News Analysis India

Tag: Suvendu Adhikari

  • SSC scam: Why is arrested minister being retained in Mamata Cabinet, asks BJP’s Suvendu

    By PTI

    KOLKATA: Leader of Opposition in West Bengal Assembly Suvendu Adhikari on Wednesday questioned why Partha Chatterjee is being retained as a minister by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee despite his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate in connection with an alleged school jobs scam.

    Adhikari met Governor La Ganesan at the Raj Bhavan here, seeking that Chatterjee, who holds the industry, commerce and parliamentary affairs portfolios, be removed as minister.

    “She (the chief minister) has not taken any step against him despite so much information and proof,” Adhikari told reporters after the meeting.

    Adhikari, a former minister in the Mamata Banerjee government before joining the BJP in 2020, alleged that it is “her strategy to show that she is good and others are not”.

    The chief minister had said during a programme on Monday that anyone found guilty in court would face action from the party.

    Chatterjee and his alleged close associate Arpita Mukherjee were arrested on July 23 by the ED, which is probing the money trail involved in the alleged teacher recruitment irregularities at government-sponsored and-aided schools.

    Crores of rupees in cash along with other valuable items were allegedly recovered from the residence of Mukherjee.

    PTI could not independently verify the information.

    Chatterjee was the education minister when the school jobs scam occurred.

    Both have been remanded to the custody of the central agency by a special ED court till August 3.

    KOLKATA: Leader of Opposition in West Bengal Assembly Suvendu Adhikari on Wednesday questioned why Partha Chatterjee is being retained as a minister by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee despite his arrest by the Enforcement Directorate in connection with an alleged school jobs scam.

    Adhikari met Governor La Ganesan at the Raj Bhavan here, seeking that Chatterjee, who holds the industry, commerce and parliamentary affairs portfolios, be removed as minister.

    “She (the chief minister) has not taken any step against him despite so much information and proof,” Adhikari told reporters after the meeting.

    Adhikari, a former minister in the Mamata Banerjee government before joining the BJP in 2020, alleged that it is “her strategy to show that she is good and others are not”.

    The chief minister had said during a programme on Monday that anyone found guilty in court would face action from the party.

    Chatterjee and his alleged close associate Arpita Mukherjee were arrested on July 23 by the ED, which is probing the money trail involved in the alleged teacher recruitment irregularities at government-sponsored and-aided schools.

    Crores of rupees in cash along with other valuable items were allegedly recovered from the residence of Mukherjee.

    PTI could not independently verify the information.

    Chatterjee was the education minister when the school jobs scam occurred.

    Both have been remanded to the custody of the central agency by a special ED court till August 3.

  • BJP takes out rally in Mahua Moitra’s constituency, seeks her arrest for remarks on Goddess Kali

    By PTI

    KRISHNA NAGAR: Leader of Opposition in Bengal and BJP MLA Suvendu Adhikari on Monday took out a rally in TMC MP Mahua Moitra’s Krishnanagar constituency to protest against her recent remarks on Goddess Kali.

    Adhikari and several BJP leaders, during the rally, raised slogans against Moitra and sought her arrest for “hurting sentiments” of Hindu devotees.

    Addressing the rally, he said, “Despite several complaints, the police and the state administration have been mute spectators. The people of this country and the Hindu devotees won’t tolerate the insult of Goddess Kali.”

    “The TMC government and the state police have been very active in seeking action against Nupur Sharma. But they have not taken any step against Moitra. There can’t be a different set of rules for BJP and TMC leaders. We will wait for a few days and then move the court,” the saffron camp MLA said.

    The parliamentarian triggered a controversy last week as she said that she had every right as an individual to imagine Goddess Kali as a meat-eating and alcohol-accepting goddess, and that each person had his or unique way of offering prayers.

    The TMC had condemned the remark and said that it did not endorse the TMC MP’s views in any way.

    Moitra is a first-time MP from the Krishnanagar Lok Sabha seat.

    Taking to Twitter later in the day, Adhikari said, “We reverentially worship Goddess Kaali as Shakti, primordial, nurturing, destructive (towards evil forces) also loving & benevolent. @AITCofficial MP Mohua Moitra’s abhorrent comments & her obnoxious portrayal & characterization of Maa Kaali has offended all Hindus devotees.”

    He claimed that the police inaction against Moitra went on to show Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and her party’s “disregard for Hindu Bengali sentiments”.

    “@WBPolice’s inaction against her proves @MamataOfficial’s acquiescence & brazen disregard for Hindu Bengali sentiments. To protest against disrespect to Maa Kaali & shielding Ms Moitra, led a procession & addressed a rally today at Krishnanagar; Nadia, her Electoral Constituency.” Adhikari wrote.

    Responding to the allegations, senior TMC leader Kunal Ghosh said the saffron camp was trying to politicise the issue.

    “The party has condemned Moitra’s remark and has stated that it doesn’t support it. The BJP is still trying to politicise the issue by mixing religion with politics,” he added.

    On Sunday, too, BJP’s IT cell chief and the party’s Bengal unit co-incharge Amit Malviya accused the CM of defending Moitra’s “obnoxious portrayal” of the deity.

    The Krishnanagar MP, without taking any name, had hit back saying that she “would advise BJP Troll-In-Charge for Bengal to tell his masters to stop commenting on things they have no clue about”.

    on Monday urged BJP to stop politicising the issue and refrain from mixing religion with politics.

    The BJP then wondered why no disciplinary action was taken against Moitra for her comment made on July 5 that that she had every right as an individual to imagine Goddess Kali as a meat-eating and alcohol-accepting deity, as each person had their unique way of offering prayers.

    The altercation between the two parties began afresh after the BJP’s IT chief Amit Malviya on Sunday said Prime Minister Narendra Modi speaks reverentially about the goddess, while “a TMC MP insults her” and TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee, instead of acting against her, defends her “obnoxious portrayal” of Maa Kali.

    While virtually addressing a programme of Ramakrishna Mission on Sunday, Modi said Goddess Kali’s blessings are always with the country, which is moving ahead with a spiritual energy for the welfare of the world.

    Shortly after Malviya posted his statement on Twitter, Moitra hit back without naming anyone.

    “Would advise BJP Troll-In-Charge for Bengal to tell his masters to stop commenting on things they have no clue about. Didi O Didi got them the boot. Now Maa O Maa will get them a foot on their chest,” she tweeted.

    She was referring to the “Didi o Didi” taunt used by BJP leaders to mock West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who is commonly referred to as Didi (elder sister) by her supporters, during the campaigning for the 2021 assembly polls.

    In a fresh tweet, Malviya who is also West Bengal’s co-in-charge, then claimed that Moitra is not obeying the party’s diktat on the issue.

    The TMC has earlier condemned the MP’s controversial comment.

    “Smarting under public rebuke from Mamata Banerjee, TMC MP is using repeat defiance on the issue of Maa Kaali to humiliate her, diminish her stature as a leader, knowing fully well that she wouldn’t be able to act against her, for fear of angering her Muslim vote bank,” he tweeted.

    Senior TMC MP Sougata Roy on Monday asked who is Malviya to comment on this matter.

    “The party has already condemned what Moitra had said. The party does not support what she said. But we don’t need lessons from the BJP. They should stop mixing religion with politics,” Sougata Roy said.

    West Bengal BJP spokesperson Samik Bhattacharya wondered why the TMC is yet to take any disciplinary action against Moitra.

    “Neither Mahua Moitra has been summoned by the police nor any disciplinary action being taken against her. It seems the TMC has issued a statement condemning her remarks is a farce,” he said.

    Moitra made the controversial remarks at a conclave on July 5.

    She was responding to a question in connection with the outrage over a film poster, which shows a woman dressed as the deity smoking a cigarette and holding a pride flag.

    Police complaints have been made against Moitra for the remarks in various states.

  • Will not rest till pro-Jihadi Mamata government is ousted, says Suvendu, Trinamool hits back

    By PTI

    KOLKATA: Senior BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari on Wednesday termed the TMC government in West Bengal as “pro-jihadi” and said he will not give up his fight against it till it is ousted and a “nationalist government” comes to power in the state.

    Adhikari and senior BJP leaders took part in a rally from Golpark to Hazra crossing during the day to commemorate the birth anniversary of Jana Sangh founder Syama Prasad Mookerjee.

    His comment drew sharp reaction from the TMC which said it smacks of “frustration” of Adhikari and the saffron camp, which failed to clinch power in West Bengal despite the high pitch poll campaign.

    “We all know how Syama Prasad Mookerjee had fought and gave his life demanding the removal of special provisions in Kashmir. Drawing inspiration from his fight, the BJP in Bengal will continue its fight until the pro-Jihadi TMC government is ousted from power,” Adhikari said addressing the rally.

    “The day is not far away when we will succeed in ensuring a nationalist government comes to power in Bengal,” Adhikari said addressing the rally.

    The BJP leader also said “anti-national elements” are having a “free run” in West Bengal under the TMC regime.

    “The TMC government to appease its vote bank has turned into a mute spectator and is allowing these anti-national elements to call the shot. This situation has to change and we (BJP) will change it,” he said.

    Hitting back, TMC state general secretary Kunal Ghosh said Adhikari’s comments reflect his frustration as his dreams of becoming chief minister were “shattered” after the defeat that BJP suffered in the hands of Mamata Banerjee’s party in the state poll last year.

  • Privilege motion moved against Suvendu Adhikari for ‘disrespectful’ remarks against Bengal Speaker

    By PTI

    KOLKATA: A privilege motion was on Friday moved against Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari for his “disrespectful” remarks against West Bengal Assembly Speaker Biman Banerjee, a day the Nandigram legislator’s suspension in the House was revoked.

    Banerjee on Thursday withdrew the suspension order he had issued against seven BJP MLAs, including Adhikari.

    TMC MLA Partha Bhowmick moved the motion against Adhikari, after the BJP legislator, while airing his views on MLA Mukul Roy’s disqualification case, apparently made a disparaging remark against the speaker.

    Earlier this month, Banerjee had rejected a plea by Adhikari to disqualify Roy, saying that he did not find merit in the argument of the petitioner.

    The speaker, during the day, accepted the motion and referred it to the Privilege Committee, which has been asked to look into it and submit a report at the earliest.

    “The nature of the comments made by Adhikari is not only disrespectful but also an insult to the chair. That is why I had moved the Privilege Motion. I hope appropriate action would be taken against him,” Bhowmick told reporters.

    Reacting to the development, chief whip of BJP legislative party, Manoj Tigga, said this is an attempt to “stifle the voice of opposition”.

    “The politically motivated allegations are being made to stop the BJP and Suvendu Adhikari from raising the people’s issues in the Assembly,” Tigga claimed.

    Clashes had broken out in the House on March 28 between legislators of the ruling TMC and BJP, following which the speaker had suspended Adhikari, Tigga and three other MLAs.

    Earlier in March, BJP legislators Mihir Goswami and Sudip Mukhopadhyay were suspended over their conduct during governor’s address in the House.

  • Bengal Governor seeks report from state as Suvendu Adhikari says cops entered his MLA office by force

    By PTI

    KOLKATA: West Bengal Governor Jadgeep Dhankhar on Sunday sought an urgent report from the state’s chief secretary H K Dwivedi over an “attack by the police” on the MLA office of Leader of Opposition in Assembly Suvendu Adhikari.

    He said such action on the MLA office of Adhikari is a matter of “deep concern”.

    “In view of worrisome inputs from Leader of Opposition West Bengal Legislative Assembly @SuvenduWB that his MLA office of Nandigram has been attacked by police, sought an urgent report Chief Secretary,” he tweeted.

    Adhikari, later taking to the microblogging platform, said the police entered his office by force.

    “Without giving any prior information, without showing a search warrant, and without the presence of a magistrate, the ‘Mamata’ police (West Bengal Police) forcefully entered my Nandigram MLA’s office unnecessarily.

    “This is a lousy and cruel act on the part of the Mamata Banerjee government. It is a conspiracy against the Leader of the Opposition,” he wrote, attaching three videos to substantiate the claim.

    Dhankhar said that that chief secretary has been asked to file a report on the incident by 10 PM.

    “CS @chief_west to render status report by 10 PM today indicating full details of heavy police and rapid action force posse & senior officials @WBPolice present in & outside MLA office of LOP @SuvenduWB.”

    “Such an action in the MLA office of LOP is a matter of deep concern,” he added.

  • BJP MLA Suvendu Adhikari seeks action on West Bengal IAS officer for ‘renaming’ central projects

    By PTI

    KOLKATA: Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari on Thursday urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to take action against an IAS officer of West Bengal for allegedly flouting service rules by renaming three central projects in an official order.

    Sharing his letter to the PM on Twitter, the BJP leader claimed that Uttar Dinajpur District Magistrate & Collector Arvind Kumar Mina, a central cadre officer, has renamed the central schemes to make them look like those of the state government and tried to “steal undue credit”.

    @PMOIndia@HMOIndia@jdhankhar1#Cabinet_Secretary_Rajiv_Gauba@BhallaAjay26@DARPG_GoI@DoPTGoI@IASassociation@chief_west #Hari_Krishna_Dwivedi@DMUttarDinajpur@arvind0403
    — Suvendu Adhikari • শুভেন্দু অধিকারী (@SuvenduWB) April 21, 2022
    Adhikari also posted a copy of that April 20 order on his Twitter handle after digitally marking the “renamed” schemes.

    The ruling Trinamool Congress claimed that Adhikari’s post exposes his ignorance about governance. “This order exposes political leaning & misplaced prejudice to promote the agenda of the ruling party of WB, i.e.to rebrand central government schemes as their own and try to steal undue credit,” the Nandigram MLA tweeted.

    He said that the IAS officer had referred to Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana as Bangla Awas Yojana, Swachh Bharat Mission as Mission Nirmal Bangla and Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana as Bangla Gram Sadak Yojana.

    In these projects, the cost is shared between the Centre and state governments in the ratio of 60:40 in most states. “I believe that you would look into the matter and if you feel my concern is genuine, then you would ask competent authorities to take proper action,” the letter read. The district magistrate could not be contacted.

    TMC national spokesperson Sukhendu Sekhar Roy told PTI: “Such comments by him (Adhikari) reveal his ignorance (about governance). There is little point in rebutting Suvendu Adhikari’s arguments and giving him undue importance.”

  • Suspended by Speaker, five West Bengal BJP MLAs including Suvendu Adhikari move Calcutta HC

    By PTI

    KOLKATA: Five BJP MLAs, including Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari, on Wednesday filed petitions before the Calcutta High Court challenging their suspension from the West Bengal Assembly by Speaker Biman Banerjee.

    One of their lawyers said that the petitions are likely to be heard before the appropriate bench of the high court soon. The five BJP MLAs were suspended by the Speaker for future sessions this year for their alleged unruly conduct in the House on March 28, the last day of the Budget session.

    Besides Adhikari, the other MLAs include Dipak Burman, Shankar Ghosh, Manoj Tigga, and Narahari Mahato.

    The assembly had witnessed pandemonium on the day as ruling TMC and BJP MLAs scuffled after saffron party legislators demanded a statement by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee over the “worsening” law and order situation in the state.

  • Bengal LoP, suspended from assembly, protests after being prevented from entering chamber

    By PTI

    KOLKATA: Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari, who has been suspended from the West Bengal Assembly for the entire session till the House is prorogued, on Monday staged a sit-in protest on the premises after he was prevented from entering his chamber.

    Adhikari, along with four other BJP MLAs, was suspended by the speaker from the assembly after legislators from the saffron party and the TMC came to blows inside the House on the last day of the budget session in March over the Birbhum killings.

    Prorogation is discontinuing a session of Parliament or a Legislative Assembly without dissolving it. When Adhikari, the Nandigram MLA, came to the assembly, he was prevented from entering his chamber citing the suspension notice.

    Infuriated, he and some other BJP legislators sat on a demonstration near the statue of B R Ambedkar on the premises. “This is autocratic. For the first time, an LoP has been stopped from entering his chamber in the assembly. The entire country knows how I was suspended in an undemocratic manner. As I am not allowed to enter my chamber, I would carry out my official work from this spot every day. This will be my office till I get to enter my chamber,” he told reporters.

    Speaker Biman Banerjee could not be contacted for a comment.

    Senior TMC leader and party chief whip in the assembly, Nirmal Ghosh, said Adhikari should stop creating a scene as he is well aware that a suspended member is not allowed to enter the assembly premises.

    “Any member who has been suspended is generally not allowed to enter the assembly premises. He (Adhikari) is very well aware of it. He is just doing drama to get some mileage in the media,” he said.

    Adhikari, along with BJP legislators Dipak Burman, Shankar Ghosh, Manoj Tigga and Narahari Mahato, was on March 28 suspended for the entire session till the House is prorogued.

    The House had plunged into chaos on that day as MLAs of both sides engaged in fisticuffs, leading to the hospitalisation of some of the legislators.

    The incident happened after BJP MLAs trooped to the well, demanding a statement by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee over the “worsening” law and order situation in the wake of Birbhum killings, in which nine people (eight at that time) died of burn injuries after assailants threw petrol bombs at several houses in Bogtui village near Rampurhat on March 21 following the murder of local TMC leader Bhadu Sheikh.

    Even as the speaker tried to pacify the BJP MLAs, who continued sloganeering, a war of words broke out with legislators of the treasury bench which eventually led to the ugly scuffle.

    The incident brought back memories of opposition Left and ruling TMC legislators trading blows in December 2012 on the floor of the House, leading to injuries on both sides.

  • Bengal Assembly speaker suspends 5 BJP MLAs for unruly conduct

    By PTI

    KOLKATA: Five BJP MLAs, including Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari, were suspended by West Bengal Assembly Speaker Biman Bandyopadhyay for their alleged unruly conduct in the House.

    Adhikari, along with BJP legislators Dipak Burman, Shankar Ghosh, Manoj Tigga and Narahari Mahato, were suspended by the Speaker for future sessions this year.

    WB | A ruckus erupted inside state Assembly in Kolkata, over Birbhum violence caseOpposition demanded discussion over law & order on the last day at least, govt declined. They brought Kolkata police personnel in civil dress to clash with 8-10 of our MLAs: LoP Suvendu Adhikari pic.twitter.com/RbYsVWba2M
    — ANI (@ANI) March 28, 2022
    Earlier in the day, the assembly plunged into pandemonium as ruling TMC and BJP MLAs exchanged blows after saffron party legislators demanded a statement by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee over “worsening” law and order situation in the state.

    Around 25 BJP MLAs led by Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari then walked out of the assembly, claiming that several party legislators were roughed up by TMC MLAs inside the House.

    TMC leader and state minister Firhad Hakim, however, told reporters that the BJP is staging a drama to create chaos in the assembly. He also said that some Trinamool Congress legislators were injured during the scuffle that took place inside the House.

  • BJP, Trinamool workers scuffle after trading barbs during Suvendu Adhikari’s rally

    By PTI

    KOLKATA: Workers of the Trinamool Congress and the BJP engaged in a scuffle in West Bengal’s Purba Medinipur district on Friday, after accusing each other of making abusive comments.

    The incident occurred when Leader of the Opposition in the state assembly, Suvendu Adhikari of the BJP, was campaigning for party candidates in the Contai Municipality election to be held on February 27.

    TMC candidate in ward number 13 Suprakash Giri alleged that Adhikari and those accompanying him made abusive comments against party supremo Mamata Banerjee while passing by the TMC election office near a supermarket triggering protest by those present there.

    Adhikari’s brother Soumendu, on the other hand, claimed that it was the TMC workers to made objectionable remarks against the Nandigram MLA.

    A scuffle ensued and the central security personnel accompanying Adhikari shielded him.

    Giri alleged that Adhikari’s security personnel, instigated by the MLA, went inside the TMC office and beat him up injuring him.

    Accompanied by TMC workers, Giri launched a sit-in before the local police station protesting against alleged excesses by the security personnel of Adhikari.

    Earlier in the day, while campaigning in ward number 6, Adhikari was greeted with the popular ‘Khela Hobe’ (there will be a game) slogan by ruling party activists.

    BJP workers accompanying Adhikari then chanted ‘Jai Shri Ram’.

    “Some jihadis are trying to heckle me in Kanthi. But the majority of the people of Contai are on my side,” Adhikari said.