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Tag: Suvendu Adhikari

  • ‘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. 

  • “TMC behind Odisha train accident,” alleges Suvendu Adhikari

    By ANI

    KOLKATA: The Leader of the Opposition in West Bengal Suvendu Adhikari on Monday alleged that the Trinamool Congress (TMC) was behind the Odisha train accident in which at least 275 people were killed.

    The triple train accident involved the Bengaluru-Howrah Superfast Express, the Coromandel Express and the goods train on three separate tracks at Bahanaga Bazar station in the Balasore district on June 2.

    “This incident (Odisha train accident) is TMC’s conspiracy. They are behind the incident,” Adhikari alleged.

    “Why have they been panicking so much since yesterday when this incident is of another state? Why are they afraid of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) investigation?” he said.

    The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader referred to a purported audio clip of a conversation between two railway officials which was posted by TMC leader Kunal Ghosh on Twitter on Sunday.

    He further said, “These people with the help of the police tapped the phones of both the railway officials. How did these people know the conversation between two railway officials? How the conversation got leaked. This should come in the CBI investigation. If it doesn’t come, I will go to court.”

    Earlier on Monday, stepping up her attack on the central government, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee slammed the Railway Board’s decision to hand over the inquiry into the Odisha train accident to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) saying that “it is not the time to suppress the truth”.

    “I also gave Gyaneshwari Express case to CBI but no result came. 12 years over but we see no result. CBI handles criminal and accident cases. The Railway Safety Commission is there,” she further remarked.

    At least 275 people were killed, while more than 1,000 were injured in the accident that took place near the Bahanaga Bazar area.

    Mamata Banerjee arrived at the accident site in Balasore on Saturday to take stock of rescue operations and questioned why the Centre’s ‘Kavach’ system was missing from the track of the collision.

    Banerjee who was the Union Railway Minister termed the incident the “biggest railway accident of the 21st century” and said that this would not have happened if Kavach system was present.”Coromandel is one of the best express trains.

    “Coromandel is one of the best express trains. I was the Railway Minister thrice. From what I saw, this is the biggest railway accident of the 21st century. Such cases are handed over to Railway’s safety commission and they investigate and give a report. There was no anti-collision device on the train, as far as I know. Had the device been on the train, this would not have happened. The dead can’t be brought back but now our work is rescue operation and restoration of normalcy,” the West Bengal Chief Minister said on Saturday. said while addressing the reporters in Balasore in the presence of the Union Railway minister.

    READ MORE: Odisha train accident: Anti-collision device would have averted ‘biggest mishap of the century’, says Mamata

    Kavach is an indigenous Train Collision Avoidance System (TCAS) developed by the Ministry of Railways.

    After Mamata Banerjee questioned the Railways over the absence of the ‘Kavach’ system citing it as the reason behind the Balasore triple train tragedy, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Sunday said that the accident has nothing to do with the anti-collision system.

    Vaishnaw while speaking to ANI said that the accident happened due to a change in electronic interlocking.

    “It has nothing to do with Kavach. The reason is not what Mamata Banerjee said yesterday. This incident happened due to a change in electronic interlocking,” the Railway Minister told ANI.”This is an entirely different issue, it involves point machine, electronic interlocking. The change that occurred during electronic interlocking happened due to it. Whoever did it and how it happened will be found out after a proper investigation,” he added.

    KOLKATA: The Leader of the Opposition in West Bengal Suvendu Adhikari on Monday alleged that the Trinamool Congress (TMC) was behind the Odisha train accident in which at least 275 people were killed.

    The triple train accident involved the Bengaluru-Howrah Superfast Express, the Coromandel Express and the goods train on three separate tracks at Bahanaga Bazar station in the Balasore district on June 2.

    “This incident (Odisha train accident) is TMC’s conspiracy. They are behind the incident,” Adhikari alleged.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    “Why have they been panicking so much since yesterday when this incident is of another state? Why are they afraid of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) investigation?” he said.

    The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader referred to a purported audio clip of a conversation between two railway officials which was posted by TMC leader Kunal Ghosh on Twitter on Sunday.

    He further said, “These people with the help of the police tapped the phones of both the railway officials. How did these people know the conversation between two railway officials? How the conversation got leaked. This should come in the CBI investigation. If it doesn’t come, I will go to court.”

    Earlier on Monday, stepping up her attack on the central government, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee slammed the Railway Board’s decision to hand over the inquiry into the Odisha train accident to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) saying that “it is not the time to suppress the truth”.

    “I also gave Gyaneshwari Express case to CBI but no result came. 12 years over but we see no result. CBI handles criminal and accident cases. The Railway Safety Commission is there,” she further remarked.

    At least 275 people were killed, while more than 1,000 were injured in the accident that took place near the Bahanaga Bazar area.

    Mamata Banerjee arrived at the accident site in Balasore on Saturday to take stock of rescue operations and questioned why the Centre’s ‘Kavach’ system was missing from the track of the collision.

    Banerjee who was the Union Railway Minister termed the incident the “biggest railway accident of the 21st century” and said that this would not have happened if Kavach system was present.”Coromandel is one of the best express trains.

    “Coromandel is one of the best express trains. I was the Railway Minister thrice. From what I saw, this is the biggest railway accident of the 21st century. Such cases are handed over to Railway’s safety commission and they investigate and give a report. There was no anti-collision device on the train, as far as I know. Had the device been on the train, this would not have happened. The dead can’t be brought back but now our work is rescue operation and restoration of normalcy,” the West Bengal Chief Minister said on Saturday. said while addressing the reporters in Balasore in the presence of the Union Railway minister.

    READ MORE: Odisha train accident: Anti-collision device would have averted ‘biggest mishap of the century’, says Mamata

    Kavach is an indigenous Train Collision Avoidance System (TCAS) developed by the Ministry of Railways.

    After Mamata Banerjee questioned the Railways over the absence of the ‘Kavach’ system citing it as the reason behind the Balasore triple train tragedy, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Sunday said that the accident has nothing to do with the anti-collision system.

    Vaishnaw while speaking to ANI said that the accident happened due to a change in electronic interlocking.

    “It has nothing to do with Kavach. The reason is not what Mamata Banerjee said yesterday. This incident happened due to a change in electronic interlocking,” the Railway Minister told ANI.”This is an entirely different issue, it involves point machine, electronic interlocking. The change that occurred during electronic interlocking happened due to it. Whoever did it and how it happened will be found out after a proper investigation,” he added.

  • Suvendu writes to PM Modi seeking action against Mamata in Saradha scam

    By Express News Service

    KOLKATA: West Bengal’s Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari on Monday wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking his intervention for action against Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in the Saradha chit fund scam.

    Labelling Mamata as the scam’s “biggest beneficiary”, Suvendu expressed concern over the CBI’s “slow-paced” investigation and questioned the central agency’s “incomprehensible scepticism and hesitation” in getting the TMC supremo convicted.

    Adhikari, in the letter, alleged, “The CBI was handed over the responsibility of the investigation because it was a scam which involved thousands of crores collected from the public allegedly because of the patronage of people occupying high positions in the system.”

    “The CBI was expected to nail the person occupying the highest position in the system,” he wrote.

    Referring to Mamata’s ‘position in the system, he wrote, “Is this why the CBI is hesitant? Or has the height of her chair made them reluctant to act against her? But wasn’t it the primary reason for handing over the investigation to the CBI? So that the position of the high & mighty doesn’t deter them from acting against them and bringing them to justice.”

    Adhikari also alleged that Banerjee’s association with Saradha goes back to the time when she was the railway minister in the UPA-2 government.

    When the ruling Trinamool Congress alleged on several occasions that the CBI and other central agencies are working at the behest of the BJP, Adhikari expressed his unhappiness with the probe’s progress several times in the letter.

    Claiming that Mamata’s link to the scam is “well established,” Adhikari wrote, “Why is CBI going slow regarding Mamata Banerjee and making no progress as such? The lack of action is resulting in the erosion of the faith of the people of West Bengal in the premier investigating agency.”

    Concluding his plea, he wrote, “I hope you (Modi) would consider this plea of the people of West Bengal and see to it that the culprits are punished strictly as per the law of the land.”

    KOLKATA: West Bengal’s Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari on Monday wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking his intervention for action against Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in the Saradha chit fund scam.

    Labelling Mamata as the scam’s “biggest beneficiary”, Suvendu expressed concern over the CBI’s “slow-paced” investigation and questioned the central agency’s “incomprehensible scepticism and hesitation” in getting the TMC supremo convicted.

    Adhikari, in the letter, alleged, “The CBI was handed over the responsibility of the investigation because it was a scam which involved thousands of crores collected from the public allegedly because of the patronage of people occupying high positions in the system.”googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    “The CBI was expected to nail the person occupying the highest position in the system,” he wrote.

    Referring to Mamata’s ‘position in the system, he wrote, “Is this why the CBI is hesitant? Or has the height of her chair made them reluctant to act against her? But wasn’t it the primary reason for handing over the investigation to the CBI? So that the position of the high & mighty doesn’t deter them from acting against them and bringing them to justice.”

    Adhikari also alleged that Banerjee’s association with Saradha goes back to the time when she was the railway minister in the UPA-2 government.

    When the ruling Trinamool Congress alleged on several occasions that the CBI and other central agencies are working at the behest of the BJP, Adhikari expressed his unhappiness with the probe’s progress several times in the letter.

    Claiming that Mamata’s link to the scam is “well established,” Adhikari wrote, “Why is CBI going slow regarding Mamata Banerjee and making no progress as such? The lack of action is resulting in the erosion of the faith of the people of West Bengal in the premier investigating agency.”

    Concluding his plea, he wrote, “I hope you (Modi) would consider this plea of the people of West Bengal and see to it that the culprits are punished strictly as per the law of the land.”

  • No plan to derail TMC, BJP will come to power on its own: Suvendu

    Express News Service

    KOLKATA: Suvendu Adhikari, Leader of Opposition on Wednesday said that BJP has no intention to derail the Trinamool Congress-led Bengal government by poaching MLAs of the ruling party as the saffron camp will come to power in the state through election. 

    Referring to his earlier December deadline announcing three dates hinting that the TMC would not be able to run the government, Adhikari, while addressing a rally at his Kanthi hometown in East Midnapore, said, “I meant about important developments in Bengal politics. I never meant that we will derail the TMC government. Do you want to derail the government by poaching TMC MLAs? The BJP doesn’t want it. The BJP will come to power through elections.’’

    Adhikari also said that after coming to power in Bengal, bulldozer will run in the state like Uttar Pradesh. Opposition parties alleged the use of bulldozers in UP emerged as a new source of hate in saffron camp’s politics. Adhkari’s rally in Kanthi was said to be a counter event of TMC’s national general secretary and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s nephew Abhishek Banerjee’s rally at the same place recently.

    Giving a call to ensure victory in the next year’s panchayat elections, Adhikari said, “We will field candidates in all seat in the panchayat elections and will ensure the victory. I am announcing without any doubt the wining candidates will get houses under PMAY,’’ he said.

    KOLKATA: Suvendu Adhikari, Leader of Opposition on Wednesday said that BJP has no intention to derail the Trinamool Congress-led Bengal government by poaching MLAs of the ruling party as the saffron camp will come to power in the state through election. 

    Referring to his earlier December deadline announcing three dates hinting that the TMC would not be able to run the government, Adhikari, while addressing a rally at his Kanthi hometown in East Midnapore, said, “I meant about important developments in Bengal politics. I never meant that we will derail the TMC government. Do you want to derail the government by poaching TMC MLAs? The BJP doesn’t want it. The BJP will come to power through elections.’’

    Adhikari also said that after coming to power in Bengal, bulldozer will run in the state like Uttar Pradesh. Opposition parties alleged the use of bulldozers in UP emerged as a new source of hate in saffron camp’s politics. Adhkari’s rally in Kanthi was said to be a counter event of TMC’s national general secretary and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s nephew Abhishek Banerjee’s rally at the same place recently.

    Giving a call to ensure victory in the next year’s panchayat elections, Adhikari said, “We will field candidates in all seat in the panchayat elections and will ensure the victory. I am announcing without any doubt the wining candidates will get houses under PMAY,’’ he said.

  • Three dead, several injured in stampede at event attended by Suvendu Adhikari in Bengal

    By Online Desk

    Three persons were reported killed while several others were injured in a stampede in an event attended by Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari on Wednesday evening, reports said.

    State General Secretary and Spokesperson of All India Trinamool Congress, Kunal Ghosh took to Twitter to blame Suvendu Adhikari for the tragedy.

    Who is responsible for three deaths in Shuvendu’s programme?How does he dare to ignore police and hold a programme without permission?Why Shuvendu takes name of Justice Rajashekhar Mantha specifically?Why does he think himself to be beyond law?We must consider all questions. pic.twitter.com/89WdwWI163
    — Kunal Ghosh (@KunalGhoshAgain) December 14, 2022
    The event was held to distribute blankets to people at West Burdwan district.

    The stampede reportedly took place after Suvendu Adhikari addressed the gathering and left the venue.

    The injured have been rushed to Asansol district hospital and are currently undergoing treatment.

    According to initial reports, the BJP has not taken permission for holding the event.

    More details are awaited.

    Three persons were reported killed while several others were injured in a stampede in an event attended by Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari on Wednesday evening, reports said.

    State General Secretary and Spokesperson of All India Trinamool Congress, Kunal Ghosh took to Twitter to blame Suvendu Adhikari for the tragedy.

    Who is responsible for three deaths in Shuvendu’s programme?
    How does he dare to ignore police and hold a programme without permission?
    Why Shuvendu takes name of Justice Rajashekhar Mantha specifically?
    Why does he think himself to be beyond law?
    We must consider all questions. pic.twitter.com/89WdwWI163
    — Kunal Ghosh (@KunalGhoshAgain) December 14, 2022
    The event was held to distribute blankets to people at West Burdwan district.

    The stampede reportedly took place after Suvendu Adhikari addressed the gathering and left the venue.

    The injured have been rushed to Asansol district hospital and are currently undergoing treatment.

    According to initial reports, the BJP has not taken permission for holding the event.

    More details are awaited.

  • West Bengal: TMC supporters ‘block, attack BJP karyakartas’ heading to attend Suvendu Adhikari’s rally

    Express News Service

    KOLKATA: BJP ‘karyakartas’ on their way to the venue –Diamond Harbour, South 24 Parganas district– of a rally to be addressed by Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari were stopped by Trinamool Congress (TMC) supporters at different places. Several BJP leaders were allegedly beaten up by TMC men, going by the videos tweeted by BJP leaders.

    Your Administration didn’t allow the Rally at 1st, Hon’ble Court granted permission. You blocked roads, obstructed supporters from reaching the venue, disrupted arrangements & placed hurdles at each step.Your onslaughts couldn’t dent the determination of @BJP4Bengal Karyakartas: pic.twitter.com/n5CI7ySUVT
    — Suvendu Adhikari • শুভেন্দু অধিকারী (@SuvenduWB) December 3, 2022
    TMC supporters allegedly pelted stones at a bus carrying BJP men at Kulpi shattering the windscreens. In turn, BJP men blocked the road in protest against the attack.

    Following this, a large contingent of police force was deployed at the spot. The police dispersed the BJP men who were blocking the road.

    Adhikari alleged at least 200 buses were not allowed to reach the venue and they were waylaid midway by TMC supporters in connivance with the police.

    ‘’Your administration didn’t allow the Rally at 1st, Hon’ble Court granted permission. You blocked roads, obstructed supporters from reaching the venue, disrupted arrangements & placed hurdles at each step. Your onslaught couldn’t dent the determination of @BJP4Bengal Karyakartas,’’ Adhikari tweeted.  

    BJP MLA and party’s general secretary Agnimitra Paul also faced resistance at Hatuganj when she was on her way to the venue of the rally.

    ‘’Tyres were set on fire and thrown on the road to stop me from heading to the venue. The police stood as a mute spectator,’’ alleged Agnimitra.

    Bjp karyakartas were beaten mercilessly today..Their fault..they were on their way to participate LOPs sabha at Diamond HarbourThe wheel of ADHARMA, ANAITIKATA, ASATYA can’t move for longYour days are numbered mam @MamataOfficial pic.twitter.com/SUatdx4uuc
    — Agnimitra Paul BJP (@paulagnimitra1) December 3, 2022
    She said the TMC supporters started spreading terror from Friday night at villages from where the BJP expected an impressive turnout of party supporters. ‘’They visited door-to-door and threatened with dire consequences. Villagers were not allowed to leave their villages,’’ the MLA alleged.

    TMC, however, rubbished the allegation. Kunal Ghosh, spokesperson of the ruling party said, ‘’Suvendu’s rally was a flop show. BJP faced resistance by the rival faction within the party.’’

    The Calcutta High Court granted conditional permission to Trinamool Congress MP and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s nephew, Abishek Banerjee to hold a political rally in Bengal’s Kanthi at the scheduled venue, less than 200 metres from the residence of the Leader of the Opposition, Suvendu Adhikari.

    ALSO READ | Bengal: Onset of winter sees political temperature soaring between TMC, BJP

    The TMC-BJP faceoff has grown fierce ahead of panchayat elections scheduled to be held next year.

    KOLKATA: BJP ‘karyakartas’ on their way to the venue –Diamond Harbour, South 24 Parganas district– of a rally to be addressed by Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari were stopped by Trinamool Congress (TMC) supporters at different places. Several BJP leaders were allegedly beaten up by TMC men, going by the videos tweeted by BJP leaders.

    Your Administration didn’t allow the Rally at 1st, Hon’ble Court granted permission. You blocked roads, obstructed supporters from reaching the venue, disrupted arrangements & placed hurdles at each step.
    Your onslaughts couldn’t dent the determination of @BJP4Bengal Karyakartas: pic.twitter.com/n5CI7ySUVT
    — Suvendu Adhikari • শুভেন্দু অধিকারী (@SuvenduWB) December 3, 2022
    TMC supporters allegedly pelted stones at a bus carrying BJP men at Kulpi shattering the windscreens. In turn, BJP men blocked the road in protest against the attack.

    Following this, a large contingent of police force was deployed at the spot. The police dispersed the BJP men who were blocking the road.

    Adhikari alleged at least 200 buses were not allowed to reach the venue and they were waylaid midway by TMC supporters in connivance with the police.

    ‘’Your administration didn’t allow the Rally at 1st, Hon’ble Court granted permission. You blocked roads, obstructed supporters from reaching the venue, disrupted arrangements & placed hurdles at each step. Your onslaught couldn’t dent the determination of @BJP4Bengal Karyakartas,’’ Adhikari tweeted.  

    BJP MLA and party’s general secretary Agnimitra Paul also faced resistance at Hatuganj when she was on her way to the venue of the rally.

    ‘’Tyres were set on fire and thrown on the road to stop me from heading to the venue. The police stood as a mute spectator,’’ alleged Agnimitra.

    Bjp karyakartas were beaten mercilessly today..
    Their fault..they were on their way to participate LOPs sabha at Diamond Harbour
    The wheel of ADHARMA, ANAITIKATA, ASATYA can’t move for long
    Your days are numbered mam @MamataOfficial pic.twitter.com/SUatdx4uuc
    — Agnimitra Paul BJP (@paulagnimitra1) December 3, 2022
    She said the TMC supporters started spreading terror from Friday night at villages from where the BJP expected an impressive turnout of party supporters. ‘’They visited door-to-door and threatened with dire consequences. Villagers were not allowed to leave their villages,’’ the MLA alleged.

    TMC, however, rubbished the allegation. Kunal Ghosh, spokesperson of the ruling party said, ‘’Suvendu’s rally was a flop show. BJP faced resistance by the rival faction within the party.’’

    The Calcutta High Court granted conditional permission to Trinamool Congress MP and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s nephew, Abishek Banerjee to hold a political rally in Bengal’s Kanthi at the scheduled venue, less than 200 metres from the residence of the Leader of the Opposition, Suvendu Adhikari.

    ALSO READ | Bengal: Onset of winter sees political temperature soaring between TMC, BJP

    The TMC-BJP faceoff has grown fierce ahead of panchayat elections scheduled to be held next year.

  • Bengal: Mamata meets Suvendu over tea at her Assembly chamber

    By PTI

    KOLKATA: In a first since last year’s state elections, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday held a “courtesy meeting” with Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari at her chamber in the state Assembly, raising eyebrows in political circles.

    Later, during a discussion on ‘Constitution Day’ in the House, the CM said that she had adored him like a brother at one point.

    Adhikari and Banerjee had been at loggerheads since the end of 2020 when he switched over to the BJP from the TMC and defeated the TMC supremo in Nandigram in the Assembly polls.

    The meeting came close on the heels of Adhikari complaining that his name was not included in the invitation letter for the ‘Constitution Day’ programme in the Assembly.

    The BJP leader had also said that he would “boycott” the programme.

    The Nandigram MLA was seen entering Banerjee’s chamber accompanied by BJP leaders Manoj Tigga and Agnimitra Paul, shortly after the assembly session broke for recess in the afternoon.

    “I called Suvendu for tea,” Banerjee said after the meeting. Adhikari, talking to reporters, said, “It was just a courtesy call. Nothing else should be read into it. I did not have tea.”

    Reacting to the “courtesy meet”, Congress leader Kamurzzan Chowdhury claimed that the process of “Didi-Modi patch-up” is underway, with an eye on the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.”

    “The Centre released funds for Pradhan Mantri Gram Awas Yojana yesterday, and Mamata is scheduled to meet PM Modi on December 5. Today, the CM met Suvendu. All these point to the fact that the process for ‘Didi-Modi patch-up’ is underway,” he said.

    Echoing similar sentiments, CPI(M) leader Sujan Chakraborty told PTI that “it became clear from today’s meeting that there is an understanding between the TMC and the BJP.”

    KOLKATA: In a first since last year’s state elections, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday held a “courtesy meeting” with Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari at her chamber in the state Assembly, raising eyebrows in political circles.

    Later, during a discussion on ‘Constitution Day’ in the House, the CM said that she had adored him like a brother at one point.

    Adhikari and Banerjee had been at loggerheads since the end of 2020 when he switched over to the BJP from the TMC and defeated the TMC supremo in Nandigram in the Assembly polls.

    The meeting came close on the heels of Adhikari complaining that his name was not included in the invitation letter for the ‘Constitution Day’ programme in the Assembly.

    The BJP leader had also said that he would “boycott” the programme.

    The Nandigram MLA was seen entering Banerjee’s chamber accompanied by BJP leaders Manoj Tigga and Agnimitra Paul, shortly after the assembly session broke for recess in the afternoon.

    “I called Suvendu for tea,” Banerjee said after the meeting. Adhikari, talking to reporters, said, “It was just a courtesy call. Nothing else should be read into it. I did not have tea.”

    Reacting to the “courtesy meet”, Congress leader Kamurzzan Chowdhury claimed that the process of “Didi-Modi patch-up” is underway, with an eye on the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.”

    “The Centre released funds for Pradhan Mantri Gram Awas Yojana yesterday, and Mamata is scheduled to meet PM Modi on December 5. Today, the CM met Suvendu. All these point to the fact that the process for ‘Didi-Modi patch-up’ is underway,” he said.

    Echoing similar sentiments, CPI(M) leader Sujan Chakraborty told PTI that “it became clear from today’s meeting that there is an understanding between the TMC and the BJP.”

  • ‘Uncultured conduct: Suvendu Adhikari skips Bengal guv’s swearing-in ceremony over seat allocation

    By Express News Service

    KOLKATA: Mercury in Bengal politics soared up on the day of newly appointed governor C. V. Ananda Bose’s swearing-in ceremony on Wednesday as Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari skipped the event over the issue of his seating arrangement.

    Adhikari alleged he was given a seat beside two MLAs who were elected on BJP’s ticket in the 2021 Assembly elections but defected to the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) which was designed with a political motive.

    “The sitting arrangement made by the Information and Cultural Affairs department of the state government was a reflection of the ruling party’s political revenge game. Two MLAs, Krishna Kalyani and Biswajit Das, was elected as BJP candidate and shifted their police allegiance to the TMC. I skipped the swearing-in ceremony protesting against my sitting arrangement,’’ said Adhikari.

    Describing the sitting arrangement as “uncultured conduct’’, Adhikari tweeted, ‘’The Information & Cultural Affairs Dept; WB Govt had made the arrangements of the oath-taking ceremony. Sitting arrangements as per the Minister in Charge @MamataOfficial’s whim.’’

    Adhikari also alleged that the BJP MP Sukanta Majumdar, who is the state president of the saffron camp, was given a seat behind the TMC MPs.

    Hitting out at Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Adhikari said, ‘’She cannot forget her defeat in Nandigram by me. She had to get elected from a seat in Kolkata to continue as the Chief Minister.’’

    Heartiest Congratulations to Dr CV Ananda Bose as he takes oath as the Governor of West Bengal.The Information & Cultural Affairs Dept; WB Govt has made the arrangements for the oath taking ceremony.Seating arrangements as per the Minister in Charge @MamataOfficial’s whim: pic.twitter.com/ovbTMqGsif
    — Suvendu Adhikari • শুভেন্দু অধিকারী (@SuvenduWB) November 23, 2022
    TMC spokesperson Kunal Ghosh described Adhikari’s decision to skip the swearing-in event as an example of uncultured political conduct.  

    Shortly after assuming office, Bose received the first letter of complaint from state Congress president Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury accusing the ruling TMC of misusing administrative power.  

    Referring to Congress’s victory in defeating the TMC in Jhalda municipality in Purulia in a vote of confidence on Monday, Chowdhury alleged the councillors of his party are under torture and threat by the TMC and he sought the governor’s intervention.

    The appointment of Bose, a former IAS officer, as the governor is said to be politically significant as the BJP’s Bengal chapter expressed its unhappiness over the role of La Ganesan, the constitutional head of Manipur who was in charge of Bengal, as he preferred to maintain silence on the issue of a TMC minister’s remark on the President appearance.

    Bengal witnessed a slew of face-offs between the state government and former governor Jagdeep Dhankhar on several issues ranging from poor governance to the state’s law and order situation.

    The TMC accused Dhankhar on several occasions of working at the behest of the BJP and alleged that the Raj Bhavan had turned into an extension of the saffron camp’s party office.

    KOLKATA: Mercury in Bengal politics soared up on the day of newly appointed governor C. V. Ananda Bose’s swearing-in ceremony on Wednesday as Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari skipped the event over the issue of his seating arrangement.

    Adhikari alleged he was given a seat beside two MLAs who were elected on BJP’s ticket in the 2021 Assembly elections but defected to the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) which was designed with a political motive.

    “The sitting arrangement made by the Information and Cultural Affairs department of the state government was a reflection of the ruling party’s political revenge game. Two MLAs, Krishna Kalyani and Biswajit Das, was elected as BJP candidate and shifted their police allegiance to the TMC. I skipped the swearing-in ceremony protesting against my sitting arrangement,’’ said Adhikari.

    Describing the sitting arrangement as “uncultured conduct’’, Adhikari tweeted, ‘’The Information & Cultural Affairs Dept; WB Govt had made the arrangements of the oath-taking ceremony. Sitting arrangements as per the Minister in Charge @MamataOfficial’s whim.’’

    Adhikari also alleged that the BJP MP Sukanta Majumdar, who is the state president of the saffron camp, was given a seat behind the TMC MPs.

    Hitting out at Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Adhikari said, ‘’She cannot forget her defeat in Nandigram by me. She had to get elected from a seat in Kolkata to continue as the Chief Minister.’’

    Heartiest Congratulations to Dr CV Ananda Bose as he takes oath as the Governor of West Bengal.
    The Information & Cultural Affairs Dept; WB Govt has made the arrangements for the oath taking ceremony.
    Seating arrangements as per the Minister in Charge @MamataOfficial’s whim: pic.twitter.com/ovbTMqGsif
    — Suvendu Adhikari • শুভেন্দু অধিকারী (@SuvenduWB) November 23, 2022
    TMC spokesperson Kunal Ghosh described Adhikari’s decision to skip the swearing-in event as an example of uncultured political conduct.  

    Shortly after assuming office, Bose received the first letter of complaint from state Congress president Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury accusing the ruling TMC of misusing administrative power.  

    Referring to Congress’s victory in defeating the TMC in Jhalda municipality in Purulia in a vote of confidence on Monday, Chowdhury alleged the councillors of his party are under torture and threat by the TMC and he sought the governor’s intervention.

    The appointment of Bose, a former IAS officer, as the governor is said to be politically significant as the BJP’s Bengal chapter expressed its unhappiness over the role of La Ganesan, the constitutional head of Manipur who was in charge of Bengal, as he preferred to maintain silence on the issue of a TMC minister’s remark on the President appearance.

    Bengal witnessed a slew of face-offs between the state government and former governor Jagdeep Dhankhar on several issues ranging from poor governance to the state’s law and order situation.

    The TMC accused Dhankhar on several occasions of working at the behest of the BJP and alleged that the Raj Bhavan had turned into an extension of the saffron camp’s party office.

  • BJP’s Suvendu Adhikari urges Centre to check ‘illegal diversion’ of funds by WB govt

    By PTI

    KOLKATA: Accusing the West Bengal government of “illegally diverting” Central funds, Leader of Opposition in the state Assembly, Suvendu Adhikari, urged Union Finance minister to take appropriate steps so that the “malpractices” come to an end.

    He made the accusation in a series of tweets and also wrote a letter to the Union Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman in this regard.

    The BJP leader in a tweet alleged that the state government had “tactfully” opened the State Nodal Account of Public Finance Management System in a private bank where the State Emergency Relief Fund Account was in operation so that Central funds could be “easily diverted”.

    “It is a can of worms waiting to be opened,” he wrote on the micro-blogging site on Thursday.

    The MLA from Nandigram requested the Union minister to “keep a tab” on the transactions of the state government and attached a copy of the letter, dated September 29, with his tweet.

    Adhikari later tweeted, “one tweet of mine and West Bengal government is out of line. A scared WB government, wary of covering their tracks, is desperate to destroy evidence.”

    Quoting a state finance department circular that the e-office server will be down for six days, he said it is nothing but an “excuse to wipe off evidence”.

    “In the guise of this downtime, West Bengal Finance Department officers would try to delete all sensitive files and notings. GOI must depute a senior level officer to keep an eye on their illegal activities, so that this corrupt WB government is caught red-handed,” he said.

    Reacting to Adhikari’s tweets, TMC spokesperson and senior Rajya Sabha MP Sukhendu Sekhar Roy said “Suvendu Adhikari is peddling lies and falsehood for narrow political gains.

    His allegations are concocted and meant to malign the state in every possible way.

    “The state is not diverting central funds for other purposes. Instead, West Bengal is yet to get thousands of crores of its dues from the Centre and is facing great difficulty to implement some projects.”

    KOLKATA: Accusing the West Bengal government of “illegally diverting” Central funds, Leader of Opposition in the state Assembly, Suvendu Adhikari, urged Union Finance minister to take appropriate steps so that the “malpractices” come to an end.

    He made the accusation in a series of tweets and also wrote a letter to the Union Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman in this regard.

    The BJP leader in a tweet alleged that the state government had “tactfully” opened the State Nodal Account of Public Finance Management System in a private bank where the State Emergency Relief Fund Account was in operation so that Central funds could be “easily diverted”.

    “It is a can of worms waiting to be opened,” he wrote on the micro-blogging site on Thursday.

    The MLA from Nandigram requested the Union minister to “keep a tab” on the transactions of the state government and attached a copy of the letter, dated September 29, with his tweet.

    Adhikari later tweeted, “one tweet of mine and West Bengal government is out of line. A scared WB government, wary of covering their tracks, is desperate to destroy evidence.”

    Quoting a state finance department circular that the e-office server will be down for six days, he said it is nothing but an “excuse to wipe off evidence”.

    “In the guise of this downtime, West Bengal Finance Department officers would try to delete all sensitive files and notings. GOI must depute a senior level officer to keep an eye on their illegal activities, so that this corrupt WB government is caught red-handed,” he said.

    Reacting to Adhikari’s tweets, TMC spokesperson and senior Rajya Sabha MP Sukhendu Sekhar Roy said “Suvendu Adhikari is peddling lies and falsehood for narrow political gains.

    His allegations are concocted and meant to malign the state in every possible way.

    “The state is not diverting central funds for other purposes. Instead, West Bengal is yet to get thousands of crores of its dues from the Centre and is facing great difficulty to implement some projects.”

  • CAA will be implemented after Covid-19 vaccine drive is over, says Amit Shah

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: BJP leader from West Bengal Suvendu Adhikari Tuesday urged Union Home Minister Amit Shah to implement the citizenship law CAA at the earliest, with the latter assuring him that rules regarding it will be framed after the Covid precaution dose vaccination exercise is over.

    The framing of rules for the Citizenship (Amendment) Act will pave the way for its implementation.

    Passed by Parliament in December 2019, the Act is yet to be rolled out due to the absence of rules.

    The government has cited the outbreak of pandemic for not framing them so far.

    Adhikari, the leader of the opposition in the state assembly, told reporters after meeting Shah that he also handed him a list of nearly 100 Trinamool Congress leaders allegedly involved in the recruitment scam in which former West Bengal minister Partha Chatterjee has been arrested.

    Seeking a wider probe to expose everyone involved in the scandal, Adhikari gave the home minister even letterheads of some TMC leaders, including MLAs, that were purportedly used for recommending certain names for jobs by allegedly taking bribes.

    He tweeted after meeting Shah, “It’s an honour for me to meet Union Home Minister Amit Shah for 45 minutes at his office in Parliament. I briefed him how WB Govt is completely mired in corrupt activities such as the teachers recruitment scam. Also requested him to implement CAA at the earliest.”

    Adhikari told reporters that the issue of CAA, slammed by critics for its alleged anti-Muslim bias, implementation is very critical for West Bengal where a large number of people who can benefit from its provisions.

    The CAA was passed by Parliament on December 11, 2019, and the Act was notified within 24 hours on December 12.

    In May, while addressing a rally in Bengal, Shah had said that the law would be implemented once the Covid pandemic ends.

    There is a view that the government is treading cautiously on the matter after the Act drew saw protests in different parts of the country.

    It seeks to grant citizenship to persecuted minorities of neighbouring countries, Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan, who had come to India by December 31, 2014.

    Speaking to reporters, West Bengal BJP president Sukanta Majumder also hit out at TMC leader and state Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, alleging that without indications from her the recruitment scam could not have happened.

    “It is an organised crime. There was a ‘cut money food chain’ and some people would be based in every district to pick money and channel it through the party (TMC) organisation,” he alleged.

    Adhikari said careers of around 80-90 lakh teacher job aspirants were ruined by the scam. They have remained unemployed due to this, he said.

    NEW DELHI: BJP leader from West Bengal Suvendu Adhikari Tuesday urged Union Home Minister Amit Shah to implement the citizenship law CAA at the earliest, with the latter assuring him that rules regarding it will be framed after the Covid precaution dose vaccination exercise is over.

    The framing of rules for the Citizenship (Amendment) Act will pave the way for its implementation.

    Passed by Parliament in December 2019, the Act is yet to be rolled out due to the absence of rules.

    The government has cited the outbreak of pandemic for not framing them so far.

    Adhikari, the leader of the opposition in the state assembly, told reporters after meeting Shah that he also handed him a list of nearly 100 Trinamool Congress leaders allegedly involved in the recruitment scam in which former West Bengal minister Partha Chatterjee has been arrested.

    Seeking a wider probe to expose everyone involved in the scandal, Adhikari gave the home minister even letterheads of some TMC leaders, including MLAs, that were purportedly used for recommending certain names for jobs by allegedly taking bribes.

    He tweeted after meeting Shah, “It’s an honour for me to meet Union Home Minister Amit Shah for 45 minutes at his office in Parliament. I briefed him how WB Govt is completely mired in corrupt activities such as the teachers recruitment scam. Also requested him to implement CAA at the earliest.”

    Adhikari told reporters that the issue of CAA, slammed by critics for its alleged anti-Muslim bias, implementation is very critical for West Bengal where a large number of people who can benefit from its provisions.

    The CAA was passed by Parliament on December 11, 2019, and the Act was notified within 24 hours on December 12.

    In May, while addressing a rally in Bengal, Shah had said that the law would be implemented once the Covid pandemic ends.

    There is a view that the government is treading cautiously on the matter after the Act drew saw protests in different parts of the country.

    It seeks to grant citizenship to persecuted minorities of neighbouring countries, Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan, who had come to India by December 31, 2014.

    Speaking to reporters, West Bengal BJP president Sukanta Majumder also hit out at TMC leader and state Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, alleging that without indications from her the recruitment scam could not have happened.

    “It is an organised crime. There was a ‘cut money food chain’ and some people would be based in every district to pick money and channel it through the party (TMC) organisation,” he alleged.

    Adhikari said careers of around 80-90 lakh teacher job aspirants were ruined by the scam. They have remained unemployed due to this, he said.