News Analysis India

Tag: West Bengal

  • NCBC to hold hearing on demand of WB government to include 87 castes in OBC list

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: The National Commission for Backward Classes will be holding a hearing on November 3 on the proposal of the West Bengal government to include 87 castes in the OBC list.

    In a notice to the West Bengal government, the NCBC has also sought information from the state government under various heads.

    Among the information sought are caste-wise details of the candidates selected in the 87 OBC castes, caste-wise details of Class III, Class IV and Safai Karmacharis, details of scholarships disbursed to the students belonging to the 87 OBC castes in the educational institutions run under the state during the last three years and the current year and the caste-wise details of the beneficiaries thereof.

    The NCBC said it had recommended that the reservation of OBCs in the state should be increased from 17 per cent to 22 per cent, but to date, no positive action has been taken on the recommendation of the commission. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp

    NEW DELHI: The National Commission for Backward Classes will be holding a hearing on November 3 on the proposal of the West Bengal government to include 87 castes in the OBC list.

    In a notice to the West Bengal government, the NCBC has also sought information from the state government under various heads.

    Among the information sought are caste-wise details of the candidates selected in the 87 OBC castes, caste-wise details of Class III, Class IV and Safai Karmacharis, details of scholarships disbursed to the students belonging to the 87 OBC castes in the educational institutions run under the state during the last three years and the current year and the caste-wise details of the beneficiaries thereof.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    The NCBC said it had recommended that the reservation of OBCs in the state should be increased from 17 per cent to 22 per cent, but to date, no positive action has been taken on the recommendation of the commission. Follow The New Indian Express channel on WhatsApp

  • Sundarbans records highest drowning mortality rate among children across globe: Report

    By PTI

    KOLKATA: West Bengal’s Sundarbans region has recorded the world’s highest drowning mortality rate of 243 per lakh population among children in the age group of one to four in three years prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a study.

    The study, which was conducted from 2016 to 2019, also found that the region has a mortality rate of 38.8 per lakh population among children aged between five and nine.

    The study was conducted in 19 blocks – 13 in South 24 Parganas district and six in North 24 Parganas – of the region on incidents reported from October 2016 to September 2019. It was recently published.

    “There was no difference in the mortality rates among boys and girls. Most children drowned in ponds within 50 metres of their homes when they were unaccompanied by their primary caretakers who were engaged in household work,” it said.

    The survey was carried out by non-governmental organisation Child in Need Institute (CINI), in partnership with global agencies Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) and The George Institute (TGI) to gauge the enormity of the problem of drowning among children in the coastal Sundarbans region.

    Sundarbans is a mangrove region in southeastern part of West Bengal and southwestern region of Bangladesh.

    In the Indian part, Sundarbans is spread over 100 islands and has around 40 lakh inhabitants.

    Of the total population, around 15.9 per cent are children aged between one and nine.

    Many settlements are remote and far away from medical establishments.

    Water level in the waterbodies of Sundarbans increase during monsoon, while the coastal region is also increasingly experiencing incidents of flooding over the last four to five years.

    West Bengal’s Sundarbans Affairs Minister Bankim Chandra Hazra acknowledged the problem of drowning of children and said that the state government is trying to address the issue.

    “We have no hesitation in admitting that there have been incidents of deaths of children by drowning. However, we do not have a detailed report,” Hazra told PTI.

    According to the minister, the call of the hour is to raise the level of awareness among the residents of Sundarbans on drowning like they were informed about dengue, malaria or child marriage.

    “Every year, we are losing several young lives due to drowning. People need to be informed in this regard to address this problem,” Hazra added.

    CINI’s national advocacy officer Sujoy Roy said that the survey will help not only locals but also highlight the situation before policymakers.

    “Drowning deaths, particularly among children, are heart-wrenching and entirely preventable. It is imperative that governments take heightened responsibility to protect our children from this silent peril. This study will help the local people as well as the government to understand how critical the situation is and realise the need to frame a policy in this regard,” Roy said.

    He said that the first-ever national seminar on drowning prevention was jointly organised by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and the World Health Organisation (WHO) in Kerala’s Thiruvananthapuram in September.

    KOLKATA: West Bengal’s Sundarbans region has recorded the world’s highest drowning mortality rate of 243 per lakh population among children in the age group of one to four in three years prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a study.

    The study, which was conducted from 2016 to 2019, also found that the region has a mortality rate of 38.8 per lakh population among children aged between five and nine.

    The study was conducted in 19 blocks – 13 in South 24 Parganas district and six in North 24 Parganas – of the region on incidents reported from October 2016 to September 2019. It was recently published.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    “There was no difference in the mortality rates among boys and girls. Most children drowned in ponds within 50 metres of their homes when they were unaccompanied by their primary caretakers who were engaged in household work,” it said.

    The survey was carried out by non-governmental organisation Child in Need Institute (CINI), in partnership with global agencies Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) and The George Institute (TGI) to gauge the enormity of the problem of drowning among children in the coastal Sundarbans region.

    Sundarbans is a mangrove region in southeastern part of West Bengal and southwestern region of Bangladesh.

    In the Indian part, Sundarbans is spread over 100 islands and has around 40 lakh inhabitants.

    Of the total population, around 15.9 per cent are children aged between one and nine.

    Many settlements are remote and far away from medical establishments.

    Water level in the waterbodies of Sundarbans increase during monsoon, while the coastal region is also increasingly experiencing incidents of flooding over the last four to five years.

    West Bengal’s Sundarbans Affairs Minister Bankim Chandra Hazra acknowledged the problem of drowning of children and said that the state government is trying to address the issue.

    “We have no hesitation in admitting that there have been incidents of deaths of children by drowning. However, we do not have a detailed report,” Hazra told PTI.

    According to the minister, the call of the hour is to raise the level of awareness among the residents of Sundarbans on drowning like they were informed about dengue, malaria or child marriage.

    “Every year, we are losing several young lives due to drowning. People need to be informed in this regard to address this problem,” Hazra added.

    CINI’s national advocacy officer Sujoy Roy said that the survey will help not only locals but also highlight the situation before policymakers.

    “Drowning deaths, particularly among children, are heart-wrenching and entirely preventable. It is imperative that governments take heightened responsibility to protect our children from this silent peril. This study will help the local people as well as the government to understand how critical the situation is and realise the need to frame a policy in this regard,” Roy said.

    He said that the first-ever national seminar on drowning prevention was jointly organised by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and the World Health Organisation (WHO) in Kerala’s Thiruvananthapuram in September.

  • West Bengal govt cautions seven districts on possible flood situation

    By PTI

    KOLKATA: The West Bengal government on Monday said that there is a high possibility of flood in seven districts of the state due to continued incessant rainfall in the upper catchment areas of neighbouring Jharkhand.

    Chief Secretary H K Dwivedi on Monday afternoon held an urgent virtual meeting with senior officials of the districts of Paschim Bardhaman, Bankura, Birbhum, Purba Bardhaman, Paschim Medinipur, Hooghly and Howrah and directed them to immediately take all forms of precautionary measures.

    “During the meeting, the chief secretary directed all District Magistrates and SPs to immediately identify low-lying and flood-prone areas as well as start monitoring waterlogging and embankment breaches and take proper steps for their remedies,” an official statement said.

    “The chief secretary informed the meeting that the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted rainfall to continue till October 5 with heavy rainfall predicted tomorrow. The well-marked low-pressure area is currently hovering over Jharkhand and is likely to continue there for some more time. This will continue to cause high precipitation and will result in high inflow into the dams,” it added.

    It claimed that rainfall in Jharkhand was measured more than 50 mm in the upper catchment area on October 1.

    The district administration and police authorities were also directed to keep adequate stock of relief materials including flood-fighting materials like sandbags for embankment protection in low-lying vulnerable areas, it said.

    “The district administrations were also asked to inform Nabanna (state secretariat) if any area receives unusually higher rainfall, as the water release would need to take into account the precipitation in the lower reaches also,” the statement said.

    During the meeting convened on the instruction of the chief minister and attended by officials of the Irrigation and Waterways and Disaster Management departments and ADG ( Law & Order), the Integrated Command Centres were also asked to be kept operational in districts, it said.

    A 5-hourly report by the districts will be shared with the disaster management 24×7 control room on rainfall, river water levels, embankment breaches and evacuation in case the situation deteriorates.

    Executive Engineers from the Irrigation and Waterways Department to keep close liaison with the district administration in this regard.

    Miking to be done in those areas along with preparatory measures for evacuation of people to a safer location, if required.

    Adequate reserve of relief material including other flood-fighting materials like sandbags, etc, for embankment protection should be kept in stock in low-lying vulnerable areas.

    Appropriate lighting arrangements are to be made for relief and rescue operations.

    It claimed that the inflow into Maithon Dam is currently 60,000 cusec and at Panchet Dam is 73,000 cusec.

    “The release from the dams downstream was made 1,00,000 cusec at 9 am onwards today. However, considering the weather prediction and the decreasing cushion level of the dams to accommodate the continuing high inflow of water, the release may have to be increased in the coming hours in a calibrated manner,” it claimed.

    The Irrigation and Waterways Department will be in touch with the DVC and Jharkhand authorities and keep a close watch over the situation.

    KOLKATA: The West Bengal government on Monday said that there is a high possibility of flood in seven districts of the state due to continued incessant rainfall in the upper catchment areas of neighbouring Jharkhand.

    Chief Secretary H K Dwivedi on Monday afternoon held an urgent virtual meeting with senior officials of the districts of Paschim Bardhaman, Bankura, Birbhum, Purba Bardhaman, Paschim Medinipur, Hooghly and Howrah and directed them to immediately take all forms of precautionary measures.

    “During the meeting, the chief secretary directed all District Magistrates and SPs to immediately identify low-lying and flood-prone areas as well as start monitoring waterlogging and embankment breaches and take proper steps for their remedies,” an official statement said.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    “The chief secretary informed the meeting that the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted rainfall to continue till October 5 with heavy rainfall predicted tomorrow. The well-marked low-pressure area is currently hovering over Jharkhand and is likely to continue there for some more time. This will continue to cause high precipitation and will result in high inflow into the dams,” it added.

    It claimed that rainfall in Jharkhand was measured more than 50 mm in the upper catchment area on October 1.

    The district administration and police authorities were also directed to keep adequate stock of relief materials including flood-fighting materials like sandbags for embankment protection in low-lying vulnerable areas, it said.

    “The district administrations were also asked to inform Nabanna (state secretariat) if any area receives unusually higher rainfall, as the water release would need to take into account the precipitation in the lower reaches also,” the statement said.

    During the meeting convened on the instruction of the chief minister and attended by officials of the Irrigation and Waterways and Disaster Management departments and ADG ( Law & Order), the Integrated Command Centres were also asked to be kept operational in districts, it said.

    A 5-hourly report by the districts will be shared with the disaster management 24×7 control room on rainfall, river water levels, embankment breaches and evacuation in case the situation deteriorates.

    Executive Engineers from the Irrigation and Waterways Department to keep close liaison with the district administration in this regard.

    Miking to be done in those areas along with preparatory measures for evacuation of people to a safer location, if required.

    Adequate reserve of relief material including other flood-fighting materials like sandbags, etc, for embankment protection should be kept in stock in low-lying vulnerable areas.

    Appropriate lighting arrangements are to be made for relief and rescue operations.

    It claimed that the inflow into Maithon Dam is currently 60,000 cusec and at Panchet Dam is 73,000 cusec.

    “The release from the dams downstream was made 1,00,000 cusec at 9 am onwards today. However, considering the weather prediction and the decreasing cushion level of the dams to accommodate the continuing high inflow of water, the release may have to be increased in the coming hours in a calibrated manner,” it claimed.

    The Irrigation and Waterways Department will be in touch with the DVC and Jharkhand authorities and keep a close watch over the situation.

  • Congress leaders cry foul over ‘poaching’, urge Kharge not to ally with Trinamool in Bengal

    By Express News Service

    KOLKATA: Days before opposition parties are scheduled to meet in Patna, where Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Congress leaders will be present, to draw a roadmap to fight the BJP in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, functionaries of the grand old party from West Bengal met its national president Mallikarjun Kharge and made it clear that they are against any alliance with the Trinamool Congress in the state.

    Citing the recent defection of lone Congress MLA Bayron Biswas to the Trinamool, Congress leaders from the state accused Bengal’s ruling party of poaching MLAs from other parties. Kharge, reportedly, assured the Congress leaders that no decision about an alliance with the Trinamool in state politics would be taken without consulting the party’s Bengal chapter.

    Congress leaders like Pradip Bhattacharya, a Rajya Sabha MP, former Leader of Opposition Abdul Mannan and West Bengal youth Congress president Azhar Mallick met Kharge at his residence in Delhi. “Raising Biswas’ defection to the TMC, the leaders from Bengal became vocal about TMC’s highhandedness and atrocities against the Congress in the state. They told Kharge that an alliance with Bengal’s ruling party in the state will not be accepted at any cost,” said a Congress leader.

    Kharge reportedly told the leaders from Bengal that he was aware of TMC’s activities in the state. “He assured that no decision would be taken without discussing the issue with the state leadership,” said the Congress leader.

    Biswas was the Congress’s candidate in the Sagardighi Assembly byelection, supported by the Left Front. His victory was a massive jolt to the TMC as the constituency is dominated by the minority community, which is considered the votebank of the TMC across the state.

    After the victory, both the Left Front and Congress announced that they would fight against the TMC and the BJP in the state by forming an alliance.

    “But Biswas’s defection was a blow to our effort,” admitted a Left Front leader.

    West Bengal Congress president Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said Nitish Kumar convened the meeting in Patna on June 12 inviting opposition parties including the Congress and the TMC. “At the national level, such meetings may take place. But we will continue our fight against the TMC’s misrule in Bengal and there will be no alliance with Bengal’s ruling party,” he said.

    Earlier, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee held meetings with Nitish and his deputy Tejashwi Yadav at Nabanna, the state secretariat, and discussed an alliance against the BJP in the 2024 general elections.

    KOLKATA: Days before opposition parties are scheduled to meet in Patna, where Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Congress leaders will be present, to draw a roadmap to fight the BJP in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, functionaries of the grand old party from West Bengal met its national president Mallikarjun Kharge and made it clear that they are against any alliance with the Trinamool Congress in the state.

    Citing the recent defection of lone Congress MLA Bayron Biswas to the Trinamool, Congress leaders from the state accused Bengal’s ruling party of poaching MLAs from other parties. Kharge, reportedly, assured the Congress leaders that no decision about an alliance with the Trinamool in state politics would be taken without consulting the party’s Bengal chapter.

    Congress leaders like Pradip Bhattacharya, a Rajya Sabha MP, former Leader of Opposition Abdul Mannan and West Bengal youth Congress president Azhar Mallick met Kharge at his residence in Delhi. “Raising Biswas’ defection to the TMC, the leaders from Bengal became vocal about TMC’s highhandedness and atrocities against the Congress in the state. They told Kharge that an alliance with Bengal’s ruling party in the state will not be accepted at any cost,” said a Congress leader.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    Kharge reportedly told the leaders from Bengal that he was aware of TMC’s activities in the state. “He assured that no decision would be taken without discussing the issue with the state leadership,” said the Congress leader.

    Biswas was the Congress’s candidate in the Sagardighi Assembly byelection, supported by the Left Front. His victory was a massive jolt to the TMC as the constituency is dominated by the minority community, which is considered the votebank of the TMC across the state.

    After the victory, both the Left Front and Congress announced that they would fight against the TMC and the BJP in the state by forming an alliance.

    “But Biswas’s defection was a blow to our effort,” admitted a Left Front leader.

    West Bengal Congress president Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said Nitish Kumar convened the meeting in Patna on June 12 inviting opposition parties including the Congress and the TMC. “At the national level, such meetings may take place. But we will continue our fight against the TMC’s misrule in Bengal and there will be no alliance with Bengal’s ruling party,” he said.

    Earlier, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee held meetings with Nitish and his deputy Tejashwi Yadav at Nabanna, the state secretariat, and discussed an alliance against the BJP in the 2024 general elections.

  • Centre spending crores on new parliament but depriving Bengal of funds: TMC leader

    The TMC national general secretary alleged the Centre, has stopped the funds due to Bengal at the instance of the ruling BJP party. DEBRA: Senior TMC leader Abhishek Banerjee on Monday took a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the inauguration of the new Parliament building and said while crores of rupees are being spent on its construction, the union government has withheld funds under the 100-day rural employment guarantee scheme for Bengal.

    Prime Minister Modi inaugurated the new Parliament building on Sunday even as around 20 opposition parties, including the TMC, boycotted the event, alleging that President Droupadi Murmu has been denied the right to inaugurate the building and called it an insult to India’s first woman president from the tribal community.

    “They have built a new parliament building by spending crores of rupees. The Centre is also spending crores of rupees on the Central Vista project. Whereas they have kept Rs 7,500 crores pending for the 100 days MGNREGA scheme in the State,” Abhishek said.

    The new parliament building was completed in about two-and-a-half years at an estimated cost of nearly Rs 1,200 crore.

    The TMC leader said he never had any issues in sitting in the old parliament.

    “As an MP, I never had any problem sitting in the old parliament building. The parliament is in session for nearly 40 days a year, and around 800 MPs are members of either Lok Sabha or Rajya Sabha. yet they are spending crores of rupees on new buildings,” he said.

    The TMC national general secretary alleged the Centre, has stopped the funds due to Bengal at the instance of the ruling BJP party.

    “They are depriving the poor people of West Bengal by denying MGNREGA funds to Bengal. It (BJP) is trying to punish the State’s people for their defeat in the last assembly poll in 2021,” he said while addressing a rally in the Debra area in Paschim Midnapur district.

    Banerjee was addressing the rally as part of the ‘Trinamool-eh Nabajowar’ (new wave in Trinamool) mass outreach campaign.

    His remark drew sharp reactions from the BJP, which dubbed the allegations baseless.

    “The TMC has a habit of levelling baseless allegations. The funds have been stopped as the state government has not submitted funds utilization certificates,” BJP state president Sukanta Majumdar said.

  • Bengal fears bloodbath during panchayat polls after 16 killed in explosions in five months

    By Express News Service

    KOLKATA: With panchayat polls nearing, sporadic explosions in different parts of Bengal in the past few months have raised fears that the state is going to witness a massive bloodbath in the upcoming electoral exercise.

    Ten explosions at crude bomb manufacturing units have already claimed a total of 16 lives, including three minors, in the past five months.

    Opposition parties alleged that the polls will witness a re-run of the violence experienced by the state’s electorate in the 2018 panchayat elections.

    “The explosions took place when either crude bombs were being manufactured or fire caught the stockpile of explosives accidentally. In some of the cases, many children were injured when they hit bombs thinking it was a ball,” said a police officer.

    ALSO READ | Death toll in Bengal fire-cracker factory blast rises to 5, Mamata announces compensation

    The most recent major explosion took place on May 16 in which nine people, including a student of Class X, were killed. “During the course of investigation, sleuths of the criminal investigation department found Krishnapada Bag alias Bhanu had set up a bomb manufacturing unit on his property where his family members used to go frequently,” said a senior police officer.

    Sensing discontent among the people in Egra, who supported the TMC in the 2021 Assembly elections, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has decided to visit the area on Saturday. “The chief minister will meet the people of the area and may announce help for the families of the deceased,” said an official of the state government.    

    Opposition parties alleged that the recent incidents of explosions are clear evidence that the ruling party is gearing up for violence during the panchayat elections. “They will not only unleash violence on us. There will be countless number of intra-party clashes in the TMC over the issue of getting tickets for candidature. The crude bombs being manufactured will also hurt their own comrades,” said CPI(M)’s central committee member Sujan Chakrabarty.  

    In 2018, the ruling Trinamool Congress won 30 per cent of the total seats in panchayats, panchayat samitis and zilla parishads uncontested and the opposition parties alleged the TMC did not allow them to field candidates by flexing its muscle.

    KOLKATA: With panchayat polls nearing, sporadic explosions in different parts of Bengal in the past few months have raised fears that the state is going to witness a massive bloodbath in the upcoming electoral exercise.

    Ten explosions at crude bomb manufacturing units have already claimed a total of 16 lives, including three minors, in the past five months.

    Opposition parties alleged that the polls will witness a re-run of the violence experienced by the state’s electorate in the 2018 panchayat elections.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    “The explosions took place when either crude bombs were being manufactured or fire caught the stockpile of explosives accidentally. In some of the cases, many children were injured when they hit bombs thinking it was a ball,” said a police officer.

    ALSO READ | Death toll in Bengal fire-cracker factory blast rises to 5, Mamata announces compensation

    The most recent major explosion took place on May 16 in which nine people, including a student of Class X, were killed. “During the course of investigation, sleuths of the criminal investigation department found Krishnapada Bag alias Bhanu had set up a bomb manufacturing unit on his property where his family members used to go frequently,” said a senior police officer.

    Sensing discontent among the people in Egra, who supported the TMC in the 2021 Assembly elections, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has decided to visit the area on Saturday. “The chief minister will meet the people of the area and may announce help for the families of the deceased,” said an official of the state government.    

    Opposition parties alleged that the recent incidents of explosions are clear evidence that the ruling party is gearing up for violence during the panchayat elections. “They will not only unleash violence on us. There will be countless number of intra-party clashes in the TMC over the issue of getting tickets for candidature. The crude bombs being manufactured will also hurt their own comrades,” said CPI(M)’s central committee member Sujan Chakrabarty.  

    In 2018, the ruling Trinamool Congress won 30 per cent of the total seats in panchayats, panchayat samitis and zilla parishads uncontested and the opposition parties alleged the TMC did not allow them to field candidates by flexing its muscle.

  • School jobs scam: TMC leader Abhishek to appear before CBI, dares agency to arrest him

    By PTI

    KOLKATA: TMC leader Abhishek Banerjee, who has been called by the CBI to appear at its Kolkata office on Saturday as part of its probe into the school jobs scam, dared the central agency to arrest him if it has any proof of corruption or misconduct against him.

    His party chief and aunt, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday also took up the gauntlet on his behalf, claiming the BJP was gunning for her party colleagues and members of her family, using the investigative agencies, and wowed to oust the saffron party from the centre.

    Earlier, CBI officials Friday said Banerjee had been sent a missive asking him to join the probe at its offices at Nizam Palace here.

    “I dare the CBI to arrest me if they have any proof of corruption against me. They have been probing many cases in Bengal for the last several years. They should arrest me if they have any proof against me,” Abhishek said on Friday at a rally in Bankura, adding that he would return to the city this evening.

    On Thursday, Calcutta High Court had dismissed a petition filed by Banerjee seeking recall of a previous order of the court which said that investigative agencies such as CBI and ED could interrogate him in the teacher recruitment scam. CBI sent its letter asking Abhishek Banerjee to appear within 24 hours.

    The TMC leader’s name cropped up in a complaint filed by Kuntal Ghosh, an accused in the scam. Ghosh alleged that he was being pressured by central investigating agencies to name Abhishek Banerjee in the school scam case.

    “You are hereby directed to appear before me on Saturday, at 11 am …” the letter sent by a deputy superintendent of the CBI to Banerjee’s Harish Mukherjee road address said.

    In a tweet, Banerjee said, “unfazed by these events, I shall strive to serve the people…bring it on.”

    Abhishek at his rally soon after the letter was delivered, accused the BJP of “using” the central agency to stop his ongoing mass outreach campaign as the saffron party was “afraid of the public support” for the programme.

    “I will not bow my head before anyone apart from the masses. The BJP is afraid of the public support for the mass outreach campaign. CBI has summoned me, as they (BJP) want this mass outreach campaign to stop,” he said while addressing a roadshow here.

    TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee also lashed out at the right-wing party, stating, “BJP is after everyone in our party and my family, but we are not afraid of them. CBI should have given some time to Abhishek to appear before it as it had known that he has been on the streets since April 25 to lead the mass outreach campaign.”

    “Till BJP is ousted from the Centre, our fight against its tyranny will continue,” Banerjee thundered.

    The fiery leader had to step in at the last moment to address a late evening rally virtually from Kolkata, as Abhishek Banerjee, left for Kolkata to be able to appear before CBI on Saturday morning.

    A division bench of the Calcutta High Court on Friday did not allow an urgent hearing of an appeal by the Trinamool Congress national general secretary challenging the single bench order which said that there was no restraining order on CBI to act upon a notice to him.

    An attempt to get the chief justice to hear it also did not succeed. The matter may now be taken up before a vacation bench of the High Court which will sit from Monday onwards.

    Reacting to the TMC leaders’ remarks, the BJP dubbed the allegations as baseless. “The BJP has nothing to do with the CBI probe. If he has nothing to hide, why is he making such allegations,” BJP state spokesperson Samik Bhattacharya said.

    Standing atop a vehicle, the TMC’s national general secretary thanked people for their “overwhelming love and support” before leaving for Kolkata.

    “I dare the CBI to arrest me if they have any proof of corruption against me. They have been probing many cases in Bengal for the last several years. They should arrest me if they have any proof against me,” he said, adding that he would return to the city this evening.

    Banerjee said he has temporarily suspended his mass outreach campaign – Trinamool Nabojowar (Trinamool New Wave), to join the probe and will resume it again from Bankura on Monday.

    “Despite not being given even a day’s prior notice, I will still abide by it (CBI’s missive asking him to appear) as I have done no wrong,” he said.

    TMC leader criticized the CBI for not summoning BJP leaders accused of corruption.

    “A person was caught on camera taking bribes, but the CBI never summons him as he has joined the BJP. You can loot, take bribes and commit crimes; you won’t be touched once you join the BJP, as it is now a safe haven for thieves,” he said while referring to the Narada scam, which the CBI is also probing.

    KOLKATA: TMC leader Abhishek Banerjee, who has been called by the CBI to appear at its Kolkata office on Saturday as part of its probe into the school jobs scam, dared the central agency to arrest him if it has any proof of corruption or misconduct against him.

    His party chief and aunt, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday also took up the gauntlet on his behalf, claiming the BJP was gunning for her party colleagues and members of her family, using the investigative agencies, and wowed to oust the saffron party from the centre.

    Earlier, CBI officials Friday said Banerjee had been sent a missive asking him to join the probe at its offices at Nizam Palace here.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2′); });

    “I dare the CBI to arrest me if they have any proof of corruption against me. They have been probing many cases in Bengal for the last several years. They should arrest me if they have any proof against me,” Abhishek said on Friday at a rally in Bankura, adding that he would return to the city this evening.

    On Thursday, Calcutta High Court had dismissed a petition filed by Banerjee seeking recall of a previous order of the court which said that investigative agencies such as CBI and ED could interrogate him in the teacher recruitment scam. CBI sent its letter asking Abhishek Banerjee to appear within 24 hours.

    The TMC leader’s name cropped up in a complaint filed by Kuntal Ghosh, an accused in the scam. Ghosh alleged that he was being pressured by central investigating agencies to name Abhishek Banerjee in the school scam case.

    “You are hereby directed to appear before me on Saturday, at 11 am …” the letter sent by a deputy superintendent of the CBI to Banerjee’s Harish Mukherjee road address said.

    In a tweet, Banerjee said, “unfazed by these events, I shall strive to serve the people…bring it on.”

    Abhishek at his rally soon after the letter was delivered, accused the BJP of “using” the central agency to stop his ongoing mass outreach campaign as the saffron party was “afraid of the public support” for the programme.

    “I will not bow my head before anyone apart from the masses. The BJP is afraid of the public support for the mass outreach campaign. CBI has summoned me, as they (BJP) want this mass outreach campaign to stop,” he said while addressing a roadshow here.

    TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee also lashed out at the right-wing party, stating, “BJP is after everyone in our party and my family, but we are not afraid of them. CBI should have given some time to Abhishek to appear before it as it had known that he has been on the streets since April 25 to lead the mass outreach campaign.”

    “Till BJP is ousted from the Centre, our fight against its tyranny will continue,” Banerjee thundered.

    The fiery leader had to step in at the last moment to address a late evening rally virtually from Kolkata, as Abhishek Banerjee, left for Kolkata to be able to appear before CBI on Saturday morning.

    A division bench of the Calcutta High Court on Friday did not allow an urgent hearing of an appeal by the Trinamool Congress national general secretary challenging the single bench order which said that there was no restraining order on CBI to act upon a notice to him.

    An attempt to get the chief justice to hear it also did not succeed. The matter may now be taken up before a vacation bench of the High Court which will sit from Monday onwards.

    Reacting to the TMC leaders’ remarks, the BJP dubbed the allegations as baseless. “The BJP has nothing to do with the CBI probe. If he has nothing to hide, why is he making such allegations,” BJP state spokesperson Samik Bhattacharya said.

    Standing atop a vehicle, the TMC’s national general secretary thanked people for their “overwhelming love and support” before leaving for Kolkata.

    “I dare the CBI to arrest me if they have any proof of corruption against me. They have been probing many cases in Bengal for the last several years. They should arrest me if they have any proof against me,” he said, adding that he would return to the city this evening.

    Banerjee said he has temporarily suspended his mass outreach campaign – Trinamool Nabojowar (Trinamool New Wave), to join the probe and will resume it again from Bankura on Monday.

    “Despite not being given even a day’s prior notice, I will still abide by it (CBI’s missive asking him to appear) as I have done no wrong,” he said.

    TMC leader criticized the CBI for not summoning BJP leaders accused of corruption.

    “A person was caught on camera taking bribes, but the CBI never summons him as he has joined the BJP. You can loot, take bribes and commit crimes; you won’t be touched once you join the BJP, as it is now a safe haven for thieves,” he said while referring to the Narada scam, which the CBI is also probing.

  • Supreme Court allows screening of ‘The Kerala Story’ in West Bengal

    Express News Service

    NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Thursday stayed the West Bengal government’s May 8 order banning the screening of the film ‘The Kerala Story’ in the state. 

    The bench also directed the filmmaker to put a disclaimer in the movie, which claims 32,000 women from Kerala were converted to Islam, that it is a “fictionalised version of events”. On West Bengal’s contention that screening of the film will disturb social harmony, the bench said it is the duty of the state to maintain law and order as the film has been granted certification by the Central Board of Film Certification. 

    Observing that the film has been released everywhere in the country and that law can’t be used to “put a premium on public intolerance”, the Supreme Court also directed the Tamil Nadu government to provide adequate security to movie goers. “No steps shall be taken by Tamil Nadu govt or its officers or instrumentalities including police to prevent screening of film,” the court said in the order. “You can’t make fundamental right of free speech to be dependent on public display of emotion… You don’t like it, don’t see,” the bench said, adding: “Bad films bomb at the box office”. 

    Earlier, theatre owners in Tamil Nadu had refused to screen the film fearing law and order issues. The order came in a plea filed by makers of the Kerala Story, Sunshine Pictures Private Ltd, and Vipul Amrutlal Shah challenging the Mamata Banerjee government’s decision to ban the screening of the film. The bench, then, posted the petitions for final disposal on July 18 saying the judges would like to watch the movie before deciding the challenge to the grant of certification to the film. 

    NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Thursday stayed the West Bengal government’s May 8 order banning the screening of the film ‘The Kerala Story’ in the state. 

    The bench also directed the filmmaker to put a disclaimer in the movie, which claims 32,000 women from Kerala were converted to Islam, that it is a “fictionalised version of events”. On West Bengal’s contention that screening of the film will disturb social harmony, the bench said it is the duty of the state to maintain law and order as the film has been granted certification by the Central Board of Film Certification. 

    Observing that the film has been released everywhere in the country and that law can’t be used to “put a premium on public intolerance”, the Supreme Court also directed the Tamil Nadu government to provide adequate security to movie goers. “No steps shall be taken by Tamil Nadu govt or its officers or instrumentalities including police to prevent screening of film,” the court said in the order. “You can’t make fundamental right of free speech to be dependent on public display of emotion… You don’t like it, don’t see,” the bench said, adding: “Bad films bomb at the box office”. googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    Earlier, theatre owners in Tamil Nadu had refused to screen the film fearing law and order issues. The order came in a plea filed by makers of the Kerala Story, Sunshine Pictures Private Ltd, and Vipul Amrutlal Shah challenging the Mamata Banerjee government’s decision to ban the screening of the film. 
    The bench, then, posted the petitions for final disposal on July 18 saying the judges would like to watch the movie before deciding the challenge to the grant of certification to the film. 

  • ISKCON monk in Bengal goes missing after sexual abuse complaint emerges

    By IANS

    KOLKATA: Jagadartiha Das, a monk and the chief coordinator of the globally acclaimed International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) temple at Mayapur in West Bengal’s Nadia district has gone missing after a security guard of the temple filed a complaint at a local police station against him.

    According to the FIR filed at Nabadwip Police Station, the monk allegedly summoned his security guard to his room and sexually abused him. Local police sources said that although earlier too there were similar complaints of sexual abuse against the same monk, this was the first time a formal police complaint has been filed.

    The Nadia district police Superintendent Ishani Paul has confirmed to the media persons that a complaint has been filed against the said monk and he is yet to be arrested as he went absconding. She also confirmed that the police have started a probe into the matter and have begun the process of tracking the accused monk.

    The accused monk has been charged under Section 377 (unnatural offences), Section 342 (wrongful confinement) and Section 506 (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code.

    Meanwhile, the temple authorities have taken up the matter seriously and they have expelled Das, who was known as Jayanta Kumar Saha during his pre-monastery days, from the association.

    In his complaint, the security guard alleged that the accused monk also threatened of getting him sacked if he opened his mouth about the abuse. The victim allegedly informed the police that previously too other staff of the temple were sexually abused, though they remained silent in the face of threats.

    KOLKATA: Jagadartiha Das, a monk and the chief coordinator of the globally acclaimed International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) temple at Mayapur in West Bengal’s Nadia district has gone missing after a security guard of the temple filed a complaint at a local police station against him.

    According to the FIR filed at Nabadwip Police Station, the monk allegedly summoned his security guard to his room and sexually abused him. Local police sources said that although earlier too there were similar complaints of sexual abuse against the same monk, this was the first time a formal police complaint has been filed.

    The Nadia district police Superintendent Ishani Paul has confirmed to the media persons that a complaint has been filed against the said monk and he is yet to be arrested as he went absconding. She also confirmed that the police have started a probe into the matter and have begun the process of tracking the accused monk.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    The accused monk has been charged under Section 377 (unnatural offences), Section 342 (wrongful confinement) and Section 506 (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code.

    Meanwhile, the temple authorities have taken up the matter seriously and they have expelled Das, who was known as Jayanta Kumar Saha during his pre-monastery days, from the association.

    In his complaint, the security guard alleged that the accused monk also threatened of getting him sacked if he opened his mouth about the abuse. The victim allegedly informed the police that previously too other staff of the temple were sexually abused, though they remained silent in the face of threats.

  • West Bengal: Fact-finding team stopped by police from visiting violence-hit Hooghly

    By ANI

    HOWRAH: A six-member fact-finding team led by former Patna High Court Chief Justice Narasimha Reddy was stopped by West Bengal police from visiting the violence-hit Hooghly district.

    According to information, the team members were stopped near Nabanna toll plaza from entering the district on Sunday.

    Former Chief Justice of Patna High Court Narasimha Reddy said that according to the police CrPC, section 144 has been imposed in the area. “They (police) are saying that CrPC section 144 has been imposed but nothing is here. They are scared because they will be exposed,” said Narasimha Reddy while speaking to ANI.

    Leaders of the Indian Secular Front (ISF), a Muslim outfit, were also stopped from entering the violence-hit Rishra town of West Bengal’s Hooghly district on Friday.

    Speaking to ANI, an ISF leader, who was part of the delegation, said, “The situation here is not that bad. Some political forces are trying to stoke tension and violence. Locals of Rishra are peace-loving and united but some people did try to incite trouble here. Our objective was to go to Rishra and talk to the local administration on the prevailing situation.”

    “We believe in our Constitution and take a lot of pride in it. so, if the administration asks us not to visit a particular place, we won’t dispute that and take the law into our hands,” he added.

    On the violent clashes and rioting that broke out recently in Howrah and Hooghly districts during the Ram Navami celebrations and after, the ISF leader said, “The incidents have scarred both the communities and have put fear in their minds. We just wanted to ask the local administration why they haven’t been able to restore normalcy and calm to the town yet.”

    Following the clashes and stone-pelting at police personnel around Ram Navami, a sizeable contingent of security personnel has been deployed in the area.

    A clash erupted during a Shobha Yatra (march) taken out by BJP supporters in Hooghly on April 2. A day after, on April 3, another incident of stone-pelting in Rishra town forced the Eastern Railway to suspend all suburban and long-distance express train services to and from Rishra railway station.

    HOWRAH: A six-member fact-finding team led by former Patna High Court Chief Justice Narasimha Reddy was stopped by West Bengal police from visiting the violence-hit Hooghly district.

    According to information, the team members were stopped near Nabanna toll plaza from entering the district on Sunday.

    Former Chief Justice of Patna High Court Narasimha Reddy said that according to the police CrPC, section 144 has been imposed in the area. “They (police) are saying that CrPC section 144 has been imposed but nothing is here. They are scared because they will be exposed,” said Narasimha Reddy while speaking to ANI.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    Leaders of the Indian Secular Front (ISF), a Muslim outfit, were also stopped from entering the violence-hit Rishra town of West Bengal’s Hooghly district on Friday.

    Speaking to ANI, an ISF leader, who was part of the delegation, said, “The situation here is not that bad. Some political forces are trying to stoke tension and violence. Locals of Rishra are peace-loving and united but some people did try to incite trouble here. Our objective was to go to Rishra and talk to the local administration on the prevailing situation.”

    “We believe in our Constitution and take a lot of pride in it. so, if the administration asks us not to visit a particular place, we won’t dispute that and take the law into our hands,” he added.

    On the violent clashes and rioting that broke out recently in Howrah and Hooghly districts during the Ram Navami celebrations and after, the ISF leader said, “The incidents have scarred both the communities and have put fear in their minds. We just wanted to ask the local administration why they haven’t been able to restore normalcy and calm to the town yet.”

    Following the clashes and stone-pelting at police personnel around Ram Navami, a sizeable contingent of security personnel has been deployed in the area.

    A clash erupted during a Shobha Yatra (march) taken out by BJP supporters in Hooghly on April 2. A day after, on April 3, another incident of stone-pelting in Rishra town forced the Eastern Railway to suspend all suburban and long-distance express train services to and from Rishra railway station.