defeat the Mamata Banerjee-led party in West Bengal, the prime minister while addressing a mega rally in Siliguri said, “The road to oust the corrupt TMC government from West Bengal will open from the Lok Sabha polls.”

    “I have seen mothers of our country struggling for basic amenities. That is why I stress on sanitisation, free electricity, bank accounts and tap water to make the lives of our mothers and sisters easier. But here, first the Left Front and then the TMC government have ignored the basic needs of the people of the state,” he said.

    Modi said the TMC has been looting the people of the state and had indulged in creating fake job cards for looting central funds sent by the Centre under MGNREGA. Hitting out at dynasty politics of opposition parties, Modi said the “TMC is only bothered about its nephew whereas the Congress is bothered only about the royal family,” in an apparent reference to TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee and the Gandhi family in Congress.

  • Mamata Banerjee Govt Refuses To Hand Over Sheikh Shahjahan To CBI Despite HC Order |

    Kolkata: In a dramatic turn of events, the West Bengal government on Tuesday chose defiance over compliance, refusing to surrender custody of Sandeshkhali violence accused Sheikh Shahjahan to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) despite a clear directive from the Calcutta High Court. The former Trinamool heavyweight stands accused of a litany of charges, including extortion, land grabbing, and sexual assault in Bengal’s Sandeshkhali region.

    HC Order Ignored: CBI Left Empty-Handed

    Despite the High Court’s explicit instruction to transfer Shahjahan’s custody to the police’s criminal investigation department (CID), the state government held its ground, citing an appeal to the Supreme Court as justification. Consequently, a CBI team dispatched to claim custody departed from Kolkata’s police headquarters without their intended prize, leaving the legal tug-of-war unresolved.

     

    #WATCH | CBI team left from police headquarters in Kolkata. West Bengal CID did not hand over custody of Sheikh Shahjahan to CBI as the state government went to the Supreme Court regarding this matter. pic.twitter.com/sAJeWoihYK
    — ANI (@ANI) March 5, 2024

     

    Assets Frozen: ED Cracks Down

    Simultaneously, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) made significant strides in its pursuit of justice, provisionally attaching assets totaling Rs 12.78 Crore linked to Shahjahan and his associates. The seizure, which includes a variety of immovable properties and bank accounts under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) of 2002, underscores the gravity of the allegations against the former Trinamool leader.

    High Court’s Scathing Rebuke

    The Calcutta High Court did not mince words in its assessment of the state police’s handling of the case, lambasting their perceived bias and advocating for a thorough investigation by the CBI. Echoing the sentiments of many, the court emphasized the need for impartiality and integrity in resolving the accusations against Shahjahan.

    BJP’s Allegations; Sandeshkhali’s Unrest

    The arrest of Sheikh Shahjahan has not quelled the storm of controversy surrounding his actions. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has accused the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) of sheltering Shahjahan from the scrutiny of federal investigative agencies, suggesting political motivations behind his sudden apprehension.

    Meanwhile, Sandeshkhali continues to reverberate with protests, as women in the community demand justice for the alleged atrocities committed by Shahjahan and his cohorts. Their voices, amplified by widespread discontent, serve as a potent reminder of the stakes involved in this ongoing saga of power, politics, and justice.

  • ‘He Negotiated A Deal With Mamata Police’: Suvendu Adhikari On Shahjahan Sheikh’s Arrest |

    New Delhi: West Bengal Leader of the Opposition, Suvendu Adhikari, on Thursday launched a scathing attack on Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, alleging that Shahjahan Sheikh, a key accused in the Sandeshkhali sexual assault and land grab case, has struck a deal with her and is in the “safe custody of Mamata Police.”
    The LoP, in a post on X, alleged that Shahjahan will be extended five-star facilities while in jail.

    “The Scoundrel of Sandeshkhali, Seikh Shahjahan, is in the safe custody of Mamata Police since 12 am last night. He was taken away from the Bermajurr-II Gram Panchayat area, after he managed to negotiate a deal with the Mamata Police, through influential mediators, that he would be taken care of properly while in police and judicial custody,” Suvendu Adhikari said in his post.

    “He will be extended 5-star facilities during his time behind bars and will have access to a mobile phone, through which he will be able to lead the Tolamool Party virtually,” he added. “Even a bed in the Woodburn Ward will be kept ready and vacant for him if he chooses to spend some time there,” Adhikari said.

    The Scoundrel of Sandeshkhali – Seikh Shahjahan is in the safe custody of Mamata Police since 12 am last night. He was taken away from the Bermajur – II Gram Panchayat area, after he managed to negotiate a deal with the Mamata Police, through influential mediators, that he would…
    — Suvendu Adhikari • (@SuvenduWB) February 28, 2024

    Shahjahan’s arrest comes three days after the Calcutta High Court Chief Justice ordered to add Sheikh Shahjahan to the Sandeshkhali case. On February 26, Calcutta HC Justice asked to issue a notice in the case and said, “There is no reason to not arrest him.”

    He had been evading arrest by both state and central agencies for over a month. Sandeshkhali in West Bengal’s North 24 Parganas district has been witnessing widespread protests against TMC strongman Shahjahan Sheikh this month as a section of women were seeking justice against alleged atrocities committed by the TMC leader.

    A large number of women in Sandeshkhali had accused Shajahan Sheikh and his close aides of “land-grab and sexual assault” under coercion. 

  • Dilip Ghosh slams West Bengal govt, ‘Sandeshkhali just a trailer; TMC saving Shajahan Sheikh’ – The Economic Times Video

    Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Dilip Ghosh has alleged that Trinamool Congress’s (TMC) strong man and a prime accused in Sandeshkhali violence and atrocities against women, Sheikh Shahjahan, brought “votes” and “money” to TMC and that’s why he is not getting arrested. “What is happening in Sandeshkhali is just a trailer, same type of incidents are going to happen in every village of West Bengal. Mamata Banerjee and TMC are saving Shajahan Sheikh. All the teams and delegations are being stopped from going to Sandeshkhali and Mamata Banerjee feels like, this way they can suppress this incident, but this is not possible…”, Dilip Ghosh said.

  • On Sandeshkhali, Assam CM Himanta’s Big Prediction For Mamata Banerjee Government |

    The Bharatiya Janata Party, National Commission for Women and the Calcutta High Court came down heavily on the TMC government over the Sandeshkhali violence issue, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Tuesday expressed grave concern over the situation in West Bengal and asserted that Sandeshkhali would be the “downfall” of Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Trinamool Congress. CM Sarma criticised the treatment of journalists in Bengal, stating that those attempting to disclose the true state of affairs are being arrested.

    Following the BJP’s allegations of sexual violence by Trinamool leaders and multiple accounts of women alleging harassment in Sandeshkhali , Biswa Sarma said, “The condition of Bengal is very bad, the journalists there who are trying to show the reality are also being arrested. The incident that happened in Sandeshkhali, one cannot even imagine about it. He expressed faith in the legal system, asserting that the law would take its course.

    “Such atrocity on women. It was all in the knowledge of the State government. A syndicate was going on there. This has come out before the country. I believe that the law will take its course. Assam CM further warned that a government perpetrating such atrocities would not remain in power for long. “TMC may try all it wants but people won’t remain silent. A government which commits atrocities like this will not last long,” he added.

    Earlier on Monday, West Bengal Police arrested a journalist associated with Republic TV in Sandeshkhali. The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) issued a notice to the West Bengal Director General of Police (DGP) directing him to submit a report within two weeks in a case where a journalist of a vernacular news channel was unlawfully detained by police in Sandeshkhali.

    The complainant, who also happens to be the wife of the journalist concerned, alleged that she has no access to him and is concerned about his well-being, the NHRC said, adding that she further submitted that it was an attempt to throttle the media in West Bengal through ‘coercion and intimidation’.
    Meanwhile, the Editors Guild of India also issued a statement on the arrest of the journalist in West Bengal.

    The Sandeshkhali area has been witnessing unrest for over 10 days as women protestors are seeking justice against alleged atrocities committed by TMC leader Sheikh Shahjahan and his aides. A large number of women in Sandeshkhali had accused Trinamool Congress strongman Shajahan Sheikh and his supporters of “land-grab and sexually assaulting” them under coercion.

    Shajahan has been absconding after a mob, allegedly affiliated with him, attacked Enforcement Directorate officials who had gone to search his premises in connection with a ration scam on January 5. Two TMC leaders, North 24 Parganas Zilla parishad member Shiba Prasad Hazra and local party functionary Uttam Sardar, were arrested by police and have been booked on charges of alleged gangrape and attempt to murder.

  • Sandeshkhali crimes: Sheikh Shahjahan should be given death penalty, says BJP's Locket Chatterjee

    Sandeshkhali crimes: Sheikh Shahjahan should be given death penalty, says BJP's Locket Chatterjee