News Analysis India

Tag: Trinamool Congress

  • ‘Action at right time’: TMC reacts as CBI arrests Anubrata Mondal, raids his aides’ homes

    By PTI

    BOLPUR: Senior Trinamool Congress leader Anubrata Mondal was Thursday arrested by the CBI from his residence here in connection with a cattle smuggling case, after twice skipping his scheduled appearance before the central probe agency in three days, an official said.

    The CBI served a notice to Mondal under Section 41 of CrPC before arresting him for allegedly not cooperating in its probe into the scam, he said.

    Earlier in the day, a CBI team comprising at least eight officers along with personnel of central forces reached the Birbhum district president’s residence around 10 am, and conducted a search operation, as part of the investigation.

    Mondal was grilled in a room on the second floor of his residence for almost an hour, the official said. “We have arrested him for non-cooperation in the investigation into the cattle smuggling case. We have found Mr Mondal’s direct involvement in the scam. We will question him today and take necessary action as per law,” he told PTI.

    Mondal had skipped his scheduled appearance on Monday and Wednesday, citing ill-health. The official said the CBI would also question the doctor of a Bolpur hospital who had prescribed Mondal bed rest for 14 days.

    Sleuths of the probe agency are conducting raids at residences of several close associates of the TMC leader as well, the official added.

    Mondal’s arrest comes close on the heels of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) apprehending now-suspended TMC leader and former Bengal minister Partha Chatterjee in a school jobs scam.

    Meanwhile, the ruling TMC said the party was keeping a close watch on the situation. “The party will take an appropriate decision at the right time. But, we want to make it clear that TMC will not compromise on any instance of corruption,” MP Santanu Sen said.

    Sen added that the party has “zero tolerance” on corruption and wrongdoings. The top TMC leadership will likely meet in the evening to take a call on the issue.

    Opposition BJP alleged that Mondal’s arrest proves the ruling party was neck-deep in corruption, and demanded a statement from Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. “It is time the CM comes out with a statement on the arrest of Mondal. We all know he was close to the top TMC leadership,” BJP national vice-president Dilip Ghosh said.

    “The arrest of Chatterjee and now Mondal is an example of the much-hyped Bengal development model,” BJP state president Sukanta Majumdar said.

    CPI(M) leader Sujan Chakraborty claimed that Mondal considered himself above the law in Birbhum district and the TMC leadership “turned a blind eye to his misdeeds”.

    BOLPUR: Senior Trinamool Congress leader Anubrata Mondal was Thursday arrested by the CBI from his residence here in connection with a cattle smuggling case, after twice skipping his scheduled appearance before the central probe agency in three days, an official said.

    The CBI served a notice to Mondal under Section 41 of CrPC before arresting him for allegedly not cooperating in its probe into the scam, he said.

    Earlier in the day, a CBI team comprising at least eight officers along with personnel of central forces reached the Birbhum district president’s residence around 10 am, and conducted a search operation, as part of the investigation.

    Mondal was grilled in a room on the second floor of his residence for almost an hour, the official said. “We have arrested him for non-cooperation in the investigation into the cattle smuggling case. We have found Mr Mondal’s direct involvement in the scam. We will question him today and take necessary action as per law,” he told PTI.

    Mondal had skipped his scheduled appearance on Monday and Wednesday, citing ill-health. The official said the CBI would also question the doctor of a Bolpur hospital who had prescribed Mondal bed rest for 14 days.

    Sleuths of the probe agency are conducting raids at residences of several close associates of the TMC leader as well, the official added.

    Mondal’s arrest comes close on the heels of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) apprehending now-suspended TMC leader and former Bengal minister Partha Chatterjee in a school jobs scam.

    Meanwhile, the ruling TMC said the party was keeping a close watch on the situation. “The party will take an appropriate decision at the right time. But, we want to make it clear that TMC will not compromise on any instance of corruption,” MP Santanu Sen said.

    Sen added that the party has “zero tolerance” on corruption and wrongdoings. The top TMC leadership will likely meet in the evening to take a call on the issue.

    Opposition BJP alleged that Mondal’s arrest proves the ruling party was neck-deep in corruption, and demanded a statement from Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. “It is time the CM comes out with a statement on the arrest of Mondal. We all know he was close to the top TMC leadership,” BJP national vice-president Dilip Ghosh said.

    “The arrest of Chatterjee and now Mondal is an example of the much-hyped Bengal development model,” BJP state president Sukanta Majumdar said.

    CPI(M) leader Sujan Chakraborty claimed that Mondal considered himself above the law in Birbhum district and the TMC leadership “turned a blind eye to his misdeeds”.

  • TMC leader Anubrata Mondal skips CBI appearance in cattle smuggling case

    By PTI

    KOLKATA: Trinamool Congress leader Anubrata Mondal has informed the CBI that he would be unable to appear before it on Monday in connection with its investigation into a cattle smuggling case, an agency source said.

    Mondal, the party’s Birbhum district president, is understood to have sent an email expressing his inability to appear before the central probe agency, due to a medical check-up.

    CBI officials have admitted to receiving Mondal’s email, the source said.

    The TMC leader is on his way to state-run SSKM Hospital in the metropolis for a health check-up, a party source said.

    The CBI had summoned Mondal, TMC’s Birbhum district president, on August 5 to appear before it on Monday.

    Mondal has earlier been questioned twice by the central agency as part of its investigation.

    The CBI has in the recent past conducted raids at various locations in the district in connection with the case.

    Mondal’s bodyguard Saigal Hossain has also been arrested by the probe agency.

    KOLKATA: Trinamool Congress leader Anubrata Mondal has informed the CBI that he would be unable to appear before it on Monday in connection with its investigation into a cattle smuggling case, an agency source said.

    Mondal, the party’s Birbhum district president, is understood to have sent an email expressing his inability to appear before the central probe agency, due to a medical check-up.

    CBI officials have admitted to receiving Mondal’s email, the source said.

    The TMC leader is on his way to state-run SSKM Hospital in the metropolis for a health check-up, a party source said.

    The CBI had summoned Mondal, TMC’s Birbhum district president, on August 5 to appear before it on Monday.

    Mondal has earlier been questioned twice by the central agency as part of its investigation.

    The CBI has in the recent past conducted raids at various locations in the district in connection with the case.

    Mondal’s bodyguard Saigal Hossain has also been arrested by the probe agency.

  • SSC scam: BJP is wrong if it thinks it can break my party using agencies, says CM Mamata

    By PTI

    KOLKATA: If anyone is found guilty of wrongdoing, he must be punished, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said on Monday, days after her cabinet colleague Partha Chatterjee was arrested in the SSC scam by the Enforcement Directorate (ED).

    Addressing an award function of the state government here, Banerjee slammed the opposition for a “malicious campaign” launched against her, asserting that she does not support corruption.

    “We have full faith in the judiciary. There has to be a time frame within which the truth and the court’s verdict must be out. If anyone is proven guilty, then he or she must be punished. The party, too, will take action. But, I condemn the malicious campaign against me,” she said.

    Referring to the video shared by the BJP, in which she was seen interacting with Arpita Mukherjee from whose house Rs 22 crore in cash was found, the chief minister said the Trinamool Congress has no links with her.

    “The party has no relation with that lady, neither do I know her. I attend several programmes, if someone gets clicked with me, is it my fault?” she said.

    Hitting out at the BJP, Banerjee said that if the party thinks that it can break the Trinamool Congress by using central probe agencies then it is wrong.

    “It has to be seen whether it (the investigation) is a trap to malign my party and me. I neither support corruption nor allow it to breed,” she said.

    Chatterjee, the West Bengal Industry and Commerce Minister, was arrested by the ED on Saturday in connection with its investigation into the irregularities in the recruitment drives by the School Service Commission (SSC), which allegedly happened when he was the state’s education minister.

    Mukherjee, claimed to be his close aide, was also arrested by the agency after a huge amount of cash was found at her south Kolkata apartment.

    KOLKATA: If anyone is found guilty of wrongdoing, he must be punished, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said on Monday, days after her cabinet colleague Partha Chatterjee was arrested in the SSC scam by the Enforcement Directorate (ED).

    Addressing an award function of the state government here, Banerjee slammed the opposition for a “malicious campaign” launched against her, asserting that she does not support corruption.

    “We have full faith in the judiciary. There has to be a time frame within which the truth and the court’s verdict must be out. If anyone is proven guilty, then he or she must be punished. The party, too, will take action. But, I condemn the malicious campaign against me,” she said.

    Referring to the video shared by the BJP, in which she was seen interacting with Arpita Mukherjee from whose house Rs 22 crore in cash was found, the chief minister said the Trinamool Congress has no links with her.

    “The party has no relation with that lady, neither do I know her. I attend several programmes, if someone gets clicked with me, is it my fault?” she said.

    Hitting out at the BJP, Banerjee said that if the party thinks that it can break the Trinamool Congress by using central probe agencies then it is wrong.

    “It has to be seen whether it (the investigation) is a trap to malign my party and me. I neither support corruption nor allow it to breed,” she said.

    Chatterjee, the West Bengal Industry and Commerce Minister, was arrested by the ED on Saturday in connection with its investigation into the irregularities in the recruitment drives by the School Service Commission (SSC), which allegedly happened when he was the state’s education minister.

    Mukherjee, claimed to be his close aide, was also arrested by the agency after a huge amount of cash was found at her south Kolkata apartment.

  • TMC running ‘government of corrupts’ in West Bengal: Jyotiraditya Scindia

    By PTI

    KOLKATA: The Trinamool Congress is running a “government of corrupts” in West Bengal, Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia alleged on Saturday, hours after the arrest of state Industry Minister Partha Chatterjee in the school jobs scam.

    Speaking to reporters, the Civil Aviation Minister said that the level of corruption in the state was shocking and unprecedented.

    “The TMC government has crossed all limits of misgovernance and corruption. The level of corruption in the state is just shocking and unprecedented. The TMC government is no longer a government for the people, it is rather the government of corrupts. The entire government is knee-deep in corruption,” Scindia alleged.

    Chatterjee was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with its investigation into the jobs scam that allegedly happened during recruitment drives by the School Service Commission (SSC).

    He was the education minister of the state when the alleged irregularities took place. Scindia was in Kolkata to take stalk of the BJP’s organisation in the Dumdum Lok Sabha seat, for which he has been appointed ‘Pravas minister’.

    BJP had lost the seat in the northern suburbs of Kolkata in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. The BJP has identified 144 Lok Sabha seats, and gave the responsibility of the party’s organisation in those seats to senior leaders ahead of the 2024 elections.

    Scindia took a metro ride from Dakshineswar to Baranagar and interacted with locals. He also held closed-door organisational meetings in various parts of the constituency.

    KOLKATA: The Trinamool Congress is running a “government of corrupts” in West Bengal, Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia alleged on Saturday, hours after the arrest of state Industry Minister Partha Chatterjee in the school jobs scam.

    Speaking to reporters, the Civil Aviation Minister said that the level of corruption in the state was shocking and unprecedented.

    “The TMC government has crossed all limits of misgovernance and corruption. The level of corruption in the state is just shocking and unprecedented. The TMC government is no longer a government for the people, it is rather the government of corrupts. The entire government is knee-deep in corruption,” Scindia alleged.

    Chatterjee was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with its investigation into the jobs scam that allegedly happened during recruitment drives by the School Service Commission (SSC).

    He was the education minister of the state when the alleged irregularities took place. Scindia was in Kolkata to take stalk of the BJP’s organisation in the Dumdum Lok Sabha seat, for which he has been appointed ‘Pravas minister’.

    BJP had lost the seat in the northern suburbs of Kolkata in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. The BJP has identified 144 Lok Sabha seats, and gave the responsibility of the party’s organisation in those seats to senior leaders ahead of the 2024 elections.

    Scindia took a metro ride from Dakshineswar to Baranagar and interacted with locals. He also held closed-door organisational meetings in various parts of the constituency.

  • VP polls: TMC’s decision to abstain from voting disappointing, says Alva; not against her: Trinamool

    Trinamool Congress said it has taken a 'principled strand' of abstaining to protest against the way her name was 'unilaterally' decided by other opposition parties.

  • Opposition flays ‘gag order’ on some terms used in Parliament

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: The Congress and Trinamool Congress on Thursday slammed the “gag order” on usage of certain words in Parliament, saying all terms used by the Opposition to describe the Modi dispensation will now to be considered “unparliamentary”.

    According to a new booklet by the Lok Sabha Secretariat, use of terms like ‘jumlajeevi’, ‘baal buddhi’, ‘Covid spreader’ and ‘Snoopgate’ and even commonly used words like ‘ashamed’, ‘abused, ‘betrayed’, ‘corrupt’, ‘drama’, ‘hypocrisy’ and ‘incompetent’ will henceforth be considered unparliamentary in both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha.

    Slamming the move, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said, “All words used by the Opposition to describe the reality of Modi Sarkar now to be considered ‘unparliamentary’. What next Vishguru”. Congress general secretary Randeep Surjewala also said, “Saheb knows his qualities very well”. He also shared a copy of the news report.

    The Congress said in a tweet in Hindi, “Who will be afraid of ‘Jumlajeevi’ – who has given jumlas. Who will be afraid of the word ‘Jaichand’ – who has betrayed the country. These words are not being banned in Parliament, the fear of PM Modi is coming out.”

    Trinamool Congress leader Derek O’Brien said, “Session begins in a few days. GAG ORDER ISSUED ON MPs.”

    “Now, we will not be allowed to use these basic words while delivering a speech in #Parliament : Ashamed. Abused. Betrayed. Corrupt. Hypocrisy. Incompetent. I will use all these words. Suspend me. Fighting for democracy,” the TMC leader said.

    Another Congress spokesperson Jaiveer Shergill said on Twitter, “Latest List of ‘banned words’ in Parliament is BJP Govt desperate attempt to control criticism & hard-hitting truth.” “BJP Government wants Parliament to turn into ‘yes man’ chamber and ‘cheerleading stadium’ rather than house of accountability and answerability,” he also said.

    Gujarat Congress’ working president Jignesh Mevani tweeted, “Ashamed, abused, betrayed, corrupt, drama, hypocrisy, incompetent jumlajeevi, baal buddhi, Covid spreader, dohra charitra, nikamma, nautanki, dhindora peetna, behri sarkar are among the many words that will now be called unparliamentary.

    What’s happening in the country?” The compilation of words listing out as unparliamentary and expressions comes ahead of the Monsoon session beginning July 18, during which the use of words like ‘anarchist’, ‘Shakuni’, ‘dictatorial’, ‘taanashah’, ‘taanashahi’, ‘Jaichand’, ‘vinash purush’, ‘Khalistani’ and ‘khoon se kheti’ would also be expunged if used during debates or otherwise in both the houses.

    NEW DELHI: The Congress and Trinamool Congress on Thursday slammed the “gag order” on usage of certain words in Parliament, saying all terms used by the Opposition to describe the Modi dispensation will now to be considered “unparliamentary”.

    According to a new booklet by the Lok Sabha Secretariat, use of terms like ‘jumlajeevi’, ‘baal buddhi’, ‘Covid spreader’ and ‘Snoopgate’ and even commonly used words like ‘ashamed’, ‘abused, ‘betrayed’, ‘corrupt’, ‘drama’, ‘hypocrisy’ and ‘incompetent’ will henceforth be considered unparliamentary in both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha.

    Slamming the move, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said, “All words used by the Opposition to describe the reality of Modi Sarkar now to be considered ‘unparliamentary’. What next Vishguru”. Congress general secretary Randeep Surjewala also said, “Saheb knows his qualities very well”. He also shared a copy of the news report.

    The Congress said in a tweet in Hindi, “Who will be afraid of ‘Jumlajeevi’ – who has given jumlas. Who will be afraid of the word ‘Jaichand’ – who has betrayed the country. These words are not being banned in Parliament, the fear of PM Modi is coming out.”

    Trinamool Congress leader Derek O’Brien said, “Session begins in a few days. GAG ORDER ISSUED ON MPs.”

    “Now, we will not be allowed to use these basic words while delivering a speech in #Parliament : Ashamed. Abused. Betrayed. Corrupt. Hypocrisy. Incompetent. I will use all these words. Suspend me. Fighting for democracy,” the TMC leader said.

    Another Congress spokesperson Jaiveer Shergill said on Twitter, “Latest List of ‘banned words’ in Parliament is BJP Govt desperate attempt to control criticism & hard-hitting truth.” “BJP Government wants Parliament to turn into ‘yes man’ chamber and ‘cheerleading stadium’ rather than house of accountability and answerability,” he also said.

    Gujarat Congress’ working president Jignesh Mevani tweeted, “Ashamed, abused, betrayed, corrupt, drama, hypocrisy, incompetent jumlajeevi, baal buddhi, Covid spreader, dohra charitra, nikamma, nautanki, dhindora peetna, behri sarkar are among the many words that will now be called unparliamentary.

    What’s happening in the country?” The compilation of words listing out as unparliamentary and expressions comes ahead of the Monsoon session beginning July 18, during which the use of words like ‘anarchist’, ‘Shakuni’, ‘dictatorial’, ‘taanashah’, ‘taanashahi’, ‘Jaichand’, ‘vinash purush’, ‘Khalistani’ and ‘khoon se kheti’ would also be expunged if used during debates or otherwise in both the houses.

  • Eleventh hour invite keeps Mamata away as Smriti Irani inaugurates Sealdah metro station

    By Express News Service

    KOLKATA: Amid controversy over the way Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee was invited for the event, the Sealdah metro railway station of the East-West Metro corridor was inaugurated by Union minister Smriti Irani on Wednesday. Sources at the Nabanna, the state secretariat, said the invitation to the CM was received but she will be travelling to north Bengal on Monday but the Trinamool Congress, slammed the BJP government at the Centre, alleging that the CM was invited at the eleventh hour following mounting public criticism.

    ‘’This is nothing but last-minute realisation by the Metro on its mistake in the face of mounting public criticism They knew the CM’s plan to visit north Bengal, but still thy organised the event so that she is not available,’’ alleged TMC MP Sukhendu Sekhar Roy. TMC MP Sudip Bandopadhyay and TMC MLA Paresh Pal were invited to the event.

    With the inauguration of the new facility, Sealdah has been connected with the IT hub in Sector V, Salt Lake. The services will be available for common people from July 15.

    The BJP alleged the TMC unnecessarily is raising hue and cry knowing well that the CM was invited and sometimes, such incitation process takes time. ‘’None of our elected representatives in the Parliament and in the Bengal Assembly get invitations from the state government to attend official events. The TMC should hold a mirror to itself,’’ said BJP’s national vice-president Dilip Ghosh

  • Abe killing points to possible pitfalls of Agnipath scheme: TMC 

    By PTI

    KOLKATA: The Trinamool Congress has cautioned the Central government against the Agnipath scheme, pointing to the fact that Japan’s former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was assassinated by a short-service ex-serviceman.

    The party claimed that the killing underlined the possible pitfalls of the controversial defence recruitment programme. The state BJP, however, rejected the apprehension saying no Indian ex-servicemen had ever been involved in any such incident.

    “The death of Abe at the hands of an ex-serviceman has only validated the fears of the people over the Agnipath scheme,” the TMC’s mouthpiece ‘Jago Bangla’ (Wake up, Bengal) said in an article on Saturday.

    The attacker lost his job in the Japanese Maritime Self-Defence Force after three years of service and he was not getting any pension, it claimed. Agniveers too would not get any pension after their four-year service period is over, the article pointed out.

    “The BJP is playing with fire in the name of the Agnipath scheme. We have seen what has happened in Japan. An ex-serviceman killed the former Prime Minister,” TMC spokesperson Kunal Ghosh said on Sunday.

    The BJP said that such apprehensions are baseless. “We have never heard of any such incident in which an ex-serviceman of our country is involved. The TMC is just trying to politicise the matter,” state BJP spokesperson Samik Samik Bhattacharya said.

  • Madhya Pradesh police register FIR against TMC MP Mahua Moitra over ‘Kaali’ remark

    By PTI

    Bhopal: Police in BJP-ruled Madhya Pradesh on Wednesday registered a case against Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra over her remark about Goddess Kaali.

    The First Information Report (FIR) was registered by the crime branch in state capital Bhopal under section 295A of the Indian Penal Code (outraging religious feelings), an official said.

    “Moitra’s statement has hurt religious feelings of Hindus. We will not tolerate disrespect to any Hindu Gods and Goddesses at any cost,” said Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan in a statement.

    ALSO READ | BJP demands arrest of TMC MP Mahua Moitra for controversial remarks on Goddess Kali

    Moitra on Tuesday stirred a controversy with her remarks that she has every right as “an individual to imagine Goddess Kaali as a meat-eating and alcohol-accepting goddess”, as every person has the right to worship god and goddess in his or her own way.

    While the BJP severely criticised her, her party, TMC, distanced itself from the comment and condemned it.

  • ED quizzes Trinamool Congress MP Abhishek Banerjee’s wife Rujira in coal pilferage scam

    By PTI

    KOLKATA: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Thursday interrogated Trinamool Congress MP Abhishek Banerjee’s wife Rujira Narula Banerjee at its Kolkata office for over six hours in connection with its probe into the coal pilferage scam, an officer said.

    The officer said that Rujira went to the ED office at the CGO complex at around 11 am carrying her two-and-a-half-year-old son in her arms. Four officers, including two women, questioned her.

    “We have questioned her about a few transactions made in a bank account in Bangkok. Her answers are being tallied with those given by people who were interrogated earlier in the same case. Rujira may be called again in a few days for another round of questioning,” he said when contacted.

    During the entire grilling session, Banerjee’s son remained on her lap, the officer said. “The child was crying every time her mother was putting him down from her lap,” he added. The Supreme Court has allowed ED to quiz Banerjee and his wife in the coal smuggling case in Kolkata by giving them an advance 24 hour notice.

    The ED had expressed apprehensions at the apex court citing past instances of violence against CBI officers, who were gheraoed in the city after three heavyweight TMC leaders were summoned by them in connection with another scam at its office.

    It had mailed to the state police seeking protection. Following it a huge police arrangement was made at the ED office here, a senior official of the force said. The investigation is linked to an FIR filed by CBI in 2020 in a multi-crore rupees pilferage scam.

    The CBI has so far questioned Rujira twice in connection with the scam. The central agency had last year also interrogated Rujira’s sister Menoka Gambhir, her husband and father-in-law in connection with the probe.

    It is alleged that illegal mining of coal was carried out at leasehold mines of Eastern Coalfields’ in Kunustoria and Kajora areas near Asansol in West Bengal. Investigations have hinted towards financial transactions of Rs 1,300 crore, the bulk of which went to several influential people as per CBI.

    The probe revealed that the money was deposited in foreign bank accounts of these influential people through hawala.