News Analysis India

Tag: West Bengal

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

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

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

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

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

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

    HC Order Ignored: CBI Left Empty-Handed

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

     

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

     

    Assets Frozen: ED Cracks Down

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

    High Court’s Scathing Rebuke

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

    BJP’s Allegations; Sandeshkhali’s Unrest

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

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

  • BREAKING: Sheikh Shahjahan, Arrested Over Sandeshkhali Unrest, Suspended From TMC For Six Years |

    North 24 Parganas: Hours after arrest, the Trinamool Congress on Thursday suspended strongman Shahjahan Sheikh for six years. “We have decided to Suspend Sheikh Shahjahan from the party for six years,” TMC leader Derek O’Brien said in Kolkata. 

     

    #WATCH | TMC leader Derek O’Brien in Kolkata announces, “TMC has decided to suspend Sheikh Shahjahan from the party for six years.” pic.twitter.com/AYq3wtktBR
    — ANI (@ANI) February 29, 2024

     

    Earlier today, West Bengal’s Basirhat Court remanded Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Sheikh Shahjahan to 10-day police custody. Lawyer Raja Bhowmick, who represented Shahjahan in court, said, “14-day police custody (of Sheikh Shahjahan) was demanded, but the court allowed 10-day custody.” “On March 10, he will be produced in court again,” Raja Bhowmick said. 

    Shahjahan was arrested by West Bengal police on Thursday morning in connection with an alleged assault on ED officers during a raid in January earlier this year.

    West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose called Shahjahan’s arrest an ‘eye-opener’, adding that it is only the ‘beginning’. “Today in Bengal, we see the beginning of an end. The arrest of the prime accused in the Sandeshkhali incidents is an eye-opener for everyone. This is only the beginning. We have to put an end to violence in Bengal,” Ananda Bose said.

    “In many pockets of Bengal, we all realise that gangsters are ruling unchecked by law enforcement agencies. What we see is only the tip of the iceberg. ‘Gundaraj’ is very much there in many pockets of Bengal. Strong action has to be taken. This has to be nipped in the bud,” he added.

    He further said that considerate action should be taken to prevent such incidents from happening in the future.

    “We have to wait. In democratic governance, we have to wait for justice to be done. If any lapses have taken place from the government or any other authority, we still have time to look into that,” the governor said.

    “Now, what is required is a considerate action to see that these kinds of things do not happen in future. Action has to be taken against a particular culprit who has been apprehended. My suggestion for all the gangsters is – treat this as an occasion to surrender, otherwise, preventive action has to be taken,” he added.

    Shahjahan had been evading arrest by both state and central agencies for over a month.

    Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari alleged that the arrest was a ‘mutual adjustment’. “This is not an arrest, this is a mutual adjustment. Unless the central agencies take him into their custody, the people there won’t get justice. He will get five-star facilities in jail. He will use his mobile phone inside and control the area from there,” the LoP said while speaking to reporters while on the way to Sandeshkhali on Thursday.

    Sandeshkhali in West Bengal’s North 24 Parganas district had 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.

  • ‘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. 

  • PM Modi to be in West Bengal on March 1, 2 and 6

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be in West Bengal on March 1 and 2 as part of his official programme and is expected to address a women’s rally on March 6 in the North 24 Parganas district, where restive Sandeshkhali is located. BJP sources said Modi will be in Arambag and Krishnanagar on March 1 and 2 respectively on an official tour. The prime minister will also address public meetings, they said.

    Modi’s visits in the run-up to the Lok Sabha polls come amid an intense political row involving the BJP and the state’s ruling Trinamool Congress after several women in Sandeshkhali accused the regional party’s strongman Shajahan Sheikh and his supporters of “land-grab and sexual assault”.

    There has been speculation that Modi may meet some of the complainants during his visit to Barasat, the headquarters of North 24 Parganas district. Two of Sheikh’s aides, who along with others were booked under charges of gang rape and attempt to murder, have been arrested.

    The TMC has sought to play down the allegations and blamed the BJP for prompting some of the complainants to level serious charges against its members.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

  • ‘Ram-Vaam-Shyam Have Joined Hands’: Mamata Accuses BJP, Congress And Left of Secret Alliance |

    New Delhi: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Sunday targeted Bharatiya Janata Party over the Sandeshkhali violence and alleged that  BJP is trying to disrupt peace in the area and has not taken any action against its leaders.Banerjee’s scathing comments came while she was addressing a public gathering in Birbhum on Sunday.

    Targeting the saffron party over the Sandeshkhali violence Bengal CM said that BJP along with ED and media is trying to disrupt peace in Sandeshkhali. “We always take action in case of any wrong. First the ED, then the BJP, and then the media. They are trying to disrupt peace there [Sandeshkhali]. If there are any allegations, we will take action, and whatever was taken forcibly will be returned,” sad Mamata Banerjee.

    “I have asked the police to take suo motu cognizance. Our block president has been arrested. In Bhangar, Arabul Islam has also been arrested. But what action has the BJP taken against their leaders? Remember, the BJP is anti-Bengali, anti-women, anti-farmer, and anti-dalit,” she added.

    West bengal CM further alleged that the BJP is using central agencies like ED, CBI and the Election Commission for its own advantage. “They are using ED and CBI to threaten us. If the Election Commission is working on BJP’s orders, keep this in mind that we have the right to fight and voice our opinion,” said Banerjee.

    “Earlier, I had to face the torture of Left and now I have to face the torture of BJP. Ram-Vaam-Shyam [BJP, Left, Congress] have joined hands. They had joined hands a long time back. This is the same CPI(M) that used to play with deaths,” she added.

    Citing the ongoing farmers protest, Mamata Banerjee said, “We call the farmers ‘Annadatas’. They are the providers of food for us but look at the way they [BJP] are treating them.”

    “BJP is creating chaos everywhere and provoking one community against the other. We call the farmers Annadatas. They are the provider of food for us but look at the way they [BJP] are treating them. Look at how Punjab, Delhi, and Haryana are burning. They are drilling nails so that the farmers can’t reach there. I sympathise with all our farmers,” she said.

    Further, mentioning the Prevention of Money Laundering Acts, the West Bengal CM said that there is a proper way of work in these kind of cases which the investigative agencies are not following.

    “There is another thing – PMLA. If you have any allegation against anyone, you conduct an investigation properly and give a charge sheet. Let law take its own course. But you cannot keep someone behind the bars. If you think by this you can win elections, you are wrong. Even Indira Gandhi did the same during the Emergency period but lost despite that,” CM Mamata said. 

  • `Politics Is Not For Me`: TMC MP Mimi Chakraborty Announces Her Resignation Ahead Of Lok Sabha Elections

    After tendering her resignation Mimi Chakraborty also conveyed her intention permanently step away from politics and focus on her acting career instead.

  • BJP forms 6-member panel to inquire Sandeshkhali sexual harassment incidents

    The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has formed a six-member committee of Union Ministers and MPs to visit Sandeshkhali in West Bengal’s North Pargana district and collect information about the alleged incidents of sexual harassment and violence against women there.

    Union Minister Annapurna Devi has been named as the convenor of the high-level committee.

    Other members of the panel are Pratima Bhowmik, BJP MPs Sunita Duggal, Kavita Patidar, Sangeeta Yadav, and Brijlal.They have been directed to visit the incident site, take stock of the situation, talk to the victims, and submit their report to BJP Party President JP Nadda.

    Nadda, in the notification, said that the alleged incidents are “heart-wrenching.”

    He further said that the incidents of harassment of women and hooliganism are “happening continuously in West Bengal” while the administration there remains a “mute spectator.””Law and order have collapsed in the entire state,” he added.Tension simmered in the Sandeshkhali area of North 24 Parganas district’s Basirhat subdivision on Tuesday during a protest by BJP workers led by state party president Sukanta Majumder against the alleged sexual harassment of women.

    Women in Sandeshkhali have been agitating for the last few days over alleged atrocities committed against them by TMC leader Shajahan Sheikh and his aides.

    Majumdar sustained injuries during the police lathicharge as a scuffle broke out between the police and party workers.

    The West Bengal government has reimposed Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) in and around 500 metres of area in seven-gram panchayats, including Sandeshkhali.

    Sector 144 has been imposed in the area till February 19 to maintain law and order in view of the agitation by the BJP over allegations of sexual harassment by women in Sandeshkhali block.

    The political storm over the events at Bengal’s Sandeshkhali sparked violence in another part of the state on Tuesday.

    BJP national spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia slammed the West Bengal government on Wednesday over allegations of sexual harassment by women in Sandeshkhali block, and said that CM Mamata Banerjee is acting as a silent spectator.

    Addressing a press conference, Bhatia said that in West Bengal the law of the “anarchy ruler Mamata Banerjee prevails.”

    “West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee is acting as a silent spectator. This is a matter of concern. This press conference highlights the lawlessness that prevails in West Bengal, where it is clear to every citizen that the rule of law does not prevail or exist, rather the law of the anarchy ruler Mamata Banerjee prevails,” he said,

    “When the perpetrator of the crime happens to be a TMC goon, the chief minister of the state doesn’t even care to uphold the dignity of the women of the state, especially Hindu women, being targeted by the goons of Sheikh Shahjahan, the absconder,” he added.

    Coming down heavily on the Chief Minister, the BJP leader alleged that West Bengal has turned into a state run by a government of rapists.

    “It will not be wrong to say that West Bengal has turned into a state where there is a government run by the rapist, of the rapist, for the rapist. Instead of standing in support of the victims, Mamata Banerjee is supporting the rapist,” Bhatia said.

    Bharatiya Janata Party IT cell head Amit Malviya took to X and slammed the West Bengal Police, accusing it of ‘pleasing’ Mamata Banerjee.

    “West Bengal police have crossed all limits. They have violated every rule in the book to please Mamata Banerjee, who is evil, and hasn’t stopped using rape and torture of Hindu women in Sandeskhali, for her politics,” he said.

    He further said that the party will not allow “women in West Bengal to become objects of lust for Mamata Banerjee’s criminal syndicate.”

    “Let Mamata Banerjee and the WB Police know that they can’t crush the BJP’s movement for justice for women in Sandeshkhali. We won’t allow women in West Bengal to become objects of lust for Mamata Banerjee’s criminal syndicate. The fight will continue,” he added.

    The Trinamool Congress has, however, blamed the BJP for trying to vitiate the atmosphere in Sandeshkhali.

    “The only motive of the BJP was to create issues and indulge in hooliganism while going to Sandeshkhali or reaching near the place. Stone pelting ensued, and people were injured there. They (BJP) say that women must be respected…Smriti Irmade instigating statements. The TMC condemns the conduct of the BJP, under the leadership of Sukanta Majumdar,” TMC Spokesperson Sashi Panja said.

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