
Mamata Banerjee only concerned about Bengali-speaking Muslims, claims Himanta Biswa Sarma
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma accused West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee of prioritizing only Bengali-speaking Muslims. He warned that Assamese and Hindu-Bengalis would retaliate if she visits Assam solely for Muslim-Bengalis. Sarma questioned her reluctance to implement CAA in West Bengal, highlighting the protection and assimilation of Bengali-Hindus in Assam, where Bengali is an associate official language.
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Indian Express
4 minutes ago
- Indian Express
Mamata to meet Durga Puja organisers on July 31, launch ‘bhasha andolan' march tomorrow
Ahead of Durga Puja, puja committees in West Bengal are expecting Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to increase the financial grant for them, with a crucial meeting of festival organisers with the chief minister scheduled for July 31 at Kolkata's Netaji Indoor Stadium to finalise the plans. The meeting holds immense significance for thousands of big and small Durga Puja committees in Kolkata and other districts. Last year, the Government raised its grant from Rs 75,000 to Rs 85,000 per puja committee. Many feel the chief minister will increase the grant further to Rs 1 lakh in an announcement at the July 31 meeting. The chief minister will preside over the meeting, which is expected to see representatives from approximately 5,000 puja committees, high-ranking police officers, Kolkata's mayor, and officials from the fire department, the Calcutta Electric Supply Corporation, and other agencies. Puja committee officials are eagerly awaiting the day, as the chief minister traditionally announces not only financial aid but also various exemptions for the festival. Checks of the government grant are typically disbursed to committees via local police stations. Political analysts are keenly observing this year's meeting, given its timing ahead of the Assembly elections next year. The Trinamool Congress has seen positive electoral outcomes linked to the puja grants. With the Lok Sabha elections having concluded last year, during which the grant was increased, the potential increase in the grant to 1 lakh just before the Assembly elections is seen by political circles as a strategic move that could positively influence the ballot. Furthermore, the chief minister is said to be leveraging this platform to promote communal harmony. Beyond the financial aspects, the meeting will also provide essential guidelines for various festival preparations, including maintaining cleanliness and ensuring drinking water supply during the puja days. While some puja committees had previously returned the grant in protest over issues like the rape and murder of a trainee doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, the vast majority have consistently accepted the government's financial assistance. CM Mamata embarks on district tours, starting with Birbhum Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee started a district tour on Sunday, starting with Birbhum. Trinamool Congress sources said the chief minister would arrive in Birbhum on Sunday afternoon. Her itinerary includes an overnight stay at Rangabitan. On July 28, she will hold an administrative meeting at Gitanjali Theatre to review the district's development projects. She is also scheduled to lead a large march to protest against the targeting of Bengali speakers in other states–a 'bhasha andolan' (language agitation) march that she announced on July 21. The march will start from the Tourist Lodge intersection and conclude at the Jambuni bus stand, followed by a speech by the chief minister. On July 29, the chief minister will hold an administrative meeting in Illambazar. She is also expected to inaugurate a bridge built over the Ajay river to improve connectivity between Birbhum and West Burdwan. Additionally, appointment letters for Group D and junior constable posts will be distributed among landowners in the proposed Deuchapachamy coal industry area, and farmers will receive farming equipment. Ahead of the chief minister's visit, district Trinamool Congress chairperson Ashish Banerjee called an emergency core committee meeting at the party's Bolpur office on Thursday.


The Hindu
4 minutes ago
- The Hindu
A section of Congress leaders rally in support of Satheesan against Vellappally's attacks
A section of Congress leaders and members of some Muslim youth organisations appeared to rally in support of Leader of the Opposition V.D. Satheesan who faced harsh criticism from Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana Yogam (SNDP) general secretary Vellappally Natesan for the third consecutive day on Sunday. Congress leader K.C. Joseph said in a social media post that criticism of any political leader, including Mr. Satheesan, should conform to accepted standards of public decency. He took strong exception to Mr. Natesan's 'insinuation' that Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan was above criticism in the House. (Mr. Natesan had accused Mr. Satheesan of being 'arrogant' to Mr. Vijayan in the Assembly, despite the latter's age and seniority). Congress legislator Mathew Kuzhalnadan termed attacks on Mr. Satheesan an attack on Congress. Social activist and writer Muhammad Kinalur accused the Congress leadership of being hesitant in marshalling support for Mr. Satheesan and being overly cautious around Mr. Natesan. Addressing an SNDP Yogam function at Mr. Satheesan's constituency in Paravur, Ernakulam, on Sunday, Mr. Natesan seemingly rubbished the latter's claim that the United Democratic Front (UDF) would regain power in the 2026 Assembly elections with 100 seats in its kitty. Posing a dare He dared Mr. Satheesan to go into political exile if the UDF's electoral aspirations failed. Mr. Natesan offered to step down from his post if the UDF got anywhere near 98 Assembly seats in 2026. He accused Mr. Satheesan of being 'patently anti-backward class.' Sunni Yuvajana Sangham (SYS) leader Sathar Panthaloor said the Left Democratic Front (LDF) government, which was prompt in arresting a person for criticising the late V.S. Achuthanandan, was reticent in prosecuting Mr. Natesan for 'spewing caste and communal venom'. Mr. Satheesan had earlier responded to Mr. Natesan's arguably vitriolic attacks by reminding the SNDP Yogam leader that his statements went against the principles of Sree Narayana Guru's humanist and secular philosophy. Mr. Natesan countered that Mr. Satheesan need not instruct him about the social reformer's teachings.


India Today
33 minutes ago
- India Today
India Today impact: Rights body acts on illegal madrasas along India-Nepal border
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has taken cognisance of a special investigation by India Today that exposed a network of unregulated and illegal madrasas operating along the Indo-Nepal border, allegedly involved in radical indoctrination, illegal foreign funding, and internal security member Priyanka Kanungo announced on Saturday that the rights panel is taking action based on the disturbing are taking cognisance and initiating action,' Kanungo said in a post on X (formerly Twitter), citing video evidence uncovered by India Today. @aajtak Priyank Kanoongo (@KanoongoPriyank) July 27, 2025 The India Today investigation revealed that several madrasas in Bihar and across the border in Nepal were functioning without government recognition and were accepting money routed through illegal hawala channels, primarily from Gulf countries. It brought to light radical teachings and the use of controversial materials in some of these Bihar's Muzaffarpur district, a teacher at Jamia Nuria Merajul Uloom admitted on camera to receiving hawala funds and providing 'jihadi training' to poor Muslim children. The aim, he said, was to indoctrinate and exploit them for extremist unregistered institution, Madrasa Islamia Mehmoodia in Sitamarhi, was found operating from a makeshift tin shed without any signage. Its administrator disclosed that fake Indian identification documents were used to admit undocumented children, including those of Bangladeshi from the investigation also showed videos of controversial Islamic preacher Zakir Naik being shown to students. In addition, a religious textbook titled Taaleem-ul-Islam, which describes non-Muslims as 'kafirs,' was part of the curriculum taught to young children at these the border in Nepal, the probe uncovered a similar network, with reports of foreign funding and jihadi messaging in unregulated Islamic institutions.- EndsMust Watch